Year: 1874

l was over to old Sackrider's last night, and I see his son Gus has got new buggy and was scrubbing up his har- ness, and he's got that white faced colt of his slick as seal. I understand he thinks of taking the Widow Watson to the show. He's been hanging round good deal of late, but I'd just like to cut him out, would. Susan is 8 nice little woman, and deserves better man than that young pup of fellow, though l wouldn't blame her much either if Ehe takes him, for she must be dreadful lonesome, and then she has to let her farm out on shares and it isn't half worked, and no one else seems to have spunk enough to speak up to her. By jingo If were single man I'd show him Q trick or two."

 So saying, Ed. borrowed some bags and started around the corner of the barn, where he had left Bill sweeping, and put his ear to knot-hole and lis tened, knowing that the bachelor had a habit of talking to himself when any thing worried him.

 "Confound that young Bagrider P said Bill, "what business has he then. I'd like to know? Got a new buggy, has he? We'll, so have I, and new harness, too and his horse can't come ir sight of mine; and I declare I've half mind to--Yes, I will I'll go this very night and ask her to go to the show with me. I'll show Ed. Wilbur that ain't such calf as he thinks I am, if l did let old Watson get the start of me in the first place P

 Ed. could scarce help laughing out right, but he hastily hitched the bags on his shoulder, and with low chuckle at his success, started home to tell the news to Nelly; ahd about five o'clock that evening they saw Bill go by with his horse and buggy on his way to the Widows. He logged along quietly thinking of the old singing school days and what a pretty girl Susan was then-and wondering inwardly if he would have more courage now to talk up to her, until at distance of about 8 mile from her house he came to 8 bridge-over large creek-and it so happened that just as he reached the middle of the bridge he gave a tre- mendous sneeze, and blew his teeth out of his mouth, and clear over the dashboard, striking on the blanks they rolled over the side of the bridge and dropped into four feet of water.

 Words cannot do justice to poor Bill, or paint the expression of his face as he sat there-completely dumbfounded at this startling piece of ill luck. After 8 while he stepped out of the buggy, and getting on his hands and knees looked over into the water. "Yes, there they were," at the bottom, with crowd of little fishes rubbing their noses against them, and Bill wished to goodness that his nose was as close for one secord. His beautiful teeth that had cost him so much, and the show coming on and no time to get another set-and the widow and young Sackrider. We'll, he must try and get them somehow-and no time to lose, for some one might come along and ask him what he was fooling around there for. He had no notion of spelling his good clothes by wading in with them on, and besides, if he did that, he could not go to the widows that night, so he took look up and down the road to see that no one was in sight, and quickly undressed him. self, laying his clothes in the buggy to keep them clean. Then he ran around to the bank and waded into the almost icy cold water; but his teeth did not shatter in his head, he only wished they could. Quietly he waded along so as not to stir up the mud, and when he got to the right spot he dropped under water and came up with the teeth in his hand, and replaced them in his mouth.

 But hark What noise is that? A wagon and little dog barking with all his might, and his horse is starting. "Whoa Whoa!' said Bill, as he splashed and foundered out through mud and water. "Confound the horse. Whoal Whoal Step, you brute you, stop P But stop he would not, but went off at 8 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 or reach the lines that were dragging on the ground. After while his plug hat shook off the seat and the hind wheel went over it, making it as fiat as pancake. Bill snatched it as he ran, after tanning his fist into it., stuck it, all dusty and dim pied, on his head. And now he saw the widows house on the hill, and what, oh what would he do! Then his coat fell out and he slipped it on, and then making 8 desperate spurt he clutched the back of the seat and scrambled in, and pulling the buffalo robe over his legs, stuffed the other things beneath. Now the horse hap pened to be one that he got from Squire Moore, and he got it from the widow, and he took it into his head to stop at her gate, which Bill had no power to prevent, as he had not possession ot the reins; besides he was too busy buttoning his coat up to his chin to think of doing much else. The widow heard the rattle of the wheels and look ed out, and seeing that it was Mir. Smiley, and that he did not offer to get out, she went to the gate to see what he wanted, and there she stood chat ting, with her white arms on the top o1 the gate, and her smiling face turned 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 excuse to make for not doing it himself. Then he looked down the road behind him and saw white-faced horse coming, and, at once surmising that it was that Gus Sackrider coming, he resolved to o1 die, and hurriedly told his errand. The widow would be delighted to go, o1 course she would. But wouldn't he come in. No, he was in hurry, he said i; had to go on to MT. Greens place.

 "Oh," said the widow," you're going to MT. Greens are you? Why, wal just going there myself to get one O