Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-08-23
ed herself contentedly and

| tied herself contentedlE ana said
What lovely October afternoon
We don't need the robe over us, do
we?' She had on new dress and a
pair of new shoes, and wanted to show
them.
sOh, you'll feel cool enough riding,
and wouldn't have you catch cold for
the world This care for her health
pleased her, and she contented herself
by sticking one little foot out. There
was necltie on the end of it.
why, Major, that's necktie, isn't
ito' He said it was one he bought a
few days before in town, and he guessed
he'd left it in the buggy.
That's very careless, said she,
reaching down for it and trying to
stuff it under the robe on the seat.
Smollett felt her soft hand going down
there and he made a desperate grab for
it and clutched it in his and held it hard
and fast. Then they went on in silence,
he still holding her hand and she Won
dering why he didn't say something
nice to her as we'll as squeeze her hand.
He was wondering what he should do
when he got to Col. Green's. She
wondered why he had his coat buttoned
up to his chin on such warm dav.
while the perspiration was boiling out
of him. and why his face was so dirty.
and what smashed his hat, when the
meditations of both We're cnt short by
one of the traces coming off the lug as
they went down gully.
80 Lordy?' exclaimed Smollett.
What is the matter, Major?' asked
Annie, with jerk that came near pull
ing the robe off Of them.
Matter? Why, one of the traces
has come Off
"'Well, said she, with a smile, why
don't you get out and PIT it on?'
"'Because I've got-I mean I haven't
got-I mean-O Lordy, Lordy, what
shall dog
"'Why, George sail she tenderly,
calling him by his name in a way that
would have made him get over all his
troubles in a moment at any other time,
what is the matter, dear? DO tell me-
and she gave his hand little squeeze
and looked up into 4lis face. She saw
his awful look and thought he was
going to faint, SO she got out her SMELL
ing bottle and stuck it under his nose
just as he was preparing to heave
mighty sigh. He got full Wifi just
as he was taking deep breath and the
shock made him lose his balance, as il
knocked his head back, and he went
tumbling flying somersault backward
out of the buggy.
"The pretty little widow screamed
when she saw his bare feet and legs go
flying past her head and she covered
her face with her hand to hide her
biushes-or laughter, Smollett never
did know which. But he was right
side up in moment and was leaning
over the back Of the buggy apologlzing
and trying to explain when Maggie and
1 drove up on our way to the postoAice.
"Smollett said he'd rather been shot
than have me and my wife come up and
catch him in such scrape, but he
couldn't help himself then, and so he
called me to him and soon explained
enough for me to see how things were.
I drove little ahead Of his buggy and
got Annie in with my wife and they
went on to the postotfice.
"Smollett and [ drove back to nv
house and we fixed him up by the time
the women returned, but we had a
tough time getting him in where Annie
and Maggie were. We all had supper
together, and as we laughed heartily
over it we managed to worm the whole
story out Of the Major. He drove the
widow home that night and took her to
the show when it came, and he was
never afraid of Ed. Wilder any more.
It was three years after their marriage
before the story got out, and he didn't
care then"
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