The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-08-18

III
could not go to the widows that night, so he
took a look up and down the road to see
that no one was in sight, and quickly un-
dressed himself, laying his clothes in the
buggy to keep them clean. Then he ran
around to the bank and waded into the
almost icy cold water; but his teeth did
not chatter in his head, he only wished they
could. Quietly he waded along SO as not
to stir up the mud, and when he got to the
right spot he dropped under water and
came up with the teeth in his hand, and re-
placed them in his mouth.
But bark What noise is that? A wagon
and little dog barking with all his might,
and his horse is starting. "Whoa whoa y
said Bill, as he splashed and floundered
out through mud and water. Confound
the horse. Whoa! Whoa Stop, you
brute, stop" But stop he would not, but
went off at spanking pace with the unfor-
tunate bachelor after him and the little dog
yelping after the bachelor. Bill was GER
tainly in capital running costume, but
though he strained every nerve he could
not touch the buggy or reach the lines that
were dragging on the ground. After
while his plug hat shook off the seat and
the hind wheel went over it making it as
flat as a pancake. Bill snatched it as he
ran, after jamming his fist into it, stuck
it, all dusty and dimpled, on his head. And
now he saw the Widows house ON the hill,
and what, oh what would he do | Then his
coat fell out and he slipped it on, and then
making a desperate squirt he clutched the
back Of the seat and scrambled in, and
pulling the buffalo robe over his legs,
stuffed the other things beneath. Now,
the horse happened to be one that he got
from Squire Moore, and he got it from the
widow, and he took it into his head to stop
at her gate, which Bill had no power to
prevent, as he had not the possession of the
reins; besides he was too busy buttoning
his coat up to his chin to think of doing
mnch else. The widow heard the rattle of
the wheels and looking out and seeing that
it was Mr.. Smiley, and that he did not
offer to get out, she went to the gate to see
what he wanted, and there she stood chat
ting, with her white arms on the top of the
gate, and her smiling face turned right to-
ward him, while the cold chills ran down
his shirtless back clear to his bare feet be-
meath the buffalo robe, and the water from
his hair and the dust from his hat had COM
bined to make some nice little streams of
mud that came trickling down his face.
She asked him to come in. No, he was
in hurry, he said. Still he did not offer
togo. He did not like to ask her to pick
what excuse to make for not doing it him
self. Then he looked down the road be-
hind him and saw q white-faced horse
coming, and, at once surmising that it was
that Gus Sackrider coming, he resolved to
do or die, and hurriedly told his errand.
The widow would be delighted to 60, of
course she would. But wouldn't he come
in. No, he was in hurry, he said had
to go on to Mr.. Green's place.
"Oh," said the widow, "you're going to
Mr.. Green's are youP Why, was just
going there myself to get one Of the girls
to help me quilt some. Just wait second
while get my bonnet and shawl, and I'll
ride with you." And away she skipped.
"Thunder and lightning p said Bill,
"what scrapeP' and he hastily clutched
his pants between his feet, and was pre-
pairing to wiggle into them, when light
wagon, drawn bya white-faced horse driven
by a boy, came along and stopped beside
bin. The doy held up pair of boots in
one hand and pair Of socks in the other,
and just as the widow reached the gate
again, he said:
Here's your boots and socks, Mr.. Smi.
ley, that you left on the bridge when you
were swimming"
"You're mistaken" said Bill, "they're
not mine"
Why" said the boy, "ain't you the
man that had the race after the horse just
now ?p
"No, sir, am not You had better &c
on about your business" Bill sighed ai
the loss of his Sunday boots, and turning
to the widow, said
Just pick up the lines, will you, please
this brute of horse is forever switching
them out of my hands" The widow com.
piled, and then he pulled one corner of the
robe cautiously down, and she got in.
"What lovely evening"" said She
"and SO warm, don't think we need the
robe over us, do we ?''
You see, she had on nice dress and q