Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-01
FIN NG A III u 9 BAN ID.
ny DK6GY M0nRuPAn

Ride Mil0!''
8 Yes. It's such a beautiful day
q But he'll throw you - .
Throw me ~ And laughed merrily and
ineredulously. Say yes, uncle dear, / con-
tinued, eOaxingly, - there's nothing to fear !;
and I'm dying for a canter."
q You'll die of a canter, them he retorted,
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" .- q -
But you We often said was a better rider
than joe Joe was the stableboy. THAT 5
good uncle, now do" And threw my arms
about his neck and kissed him.
knew, by experience, that, when 1 did this
L generally carried the day. My uncle tried
to look stern, but | saw he was relenting. He
made last effort, however, to deny me. o. ..
why not take Dobbin9' he said e.
t' Dobbin,'' cried. "Old, snail paced Dob
bin, on such a morning as this. One might as
well ride rocking horse at once"
Well, well, said he, " il 1 must, / must
You II tease the life out Of me if l don let
band, you mink, you're growing beyond my
control" - m
'rHumph, A husband Well, since you say
so, II begin TO look out for one to-day
Hell soon repent of his bargain said my
uncle; but bis smile belied his words. "YOu re
as cross as pie crust if you can't have your
way. There seeing L was about to speak
go and get ready, while 1 tell Joe to saddle
Milo. You'll set the house afre if don I send
you off,
Milo was soon at the door, gay, mettlesonne
colt, who laid his ears back as l mounted, and
gave me vicious look L did not quite like
- Take care" said my uncle cts not too
late yet to give it up" .-... ....'
1 was piqued.
Il never give up anything L said.
Not even the finding Of husband, eh?''
No. III ride down to the poor house and
Hsk old Toby, the octOgenarian pauper, to have
me; and you'll be forced to hire Poll Wilkes n
cook your dinner And as L said this. nv
eyes twinkled mischiey1uIy, for uncle was an
old bachelor, who detested all strange women,
and had an especial aversion to Poll Wilkes. a
sour old maid Of forty-seyen, because years
ago she had plotted to entrap him into matri-
mony- Before he could reply, gave Milo his
head. =
John Gilpin, we are told, went fast but |
went faster. At first tried to check his speed:
but he got the bit in his teeth; and all I could
do was to hold on and trust to tiring him out
Trees, fences and houses went by us like wild
pigeons ON the wing. As long as the road was
clear, we did well enough, but suddenly coming
to blasted oak, that started cut, spectre-likc
from the edge of a wood, Milo SHE'D, twisted
half around and planted his forefeet stubborn
ly in the ground. I did not know was falling
till l felt myself in a mud hole, which lay at
one side Of the road. -,
Here was u fine end to my boasted horseman.
ship, But as the mud was soft, was not
hurt, and the ludicrous spectacle presented
soon got the upper hand Of my vexatiOn. "a
fine chance 1 have Of finding husband in this
condition" said to self, recalling nv lest
with uncle. "If could see some mud dryad
now, and pass myself off for mud nynph
might have a chance" And 1 began to pick
nyselfup.
''Shall help you, Miss? ?' suddenly said a
deep, rich, manly voice. .-
looked up, and saw q young man, the sup
pressed merriment Of whose black eyes brought
the blood to my cheek, and made me, for an in
slant, ashamed and angry. But on giancing
spite of myself. / stood in the mud, at least
six inches above the tops of my shoes My rid
ing skirt was plastered all over, SO that it was
almost impossible to tell Of what it was made.
My hands and arms were mud to the elbows, for
l had instinctively extended them as I fell, in
order to save myself.
The young man, as he spoke, turned to the
neighboring fence, and taking of the top rail
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 imme-
diately to do, stole behind the enormous old
oak, to hide my bluShlng face, and scrape the
mud from my stockings and riding skirt. I had
managed 10 get the first a little cleaner, but the
last was still as thick with mud ever, when
NY companion made his appearance with the
missing shoes which he had scraped till they
were quite presentable, and leading Milo by the
bride.
Pray let me see you home," he said "If
you will mount again, I'll lead the colt, and
there will De no chance Of his repeating bis
tricks
could not answer for shame, But when in
the saddle muttered something about mot
troubling him"
L. h. H.
standing hat in hand like a knightly cavalier,
and still retaining his hold ON the bride. land
/ really can't let you 90 alone, for the colt i
as vicious as he can be to-day. Look at his
ears and the red in his eyes. L saw you coming
down the road, and expected you to be thrown
Nor would it have happened if he hadn't
wheeled and stopped like trick horse in the
circus"
Icannot tell how soothing was this graceful
way Of excusing my mishap. 1 stole glance
under my eyelids at the speaker, and saw tha
he was very handsome and gentlemanly, anC
apparently about six and twenty, or severa
years older than myself.
/ had hoped that uncle would be out in the
fields overlooking the men but as entered
the gate, saw him sitting provokingly at tn,
open window; and by the time I had sprung t
the ground, be had come out, his eyes brim full
of mischief. L dared not TO stop, but turning
to my escort, said, My uncle, sir; won't yoI
walk in, " and then rushed up stairs
In about half an hour, just as had dressed
there was a knock at my door-my uncle,
knock. l could not but open. lie was laugh
ing low, silent laugh, his portly body shaking
all over with suppressed merriment
''Ah. ready at last he said. Il began L
despair Of you, you were 50 long and came b
hasten you He's waiting in the parlor still,
he said, in q malicious whisper. "You've In,
consent, for like him hugely-only who ID hav
thought of finding husband in mud puddle2'
l slipped past my tormentOr, prefering +
face even my escort than u run the gauntlet q
uncle's wit; and was soon stammering my thank
to Mr.. Templeton; for as such my uncle, VIII
followed me down, introduced him
To mako short of what else would be a lon,
story, what was in jest turned out to be earnest
for in less than six mouths, in that very room
/ stood up To become Mrs. Templeton. How
all came about hardly know. But certainI
did find q husband on that day. Harry, f.
that is the name by which call Mr. TempietoI