Year: 1874

Iof Ill luck. After awhile he steppe


out of his buggy and getting dow


on his hands and knees, looked owe


into the water, "Yes, there the
Iwere," at the bottom with a crow
of little fishes rubbing their nose
against them, and Bill wished +
| goodness that his nose was as clos
for one second. His beautiful teetl
that had cost him so much, and tn
show coming on and no time to ge
another set-and the widow anC
young Sockrider. Well, he mus
try and get them somehow-and nj
time to lose, for some one nigh
come along and ask him what b,
was fooling around there for. h
had no notion Of spelling his gooC
clothes by wading in with them on
and besides, if he did that he coulC
not 60 to the widows that night, 81
he took a look up and down tht
road to see that no one was in sight
and then quickly undressed himself
laying his clothes in the buggy tC
keep them clean. Then he rar
around to the bank and waded intC
the almost icy cold water, but hi
teeth did not chatter in his head
he only wished they could. Quietly
he waded along 80 as not to stir VI
the mud, and when he got the righf
spot he dropped under the water
and came up with his teeth in his
hand, and replaced them in hi:
mouth. But bark! What noise is
that? "A wagon, and little dog
barking with all his might, and his
horse is sterling. "Whoa! Whoa
Stop you brute you, stop" But
stop he would not, but went off at s
spanking pace with the unfortunate
bachelor after him and the little dog
yelping after the bachelor. Bill was
certainly in capital running costume
but though he strained every nerve
he could not touch the buggy OF
reach the lines that were dragging
on the ground.


After awhile his plug bat shook
off the seat and the hind wheel went
over it, making it as fat as a pan
cake. Bill snatched it as he ran,
and after jamming his fist into it,
stuck it, all dusty and dimpled on
his head. And now he saw the
widows house on the hill, and what,
oh what will he do! Then his coat
fell out, he slipped it on, and then
making a desperate squirt he clutched
the back of the seat and scrambled
in, and pulling the buffalo robe over
his legs, stuffed the other things be-
meath. Now the horse happened to
be one that he got from Squire
Moore, and he got it from the wild
oW, and ne took it into his head to
stop at her gate, which Bill had no
power to prevent, as he had not
possession of the reins, besides he
was too busy buttoniDg his coat up
to his 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 didn't 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
shirtless back clear to his bare feet
beneath the buffalo robe, and the
water from his hair and the 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 hurry, he said. Still. he did
not offer to go. He did not like to
ask her to pick up his reins for him,
because he did not know what ex-
cuse to make for not doing it him
self. Then he looked down The
road behind him and saw q white
faced horse coming, and at once
surmised it was that OF Gus. Sock
rider, he resolved to do or die, and
hurriedly told his errand. The wild
ow would be delighted to 90, o.
course she would. But wouldn't he
come in. No, he was in "A hurry, he
said; had to go on to Mr.. Green's
place.


"Oh," said the widow; Eyou're go
ing to Green's are you3.' Why, !
was just going there myself to gel
one Of the girls to help me quilt
more. just wait a seconds while ]
get my bonnet and shawl, and I'll
ride with you" And away she
skipped.


Thunder and lightning!2 said
Bill, what scrape! and he hastily
elutched his pants from between his
feet, and was preparing to wriggl(
into them, when a light wagon, drawn
by the white faced horse, driven by
a boy came along and stopped be
side him. The boy held up q pail
of boots in one hand and pair ol
socks in the other, and just as the
widow reached the gate again, ht
said,


"Here's your boots and socks, Mr.
Smiley, that you left on the bridge
when Won was in swimming.


you're mistaken" said Bill
they're not mine


why" said the boy, amt you
the man that had the race after the
horse just now?


"No sir, / am not! You had bet
ter go on about your business
Bill sighed at the loss of his good
Sunday boots, and turning to the
widow said,


"Just pick up the lines, will you
please; this brute of horse is for
ever switching them out Of my
hands," The widow complied, and
then he pulled one corner Of the
robe cautiously down and she got
in.


"What lovely evening"" said she
''and so warm l don't think we need
the robe over US, do we2"


(You see, she had on a nice dress
and a pair Of new CATERS, and she
wanted to show them.


sob, mym said Bill earnestly
"you'll find it chilly riding, and ]
wouldn't have you catch cold fol
the world"


"She seemed pleased at his tender
care for her health, and contented her
self with sticking one of her little