Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-24

back or the seat ano scram bled IN, ana,
pulling the buffalo robe over his legs,
and stuffed the other things beneath.
Now the horse happened to be one
that he got from Squire Moore, and he
got it from the widow, and he took it into
his head to stop at her gate, which Bill
had 40 power to prevent, as he had not
possession of the reins; besides, he was
too busy buttening the coat up to the
chin, to think of doing much else. The
widow heard the rattle of the wheels and
looked out, and, seeing that it.was Smiley,
and that ne did not offer to get out, she
went to the gate TO see what he wanted,
and there she stood chatting with her
white arms on the top of the gate and
her face right toward him, while the cold
chills ran down his shirtiess back clear
| to his bare feet beneath the buffalo robe
and the water from his hair and dust
| from his hat had 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 a hurry he
| said. Still he did not offer 10 go. He
did not like to ask her to pick up his
reins for him, because he did not know
what excuse to make for not doing it
himself. Then he looked down the road
behind him and saw white-faced horse
coming, and at once surmised that it was
that of Gus Sackrider. He resolved to
do or die, and hurriedly told his errand.
| The widow would be delighted TO 60, of
| course she would. But wouldn't he come
in? No, he was in hurry, he said; had
| to go to Mr.. Green's place.
"Ob," said the widow, "you're going to
| Green's are your Why, was going there
myself to get one of the girls to help me
quilt more. Just wait second, while |
get my bonnet and shawl, and I'll ride
with you" And away she skipped.
Thunder and lightningr said Bill,
"what scrapew and he hastily clutched
his trousers from between his feet and
was preparing to wiggie into then, when,
light wagon, drawn by a white-faced
horse, driven by boy, came along and
stopped beside him.
The boy held up a pair of boots in one
hand and pair of SOCKS in the other, and
Just as the widow reached the gate again,
he said:
"Here's your boots and socks, Mr..
Smiley, that you left on the bridge when
you went in swimming"
you're mistaken" said Bill, "they're
not mine"
"Why," said the boy, saint you the
man that had the race after the horse
just nowP"
mo, sir, am not. You had better go
on about your business"
| Bill sigh ed at the loss of his good Sun
day boots, and, turning to the widow,
said:
| "Just pick up the lines, will you,
please! The brute of a horse is forever
switching them out of my hands"
The widow complied, and then she
pulled the corner of the robe cautiously
down and got in.
"What a lovely evening"" said she;
"and SO warm, don't think we need the
robe over US, do We?
You see she had on nice dress and
pair of new gators, and she wanted to
show them.
"Oh, myr said Bill earnestly, youIl
find it chilly riding; I wouldn't have you
catch cold for the world"
She was pleased at his tender care for
her health, and contented herself with
sticking one of her little feet out, with q
long silk necktie over the end of it.
"What is that Mr.. Coix, a necktie?"
eyes; bought it the other day and 1
must have left it in the buggy. Never
mind it,"
"But," said she, cit was so Careless"
aud STOPPING over she made motion to
stuff il between them.
Bill felt her hand going down, and
making a dive after it, clutched it in his
own and held it hard and fast.
They went on quite distance, he still
holding her soft little hand in his and
wondering what he should do when they
got to Green's and she wondering why he
did not say something nice to her as we'll
| nd xuhy
was buttor ed up so tight on such warm
evening and what made his face and hat
so dirty, until going down little hull, one
| of the traces came uphitched and they
had TO stop.
"Oh, murder!" said Bill, "what next?"
'What is the matter" said the widow
with start that came near ring the
robe off his knees.
Zone of the tsaces is f."
"WeIl, why don't you get out and put
it on"
81 can't" said Bill; GIVE got-that is,
| haven't got-oh, dear, Pm SO sick, what
shall 1 dor"
"Why, Willie" said she, tenderly, ''what
; is the matter? Do tell me-" and she gave
his hand little squeeze, and looked in
to his pale face; she thought he was go
ing to faint, so she got out her smelling
bottle with her left hand and pulling the
stopper out with her teeth, she stuck IL to
/ his nose.
| Bill was just taking in breath for
mighty sigh and the pungent odor made
him throw back his head so far that he
| lost his balances and went over the low
backed buggy. The little woman gave a
scream SIS his bare rect flew past her
head, and covering her face with her
hands gave way to smiles. Bill was right
/ side up in moment and was leaning
over the back of the seat humbiy apollo
gising and explaining, when E ! WILDER,
with his wife and baby drove up behind
and stopped. Poor Bill felt that he
would rather be shot than have Ed catch
him in such q sorape, but he called Ed
and whispered in his ear.
They sent the women ahead and Bill
lost no time in arranging his toilet as
well as he could, and then Ed got him TO
go home with him and hunting up slip
pers and socks and getting him washed
and combed, had him quite presentable
| when the ladies arrived. They wormed
the story out of bashful Bill and laughed
as they sat around the tea table, but We
will conclude by saying that they went to
the show together and Bill has no fear of
| Gus Sackrider now.
TAINTED With an African faint.
Miss Amelia LavelIe, the young woman
who shot herself recently, at her fathers
1