Connecticut western news., 1874-07-24
the widow reached the gate again, he

said
 "Here's your boots and socks, Mr. Smiley, 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 ?"
 "No, sir, I am not You had better go on about your business" Bill sighed at 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 complied, and then he pulled one corner of the robe cautiously down, and she got in.
 What lovely evening"" said she, "and so warm I don't think we need the robe over us, do we?
 (You see, she had on 8 nice dress and a pair of new gaiters, and she wanted to show them.)
 ooh, my !'' said Bill, earnestly, "you'll find it chilly riding, and I wouldn't have you catch cold for the world"
 She seemed pleased at his tender care for her health, and contented her. self with sticking one of her little feet out, with long silk neck-tie over the end of it.
 "What is this, Mir. Smiley @ neck tie ?"
 "Yes, I bought it the other day, and I must have leftit in the buggy. Never mind it."
 "But," she said, "it was so care- less," and stepping over picked it up and made motion to stuff it between them.
 Bill felt her hand going down, and making 8 dive after it clutched it in his and held it hard and fast.
 Then they went on quite distance, he holding her soft little hand in his and wondering what he should do when they got to Greens, and she wondering he did not say something nice to her as we'll as to squeeze her hand, aud why his coat was buttoned up so tightly on such warm evening, and what made his face and hat so dirty, until as they were going down 8 little hill one of the traces came unhitched and they had to stop.
 70 murder 1" said Bill, what next !"
 "What IS the matter, MT. Smiley ?" said the widow, with start that came near jerking the robe off his knee.
 cone of the traces is off" said he.
 'Well, why don't you get out and put it on ?" .....
 II cant, j." said Bill; "I've got-that is, I haven't got-oh, dear, I'm so sick. What shall do ?"
 "Why, Willie," said she tenderly, "what is the matter, do tell me?" and she gave his hand little squeeze, and looking into his pale and troubled face, she thought he was going to faint {; so she got out her smelling bottle with her left hand, and pulling the stopper out with her teeth she stuck it to his nose.
 Bill was just taking in breath for a mighty 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 8 little scream as his big bare feet flew by her head and covering her face with her hands gave way to tears or smiles it was hard to tell which. Bill was "right side up" in minute and was leaning over the back of the seat hum- bly, apologizing and explaining, when Ed. Wilbur and his wife and baby drove up behind and stopped. Poor Bill felt that he would rather have been shot than have Ed. Wilbur catch him in such s scrape, but there was no help for it now, so he called Ed. to him and whispered in his ear. Ed. was like to burst with suppressed laughter, but he beckoned to his wife to drive up, and after saying something to her, he helped the widow out of Bills buggy into 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 go home with him, and hunting up slippers and socks and getting him washed and combed, had him quite presentable when the ladies arrived. I need not tell how the story was all warmed out of bashful Bill, and how they all laughed as they sat around the tea-table that night, but will conclude by saying that they went to the show together, and Bill has no fear of Gus Sackrider now.
 This is the story about Bill and the Widow as I had it from Ed. Wilbur, and if there is anything unsatisfactory about it, ask him. -.--....