Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-03-23
After while his plug hat shook


off the seat and the hind wheel went
over il, making i, rs fiat AS pan
cake. Bill slat.h he'd ii aS he ran, and
after jalnnling his fist into it, all
dusty and dap. led, pat it on his
head. And now he saw the widows
house on the hill and what, oh, what
will he do! Then his coat tell out; !;
he slipped it on, and then making =,
desperate squirt he clutched the back
of the seat and scrambled III and
pulled the buffal" robe over his legs
and STUFFED the other things beneath.
Now the horse happened to be one
that he got from Squire Moore, and
he got it from The widow, aud he
took it into his head to stop at the
gate, and Bill had no power to pre-
vent, rs he had not possession Of the
relns, besides he was too busy but
toniny his coat mp t" his chin to
think of doing mucl else. The wild
ow heard the rattle Of the wheels
and looked out; seeing that it was
Smiley and that he did not attempt
TO get oui, she went 10 the gate to
sec what he wanted, and there she
stood with her arms on top OF the
gate, and face ri yht toward him;
while the cold chill ran down his
shirlless back clear to his bare feet
beneath the buffalo robe, and the
water from his hair and the dust
from his hat combined to make some
nice little streams of mud that came
lrickling down his face. She asked
him to come in.-"No," he was
in II hurry he, said. Still he did not
attempt to 60. lie did not like to
ask her 20 pick up the reins for him,
because he did not know what ex
cn>e to make for not doing SO him
self. Then he looked down the
.oid behind him, and saw a white
taccd horse coming, and ut once sur
missing that it was Gu, Snckrldcr
coming he rcsol, cd to do or die, and
hurriedly told his Grand. The wild
ow would be delighted to go, of
course she would. But wouldn't he
come IN? "No he WAS i'm hurrv,',
he said; had to go to Mr.. Green's
place.
son." said the widow, "you are
going to Mr.. Green's, are you:
Why, | was just going there myself
to get one OF the girls to help mt
IL tpll
get my bonnet and shawl, and III
rilc with you" And away she skip
ped
"rhunder aud lightning" sad Bill
"what Il scrape" and he hastily
clutchcd his pants and prepared Il
wriygle into them, when Il llgh
wagon drawn by the whifetac, 9
horse, driven by Il boy, came along
and stopped beside him. The boy
held up u pair Of boots in one han'
and Il par IF socks in the other, anC
st rs the widow reached the gate
again he said:
"Hrrc'> your boots and socks, Mr.
Smiley, that You left on the brldg'
when YOU was in swimming"
You're mistaken, SAID Bill, they'r
not mine"
"Why," said the boy, ";.int yol
the man that had the race after th'
horse u>t now"
'No sir, | am not. You had he,
ter 90 about your bus ness" Bill
sighed III the loss Of his Sunda,
boots, and turning to the widow
said:
Just pick up the lines, will you
please. This brute OF Il horse is for
ever switching them out of m!
hands" The widow complied, an'
he pulled one end of the robe eau
liou>ly down, and she got in.
"What Il lovely evening"" sad she
":md SO warm don't think We nee,
this robe over us do we?"
You see she had on a nice dres
and Il new nair of CATERS and want
ed To show them.
"Oh my" sad Bill earnestly, "yo'
Will find 1t chilly riding. | wouldn'
have you catch cold for the world.
She seemed pleased with the ten
der care for her health, and conten,
ed herself with sticking one of he
little ieet out with Il long silk ncvk
tie over the end Of it.
"What is that, Mr. Smiley, Il neck
tic?'
"Ye>," said he, 81 bought it th'
other day, and l must have left it il
the buggy. Never mind it."
"Bnl," said she, SIT WAS so care
less" and STOPPING over she plcke'
il up and made Il motion to stuff i
in between them.
Bill felt her hand going down, an
making 4 dive after it clutchcd it il
his and held it hard and fast.
Then they went on quite dis
tamcc, h still hollin. her soft han'
in his, and wondering what he Shoul'
do when they got to Green's, an'
she wondered why he diln't 81,
something nice to her as well Il
squeeze her hand, and why his Coz,
was buttoned up so tightly OH sucl
Il warm evening, and what made hi
face and hat 50 dirty, until rs the,
were going down Iillle hill one o
the traces came unhltched and the,
had to stop.
"Oh, mur'ler!" said Bill, "wha
next"
"What Is the matter, Mr.. Smiley
SAID the widow, with IL start tha
came very near jerking the robe OF
his knees.
"One Of the traces is off" said he
"Wcll, why don't you get out an'
put it on?'
IL can't" said Bill, "I've go, =
that is havn't g"t-oh, dear, I'm st
sick! What sAall do?"
"Why, Willie" she said, ,enl,rly
"what is the matter? do tell me,
and looking into his pale face Sh'
thought he was going to faint, Sc
she got out her smelling bottle Will
her left hand and pulling the stopper
with her .ec,h she s,nrk il to Iii
nose.
Bill was JUS, taking in breath fo'
Il mighty >i gh, and the pungcnt "do1
made him throw back his head st