Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-01

tleman continued. Sf*ht "a
Might he. The question TRANSPORTED
Jones to the heaven of the hours He STAN
mered something about being only too
happy, and was saved from making a
complete ass of himself by the arrival OF
the train.
Recovering himself, he handed the
| lady on board, where another piece OF
good fortune awaited him; the crowded
state of the car compelled him to sit by
his charges side, and the road was mar
row gauge. When it was building Jones
had gone with the broad-gauge party; he
saw his error now 81
For the next half hour DoX and the is
sues of the hour slipped from Jones mem,
Dry He had never struggled for popular
| applause as he now laid himself out to
win favor in the sight of a pair OF lustrous
| eyes, far ''lovelier in their strength than
| any Byron ever wrote of. Nor, he f1atter-
| ed himself, were his efforts wholly I'M
| availin@ His flashes of wit and gushes
| of sentiment were rewarded with more
| than one intoxicating smile and tender
| look that made him feel as though his en-
tire cuticle was rising into goose flesh"
At the end of thirty minutes the con
ductor sang out ''Sorghumdale,' Jones
would have sworn the minutes had been
seconds. Anxious to prolong the deli
cious moments, he escorted the charmer
| to the platform, which they barely reach
ed, when sudden faintness seemed, 0
| overcome the lady. Her step faltered, her
limbs tottered, and she must inevitably
have fallen had not Jones caught her.
His first impulse was to shout g Firer'
his second "Waterr' Before he could
do either, the bell rang, the whistle
shrieked, the locomotive snorted and the
train began to move. What was to be
done? If he failed to reach Tick-Knob in
season, after all his Wanting he would be
set down as an arrant potroon, and his
political cake heneeforth would be dough
He had no alternative but to drop his
burden and run, or to stand at his post till
help came, leaving the issues of the
hour - to take their own chances.
Jones was too much of a man to hest
tate. 1t was still early, and there might
be another train; it was possible to drive
to rick-Knob in a couple of hours. But
such an angel in distress.
When the train was fairly off. the lady
till then in dead faint-opened her
yes and looked up contidingly: at
Where am % she mul1nured
Safe in these arms!' was the assuring
answer
A modest blush mantled her cheek as
she made an effort to disengage herself
Don't-pray don't exert yourself !"
Jones pleaded. Permit me to carry you
If you only knew the pleasure [ feel
-in-n
You have my sincere thanks, sir" she
answered sweet y " but [ am really quite
over it. A mere attack of nervousness
nothing more. you will only lend me
your arm little way to a relatives, |
shall not trespass further on your kind
ness"
Jones was sure that she was not equal
to the effort. With his permission she
should prove it. Jones shook his head
She pointed the way, and took his arm.
He begged her to lean upon it, and they
walked on. .- .f. ..f.
At the relatives, after being warmly
thanked by the family and most charm
ingly by the lady herself, who was hurried
| OFT to lie down, Jones explained his pre-
dicament. He was Mr.. Jones, candidate
for Congress, against the -demagOgue
box, with whom he was under an engage,
ment to discuss the issues OF the hour"
at Tick-knOb, that day at ten O'Clock.
| Would there be another train in time?n
There was no train till three O'Clock.
Could private conveyance be had?
The relative would see, if Mr.. Jones
would take a seat. Most of the convey
ances in that line were in use, as nearly
everybody had gone to the "speakinc''
But he thought of friend who might be
able to accommodate him.
Nearly an hour elapsed before the friend
returned with a ricketv old sulky, drawn
by a 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 quarter of a mile the horse
did wonders He was an earnest looking
quadruped, evidently an animal Of tcna-
cious purposes-but Jones didn't expect
any suchlike speed. If it was backed by
corresponding bottom, he would reach
Tick-knob in ample time to demolish
box and brand his wife's sister-inlaw' s
sWindling brothcr-in-law with the ever
lasting infamy he deserved.
AT the end of the quarter hour the road
forl>ed; Jones way lay to the right; the
horse saw the path of duty on the left
Jones tugged one way, the horse set his
face the other. Jones coaXed the horse
was In1eNlDle. Jones S%0fc, IL WaS SIN
ming TO no purpose. 1t was nearly noon
and there were yet twenty miles to 90.
(Which way're yer agoing:' inquired
headed urchin in ventilation
troWsers-
ITO Tick Knob-blast you" The latter
clause to his horse.
Yer don't understand Jinglebones, "
said the boy. "He wants to go home, an
Wen he does Tiers only one way ter man
nidge i'm. Lemme show yer"
The boy took off his hat, and holding it
brim up, went to the right, calling:
Scope. COPE"
Attracted by imaginary oats, Jingle
bones turned in that direction, when the
boy adroitly clapped a thistle he had in
readiness under the crupper. 1t acted
like a charm. Jinglebones set off at full
gallOp- Jones heart bounded with de
light. He might yet be in time. If the
stimulating thistle only kept its place
| everything depended on that.
But the fates were against Jones At a
sudden turn the hub of the sulky struck a
| telegraph pole, and the whole concern
| spokes, felloes, axle and body-few to
pieces like the shell of a touchme-not
Jones was hurled head-first into a bricr
patch and before he could extricate him
self Jinglebones whom the shock had re-
lieved of his thistle, turned about and
cantered playfully homeward.
Jones gave it up. 1t was too late to