Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-02-01

good clothes Dy Wadlng IN with them on,
and besides, if he did that he could not
go 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 himself, laying his clothes in
the buggy to keep them clean. Then
he ran around the bank and waded 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 his
teeth in his hand. and replaced them in
his mouth. But bark what noise is
that? A wagon, and little dog bark
ing with all his might, and his horse is
starting. ''Whoal Whoa! Stop, you
brute p But he would not but went
off at a spanking pace with the unfortu-
nate bachelor after him. and the little
dog yelping after the bachelor. Bill
was certainly in 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 a while his plug hat shook off
the seat and the hind wheel ran over it,
making it as fat as pancake. But he
snatched it as he ran, and after jaming
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,
what will he do Then his coat fell out.
he slipped it on, and then making des-
perate squirt, he clutched the back of his
seat and scrambled in. and pulling the
buffalo over his legs, stuffed the other
things beneath. Now the horse happen
ed to be one that he got from Squire
Moore, and he got it from the widow,
and he took it in his head to stop at her
gate, which Bill had no power to pre-
vent as he had not possession of the
reins, besides 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 out to the gate
to see what he wanted, and there she
stood chatting, with her white arms OIL
the top of the gate, and her face right
toward him, while the cold chills RAJ
down his shirtless back clear to his bar,
feet beneath the buffalo robe, and tht
water from his hair and the dust from
his hat had combined to make some mic,
streams of mud that came trickling dowl
his face. She asked him to come in
''No, he was in hurry" he said. Still
he did not offer to 60. He did not Tx
to ask her to pick up his reins for him
because he did not know what excuse t.
make for not doing it himself Then h
looked down the road behind and saw
white faced horse coming, and at one
surmised 1t was that of Gus Sockrider' S
He resolved to do or die, and hurriedl
told his errand. The widow would b
delighted to go, of course she would, bu
wouldnt t he come in. "No, he was in
hurry" he said "had to 20 on to Nj
Green's place.
'.Oh, said the widow. you're goiu
to Nlr. Green's are you? Why, / wa
just going there myself to get one of th
girls to help me quilt more. Just wa
a second while | get my bonnet an
shawl, and III ride with YOU An
away she skipped.
Thunder and lightning !" said Bill
> ''what a scrapel' p and he hastily clutc}
ed his pants from between his feet, an
+ was preparing to wriggle into then
when light wagon, drawn by the whit
faced horse, driven by boy, came alou
4 and stopped beside him The boy hel
e up pair OF boots in one hand, and
pair of socks in the other, and just
the widow reached the gate again, |
: said
5 Here's your boots and socks. NJ
e Smiley, that you left on the bridge whe
e you was in swimming
It YOU'RE mistaken" said Bill, 1.-THE
s are not mine.
: Why" said the boy. ''ain't you Il
: man that had the race after the hor
d just now ?'
d ''NO, sir, am not You had bett
c go about your business"
/ Bill sighed at the loss of his Sund;
n boots, and turning to the widow, said
a Just pick up those lines, will yo
1t please, this brute of horse is forev
e switching them out of my hands" II
d widow complied, and then he pulled o.
d corner of the robe cautiously down al
g she got IN.
ie "What lovely evening" said sh
e land 50 warm, | don't think we ne
the robe over us. do we ?''
Ii (You see she had on nice dress. al
le a pair Of new CATERS, and she wanted
At show them.)
sr 'oh. my !" said Bid earnestly, "y
ID will find 1t chilly riding, and | would
es have you catch cold for the world"
re She seemed pleased at his tender ca
I'd for her health. and coutented hers,