The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1857-10-30
NO 4

detested all strange women, and held an
especial aversion to Poll Wilkes, a sour
maid Of forty because, years AFRO
she had plotted to entrap him into matri
mouy. Before he could reply gave Milo
his head.
John Gilpin, we are told. went fast.
but | went faster IL was not long before
the colt had il all his own way. AT FIRST
| tried 10 check his speed: but he got the
biz in his teeth, and al | could do was
to hold on and trust to his firing out
Trees, fences aud houses went by us like
wild pigeons on the wing. AS long rs
the road was clear ho did well enough.
but suddenly coming to blasted oak chat
stared out spectre.like from the edge Of a
wood, Milo SHE'D. twisted half around,
aud planted his foro feet stubborny in
the ground. l did not know was fall.
ing, ill felt myself IN amud-hole, which
lay on one side of the road.
Here was a fine end 10 my boosted
horsemaushipl Butas the mud was soft,
| WAS not hurt, and the ludiorous speota-
Gle | presented, soon rot the upper hand
Of my vexation. "A. fine chance have
Of finding a husband in this condition."
said | to myself, recalling my Jest with
uncle. "If could find some mud.dry-
ad now, and pass myself Off for mud
nymph, l might have a chance" Aud
began to pick myself up.
"Shall | help you, miss?" suddenly
said q deep, rich, manly voice.
looked up. and saw young man, the
suppressed merrimonL Of whose black
eyes brought the blood TO my cheek, and
me, for an instant, ashamed and angry.
But on glanoing again at my dress.
could not help laughing in spite Of my
self. stood in the mud at least six
inches above the top Of my shoes. My
riding skirt was plastered all over, so that
IL was almost impossible to tell Of what
il was made. My hands and arms were
mud to the elbows. for had nstinotively
extended them as fell in order to protect
myself.
The young man. as he spoke, turne 70
the neighboring fence, and taking of the
top rail he placed II across the puddle
then putting his arm around my waist,
he lifted me out, though not without
leaving my shoes behind. While he
was fishing these out, which he began
Immediately to do, | stole behind the
enormous oak TO hide my bushirg face,
and scrape the mud from my stockings
and riding-skirt. had managed to got
the first little cleaner, but the last was
still as thick as ever when my companion
made his appearance with the missing
shoes, which he scmped till they were
quite presentabe, and leading Milo by The
bride.
"Pay let mo see you home" he said
'If you will mount again, 1 will lead the
colt; aud there will bo no danger Of his
repeating his trick"
could not answer for shame. but
when in the saddle murmured something
about mot troubling him."
ats no trouble, not the least" he re-
piled, standing hat in hand like n knight
ly cavalier, and still retaining his hold on
the bride, "and really can't lot you 90
alone, for the colt is as vicious as ho can
be TO day. Look at his ears and the red
in his eyes. saw you coming down the
road, and expected you to be thrown ev-
cry moment till l saw how we'll you rode.
Nor would it have happened il ho had
not wheeled and stopped like the trick
horse in a circus.
cannot tell how soothing was this
graceful way Of excusing my mishap. ]
stole glance under my eyelids at the
speaker, and saw that he was very hard
some and gentlemanly, and apparently
about six-and- twenty, or several years
older than myself.
had hoped that uncle would be out
10 the field overlooking the men, bat as
we entered the gate, | saw him sitting,
proyoklngly, at the open window; and by
the time sprung to the ground, no came
out his eyes brimful of mischief. l did
not dare TO stop, but turning to my escort
| said.
"My uncle. sir; won't you walk in"
and then run up stairs.
In about ha'f an hour, Just as had
dressed, there was knock at my door.
my uncle's knock, I could but open.-
He was laughing low. silent laugh, his
pOrtly body shaking all over with sup
pressed msrriment
"Ah! ready at last he sad, II began
TO despair Of YOU He's waiting in the
parlor still, " he said in malicious whis-
per. "You'ye my consent. Tor l like
him, hugely, only who would have thought
Of finding a husband in mud puddle.
Islippsd past my tormenter, preferring
TO face even my escort than TO run the
gauntlet Of uuce's wit; and was soon
stammering my thanls 10 Mr. Templeton,
for such my uncle, who followed me
down, introduced him.
10 make short Of what else would be
a long otory, what was said in Jest turned
out TO be in earnest; for in less than six
months, in that very room, stood up to
become Mrs Templeton. Harry, for that
is the name BY which call Nj. Temple
ton. says that l entered the parlor so
transformed, my light blue tissue floating
about SO IKE cloud ud-wreath, nay checks
so rosy, my eyes so bright, my curl
playing such hide-aud-seek about my faces
and not expecting such an apParition'
that he lost his heart at once. lie adds
for he still knows how TO compliment as
well as ever, that my gay, iutelhgeLt
F...a. a., .los.attro AIfra