River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-11-08
A Bad Fix.


the horse at the-stable and drove around |
to the house for his wife. he got the es-
adjustment up to the curb by laborious
effort at the reins, but appeared 10 be
unable to do anything beyond that. He
sat there and waited for his wife TO come
out. He did not see her, nor could he
detect from the appearance of the front
of the house that she was seeing him, but
she ought to be. She knew he had gone
after the horse. and might reasonably be
expected every moment, so she ought TO
be on the watch for him. 1t suggested
itself to him that the horse could be
hitched, but there was nothing but atroe
to hitch to; besides Mr.. Coville had never
hitched a horse. Now while the most
inexperienced person can drive horse
on a straight road. he scarcely dares ven
ture into any of the little offices pertain
inc to its management having a fear of
an animal whose nature he does not un-
derstand. Mr.. Coville might have tied
this animal, undoubtedly, had there been
strap suspended from its neck for that
purpose. He had vague idea of a hitch
line, but he could not see any such article
in sight and he did not like to undertake
a performance with which he was unac-
quainted in full sight of the neighbors.
Their natural powers of observation
would be quickened by his unusual adj
vent with horse. So he sat there, and
said ssWhoa ~ and waited for his wife to
appear. And while he sac there he tried
to lcok as unconcerned as if it was daily
occurrence to him, but he had the inward
consciousness that he was making de-
cided failure of it. 1t was singular she
did not come. Five, ten minutes passed.
Not long period of time, but sufficient
to enable a man who has been married
number of years to think great va
riety of topics Immediately affecting the
companion of his joys and sorrows.
'eWhat would the neighbors Think" APP
peared to be the golden thread which
ran through and held these topics to-
gether.
Finally she appeared. She had caught
"a glimpse of him through window, and
fastened to the door.
''Hallo, is that your" she inquired, in
surprise.
1t appeared to be, and he as much as
admitted the same by Observing
"Where on earth have you kept your
self"
Mrs. Coville was ready in a moment,
and came to the carriage. 1t was natu-
raj that she should cast an apprehensive
glance at the horse, and take the precau-
ton to inquire, before getting into the
carriage, if he was sure 1t was not a
vicious animal Mrs. Coville was very
much frustrated by her hurry and by the
novelty of the occasion, and spoke with
agitation. 1t occurred TO Mr.. Covllle
that he should get out and help his wife
in, but being under an impression that
the animal was simply waiting for such
an opportunity to dash away md smash
the CARR lge, if not to break some OF Its
legs, he kept his place, and told her lthls
i in answer to her nervous inquiry that he
guessed he was no child about horse
Bv dint of some stout climberlng on heI
part and extraordinary pulling on his,
4 She was safely seated by his side. a
moment or more of time was then con-
sumed in righting herself, and then
started.
1t was a pleasant dav for a. ride. and
| the horse logged along in highly re-
spectacle way. MIR. Coville pointed out
the scenery to his wife, all of which she
showed an appreciation of by keeping a
close eve on the horse, and hanging on
to the carriage with both hands. Mr..
Coville discreetly kept on broad high
ways, little travelled and carefully avoid
ed turning sharp corners.
They were returning from Brookfield
and approaching the railroad track on a
down grade, when a locomotive whistle
sounded.
The animal pricked up its ears. Mrs.
| Covllle shrieked. Mr.. COville, with a
dreadful sensation of sinking in the pit
of his stomach, sternly rebuked her. The
horse was alarmed and evidently scented
the full extent of the danger. 1t backed
up the hill, cramping the carriage TO a
degree that threatened to over-turn it.
Mrs Coville emitted series of half sup
pressed screams.
"Shut upn' there's no danger" cried
Mr.. Coville, as he felt the hair on his
head starting up.
He sprang out of the carriage, and
caught the nervous animal by the head.
This movement was prompted by the
purest of motives, but it had an unhappy
effect on the horse, 1t danced around
more frantically than before, whipped
Mr.. Coville about in an exceedingly ac-
tive manner.
'sWhoa, whoa, horsey," cries Mr..
Coville, in a soothing voice and very
red face, while his unhappy wife added
excitement by her cries.
The rumble of the coming train could
be heard. The horse pranced up and
down, and swung his head in an alarming
manner. Mr.. Coville was an agony of
fear, and dripping with Precipitation.
whoa, whoa he shouted, as he felt
himself being whipped through the dust.
''Hold him, hold him y cried the fright
sned woman.
Mr. Coville was too frightened and too
much engaged to frame a suitable re-
Spouse to this senseless appeal.
A happy thought struck him. Mr..
Coville caught his breath at the shock.
He would direct the animals attention
from the cause of its fright. For this
purpose he took his pocket knife very
neat looking article with four blades,
and held it up so the horse could see it,
and think on its qualities. To MIR.
Covilles surprise the dreadful beast paid
no attention to it at all. He shook the
article in its face, but it had no appeas-
ing effect. Then he took out his cigar
case with a German silver band alt
aronnd it, and held it up to the animals
gaze, and even said, in winning voice,
''See horseyl Pretty horsey, seel
Bnt it was not pretty horse. On the
contrary, il was a low, depraved beast, |
and 1t pranced so high, and pulled so |
so hard that Mrs. Coville jumped out of /
the carriage as a means of self-preserva-
ton, and struck on her back, to the |
pertinent af her breath.
At this critical juncture stout farmer
come along, and reached the animal as
the train came in sight, and to this for
tunate arrival the safety of all parties was
due.
But Mrs. Coville wonld not get in the
carriage again, a determination which
she most vigorously expressed with the