The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-08-19

legs, stuffed the other things beneath.
Now the horse happened TO be one he
got of Squire Moore, and ne got 1t from
the widow, and he took 1t 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. The widow heard
the rattlng 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 sne STOOD
chatting with her white arms on the top
oil her gate, and her face toward him,
wi hile the chills ran down his shirtless
back clear to his bare feet beneath the
buffalo robe, and the water from his hair
and the dust from his hat mad combined
tu make some nice little streams OF mud
|>tnat came trickling down his face.
She asked him W come in. No, he was
in hurry, he said. Still he did not Of
fer to 20. He did not like to ask her to
pick up his reins for him, because he did
not know what excuse to make fore not
doing 1t himself. Then he looked down
the road behind him. and saw white.
faced horse coming, and at once sur
missed IL was that OF Gus. Sockriderl He
resolved to do or die, and hurriedly told
his errand. The widow would be de-
lighted 10 60, of course she would. But
wouldn't he come in. No, he was in q
hurry, he said, he had to go on to Green's
"Oh." said the widow; "you're going
to Green's, are your Why, l am going
there myself. to get one Of the girls to
help me quilt tomorrow. just walt a
and Pll ride with you" And away she
skipped.
"Thunder and ,lightningw said Bill,
"what scrapew and he mas tily clutched
his pants from between his feet, and was
preparing to wriggle into them, when q
ilght wagon drawn by the 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 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 were in swimming"
"Yowre mistaken," said Bill; "they
are not mine."
"Why," said the boy, saint you the
young man that had the race after the
horse just nOwW
"No, sir, am notl You had better 20
on about your business" Bill sighed at
the loss Of his Sunday boots, and, turn
ing to the widow, said: u
"Just pick up the lines, will you,
please; this brute Of a horse Is always
widow complied, then he pulled one
corner of the robe cautiously down as
she got in.
"What lovely evening"" said she,,
"and SO warm l don't think we want the
robe over u.s. do We?o
(You see she had on nice new dress
and pair Of new CATERS, and she want
ed to show them.)
son, myW said Bill earnestly, "you'll
find 1t chilly riding, and wouldn't have
you catch cold for the world"
She seemed pleased at this tender care
for her health, and contentsd herself
with sticking one of her little feet out
with a long silk necktie over the end of
it.
"What is that, Mr.. Smiley, neck
tieW
"Yes," said he, 'I bought it the other
day and must have left 1t in the buggy.
Never mind it,"
and STOPPING over she picked it up an d
made a motion to stuff it in between
them.
Bill telt her hand going down, and,
making dive after It, clutchsd it in his
and held it hard and fast.
They then went on quite distance, he
still holding her hand in his and wonder
ing what he should do when they got to
Green's, and she wondered why he did
not say something nice to her as well as
squeeze her hand, why his coat was but
toned up so tightly Oh such warm eve.'
ming, and what made his face and hat so
dirty, until they were going down lit
tie hill and one OF the traces came IN
hitched and they had to stop. ..
ooh. murderW exclaimed Bill, "what
"What is the matter, Mr.. Smiley ro
said the widow, with start which
came near jerking the robe off his knees.
"One OF the traces is off," answered he.
swell, why don't you get out and put
1t on"
II can't" said Bill; "I've got-that is,
I haven't got--on, dear, Pm 80 slckl
What shall doT
"Why, Willie," said she tenderly,
"what is the matter!' do tell me-" She
gave his hand little squeeze, and looked
into his pale face; she thought he was
going to taint, so she got out her SMELL
ing bottle with her left hand, and pull
ing the stopper out with her teeth, she
stuck it to his nose.
Bill was just taking in breath for a
mighty sigh, and the pungent odor made
him throw back his head SO far that he
lost his balance and went over the low
back buggy. The little woman gave a
low scream as his bare feet flew past her
head; and covering her face with her
hands gave way to tears Or smiles-it is
hard to tell which.
Bill was "right side up" in moment,
and leaning over the back of the seat
humbly apologizing and explaining,
when Ed. Wilbur and his wife and baby
drove up behind and stopped. Poor Bill
felt that he would rather haye been shot
than had Ed. Wilbur catch him in such
scrape, but there was no help tor it now,
80 he called Ed. to him and whispered in
his ear. Ed. was like to burst with sup
pressed laughter, but he beckoned to his
wife to draw up, and after saying some-
thing to her, he helped the widow out of
Bilps buggy and 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
him, and hunting up slippers and socks,
and getting him washed and combed,
had him quite presentable when the
ladies arrived. / need not tell you how
the story was all WOrmed out oi bashful