Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1883-05-10

ID stop at her gate. which b Il had no
power on earth to prevent, as lie was
too busy buttoning his coat up to the
chin to think of doing much else. The
widow heard the rattling of wheels
and looked out, and seeing that it was
Smiley and that he didn't offer TO get
out, she went out to see what he want
ed, and there she stood chatting with
and her face towards him, while chills
ran down his shirtless 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
trickling down his face.
She asked him to come in. No, he
was in n hurry, he said. Still he did
not offer to go. lie did not like to ask
her to pick up his reins for him, be-
cause he didn't know what excuse to
make for not doing it himself. Then
he looked down the road behind him
and saw n white-faced horse coming,
and at once surmised that it was that
of Gus Stockrider! lie resolved to do
or die, and hurriedly told his errand.
The widow would be delighted to go,
of course she would. But wouldn't lie
come in. No, he was in a hurry, he
said; he had to go to Green's place.
Oh" said the widow, you're go
ing to Green's, are your Why, I'm
going there myself. Wait till get my
bonnet and shawl and I'll ride with
YOU" and away she skipped.
Thunder and lightning." exclaim-
ed Bill, what a scrape," and he has
tily clutched his pants from beneath
his feet and was preparing to wriggle
into them, when little wagon drawn
by white-faced horse, driven by a
boy, came along and stopped beside
him. The boy held up pair of boots
in one hand and "A pair Of socks in the
other, and just rs the widow reached
the gate. he said;
o." Here's your boots and socks, Mr.
Smiley, that You left on the bridge
when you were in swimming"
You're mistaken" said Bill, they
are not mine.
Why, sail the boy, "ain't you
til" young man that had the race after
the horse just nowa"
No, sir, am not you had better
go about your business" Bill sighed
at the loss Of his Sunday boots, and
turning to the widow, said:
Just pick up the lines, vii youi
This brute of horse is always switch
ing them ont of my hands. The wild
ow complied, then he pulled one cor,
ner OF the robe cautiously as she got in.
What lovely evening" said she,
and so warm don't think We want
the robe over us, 90 youf'
lou see she had nice new dress
amt a pair of new CATERS, and SHE
wanted to show them
"Oh, my, said Bill earnestly, 'you
will ilud it chilly riding and wouldn t
have you catch cold for the world"
She seemed pleased at his tender care
for her health, and contented herself
with sticking one of her little feet out
with long silk necktie to cover the
end OF it,
What is that, Mr.. Smiley, neck
tie I"
Yes, a." said he, 81 bought it the
other day and | must have left it in
the buggy Never mind it"
But said she, lit was careless, y
and STOPPING over she picked it up and
made motion to stuff it between
them.
Bill felt her hand going down, and
, making dive after it clutched it in
ms and held it hard and fast.
Then they went on quite a distance,
he still holding her hand in his and
wondering what he should do wher
they got to Green's, and she wondered
why lie did not say anything nice tc
her as we'll as to squeeze her hand, why
, his coat was buttoned up so tightly OF
such n warm evening. and what made
his face and bat SO dirty, until they
were going down little hill and on,
t of the traces came unhitched, and they
had to stop.
"Oh, mlrder!" exclaimed Bill.
. "what next2"
/ "What is the matter, Mr. Smiley?'
/ said the widow with start which
, came near Jerking the robe off of his
knees.
Zone of the traces is off" answer
ed Bill.
, " Well, why don't you get out ant
put it on'
~ can't" said Bill "Tve got
r that is haven't got-oh, dear, Im sc
| sick What shall dol"
why, Willie" said she, tenderly
"what is the matterl do tell me-" Sh'
gave his hand little squeeze, ant
looked into his male face She thouyh,