Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1902-12-09

or something like that and went. The
old lady wus better when he got there
Within q week she was sitting up, and
Bills excuse for stayi.ag in the house
with her wors pretty thia, He saw
the girl go past several tines and he
noticed that she looked in with an ex
preston on her face that resembled
s1xiety. but il never occGrr2d to him
that she was SO anxious to make up
with him that she couldn't eat nor
sleep. And expect he'd have gone
back to his dear old teakettle without
finding 1t cut ii il hadn't been for an
accident.
HE was stanGing in front of the VII
lage posto.tice one morasgg, waiting
for the mail to be distributed. He was
keeping his eye peeled for the girl. He
didn't want to Lsaat her. He was
afraid lie reasoned that it could do
no good and would be confoundedly
embarrassing. He never carries
false face with him. Bill doesn't. And
then, too, he wasn't absolutely sure Of
himself Ea knew down deep in his
steam chest that he had about as much
affection for the girl as he'd ever had,
and he rather suspicioned that IL he
met her face to face he'd make three
or four kinds of fool Of himself. He
could see her house from where he
stood--a pretty place in regular snarl
of roses and honeysuckles and flower
beds, and I've notion that be looked
at it with something of longing and
regret 1t was only natural that he
should.
"Well, while he was standing there
an old friend of his came up on horse
back and asked him IL he wouldn't do
a favor for him. He wanted Bill to
take the horse home. Some business
had Unexpectedly claimed his immedi-
ate attention, and he didn't like to
leave the horse standing on the street.
He thought Bill might like ride any
way. or course Bill said he would. |
He didn't know any more about riding |
horseback than a woodchuck knows |
of dairying, but he never hesitated to |
accommodate friend. He got his |
mail and climbed into the saddle and |
in less than three minutes something
was doing in his vicinity. The horse
was spirited beast, with a habit of |
shying at everything which seemed to
offer an excuse for it, and every time
he SHE'D Bill stuck in his heels, and |
every time Bill stuck In bis heels the |
beast took it as an invitation TO make |
speed. Half way down the street he
was galloping right merrily. A little
further and he was giving tolerably |
correct imitation Of Garry Herman.
and Bill was bouncing like rubber
ball He said Whoa but it didn't
seem to have any effect. His mail,
which he had tucked under his arm,
was scattered broadcast.
st dawned ON Bill presently that he |
was being run away with, but he didn't |
lose his head. Bill never loses his head.
Said he to himself, I've got to shut off |
steam And he stretched himself on |
the beasts neck, reaching for the nose,
and he got d grip on it, and the first |
thing that horse knew he couldn't |
breathe, and something was on his |
neck, for Bill had bounced clean over |
the shoulders, and he stopped dead, |
stiff legged as sawhorse.
"But Bill didn't stop-not at once. |
He went on, and he landed plump on a |
pansy bed In the yard at the end Of the
street, and when he opened his eyes he /
was looking square into the face of the |
girl, who had been sitting under tree
reading Neither spoke for moment. /
The girls color came and went, and
Bills breath did likewise, but pretty |
soon the girls wits, which were in
working order, it seems, asserted them
selves. oh, WILL she said, I'm SO
glad you've come back to mel
"Bill raised himself on his elbow In
dazed sort Of way and tried to say
but his breath wasn't quite
equal to it. And the girl went down on
her knees and wrapped her arms about |
him. so glad, dear! she murmured.
"They got married. That's all there
was to it. And we're doing the best we
can till they get back from their honey
moon trip"
The semblance Of smile appeared
upon the Milwaukee mans face. II
suppose that under the circumstances
we'll have to forgive him." he said.
But, by lingo, I'm sorry we're going
to miss connections at Whipperville. |
I'm to be married myself tonight If
can get to Carlinsburg."
ssPshawr' said the conductor. You |
don't say?' Then he chuckled. Guess
you'll have to so horseback, won't |
your
mot on your silver plated punch?
replied the Milwaukee man decidedly.