The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-09-03

hurry, he said. Still he did not Of
fer to go. He did not like to ask
her to pick up his reins for him, be-
cause he did not know what excuse
to make for not doing it himself
Then be looked down the road back
OF him, and saw a white-faced horse
coming, and at once surmised it was
that of Gus Sockridcr. He resolv.
to do or die, and hurriedly told his
errand. The widow would be de-
lighted to go, 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, "yop'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 a second while l
get my bonnet and shawl, and I'll
ride with you" And away she
skipped.
"Thunder and lightning !" said
Bill, "what a fix !" and he hastily
clutched his pants from between his
feet, and was preparing to wriggle
into them, when a light wagon,
drawn by white-faced horse, driv-
ed by boy, came along and stop
ped 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 reached the gate again,
he said
"Here's your boots and socks, Mr..
Smiley, that you left on the bridge
when you was in swimming"
"You are Mistaken" said Bill,
they are not mine"
"Why, said the boy, saint you
the man that had the race after the
horse just now ?"
"No sir, I am not. You had bet.
ter go 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 horsessis forev-
er switching them out of my hand
The widow complied, and thea he
pulled one corner Of the robe eau,
tiously down and she got in.
"What a lovely evening"" she
said, "and so warm l don't think we
need the robe over us, do we ?"
"Oh my!" said Bill earnestly,
"you'll fine it chilly riding, and l
wouldn't have you catch cold for the
world"
She seemed pleased at his tender
care for 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, Mr.. Smiley, neck,
tie?"
eyes," said he, "I bought it the
other day, and must have left it in
the buggy. Never mind it,"
"But," she said, sit was 80 care
less," and STOPPING over picked il
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 own and held it fast.
They had gone on quite dis
tance he still holding her hand in
his, and wondering what he should
do when they got to Green's, and
she wondering why he did not say
something nice to her as we'll as
squeeze her hand, and why his coa
was buttoned up 80 tight on such {
warm evening, and what made his
hat and face so dirty, until they were
going down little hill and one o
the traces came unhitched and they
bad to stop.
"Oh, murder - exclaimed Bill
"what next ?"
"What is the matter, Mr.. Smi
ley % said the widow, with star
which came near jerking the rob'
off his knees.
"One of the traces is off,"
"Well, why don't you get out ant
put it on ?"
'sI can't" said Bill give got
that is, l havn't got-oh dear, I'm
so sick What shall do ?"
"Why, Willie," said she tenderly
"what is the matter ? Do tell me.
She gave his hand a little squeeze
and looked into his pale face. Sh
thought he was going to faint, s,
she got out her smelling bottle witt
her left hand, and pulling the stop
pie out with her teeth, she stuck i
to his nose.
Bill was just taking in breath for
mighty sigh, and the pugnent odo
made him throw back his head s.
far that he lost his balance and wen
over the low backed buggy. Th
little woman gave little scream a
his bare feet went past her head, AM
covering her face with her hand
gave way to tears or smlles-it
hard to tell which.
Bill was "right side up" in mo
ment and was leaning over the bacl
of the seat humbly apologizing ant
explaining, when Ed Wilbur witt
his wife and baby drove up. Poo
Bill felt that he would rather hav,
been shot than have Ed WILDE
catch him in such a scrape, bu
there was no help for it now, so b,
called Ed to him and whispered i
in his ear. Ed was like to burst will
suppressed laughter, but he beckon
ed to his wife to draw up, and afte
saying something to her, be helped
the widow out of Bills buggy int,
his own, and the two women wen
on, leaving the men behind.
Bill lost no time in arranging hi
toilet as we'll as he could, and thel
with great persuasion Ed got Bill 4
go home with him, and hunting u,
slippers and socks, and getting hin
washed and combed, he'd him quit
presentable when the ladies arrived
I need not tell how the story was al
wormed out of bashful Bill, and hos
they all laughed as they sat aroun,
the tea table that night, but will cor
clude by saying that they went t.
the show together, and Bill has n
fear of Gus Sockrider now.