The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-07-10

IL ds Hal as q PstAl can't Dill
snatched it as he ran, and after jamming
his fist into it, struck ii, all dusty and
dimpled, on his head. And now he saw
the windows house on the hill, and
what, oh what will he dol Then his
coat fell out; he slipped it on, and ma
king 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 possession of the reins, besides he
was too busy buttoning up his coat to
his chin to think of doing much else
The widow heard the rattle of the
wheels and looked out, and seeing that
it was Smiley, and that he did not offer
to get out, she went to the gate to sec
what he wanted, and there she stood
chatting with her white arms on the top
of the gate, and her face right toward
shirtless back clear to his bare feet be-
meath the buffalo robe, and the water
from his hair and the dust from his hat
combined to make some nice little
streams of mud that came trickling
down his face. She asked him to come
In. No, he was in a hurry, he said
Still he did not offer to go. He did not
like to ask her to pick up his reins for
him, because he did not know what ex-
cuse to make for not doing it himself
Then he looked down the road behind
him and saw a white faced horse coming,
/ and at once surmisIng that it was Gus
Sackrider's, he resolved to do or die, and
hurriedly told his errand. The widow
would be delighted to go, of course she
would. But wouldn't he come in. No
he was in hurry; he had to go to Mr..
Green's place.
"Oh," said the widow, you're going to
| Green's are you? Why, was just going
there myself to get one of the girls to
help me quilt some. just wait few
seconds while get my bonnet and shawl
and I'll ride over there with you" And
away she skipped.
Thunder and lightning" said Bill
''what scaapep' and he hastily clutched
his pants from between his feet, and was
preparing to wriggle into them, when
light wagon, drawn by the the white
faced horse, driven by boy came along
and stopped beside him. The boy held
up a pair of boots in one hand and a
pair of socks in the other, and just as
the widow Watterson reached the gate
again he exclaimed:
Here's your boots and socks, Mr.
Smiley, that you left on the bridge
when you was in Swimming"
you're mistaken" said Bill, "they'rs
not mine"
why" said the hoy, "aint you the
man that had the race after the horss
just now?" "No, sir, I am not! Yor
had better go on about your business
Bill sighed at the loss of his good Sun
day boots, as turning to the widow he
said:
"Just pick up the lines, will you
please; this brute of horse is forevel
switching them out of my hands,"
The widow complied, and then h
pulled one corner of the robe eautiousl,
down and she got in.
"What lovely evening"" said she
and so warm I don't think we need tn
robe over us, do we2"
You see, she had on a nice dress an'
a pair of new CATERS, and she wanted t
show them.
"Oh myw said Bill, earnestly "youl
find it chilly riding; wouldn't hav
you catch cold for the world"
She seemed pleased at this tender car
for her health, and contented hersel
with sticking one of her pretty little fee
out, with long silk necktie across tn
end of it.
"Why, what is that, Mr.. Smiley,
, neck-tie?"
"Yes," said he, az bought it the othe
day, and must have left it in the bug
! gy. Never mind it."
"But," she said, ait was so careless;
and STOPPING over she picked it up an
made motion as if to stuff it betwee
| them.
Bill felt her hand going down, an
making a dive after it, clutched it
his and held it hard and fast.
Then they went on quite distanc
. he still holding her soft little hand
his and wondering what he should
when they got to Green's, and she wol
dering why he did not say somethir
a nice to her as we'll as squeeze her han'
and why his coat was buttoned up :
tightly on such a warm evening, an
\ what made his face and hat so dirty, ul
a til as they were going down little hi
4 one of the traces come .unhitched an
r they had to stop.
d 30 murderl' said Bill, "what next
), "What is the matter, Mr.. Smiley?"-
g said the widow with a start that can
d near jerking the robe off his knees.
vt "One of the traces is off," said he.
It "Well; why don't you get out and p
l. it on?''
70 81 can't" said Bill; ave got-that
70 haven't got-oh, dear, I'm 80 sick.
W What shall dor"
st "Why, Willie," said she, tenderl
70 "what Is the matter? do tell me" al
le she gave his hand little squeeze, al
lg looking into his pale face she thong
Of he was going to faint, 30 she got out h
in smelling bottle with her left hand, Al
at pulling the stopper out with her tee
at she stuck it to his nose.
IN Bill was taking in breath for
It, Sigh, and then the pungent odor ma
Il, him throw back his head so far that
ep lost his balance and went over the /
he backed buggy. The widow gave
Id tie scream as bis bare feet few past
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