Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-02-04
A RIDE WITH RUSTY BUDD
By Eliza Evans Cartwright.

She was a tiny creature-the woman
in rusty black who was toiling up the
steep hill that hot July morning. So
angular was she, so jerky in all her
motions, so unexpected her darts and
dives from one side of the dusty,
rough road to the other, that even
Rusty Budd, who had no more imagi-
nation than the old white horse she
was driving, said to herself, Law, the
crltter looks just like lame old crick-
et l wouldn't be mite surprised if
she should give cheep and light right
up onto that stun wall, carpet bag and
all.
"Who under the sun can she be any
how?' pursued Mrs. Budd to herself,
as the farm wagon creaked slowly up
the long hill; land how does she carry
that heavy satchel? 1 dunno but I'd
as we'll offer to give her a lift, if she
don't mind ridin' in a farm wagon with
a harrer and two cultivatODs-GOod
mornin'."
The little woman in black whisked
sharply around as Rusty Budd's
CHEEKY voice struck her ear, and looked
up with glance as sharp as needle.
"Good morning." she snapped, so all
ruptly and in such an injured tone that
Mrs Budd started violently and nearly
dropped the reins.
Coin fur?' inquired Mrs. Budd,
Juggling fiercely on old Whitey's hard
bitted mouth. whoa, Whitley! l de-
clar' never see no such beast as you
be anyway! I'd as lief try to start New
Canaan meetin' house as to git you
under way, and when you do git agoin'
you'd walk right over Bunker Hill
monument. Whoa, tell your
I'm a-goin' piece farther" said the
little woman evasively. 81 don't know
exactly how far I've come. Seems to
me l was never so tired in all my life
though, and the sun has given me the
headache"
"Fm a-goin' over to New Canaan to
git some tools fixed," gasped Mrs.
Budd, who was fat and asthmatic and
quite out of breath after her battle
with the old horse, which now stood
with dropping head and relaxed limbs
and a general expression that foretold
trouble when he should be required to
move ON toward New Canaan, twink
ling vaguely in the hazy distance
among it's sheltering elms. "Pm goin
over to New Canaan, and if you'd like
to ride, you're very welcome to and
I'll be glad of your company"
THANK you," chirped the stranger
In a queer, shrill voice, and immediate
~ skipped into the wagon with such
agility that stout, clumsy Mrs. Budd
surveyed her in astonist-ment.
'Why, you're certainly spry.' she
remarked admiringly; why, thought
to be sure you'd fly over the seat and
land onto a harrow tooth! Have you
got room enough? I'm SO wide myself
that Enos has to set on am ottoman
when we ride together, but you amt
no wider N a darnin' needle"
Tim spry, but there amt nethin' TO
me-" answered the little woman dole
fully; and slowing her shiny black
satGhel under the seat, she planted Il
bony hand upon her heart, while her
sharp elbow Intercepted Mrs. Budds
fat side.
.tOh, my heart! I'd no business to
have walked so fast. I'm mot at all
used ito walking"
"Well, you'd have to get used to II,
I guess, if you lived around here, re-
piled Mrs Bmdd cheerfully. If There
any teamin' to be done for the men
folks, then they'll harness up and start
you; otherways, you may walk or stay
to hum. TIN just goin' to New Canaan
to git my bunnit trimmed over f0r
summer, and here it's July. Ii Enos
hadn't broke mis- harrow and wanted
1t carried to the blacksmith L mlsnI
fev waited till August and worn any
winter one. Men round here don't cal
culate to lose no time cartin' women
round
SIS that so.' exclaimed the stranger
with some animation, and then adueu
presently to herself, Eyes; think that
may explain it. felt sure there mus.
be some adequate solution"
'Rushy looked at her companion IN
some surprise and shook her neao
doubtfully. 81 wonder if she amt
little out" she soliloquized. AShe's got
q dreadful restless eye. I most wish
I hadn't took her in. | must Try anu
take up her mind, fur If she's q niue
unbalanced there's no tellin' what sue
might do ~
LET me take the whip said the Ut
tie woman, breaking in upon MIS-.
Rudd's musings. 81 guess can starr
that old rack-a-bones. =.
sTu manage him, don't you Worr!'
returned Rusty, raining soundlns
blows upon Whitey's tough OLD nanks.
"Rsach under tie harrow and get 1naI