The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-09-05
Selert Storg.
AN UNPLEASANT RIDE.

IA AN UNfLEhOANI hlDh'
j Wife, said Ed. Wilbur one morning
Ne sat stirring his coffee with one hand
ID holding plum cake ON his knee
ID the other, and looking across the
BE into the bright eyes of his neat lit
4 wife, "wouldn't It be good joke to
q Bachelor Bill Smiley to take Widow
btson to Robinson's show next week 2"
You cant do it, Ed; he won't ask
he's SO awful shy. Why he came by
the other morning when was hang
q out some clothes, and he looked over
81 fence and spoke, but when | shook out
uight gown he blushed like girl and
20 away"
q ] think | can manage it, said Ed. ;
Ia I'll have to lie just little. But
~, il wouldn't be much harm under the
|.enmstances, for know she likes him
|s he don't dislike her but, as you say,
shy. I'll just go over to his place to
6rrow some bags Of him, and if | don't
S6 him before | come back, don't kiss
IS Tor week, Nelly"
saying Ed. started, and while he is
ring the fields We take look at Bill
Lay. lie was rather a good looking
I|ow, though his hair aud whiskers
.csed some grey hairs, and he had got
set Of artificial teeth, But every one
y he was a good soul and so he was.
bad as good hundred acre farm as
IS in Norwich, with new house and
1|rything comfortable, and if he wanted
&ife, many girl would have jumped at
chance like rooster at grasshopper.
b was so basaful-always was-and
6cn Susan Berrybottle, that he was sweet
+ Though he never said "boo" to herr
q married to old Watson he just drew
head, like mud turtle, into his shell,
q there was no getting him out again,
|pugh il had been noticed that since Su-
y had become widow he had paid more
sention to his clothes and had been very
|gular in his attendance ut the church
BIT the fair widow attended.
\ |" But here comes Ed. Wilbur"
h Good morning, Mr.. Smiley II
h Good morning, Mr.. Wilbur. What's
news your way?
N Oh, nothing particular, that | know
said Ed, "only Robinson's show that
erybody and his girl is going to. Twas
b to old Sackrider's last night, and l
| bis son Gus has got new buggy and
scrubbing up his harness, and he's
that white faced colt of his slick as n
understand he thinks Of taking
Widow Watson to the show. He's
, hanging round good deal Of late,
I'd Just like to cut him out, l would.
BIZ is nice little woman and deserves
stter man than that young pup Of
bw, though / wouldn't blame her much
6er il she takes him, for she must be
pdful lonesome, and then she has to let
farm out on shares and 1t isn't half
ked, and no one else seems to have
PIX enough to speak up to her. By
ol If | were single man I'd show
trick or two
% saying, Ed. borrowed some bags and
&rted around the corner Of the barn,
5ere he had left Bill sweeping, and put
ear to knot hole and listened, know
a that the bachelor had habit of talk
to himself when anything worried him.
Confound that young Bagriderl" said
D, "what business has he, then, I'd like
know? Got new buggy, has hep
'sll, so have |, and new harness, too
b his horse can't come in sight of mine;
8 | declare I've half mind to---Yes, |
y! I'll go this very night and ask her
30 to the show with me. I'll show Ed.
Filbur that ! ain such calf as he thinks
am, if did let old Watson get the start
me in the first place !"
Ed. could scarce help laughing outright,
at he hastily hitched the bags on his
BOULDER, and with low chuckle at his
,ccess, started home to tell the news to
ely; and about FIVE O'Clock that evening
hey saw Bill go by with his horse and
uggy on his way to the widows. He
'gged along quietly thinking of the old
nging school days-and what pretty
ri Susan was then--and wondering in
ardly il he would have more courage now
} talk up to her, until at distance of
bout mile from her house he came to
ridge--over large crcek-and it SO hap
ened that just as he reached the middle
the bridge he gave tremendous sneezc,
nd blew his teeth out of his mouth, aud
ear over the dashboard, striking on the
lanks they rolled over the side of the
ridge and dropped into four feet Of
ater
Words cannot do justice to poor Bill,
paint the expression Of his face as he
i there completely dumiounded at this
artling piece of III luck. After while
. stepped out Of the buggy, And getting
his hands and knees looked over into
Ne water. Yes, there they were, at the
nttom, with crowd Of little fishes rub
inc - -