The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-04-16

stopped beside him. The boy held up &
paiir of boots in one hand and pair oi
socks in the other, aud just as tho widow
reached the gate again, he said
"Herc's 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 not mine"
"Why." said the boy, "ain't you the
man that had the race after the horse
just now ~
"No, sir, am not. You had better
90 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 a 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 a lovely evening" she said
"and so warm 1 don't think We want
the robe over us, do we ?"
You sec she had on q nice new dress
and q pair of new CATERS, and she wanted
to show them. 49,
"Oh, N.Y." said Bill, earnestly, "you'l
fad it chilly riding, and [ wouldn''
have you catch cold for the world"
She seemed pleased at this tender
care for her health, ano contented her
self with sticking one of her little feel
out. AS she did so long silk neck-tie
showed over the end of the boot.
"What is that, Mr.. Sniley--a neck
tn?'
YES" said he; Il bought it The
other day, l must have left it in tho
buggy. Never mind it,"
Then they went on quite a distance
he holding her hand in his, and won
dering 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 had, why his coat
was buttoned up so tightly on such
warm evening. and what made his face
and hat SO dirty, until they were going
down little hill and one Of the trace:
come unhitched. and they had to stop
oh, murder ! exclaimed Bill what
next ?
what is the matter, Mr.. Smiley :?
said the widow, with start, which
came very near jerking the robe oil his
knees.
'One of the traces is off, answered
he.
We'll, why don't you get out ard put
il on again 2
Il can't said Bill. 1--WE got--that
is, IL haven't got--oh, dear, I'm SC
sick What shall / do 2
why, Willie said she, tenderly
what is the matter? Do tell me
She gave his hand little squeeze
and looked into mis- pale face; she
thought he was going to faint, so she
got out 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 q
mighty sigh, and the punsent 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 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 tel
which. Bill was up in n moment, and
leaning over the back Of the seat, vas
humbly apologizing and explaining
when. Ed. Wilbur and his wife and
baby drove up behind and stopped.
Poor Bill felt that be would rather
have been shot than had Ed. Wilbur
catch him in such scrape, but there
was no help for it now. so he called I'd.
to him and whispered in his ear. Sd.
was likely to burst with suppressed
laughter, but he beckcncd his wife to
draw up, and, after saying something e.. to
her, he helped the widow out of Bills
buggy, and into his, and the two wo-
men went on, leaving the men behind.
Bill lost no time in arranging his
toilet as we'll as he could, and then with
great persuasion Ed got him to go
home with him, and hunting mp slippers
and socks, and getting him washed and
combed, had him quite presentablc
when tho ladies arrived.
| need not tell you how the story was
ali uormed out of bashful Bill. aud how
they all laughed as they sat around the
tea-table that night but will conclude
by saying that they all went to the show
together, and Bill had no fear of Gus
SOckridCr now.
Primary Elections.
II cooue I'm be generally conceded