Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-04-03

No, l viii ride down to the poor house
and ask cid Tony, the Oetogeuarian pauper,
80 have ne, sn3 you viii be forced TO hire
P0l Wilkes 10 cook your dinner Aud as
| said this there was a mischieE0us twinkle
IN my eyes, for uncle was an old bachelor.
who detested al strange women. and held
an aversion TO Polly Wilkes, a sour Uid maid
ot forty seven, beeAUse, years ggo, she had
plotted to entrap bin iulo natrimony Be
fore be could reply l gave Milo his head
John Gup5R, We are told, went fast; but
1 Went faster. Ii vas not long before the
colt had 1t al his own way, at first l tried
70 cheek bis speed, but he got the bit IN his
mouth, and al / could do was 10 hold on
aud trust 70 tiring him out. Trees, fences
and houses went By Us Ike wild pigeons on
the wing As long as the road was clear We
did vel enough, but suddenly coming 10
blasted oak, that started cut spectre like
from the edge Of a wood. Milo shied
twisted half around, and planted his forefeet
stub6oTnly in the ground. | did not know
that ] was falling, till / felt myself in a mud
hoe which las at one side of the road.
Here was a ine end 10 my boasted horse
manship. But as the mud was soft, | was
not hurt, and the ludierous spectacle | pre-
seuted soon got the upper hand of my yexa-
ten. 4 fine chance l have of finding q
husband n this condition, / said 70 my
self, recalling my jest with uncle II /
could find some mud dried now, and pass
myself off for mud nympb, | might have
some chance. And I begzn to pick my
self up.
Shall help you, Miss p suddenly said
q deep, rich, manly voice.
looked up and saw young man, the
suppressed meTriUent of whose black eyes
- ~ 81 ! Il A..
me Tor time ashamed and angry. Bur on
glancing again 10 my dress, l could not help
laughing IN spite Of myself / stood in the
mud at least SIX inches above the top Of my
shoes. Ny riding skirt was plastered all
over, so that lt was impossible 70 tell OF
what it was made. Ny hands and arm were
mud 10 the elbows, for l had instinCuyely
extended them IN order 20 protect myself
The young man as he spoke, turned 10
tne neighboring fence, and taking of the
top rail, he placed 1t across the puddle
then putting his arm around my waist, be
lifted me out, though net without leaving
my shoes behind While he was fishing
these out. which be began Immediately to
do, I stole behind an enormous oak, TO hide
my b.ushing face and scrape the mud from
ms stockings aud riding skirt
had managed 70 get the first little
cleaner, but the last was a. thick as ever
when my companion made his appearance
wllh the missing shoes. which he had scrap
ed tlA they were quite presentab.e, ana
leading Alilo by the bride.
Pray, let me see you home, he said
'-IfyoU VIII mount again, III lead the colt;
and there viii be no Chance Of his repeating
the trick
could not answer for shame; but when
10 the saddle murmurad something about
not troubling him.
''It's no trouble. not the least, he re-
Piled standing, hat 10 bad, ike i night cav
aiier and still retaining bis hold on the brI-
die, aud I can really lei you 90 alone, for
tie colt d as vicious IS be can be 70 day
Look AZ his ears and the red eyes. ! saw
you coming down the road, and expected
you 20 be thrown every minute, TIL 1 saw
how well you rode Nor would It have hap
peBed hadu be wheeled and stopped like
q trick horse in a circus.
| cannot tell how soothing was this grace
fui way cf GZcusing my mishap. l stole
glance under my eyelds at the speaker, and
saw that he was very handsome and
gentlemanly, and apparently about SIX and
twenty. OF seven years younger than myself.
| had hoped that uncle might be out in
the fields, overlooking the men; bu, a. we
Z 4
( ingly, 81 the window, and By the time L had
sprung 10 the ground, he came out, his eyes
I brimful Of mischief l did not dare TO stop,
( but turning 70 my escort said Ny uncle
/ sir-won you walk in and then rushed
+ uP stairs.
( Ia about half an hour, just as I had
dressed there was a knock a. nay door, /
could not but open It, There stood my IN
Gle, laughing low, silent laugh, bis portiy
body shaking all over with suppressed
/ laughter
.Ah! ready at last, he said. Il began
70 despair Of you, you were so long, and
/ came 70 hasten you. He's waiting IN the
/ parlor stili, he said In q malicious whisper
! You We my consent, for l ike him hugely;
I Only who would have thought Of finding a
4 husband in a mud puddleE
/ / slipped past my torment0r, prefering
I to face even my escort than 10 run the
gauntlet Of uncle 5 wit. 2nd was soon stam-
/ meriug my thanks TO Mr. TempletOn, for as
such my uncle. who followed me down, had
I introduced me.
To make short Of what else would be a
/ long story, what was said in jest turned
/ out 70 be IN earnest, for in less than six
months, in that very room. | stood up to
/ become Mrs Templeton How it oil came
/ about | hardly know, but certainly did find
1 a husband on that day. Harry-that is the
name By which l call Nr. Templeton-says
I entered the parlor transformed, my light
( blue tissue floating about me so much like a
| cloud wreath, my cheeks so rosy, my eyes 90
I bright, my curls playing such hide and seek
about my face, that not expecting such an
/ appariron. he lost his heart at once. He
[ adds-for he sill knows how to compliment
as well as eyer-that my gay, intelligent
/ talk, so different from the demGre Miss he
/ had expected, completed the business.
I Harry was the son of an old nsighbor, who
/ had been abroad for three years, and before
! that had been to college, so that | bad nev-
! CT seen him, but uncle remembered him at
/ cnce, and had insisted on his staying till /
came down, though Harry from delicacy
would have left after an inquiry about my
health. Ny uncle is cne Of those who will
not be put of, and so Harry remained: the
luckiest thing he says he ever did.
! Milo is my iavorite steed, for Harry broke
him for me; and We are as happy as the day
{ is long, for uncle insisted on our living with
( him. and | told him, at last, | would con
( sent If only to keep Poll Wilkes from cook
( ing bis dinner. TO which he answered,
/ looking at Harry; ''fou see what a spitGse
she is and you may bless your stars you
don't rue the day she went out TO find a
/ husband
/ LoRD TENTEEDEN wbo became Chief
! Justice Of the King Bench, was poor boy,
and the son Of a barber named Abbot His
+ success was due to failure when young to
3 -eAa -. . sk..rs.-