St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-17
THE FATAL BUGGY RIDE.

How the Young Man Hinted That
He Was Very Sorry 1t Happened.
Detroit Free Press.
L had left the mountains of the Cum
berland some distance behind me, aud
was riding along through fairly good
farming country, lying on the banks of
the river. Occupying fine situation
overlooking the river bottom was
more pretentious house than one sees
often in that locality, and i rode up to it
and yelled ''Hello!' as is the custom of
the country. A gawky-looking young
man of twenty-five came out.
"Howd'y?' he said, rather more as
question than greeting.
do keep along the main road to
reach Parish's mill?' asked.
Yes; foller it up an It'll take you
straight thar"
Fine place you have here. Who
owns it?''
My wife,
"Ah; and does she own that horse and
buggy hitched out there by the gate?"
Eyes. She owns everything you see
round here. lncludin' of me-"
He didn't smile. and l didn't. Evil
IDENTIFY it was no joking matter.
You ought to consider yourself a
very lucky man," said. encouragingly,
That's what most folks says"
Apparently he was In communica-
tive spirit, and was curious.
''That ought to make it true" I ven
tured.
"Mabbe it does"
''How long have you been married?'
Three years."
''Did you live in this neighborhood
before you were married?'
a ''Yes, and l was p'orer than Jobs
turkey, but somehow Marthy, that's my
wife, kinder tuck to me, an l kinder
tuck 10 her, but l had my doubts.
Kinder felt sometimes that money
hastily, as if his previous remark might
be mIsinterpreted.
81 don't want to be inquisitive," |
said, but I'd like to know how you
overcame your preJudices."
"Well," he replied, as he hung over
the fence, "'taint long story, an ez
Pm feelin' kinder talky this mOrnin'
PIl tell you. You see, we used to have
a spellin' school every Friday night
down at the ford, about two miles from
here, and l allus walked. Marthy had
aXed me to ride down with her in her
buggy, more'n once; but wuz backerd
aboutit, an, besides. hadn't never rid in
a buggy, an wuZ about half afeerd to try
1t. Anyhow, | never went with her, but
it wuZn't no trouble fer her to git man
to go along, and she didn't seem to miss
me much. One Friday evenin', though,
the Teller that wuZ to go wuZ tuck
sick at the last minute, and Mar
thy had to 90 by herself. About half
way thar she oyertuk me on the way.
an Nv course, she aXed me to git in am
ride, an thar wuzn't no way NV gittin'
out Nv it. so got in the buggy an she
druv. Well, mister" lie continued.
with sense of sentimental delight,
that buggy wuz like rockin' chair,
an beat walkin' all to flinders. am
somehow, Marthy was different, an
am
He hesitated, as if he were talking
too much.
$50 ahead" l said. with smile.
'.Well. we didn't git to the spellin'
school till it was mighty nigh over" he
said, sheepishly.
land since that timer" I asked. feel
ing that the story was not quite finished.
He cautiously looked over his shout
der toward the house, and bent over
closer to me.
''Well," he whispered, ''a good MANY
times senee that Pve sorter wished I'd a
walked"
AS rode on to Parish's mill it &C.
CURED to me that man of much greater
refinement could not have put the mat
ter more delieately.