The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-09-19

Safe in these arms!" was the assuring
answer.
"Don't-pray don't exert yourselfn'
Jones pleaded. ''Permt me to carry you
if you only knew the pleasure l feel -
in"
"You have my sincere thanks, sir"
she answered swcctly; "but | am really
quite over it, A mere attack of nervous
ness nothing more. Ifyouwill only lend
me your arm little way to relatives |
shall not trespass further on your kindness"
John was sure she was not equal to the
effort. With his permission she should
prove il. Jones shook his head. She point
ed the way and took his arm. He begged
her to lean upon it, and they walked on.
At the relatives, after being warmly
thanked by the family and most charming
ly by the lady herself, who was hurried Off
to lie down, Jones explained his predica-
ment. He was Mr.. Jones, candidate for
Congress against the arch, demagogue, Dox,
with whom he was under an engagement to
discuss "the issues of the hour" ut Tick
Knob, that day at ten O'clock. Would
there be another train in timef
There was no train till three o'clock.
Could private conveyances be had
The relative would see, if Mr.. Jones
would take scat. Most of the conveyance
es in that line were in use, as nearly every
body had gone to the speaking" But
they thought of a friend who might be able
to accommodate him.
Nearly an hour elapsed before the friend
returned with a rickety old sulky, drawn
by lanky horse, whose sire might have
been Rosinante, and his dam-well, he
hardly looked to be worth one. 1t was the
best that could be done, however, and no
time was to be lost.
Jones mounted the seat and took the
lines. For a quarter of Il mile the horse
did wonders. He was an earnest looking
quadrupcd, evidently an animal of tena-
cious purpose. Jones didn't expect any
such like from him. If it was backed by
corresponding bottom, he would reach
Tick Knob in ample time to demolish Dox
and brand his wite's sisterin-law's swind-
ling brother-in-law with the everlasting
intamy he deserved.
At the end of the quarter-hour the road
forked. Jones's way lead to the right the
horse saw his path Of duty to the left
Jones tugged one way, the horse set his
face the other. Jones coaXed. The horse
ming to no purpose. 1t was nearly noon,
and there were yet twenty miles to go.
(Which way yer going?" inquired a
shock headed urchin, in ventilation trow-
sCrs.
"To Tick, Knob-blast your The lat
ter clause to the horse.
Eyer don't understand nglebones," said
the boy. "IIe wants to go home, an when
he does there's only one way ter manage
him. Let me show yer"
The boy took off his hat, and holding it
brim up, went TO the right, calling:
Scope! Cope"
Attracted by imaginary oats, ingleboncs
turned in that direction, when the boy
adroitly claprcd u thistle he had in rcadi-
ness under the cruppcr. 1t acted like a
charm. Jinglcbones set off at full gallop.
Jones' heart, bounded with delight. He
might yet be in time. If the stimulating
thistle only kept its place--everything de-
pended on that.
But the fltC5 were against Jones. At
sudden turn the hub of the sulky struck q
telegraph pole, and the whole concern
spokcs, tcIlocs, axle and body--tlew to
pieces like the shell ola touch me- not
Jones was hurled head first into briar
patch, and before he could extricate himself
Jinglcboncs, whom the shock had relieved
of This thistle, cantered placidly home
ward.
Jones gave it up. 1t was too late to
think of going forward. lie would walk
back and tell the fair creature he had left
all he had suffered for her sake, trusting to
her generosity to reward his devotion. On
second thought he would wait till evening
The lady would probably keep her room
till then, and it would be against etiquette
to disturb her.
Turning into the fields, he sought quiet
spot for meditation. He tried to imagine
what DoX was saying at that moment. Had
he known that just then the reputation of
the unfortunate half-sister of his step-fath-
er's uncle's aunt's cousin by marriage was
being ruthlessly assaulted, and his own alb
sence attributed to sneaking fear ofmeet-
ing that and any other tissues of the hour"
he would probably have felt even less COM
Portable than he did.
On his way back he skirted through tho
lanes and by-paths, carefully avoiding the
public road, now, thronged with people re-
turning from the meeting. AS he listened
to their cheers for DoX and groans for
Jones his heart sank. 1t revived little
es he thought of the consolation ahead.
His destination reached he rang the door
bell.
Could he see the lady he had left there in
the morning2
He could. Would he please step in.
There she was, rs lovely as ever. The
same matchess eyes, the same heavenly
smile. But stay who is that she's about
to introduce
Dox by all that's diabolical
"My husband, Mr. JONES'" said the sweet
voice that had 80 charmed him in the morn
ing, and so diabolcally deluded him.
Jones rushed from the house with fer
vent curse on Jinglebones for not breaking
his neck. OF course DoX carried the dis
trict 10y acclamation, and Jones left to
avoid being laughed out of it. He went
into the shoe-peg business, made fortune,
and now thanks his stars at having escaped
a politicians fate.
The obliging relative, we forgot to OK
plain, was no other than the wretch who
sold sand in his sugar.
Jones we may add, is still bachelor.