The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-13

started around the corner of the barn,
where ne had left Bill sweeping, and put
his ear to a knot.hole and listened, know
ing the bachelor had a habit of talking to
himself when anything worried him.
''Confound that young bagrider - said
Bill, ''what business uas he there, I'd
like to knowe Got q new buggy has he?
Well so have I. and new harness too
and / declare I've half mind to-yes,
will! I'll 20 this very night and ask her
to 20 to the show with me. I'll show Ed.
Wilbur that | amt such a calf as ne
thinks am, if did let old Watson get
the start of me in the first place!'
Ed. could scarce help laughing out
right, but he hastily hitched the bags on
his shoulder, and with low chuckle at
his success, started home to tell the news
to Nellie; and at five o'clock that even
ing they saw Bill go with his horse and
buggy, on his way to the widows. He
logged along quietly, thinking Of the old
singins-school days-and what pretty
girl Susan was then, and wandering in
ward]y if he would have more courage
now to talk up to hcr-until at dis
tance~ Of about mile from Jher house, he
came to-, a bridge, he gave tremendous
sneeze that blew his teeth out Of his
mouth, and clear over the dashboard, and
striking on the planks they rolled over
the side of the bridge, and dropped into
four feet Of water.
Words cannot do justice to poor Bill,
or paint the expression of his face as he
sat here-completely dumfounded at his
Startling piece of i'll luck. After while
he stepped out of his buggy, and getting
down on his hands and knees, looked
over into the water. Yes, there they
were, at the bottom, with crowd of little
fishes rubbing there noses against them.
and Bill wished to goodness that his nose
was as close for one second. His beauti-
full teeth that had cost him SO much, and
the show coming on, and no time to get
another set-and the widow and young
Sockrider. Well, he must try and get
them somehow-and no time to be lost,
for some one might come along and ask
him what he was fooling around there for,
He had no notion of spelling his clothes
by wading in with them on, and besides,
if he did, he could not 60 to the widows
that night, so he took look up and
down the road to see that no one was in
sight, and then quickly undressed him.
self, laying his clothes On the buggy to
keep them clean. Then he ran around
the bank and wadel into the almost ICY
cold water, but his teeth did not clatter
in his head-he only wished they COLD.
Quietly he waded along so as not to stir
the mud up, and when he got to the righ:
spot, he dropped under the water, and
come out with his teeth in his hand, and
replaced them in his mouth. But bark
What noise is that? A wagon, and dog
barking with all his might, and his horse
starting, "Whoa! whoa! Stop you
brute, you, stop!' But stop he would
not, but went off at spanking pace, with
the unfortunate bachelor after him. Bill
was certainly in capital running costume,
but, though he strained every nerve, he
could not touch the buggy or reach the
lines that were dragging on the ground.
After while his plug hat shook off
! the seat, and the hind wheel went over it.
making it fat as pancake. Bill snatch,
cd it as he ran. and, after tanning his
fist into it, stuck it, all dirty and rumpled,
on his head And now he saw the wild
owls house on top Of the hill, and what,
oh what will he do? Then his coat
fell out and he slipped it on, and then
making desperate squirt he clutchcd the
back Of the scat and scrambled in, and
pulling the buffalo robe over his legs,
stuffed the other things beneath. Now
the horse happened to be one he got OF
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 was too busy
buttoning his coat up to his chin to
think Of doing much else. Tie widow
F heard the rafting Of wheels and looked
out and seeing that it was Smiley, and
that he didn't offer to get out, she went
to see what he wanted, and there she
stood chatting with her white arms
on top of her gate, and her face toward
him, while the chills ran down his shirt
less back clear to his bare feet beneath
the buffalo robe, and the water from hi!
hair and the dust from his hat had com
, bined to make some nice little streams o.
! mud that came trickling down his face.
She asked him to come in. No, he
t was in a hurry, he said. Still he die
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 fol
q not doing it himself. Then he looked
\ down the road behind him and saw :
4 white-faced horse coming, and at one
n surmised it was that Of Gus Sockrider
y He resolved to do or die, and hurriedly
!, told his errand. The widow would b.
= delighted to 60, Of course she would. Blu
y wouldn't be come in. No. he was in
r hurry, he said; h. had to go on t
Green's place.
'"Oh," said the widow, you're going t.
Green's, are you? Why. I am goin