The Van Buren press., 1876-04-25

were dragging on the ground. After
a while his plug hat shook off the seat
and the hind wheel went over it making
it as fat as a pancake. Bill snatched |,
as he ran, and after jamming his fist into
it, stuck it, all dusty and dippled, on his
head. And now he saw the widows
house upon the hill, and what, oh what,
will he dol Then his coat fell out; he
slipped it on. and then makinga desper.
ate squirt, he clutchcd the back of the seal
and scrambled in, pulling the
buffalo robe over his legs and stuffed the
other thin beneath. Now the horse
happeddd to be one that he got from
Squire Moore, aud he got him from thu
widow, and he took il into his khead t.
stop at her gate which Bill had no powe
to prevent, as he had no possession 0
the reing, besides he was too busy but
toning his ecat up to his chin to think O
doing anything else. The widow hear,
the rattle of the wheels and looked out
and seeing that it was Smiley aud he die
not attempt to get out, she went to th,
gate to see what he wanted, and there sh,
stood, with her white arms on top of th'
gate and her face right towards him Will,
the cold chills ran down his shirtles.
back clear to his bare feet beneath tht
buffalo robe, while water from his hal
and the dust from his hat combined t.
make some nice little streams of mud
that came trickling down his face. Sh,
asked him to come IN. mo. he was In
a hurry" he said. Still he did not at
temptto 20 He did not like to ask hel
to pick up the reins for him, because he
did not know what excuse to make fol
not doing SO himself. Then he looked
down the road behind him and saw q
white faced horse coming. and at once
surmising that it was Gus Sockrider, be
resolved to do or die, and hurriedly told
his errand, The widow would be delight.
ed to go, of course she would. But
wouldn't he come in. No, he was in a
hurry he said. "he had to go to Mr.
Green's place"
"Oh," said the widow, you're going
to Green'n are your Why l was just 60
ing there myself to get one of the girls
to help me quilt more. just wait sec.
ond till get my bonnet and shall, and
will ride with you" And away she
skipped '"
Thunder and lightning!' said Bill,
and hastily clutched bis pants from he
tween his feet, and prepared to wiggie
into them, when a light wagon. drawn
by the white faced horse: ::.iriven by boy,
came along aud stopped beside him.
The boy held up q 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
yv-. w~Usn- n-s-s-....s,.rs,s.s's4 :
You're mistaken" said Bill, "they're
not mine ...t IL, -...a ...~a,e
. Why" said the boy" amt you the man
what had the race after the horse just
now?'
mo sir, am not. You had better
90 on aboutyour business Bill sighed
1t the loss of his Sunday boots, a. d turn
ing to the widow, said:
just pick up the lines, will you please (;
this brute ofa horse is forever switching
them out of my hands. THE widow com
piled, and then he pulled one end of the
robe cautiously down, and she got IN.
Whata lovely evening"" said she,
. and 80 warm | don't think we neod the
robe over US, do we?" .,.
You see she had on a nice dress and a
new pair Of CATERS, and she wanted to
show them.
"Oh, my ?" said Bill, earnestly, "you
will find it chilly riding. l wouldn't
have you catch cold for the world"
She seemed pleased with his tender
care for her health, aud contented her
self with sticking one of her little feet
out, with long silk necktie ovel the end
oft.
What is that, Mr. Smiley a necktie p
Yes" said he, ~ bought it the other
day, and must have left 1t in the buggy
Never mind it,"
But said she, at was so careless !"
and STOPPING over she picked it up, and
made amotion to stuff it between them.
Bill felt her hand going down, and ma.
king a dive after it, clutched it in his
hand and held it hard and fast. s.
Then they went on quite distance. he
still holding her soft little hand in his.
and wondering what he should do when
he gotto Green's and she wondered why
be didn't say something nice to her as
well as squeeze her hand, aud why his
coat was buttoned up 80 tightly on such
> warm evening, and what made his face
and hat so dirty, until as they were 60
ing down little hill, one OF the traces
came unhitched, and they had to stop.
30, murder!' said Bill, /" what next p
What is the matter, Mr.. Smiley =
asked the widow, with a start that came
very near jerking the robe Off his knees.
"One OF the traces is off," said he.
"Well, why don't you get out and pu,
it onp"
can't" said Bill; "I've got-thal
is ! havn't got-oh, dear, I'm 50 sick
What shall doY'
why. Willie" said she. tenderly,
- what is the matter do tell me-" and
looking into his pale face. she toought
he was going TO faint, so she got out her
bottle with her left hand, and
pulling the stopper out with her teeth,
she stuck it to his nose
Bill was just taking in his breath for a
mighty sigh, and the pungent odor made
lim throw back his haad so far that he
ost his balance and went over the low.
backed buggy. The little woman gave