The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-05-29

into the almost icy cold water, but his
teeth did not chatter in his head-he only
wished they could. Quietly he waded
along so as not to stir up the mud, and
when he got to the right spot he dropped
under the water and came up with the
teeth in his hand, and replaced them in his
mouth. But hark! What noise is that
y wagon, and a little dog barking with all
his might, and his horse is starting
Whoa! Whoa! Stop, you brute you,
stopr' But stop he would not, but went
off at spanking pace with the unfcrtu-
nate bachelor after him, and the little dog
yelping after the bachelor. Bill was Ger
tainly in capital running costume, but
though he strained every nerve, he could
not touch the buggy or reach the lines that
were dragging Oh the ground.
After awhile his plug hat shook off the
seat, and the hind wheel went over it, max
ing it as flat as pancake. Bill snatched it
as he ran, and after jamming his fist into
it, stuck it, all dusty and dimpled, on his
head. And now he saw the widows house
on the hill, and what, oh, will he do! Then
his coat fell out, he slipped it on, and then
making desperate squirt he clutched the
back of the seat and scrambled in, and
pulling the buffalo robe over his legs, stuff
ed the other things beneath. Now the
horse happened to be one he got from
Squire Moore, and he got it from the widow,
and he took it into his head to stop at her
gate, which Bill had no power to prevent,
as he had not possession of the reins, be-
sides he was too busy buttoning his coat
up to his chin to think of doing much else.
The widow heard the rattle of the wheels
and looked out, and seeing that it was
Smiley, and that he didn't offer to get out,
she went to the gate to see what he want
ed, and there she stood chatting with her
white arms on the top of the gate, and her
face right toward him, while the cold chills
ran down his shirtless back clear down 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
streams of mud that came trickling down
his face. She asked him to come in. No,
he was in a hurry, he said. Still he did
not offer to 60. He did not like to ask her
to pick up the reins for him, because he
did not know what excuse to make for not
doing it himself. Then he looked down
the road behind him and saw white-faced
horse coming, and at once surmised it was
that of Gus. Sockrider! He resolved to do
or die, and hurriedly told his erraud. The
widow would be delighted 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; "you're going
to Green's, are you9 Why, l was just
going there myself to get one of the girls
to help me quilt more. Just wait second
while l get my bonnet and shawl, and I'll
ride with you" And away she skipped.
"Thunder and lightningr' said Bill,
"what scraper and he hastily clutched
his pants from between his feet, and was
preparing to get into them, when light
wagon, drawn by the white faced horse,
driven by a boy came along. and stopped
beside him. The boy held up 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.. Smi-
ley, that you left on the bridge when you
was swimming"
"You're Mistaken said he, "they are
not mine"
why" said the boy, CANT you the
man that had the race after the horse just
now?"
"No sir, am not. You had better 60
on about your business"
Bill sighed at the loss Of his Sunday
boots, and turning to the widow he said:
"Just pick up the lines, will you please;
this brute of a horse is forever switching
them out of my hands"
"What lovely evening"" said she, sand
so warm, don't think we need the robe
over US, do we?'
You see she had on nice dress and
new pair Of CATERS, and she wanted to
show them.
"Oh, my"' said Bill, earnestly, "you
will find it chilly riding, and l wouldn't
have you catch cold for the world"
She seemed pleased at his tender care for
her health, and contented herself with
sticking one of her little feet out with
long silk necktie over the end of it.
What is that, Mr.. Smiley, necktie ?"
eyes," said he, 81 bought it the other
day, and must have left it in the buggy.
Never mind it,
But" said she, cit was so careless
and STOPPING over she picked it up, and
made motion to stuff it in between them.
Bill felt her hand going down, and max
ing dive after it, clutched it in his and
held it hard and fast.
Then they went on quite distance, he
still holding her hand in his and wondering
what he should do when they got to Green's,
and she wondering why he didn't say
something nice 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
they were going down little hill and one
of the traces came unhitched and they had
to stop.
sob, my" exclaimed Bill, "what next?''
"What is the matter, Mr.. Smiley ?" said
the widow, with start which came near
jerking the robe off his knees.
"One of the traces is off," answered he
"Well, why don't you get out and put
it on? ?"
81 can't" said Bill; GIVE got-that is,
l haven't got-oh, dear, Pm SO sick
What shall l do?''
"Why, WILL said she tenderly, "what
is the matter, do tell me" she gave his
hand a little squeeze, and looking into his
pale 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, md the pungent odor made
hin, fbro,v h,o bic had 70, That h,