The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-28

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might, an his horse is starting.
"Whoa !. whoa Stop you brute, You,
stop l.
But stop he would not, but went of at
spanking pace, with the unfortunate
! bachelor after him. Bill was certainly
in a capital 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 n
while his plug hat shook of the seat.
and the hind wheel went over il, making
il as HAT as q pancake. Bill Snatched II
as he ran, and after iamming his fist into
it, stuck il, all dusty and dimpled ON his
heai. And now he saw the widow :
house ON top OF the hill, and what, oh
what will he dOq Then his coat fell out
and he slipped il on, and then making "a
desperate squirt he clutched the back
of the seat and scrambled in. and pull
ing the buffalo robe over his legs.
stuffed the other things beneath. Now
the horse happened 10 be one he got
from Squire Moore, and he got IT from
the widow, and the animal took il into
his head to stop at her gate, which Bill
had no power TO prevent as he was too
busy buttoning his coat mp 30 his chin
20 think of doing much else.
The widow heard the attling OF the
wheels and looked out, and seeing that
il was Smiley and that he didn't offer 10
get out, she went ont 10 see what he
wanted, and there she stood chatting
with her white arms on the top of the
gate, and her face towards hlm, while
the chills ran down his shirtless back
clear 10 his bare feet beneath the buffalo
robe, and the water from his hair and
the dust from his hat had combined
10 make some nice little streams Of mud
that came trickhng down his face.
She asked him to come IN No, he
was in a hurry, he said. She did not
offer 10 GO He did not ask her 10 pick
MP his reins for him, because hs did not
know what excuse 10 make for not doing
50 himself. Then he looked down the
road behind him and saw a white-iaced
horse coming, aud at once surmised as
was that of Gus Sockrider He resolved
TO do or die, and hnrriedly told his er-
rand. The widow would be delighted to
go-of course she would. But wouldn't
he come in No, he was in hurry, he
said; and he would 60 on 10 Green's
place.
"Oh," said the widow, you're going
TO Green's, are you? Why, I'm going
there myself TO get one Of the girls to
help me quilt tomorrow. Just wait a
second while l get nv bonnet and shawl,
and I'll ride with you." Aud away she
skipped.
What a scrape," said Bill, and he
hastily clutched his pants from between
his feet, aud wriggled into them, when
a light wagon drawn by the white-faced
horse, driven by boy, came along and
stopped beside him. The boy held up
a pair OF boots in one hand and pair OF
socks in the other, and just as the widow
reached the gate again, he said:
Heres your boots and socks, Mr..
Smiley, that you left on the bridge when
you were in there swimming
"You're mistaken, said Bill; /" they
are net mine
"Why," said the boy, "ain't you
the man that had the race after the
horse, Just now p
"No, sir, / am not. You had better
go on about your business"
Bill sighed at the loss Of his Sunday
boots, and, turning to the widow. said:
Just pick up those lines, will you,
please? This brute of horse is always
switching them out Of my hands.
The widow complied he pulled one
corner of the robe cautiously down as
she got in.
what lovely evening"" she said
"and 80 warm / don't think we want
the robe over Us, do we ?"
You see che had on a nice new dress
and pair Of new CATERS, and she want
ed TO show them.
"Oh, my" said Bill, earnestly,
you'll find il chilly riding, and /
wouldn't have you catch cold for the
world"
She seemed pleased al this tender care
for her health, and contented herself
with sticking one OF her little feet out
As she did so long silk neck-tie showed
over the end of the boot.
What is that, Mr.. SmileY-a neck
tie?"
yes" said he; "I bought it the
other day, and must have left it in the
buggy. Never mind il.
Then they went on quite n distance,
he holding her hand in his. and wonder
ing what he should do when they got 10
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 on such warm eve
ming, and what made his face and hat 40
dirty, until they were going down little
hill and one Of the traces came unhitched,
and they had 10 stop.
"Oh, murder T. exclaimed Bill,
what next ?"
What is the matter, Mr.. Smiley 2"
said the widow, with a start, which came
very near jerking the robe off his knees.
lone of the traces is Of, answered
he.
"weII, why don't you get out and put
it on again p --
81 can't, F" said Bill. "I've got-that
is, II haven't got-oh, dear, I'm 80
sick ! What shall 1 do?'
"Why, Willie" said she. tenderly,
"what is the matter7 DO tell mel"
She gave his hand q little squeeze, and
looked into his pale face; she thought he
was going to faint, 80 she got ont her
smelling bottle with her left hand, and
pulling the stopper out with her teeth,
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, ana went over the low
back buggy.
The little woman gave a low scream
as his bare feet few past her head, and
covering her face with her hands, gave
way to tears or smiles--it is hard to tell
which. Bill was up in a moment, and,
leaning over the back OF the seat, was
humbly apologizipg and explaining,
when, Ed. Wilbur and his wife and baby
drove up behind and stopped.
Poor Bill felt that he would rather
have been shot than had Ed. Wilbur
catch him in such scrape,' but there
was no help for it now, 30 he called Ed.
to him and whispered in his ear. Ed.
was likely to burst with suppressed
laughter, but he beckoned his wife to
draw up, and, after saying something to
her, he helped the widow out of Bills
buggy and into his, and the two women
went on, leaving the men behind 4.
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