The Forrest City times., 1888-01-07

might. and his horse is starting. -sWhoa! whoal whosl stop you brute. you stop." But stop he would not. but went on at spank Ins pace. with the unfnrtunate bachelor after him, and the little dog velping after the bachelor. Biii was certainly in capital run ming costume, but, though he strained every nerve. he cou.d not touch the buggy, or reach the lines that were dragging on the ground.
 After awhile bis plug hat shook of thos seat. and the hind wheels went over it, masking it lat as A pancake. Bill snatched i, as he ran. and after jamming his fist into 1t. stuck 1t, all dusty and dippled, on hi. head. And now he saw the widows house on the hill, and what. O., what will he dol Then hi, coat fell out; he slipped 1t on, and then making desperate spurt, he clutched tue back of the seat. and scrambled in, and pulled the buffalo robe over his legs, and stuffed the other things beneath. Now the horse happened to be ore that he got from Squire Moore, and he got 1t from the widow and he took it in his head to stop at her gate. which Bill had no power 10 prevent, as he had no possession of of the reius, besides he was too busy buttoniHg his coat up to his chin to think of doing much else The widow heard the rattle of the wheels and looked out, and seelng that It WAS Smiley. and that hs did not attempt to get out. she went 10 the gate to see what he wanted. and there she stood with her white arms on the top of the gate. and her face right toward him, while the cold ohills ran down his shlrt- less back clear 10 his bsro feet be. meath the buffalo robe; and the water from his hair and the dus from hls hat combined to make some nice little strcaks of mud tbat came trickling down his face. She asked him to come in, "No he was in a hurry" he said. Still he dId not attempt to go. He did not like 10 ask her to pick up the reins for him, because ne did not know what excuse to make for.not doing so himself. Then he looked down the road behind him, and saw whitehead horse coming and at once surmlsing that it WAS Gus Sockrider coming, he resolved 10 do or die. aud hurriedly told hls errand. The widow would be de- lighted to go, of course she would. But wouldn't he come in?
 No, he was in 2 hurry" he said; had to go to Mir. Greens place
 "Oh," said the widow, "you are going 10 Greens, are you? Why l was just going thore myself, to get one of the girls to help me to quilt Just wait second till I get my homeland shawl, and I'llride with you" And away she skipped.
 Thunder and lightningf said Bill, and h. hastily clutched his pants from behind his feet and prepared 10 wlggle into them, when light wagon, drawn by u whitehead horse, driven by 8 boy, came along and stopped be- side him. The boy held up a pair of boots In one haud and a pair of socks in inc other, and just as the widow reached the gate agsln, he said.
 "H ere's your boots and socks, MT Smiley, that you left on the bridge when you was in swim ming "
 ''You're mistaken" said Blll, they are not mine.'
 Why" sad the boy,' "ain't you the man that had the race after the horse just now?"
 No, sir, 1 am not, You had better go on about your business. Bill sighed at the loss of his Sun day boots. and turning to tho wid- ow sad:
 "Just plck up the l1nes, will you, please; thls brute of a horse is forever switching them out of my hands" {" The widow compiled, and then he pulled ono end of the robe cautiously down, and she got in.
 "What lovely evening"" she said, land so warm. "I don't think we need the robe, do wei"
 You see she had on nice new dress and new pair of gaiters, and she wanted to show them.
 "Oh, my!" sand Bill, earnestly, you will find it chilly riding. 1 wouldn't have you catch cold for the world"
 She seemed pleased with his tender care for her health, and conte lted herself with sucking one of her little feet out, with a long silk neoktie over the end of it.
 What is that, Mr. Smiley, a necktie?"
 "Yes," said he. Il bought it the other day, and must have left it m the buggy. Never mind it."
 But, said she, "it was SO care less" and stooping over she picked 1t up and made motion to stuff it in between them.
 Bill felt her hand going down, and making dive for it clutehed 1t m his hand and held it hard and | fast.
 Then they went on quite dis tance; he still holding her soft lit- tic hand in his, and wondering what he should do when he got 10 Greens, and she wondering why he didn't say something, and why