The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-02-05

was in a hurry, he said-he had to go to
Mr.. Green's place.
'Oh," said the widow, ''you're going to
Green's, are you9 Why. was just going
there myself, to get one of the girls to help
me quilt. Just wait a second and I'll ride
with you" And away she skipped.
"Thunder and lightningr' said Bill,
'twhat scrapep' ard he hastily clutched
his pants from between his feet, and was
preparing to wiggle into them, when
light wagon, drawn by a white faced horse,
driven by boy, came along and stopped
beside him. The boy held up pair of
boots in one hand, and a pair of socks i'm
the other, and inst as the widow reached
the gate again, he said:
"Here's your boots and socks, M. Smi-
ley, that you left on the bridge while you
was in swimming
"You're mistaken said Bill /; ''they're
not mine"
"why," said the boy, ''ain't you the
man that had race after horse just
now?''
"No, sir /; am not? You had better go
on about yonr business
Bill sighed at the loss OF his good Sun
day 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, 'tand
so warm 1 don't think we need the robe
over us, do we 2''
new pair Of CATERS, and shet.wanted to
show them.)
'Oh, n.y." said Bill earnestly, ''you'n
find it chilly riding, and l wouldn't have
you catch cold for the world (Ie WAS
only blowing.)
She seemed pleased at his tender care
for her health, and contentrd herself with
sticking one of her little feet out, with a
| lorg silken necktie over the end of it.
"What is that, M. Smiley? A nccktie?'
eyes," said he al bought it the other
day, and 1 must have left it in the buggy.
| Never mind it,
''But," she said, ''it WAS so careless -
''and STOPPING over he picked it up" and
! made motion as if to stuff it in between
| them.
Bill felt her hand going down, and max
| ing sudden dive after it, clut ched it firm
ly in his hand and held it hard and fast
They then went on quite distance, he
still holding her hand and she wondering
why he did not say something 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
unhitched, and tLey had to stop.
ooh, murder!" said Bill, 'swhat next -
"What is the matter, Mr.. SmiIey?'' said
the widow, with a start that came very
near jerking the robe off his knees.
''One of the traces has come off?'' said
he.
"Well, why don't you get out and put il
on?''
81 can't said Bill, sT've got-tiat is
[ haven't got-oh, dear, I'm so sick. What
shall ! do2'
'Why, Willie" said she. tendeIly, "wha
is the matter? Do tell me- and she gave
u
his pale face, she thought he was going tc
faint; so she got out her smelling bottl,
with her left hand, and pulling tho stoppet
out with her teeth, she stuck it up TO hi
nose.
Bill was just taking in a breath for :
mighty sigh, and the pungent odor made
him throw back his head so far that he los
II I,f,
buggy. The little woman gave little
scream as his bare feet flew past her head
and covering her face with her hands. gave
way TO smiles or tears--it is hard TO tel
which. Bill was fright side up'' in a mo
ment, and was leaning over the back Of tho
seat humbly apologizine. when Ed Wilbur
with his wife and babe, drove up behind
and stopped. Poor Bill felt that he would
] rather have been shot than to have Ed
Wilbur catch him in such scrape, bu.
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 beckoned to his wife to draw
up, and, after saying something to her, I've
helped the widow out of Wills buggy into
his, and the two women went on, leaving
! the men behind.
Bill lost no time in arranging his toilet
as well as he could, and then with great
persuasion Ed. got him to go home with
i'm, and hunting up slippers and socks ard
getting washed and combed, had him quite
prosenta5le when the ladies arrived. |
need not tell how the story was wormed 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.