The Placer herald., 1874-06-06
AUBURN. PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, JUNE g. 1874.

scrape! and he hastily clutched his pants
from between his feet, and was preparing to
wriggle into them, when light wagon drawn
by white face horse, driven by boy came
along and stopped beside him. The boy
held up pair Of boots in one hand, pair Of
socks in the other, and just 40 the widow
reached the gate again he said,
Here's your boots and socks, Mr. Smiley,
that you left on the bridge while you was in
swimming"
you're mistaken said Bill, "theyre
not mine."
"Why," said the boy, "ain't you the
man that had the race after the horse just
nowp" stassas't.s. f.s..l.sss
"No sir, l am not You had better 60 on
about yonr business" Bill sighed at the
loss of his good 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 a
pair of new CATERS, and she wanted to show
them
"Oh, myv said Bill, earnestly, "you'll
find it chilly riding, and | wouldn't have you
catch cold for the world"
She seemed pleased at his tender care
for her health, and contented herself with
sticking one of her little feet out with long
| oiIly nocl tio ovor tbo opJ of -
"What is that, Mr.. Smiley, necktie?"
eyes" said he, 81 bought it the other
day, and must have left it in the buggy.
Never mind it."
"But," she said, "t was so careless; and
STOPPING over she picked it up and made a
motion to stuff it in between them"
Bill felt her hand going down, and making
a dive after it, clutched it in his, and held il
hard and fast
Then they went on quite distance, he
still holding her hand and wandering wha
he should do when they got to Green's, and
she wondering why he did not say something
nice to her as well as squeeze her hand, and
why his coat was buttoned up SO tightly on
such a warm evening, and what made his hat
and face so dirty, until one of the traces came
unhched and they had to stop.
90, murderw said Bill, what next?"
What is the matter, Mr.. Smiley?" said
the widow, with a start that came near jerk
ing the robe off his knees.
Zone of the traces is off, said he.
"Well, why aaa's you got out and put il
on?'
81 can't, said Bill; I've got-that is,
haven't got--oh, dear, I'm so sick! " ha
shall do?"
"Why, Willie" said she tenderly, wha
is the matter2 do tell me-" she gave hi
hand little squeeze, and looking into hi.
pale face she thought he was going to faint
SO she got out her smelling bottle with bel
left hand, and pulling the stopper out witt
her teeth, she stuck it to his nose.
Bill was just taking in breath for mig hty
sigh, and the pungent odor made him throw
back his head SO far that he lost his balance
and went over the low backed buggy The
little woman gave little scream as his bare
feet flew past her head; and covering hel
face with her hands gave way to tears o,
siniles-it is hard to tell which. Bill was
" right side up" in a moment, and was lean
ing over the back of the seat humbly apollo
giving and explaining. when Ed. Wilbur witt
his wife and baby, drove up behind and
stopped. Poor Bill felt that he would rather
have been shot than have Ed. Wilbut catch
him in such sctape, but there was no heF
for it now, so he called Ed. to him and whis,
pered it in his ear.
Ed was like to burst with suppressed
laughter, but he beckened to his wife te draw
up, and, after saying something to her, he
helped the widow out OF Bills buggy and in-
10 his, and the two women went on leaving
the men behind. Bill lost no time in ar.
ranging his toilet as we'll as he could, and
then with great persuasion Ed. got him to &C
home with him, and hunting up slippers and
socks, and getting him washed and combed
had him quite presentable when the ladei
arrived. need not tell how the story was al
wormed out of bashful Bill and how they al
laughed as they sat around the teattable tba
night, but will conclude by saying that they
went to the show together, and Bill has nc
fear of Gus Sockrider now.
This is the story about Bill and the widow
just as had it from Ed. Wilbur, and if ther'
is anything unsatisfactory about it ask him