Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1857-08-22

ny pRoar Noa1HEAD.

'Yssi It's such q beautiful day.
But he'll throw youi' M & y /
Throw mep And laughed merrily and
incredulously. Say yes, dear uncler con-
tinued ooaxingly, there is no tear and I'm
dying for q canter.' fE 4-@
You'll die of q canter,' he -etorted, with
his grim wit, for he'll break your neck..-
The horse has only been ridden three times,
twice by myself and once by Joe.'
sBut you've often said was a better RI.
der than Joe:' Joe was the stable boy
That's good uncle now, doa' And I threw
my arms about his neck and kissed him.
knew by experience that whom did
this generally carried the day. My uncle
tried to look stern, but saw be was relent-
ing. He made las effort, however, to
deny me.
why not take Dobbip.r ne said:
'Dobbinp l cried. old sna;l-pacing Dob
bin, on such mosaing d this. One might
as we'll ridea rocking hol,s at once
well, WE'LL he said If must / must
You'll tease the life cut Of me i'll don't let
you have your own way. Iwish you'd get
a husband, you mink. yon are growing be-
yond my CONTROL. -.
.Humphi 4 husband. Well since yen say
80, Tll begin to look out for one to-day
He'll soon repent of his bargain said my
uncle but his smile belied his words. 'fou
are as short as pie-crust if you can't have
your way. There seeing I was about to
speak, go and got ready while tell Joe to
saddle Milo. You'll set the house on fire if
don't send you off, -
Milo was soon at the door, gay, mettle-
some colt, who laid his ears back as mount
ed and gave me vicious look did not
quite like.
Take care,' said my uncle, it's not too
late yet to give it up ......
was pigued.,
4 never give up anything said.
tNot even the finding Of husband, eh1
NO. I'll ride down to the poor house and
sex old Tony, the octogensrian pauper to
have me: and you will be forced to hire Poll
Wilkes to cook your dinners And as l
said this, my eyes twink!ed misohievously,
for uncle was an old bachelor, who detested
all strange women, and held an especial
aversion to Poll Wilkes, sour old maid OF
forty seven, because, years ago, she had plot
ted to entrap him in matrilnony. Before he
could reply, gave Milo the rein.
John Gilphin we are told, went fast; but |
went faster, 1t was not long before the colt
had it all his own way. AT first I tried to
check his speed, bat hs got the bit in his
mouth, and all l could do was to hold on
and trust to firing him out. Trees, fences
and houses went BY Us like wild pigeons on
the wing. As long as the road was clear we
did we'll enough, but suddenly coming to q
blasted oak, thst started out spectre-lke
from the wood, Milo SHE'D, twisted hall
around, and planted his fore feet stubbornly
in the ground. I did not know 1 was fall.
ing, till felt myself in q mud holes which
lay at one side of the road.
Here was fine end to my boosted horse.
manship! But as the mud was soft, l was
not hurt, and the ludicrous spectacle pre-.
sented, soon got the upper hand Of my vex.
alton, "a fine chance have of finding q
husband, iu this condition, said to myself
recalling my jest with uncle. elf could
find some mud dryad now, and pass myself
Of for mud nymph, l might have chance.
And began to pick myself up.
Shall help you, Misss' suddenly said &
deep, rich, manly voice.
Hooked up, and saw > young man, the
suppressed merriment of whose black eye:
brought the blood to my cheek, end made
me for an instant, ashamed and angry. But
on glancing again at my dress, could not
help laughing in spite of myself. stood ii
mud at least six inches above the tops OF my
shoes. My riding skirt was 5lastered al
over, SO that it was impossible to tell o
what it was made. My hands and arm.
were mud to the elbows. for had instinct
lively extended them "a fell, in order K
protect myself
The young man as he spoke, turned to thu
neighboring fence, and taking of the tot
rail he placed it across the puddle, then put
ting his arm around my waist, he lifted mt
out though not without leaving my shoes
behind: While he was fishing these out
which he began Immediately to do, stol,
behind the enormous oak; to hide my blush.
Ing face, and s6rape tbs mud from my stock
ings and riding skirt. I had managed t
get the first a little cleaner, but the last wa:
still as thick as ever, when my com paniol
made his appearance with the missing shoes
which he had scraped ill they were quit
presentable and leading Mile by the bride
fray, let me see you home,' he said, i
you will mount again, III lead the colt, arc
there will be no chance Of his repeating hi
tricks
could not answer, for shame, but wher
in the saddle murmured something abou
mot troubling him.
tits no trouble. not in the least he re-
piled, standing hat in hand like knightly
cavalier and still retaining his hold on the
bride, and really can't let you 60 alone
for the colt is as vicious as he can be to-day
Look 1T his ears and the red in his eyes.
saw yod coming down the road, and expect.
ed you to be thrown every minute, till l saw
how well you rode. Nor would it have
happened, if he hadn't wheeled and stopped
like trick horse in circus
cannot tell how soothing was this grace
full way of excusing my mishap. l stole g
glance under my eyelids, at the speaker
and saw that he was very handsome and
gentlemanly, and apparently about six and
twenty, or several years older than myself
] had hoped that uncle would be out in
entered the gate saw him sitting provok-
ingly, at the open widow; and by the time
had sprung to the ground, he came out, his
eyes briin full Of mischief. did not dare te
stop but turning to my escort, said, MY
uncle, sir, won't you walk ih?' and Their
rushed up stairs. -.
In about half an hour, just as l had dress
ed; there was knock at my door, my uncle:
knock, could not but open. He was laugh
ing low silent laugh, his portly body stiak.
ing all over with suppressed merriment.
'Ah! ready at 'last,' he said. 4 began t
despair of you, you were so long, aud came
to hasten you. He's waiting in the parlor
still, he said in malicious whisper. 'Yor
have my consent, for l like him hugely, only
who'd have thought of finding o husband il