The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-09-02

strained every nerve ne could mo-
touch the buggy or reach tbe line.
that were dragging on the ground.
After while his plug hat shool
off the sea, and the hind wheel wen
over it, MASKING it as fiat as pan
cake. Bill snatched ii as he ran, ane
after iamming his fist into it, stncl
it, all dssty and dimpled, on bi.
head. And now he saw the widow
house on the hill, Just as he reached
the tailboard of the buggy, over
which he hastily leaped, took his
place upon the seat, hurried on his
coat. buttoned it up to the chin. and
drew the robe closely about him. 1t
is needless to say that no unnecessary
time was lost, nor had Bill any 10
spare when the aggravating brute,
who could not sooner be induced
even to slacken his pace, stopped
conveniently in front of the house
As Bill did not offer to get out, the
widow obligingly wanted to see what
he wanted, and there she stood chat,
ting with her white arms on the top
Of the gate, and her face right toward
him, while the cold chills ran down
his shrtless back clear to his bare
feet beneath the buffalo robe, and
the water from his hair and the dust
from his hat had combined to make
some nice little streams of mud that
came ,riclling down his face.
She asked him to come in. No, he
was in 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 excuse
to make for not doing it himself.
Then he looked down the road be-
hind him and saw white-faced horse
coming, and at once surmised that it
was that of Gus. Stockrider. He re-
solved to do or die, and hurriedlv
told his errana The widow would
be delighted to 60, OF course she
would. But wouldn't he come in?
No, he was in hurry, he said; had
to 90 on 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 to-
morrow. Just wait second. till l
get my bonnet and shawl, and I'll
ride with you" And away she
skipped.
Thunder and lightningw said
Bill, "what scrape.' and he hastily
clutched his pants from between his
feet, and was preparing to wriggle
into them when light wagon, drawn
by white faced horse, driven bv a
boy, came along and stopped beside
him. The boy held pair Of boots
in one hand and 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 We're in swimming
"lou'pe mistaken said Bill,
"they're not NINE"
"Why," said the boy, "ain't you
the young man that had the race
after the horse Just now?"
mo, sir, am not! You had bet
ter go on about yonr business" Bill
sighed at the loss of his boots, and
turning to the widow, said:
"Just pick up the lines, will you,
please, this brute Of horse is always
switching them ont Of my hands. :"
The widow complied, and then he
pulled one corner Of the robe eau
tionsly down and she got in.
NV hat lovely evening" said she,
"and so warm ! don't think we need
the robe over us, do you?'
(You see she had on nice new
dress and pair Of new CATERS, and
she wanted to show them.
"Oh, my" said Bill earnestly,
"yoa'd find it chilly riding, and |
wouldn't have you catch cold for the
world.'
She seemed pleased at this tender
care for her health, aud contentel
herself with sticking one of her little
feet out with long silk necktie over
the end of it.
"What is that, Mr.. Smiley, a neck
tie? 20
eyes" said he, 81 bought il the
other day, and | must have left it in
the Buggy. Never mind it."
But" said she, "it was 50 care
less and STOPPING over she picked it
up, and made motion to stuff it in
between them.
Bill felt her hand going down, and
making a dive after it, clutched it in
his and held it hard and fast.
Then he went on quite a distance,
he still holding her hand in his and
wondering what he should do when
they got to Green's, and she won
dered why he did not say something
aice to her as well as squeeze her
hand and why his coat was buttoned
up so tightly on such a warm even
ing, and what made his hat so dirty,
until they were going down little
hill and one of the traces came un-
hitched, and they had to stop.
"Oh, murder"' exclaimed Bill,
"what next?"
"What is the matter, Mr.. Smiley
said the widow, with a start which
came near jerking the robe off his
knees.
"One of the traces is off, an
swered he.
swell, why don't you get out and
put it on?'
g! can't" said Bill, "I've got
that is, ! haven'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 little squeeze,
and looking into his pale face she
thought he was going to faint, so she
got out her smelling bottle with hel
left hand, and pulling the stopper
out with her teeth, she stuck it under
his nose.
Bill was just taking in breath for
mighty sigh, and the pungent odol
made him throw back his head SO fal
that he lost his balance and went
over the low back buggy. The little
woman gave little scream as hi:
bare feet flew past her head, ane
covering her face with her hands