The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-08-06
IN a MUD PUDDLE.
Or. Where She Found u Husband.

=
"Unclc, may | ride Milo:n | said. one
bright June morning, as he sat at the
breakf:tst-table.
"Rdc AIilor' said he.
"1es," said l. ''It's such . fine day
/ ''But he'll throw you!' said my uncle.
''Throw met and [ laughed ncrrily
and ineredulously, "say yes, dear Uncle, y
| continued, coaxinglVi there's no fear,
and I'm dying For a eantcr.
s'You'll die on a canter, them" he re-
torted, with his grim wit, ''for he'll break
your neck. The horse has only been rid
den three times-twicc by myself, and
once by joe"
''But you've often said I was !, better
| rider than joe. Joe wae the stable-bov
''That's a good ,,,acle, how do And |
threw MY arms about his neck and kissed
him.
| | knew by experience that when | did
this generally carried the day. Ny UNI
/ Gle tried to look stern, but saw he was
relcnting. He made a last effort 10 deny
mc.
! "Why not take Dobbin?' said hu:
| ssDobbin!" / cried; 'eld snail-paccti
Dobhin, on such morning as this. One
/ might AS we'll ride a rocking horse at once, =
{ "Wcll, WELL" said he, ''if | must,
must. You'll tease the life out Of me if
don't let you have your own way. wish
you'd get husband, you mink. You're
! growing beyond my control"
"Humph IA husband! Well, sinrc
you say 50, I'll begin to look out for one
to-day"
''Ife'll soon repent of his bargain;'' said
my uncle; but his smile bclied bis words.
YOU'RE as short as pie4crust Il YOU can I
have your own way. There" seeing
was about to speak, ego aud get ready,
while I tell Joe to saddle Milo, You Ill
set the house afire if | don't send you off, y
Milo was soon At the door-a gay, net
tlcsome colt, that laid his ears back as
mounted, and gave me vicious look that
did not quite like. ~
''Take care - said my uncle. Its not
too late to give It up"
I was pqued.
! Il never give up any thing" said,
Not even the finding ofa husband. eli p
+ Me- said /. tst'u ride down TO the
poor-housc and ask old Tony, the octo-
gcDsrian paupcr, to have me; and you'll
be forced to hire Folly Wilkes 70 cook
your dinners.
( And as said this, my eyes twinkied
mischievously, for uncle was an old bache
! lor who ,letcstcd Ill strange women, and
/ had especial ayestion 70 Polly Wilkes, Q
I sour old maid Of forty-scven, because years
/ ago she had plotted to cntrap him into
matrimony Before he could reply | gave
Milo his head.
! John Gilpin, we are told, Vent fast; but
! went faster, II vas not long before the
colt had it I'LL Ills own way. At first |
tried to check his speed, but he got the bit
| in his mouth. and all | could do was to
+! hold on, and trust to firing him out. frees,
/ fences and houses went BY like wild pig
cons on the wing. AZ long IS the road
was clenr we did well enough, but sudden
/ " coming to an old oak that started out
spectre-like from the edge of q wood, Milo
SHE'D. twisted hall, round, and planted his
iorc-feet stubbotnly il the ground. | did
not know was falling till felt myself
IL Il mud-holu, which lay ut Que side ot
thc road.
Here W;la i fine ent! to my boosted
\ horsenlanship, But a. the mud was soft
y wis not hurt, and the ludicrous specta-
Gle presented soon got the upper hand OF
my vexation.
"a fine chance | have Of finding 4 lus-
bnnd in this condition. said to myself.
recalling my jest with my uncle. ''tt
could find some mud dryed now. and pas
myself off for amud nymph, might have
II cllancc;' and began to pick myself up
..shall help you, miss suddenly
said Il rich, manly voice.
looked up and saw young man, tht
suppress lnerrilnent Of whose bright eyes
-
me for an instant ashamed aud angry
But on gancing again at my dress, coult
mot help laughing ii spite Of myself.
" stood iii the mud at least six inches above
the tops OF my shoes. Ny ridins-sklr
was .plastercd all over, SO that it was III
most impossible to tell Of Whit It Wa
made. Mn hands and arms We're mud (
the elbows, for | had instinc.iTely extend
ed them as | fell IN order to break the fall
! The Young man. as he spoke, turned t
the neighboring fence, and taking the toI
rail, lie placed i across the puddle; then
putting his arm around nay waist, ile litt
cd me out, though not without leaving ~,
shoes behind the enormous oak to.hide m,
blushing face and serape the mud from
M riding skirt.
Pray lot me see YOU hone, ne silti
ssIf YOU will mount again, Ill lead th
colt. and there will be no chance Of hi
repeating his trick.
could not answer for shame, but Whel
III the saddle murmured something abou
s'aot troubling hi2l,'
Its 10 trouble, not the least, ne re
piled, standing hat in hand like !. knight g
| cavalier, and still retaining his hold on ttl
bride: and really can't You 60 alole alo'e
for the colt ii assyieious ~ be can be g
day. Look at BIZ cars, and his req eyes
! saw YOU coming down the road, and eS
peetee yo,l 10 be thrown every minute
/ till i saw how well You rode. Nor woul m
ii have happened # he had not55Fheeie
/ and stopped, ikea trick horse y : circus,
cannot tell how soothing vas thi
! graceful WY q sxytlsilig my n1isllap.
81 stole i glance under my eEelitls ;st q q
tfasls fae tlf