Year: 1878

/
and waded into the almost icy colo
water, but his teeth didn't chatter in hi
head, he only wished they could. Quietly
he waded along so as not stir the mud
up, and when he got to the right spot he
dropped under the water and came out
with his teeth in his mouth. But haEk


What noise is that? A wagon, and 8
dog barking with all his might, and hi:
horse is starting.


" Whoa whoa Stop you brute, you
stopP'


But stop he would not, but went off al
a spanking pace; with the unfortunate
bachelor after him. 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 8
| " lille his I,lssss IraU SHOOK OF The seat,
and the hind wheel went over it, making
it as fat as a pancake. 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 top of the hill, and what, oh
what will he do ? Then his coat fell out
and 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 beneath. Now the horse
happened to be one he got from Squire
Moore, and he got it from the widow,
and the animal took it into his head to
stop at her gate, which Bill had no power
to prevent, as he was too busy buttoning
up his coat to his chin to think of doing
much else.


The widow heard the rattling of the
wheels and looked out, and sseing that it
was Smiley and that he didn't offer to get
out, she went out to see what he wanted,
and there she stood chatting, with her
white arms on the top of the gate, and
her face towards him, while the 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, She did not offer to
60. He did not ask her to pick up his
reins for him, because he did not know
what excuse to make for not doing 80
himself Then he looked down the road
behind him and saw white-faced horse
coming, and at once surmised it was that
of Gus Sockrider He rerolved to do or
die, and hurriedly told his errand The
widow would be delighted to go-of
course she would. But wouldn't he
come in? No, he was in a hurry, he said
and he would go on to Green's place.


Oh said the widow, you're going
to Green's, are you? Why, Pm going
there myself to get one of the girls TO
help me quilt Tomorrow. Just wait
second while get my bonnet and shawl,
and Tll ride with you" And away she
skipped.


What scrape," said Bill, and he
hastily clutched his pants from between
his feet, and wriggled into them. when a
light wagon drawn by the white-faced
horse, driven by a boy, came along and
stopped beside him. The boy held up a
pair of boots in one hand and a pair of
socks in the other, and just as the widow
reached the gate again, he said


"Here's your boots aud socks, Mr..
Smiley, that you left on he bridge when
you were in there swimming"


You're mistaken" said Bill; "they
are not mine"


Why" said the boy, sin't you the
man that had the race after the horse,
just now?"


No, sir, am not You had better
go on about your business"


Bill sighed at the loss of his Sunday
boots, and, turning to the widow, said


"Just pick up those lines, will you,
please This brute of horse is always
switching them out of my hands"


The widow complied; he pulled one
corner of the robe cautiously down as
she got in.


"What lovely evening, she said
"and so warm l don't think we want
the robe over us, do we?"


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


"Oh, N.Y." sasd Bill, earnestly, you'll
find it chilly riding, and I wouldn't have
you catch cold for the world"


She seemed pleased at this tender care
for her health, and contented herself
with sticking one OF her little feet out,
AS she did so long silk neck,tie showed
over the end of the boot.


" What is that, Mr.. Smiley,--a neck
tie?


Yes" said he; I" 1 bought it the
other day, and 1 must have left it in the
buggy. Never mind il"


Then they went on quite distance,
he holding her hand in his, and wonder
ing what he should do when they got to
Green's; and she wondered why he did
not say something nice to her as we'll as
squeeze her hand, why his coat was but
toned up 50 tightly on such warm eve
ming, and what made bis face and hat so
dirty until they were going down a little
hill and one of the traces came unhitched,
and they had to stop.


"Oh, murder r' exclaimed Bill, " what
next?"


What is the matter, Mr.. Smiley ?"
said the widow, with a start, which
came very near jerking the robe off his
knees.


"One OF the traces is off," answered
he.


Well, why don't you get out and put
it on again ?'


{" L can't" said Bill. "rve got--that
is, III haven't got--oh, dear, Pm so
sick What shall do?''


"Why, Willie" said she, tenderly,
"what is the matter? Do tell mel"


She gave his hand little squeeze, and
looked into his pale face she thought he
was going to faint, SO she got out her
snielling,bottle with her left hand, and