The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-18
A PRACTICAL Joke.

A PRACTICAL Joke.
The picnic at Aliens Corners was
over. Rather prematurely over, per-
haps, on account OF q tremendous
thunderst orm, accompanied with a
tornadolike gust OF wind and Jagged
streaks of bluelightning that seemed
to bury themselves in the ground.
Horses and vehicles were brought
hurriedly to the edge ofthe platform;
the young people dispersed like a
flock of sheep in various directions.
II don'tcare," said Frank Warren,
speaking between his set teeth. II
wasn't having such a particularly
pleasant time. Matty Vail was be-
having very badly"
''It doesn't make much difference
to me-" said Miss Vail, with toss of
her curly head. "I've danced all
wanted to, and Frank Warren has
been glazing at me like a Bluebeard
the whole time. Such imprudence,
indeed! And me not regularly en-
gagged to him, after all! One thing is
certain, I never shall be now! And
as for riding all the way home to
Daisyville with him tonight, l won't
do it! There's that little girl from
the city; I'll just put her in my place.
Her shoes are dreadfully thin, and
she has no umbrella. She'll be glad
of a chance to ride. And I'll go with
Harry Dix or Sam Pratt!',
''Oh, Mat! cried Miss Dillon, Mat
tvs chief confdante and bosom
friend, "what will he say?"
"What he pleases-when he finds it
out"
So when Mr.. Warren's handsome
black horse was led up, shying and
rearing in the uncertain glimmer of
the lanterns and the fash of light
ming, Matilda Hewitt found herself,
she scarcely knew how, in the seat be-
side the handsome young farmer. She
sat quite silent, wondering if it was
improper to ride home with a gentle
man to whom she had never been
formally introduced, and trembling,
ever and anon, at the storm and her
unwonted companjonship and the
wild speed of Black Douglas as he
flew along the pitch-dark, dripping
roads.
Are you frightened?" Mr.. Warren
asked in low voice when they had
gone little way.
"N-not much!" faltered Matilda,
and then she trembled more than
ever as an arm crept slowly but sure
ly around her waist. But what was
she to do? There was no back to
the seat, and there was danger of
her being jerked out in one of these
sudden curves.
Don't be afraid" soothed War
rem. "You know you are safe with
me in spite of everything"
"Ye-e-es," murmured NATL da
Hewitt.
'Mattyr'
She was silent. This growing in
timacy was beginning to be appall-
ing.
"Mattyl' accompanied with q gen.
tie pressure of the encircling arm.
''Don't be cross with me, Matty.
You know how much love you, my
own one!'
20, gracious mel" thought Miss
Hewitt, what will he be saying
next?i
You will promise to be my wife,
Matty? 1t may seem sudden, but
Whoa, you villainl''
For Black Douglas had given q
tremendous sideways jump. and re-
quired all his masters will and
energy to subdue him; and by the
time they had reached the Vail farm
house Matilda Hewitt found herself
engaged, by implication. to a young
man she had never seen before in her
life until that day.
She jumped out and ran quickly
into the house. Mrs. Vail met her in
the hall.
"Where's Matty?" she cried.
"Who are you?"
"Pm Matilda Howitt," said the
girl, "I'm here because he left me.
II don't quite know why; but the
horse behaved so badly, and the