The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-09-08
CHAPTER l.
AN OUTING.

tAOS&s OW delightful it all was, this
lRnlr cool, intense and fragrant still
H mess, Paul Wsstiake ,sa1se was a,ant, 'n''H, 'h.
1s9saGsS' somewhat rough mountain road
on his umachine," showing clean
length of muscular limb in his be-
coming, if dusty bicycle suit. A. TO
the dusiiuess thereof, he would nave
argued in his easy-gUing way, when 4
fellow is taking an outing for the gen
uire pleasure Of the thing, what is 81
little dust more Of less? 1t was only
an added luxury to the bohemianism
OF It ALL Back in the city, he was so
fas,idi0us in his dress as to be nick
named Dude in the Office by the boys;
but it was wholly uudeserved; his neat
npss was not the result Of cultivation,
it was innate.
Despite the fac, that ho was some
what tagged after 4 spin of twenty
five miles over a rough road, his enjoy
ment was undimished. The valley,
all full of gathering shadows, above
which the mountain yet smiled with
the last sun-gleans, looked AS if it had
been fashioned in one of Natures Enos'
royal moods, and forgotten. Solitude
had here taken abode and thrown her
lonely spell over all the wealth of sum
mer woods intricatciy laced with tan-
gled vines, and odorous with the damp,
cool breath of fern friugcd waters. 1t
appealed keen!y TO bis senses and set
his thoughts into q channel novel and
pleasant, which led away from the
every day affairs and pursuits of city
life. He felt too close to the greut,
throbbing heart of Nature to be frivo-
louS.
Any one meeting him as he wheeled
with practiced skill along the disused,
dimly marked road, would have
thought him bright-faced, careless
young fellow, out for holiday, and
have admired the 1.-the, supple figure
in dusty white flannel and red "Tam"
as much as the graceful management
of his "machine." They would never
have suspected that there was a poetic
instinct under all the careless exterior
sufficient 10 keep him in degree a
purer and cleaner hearted young fellow
ttran one meets every day.
AS the shadows grew deeper, hunger
and cramped limbs made him tong ar
dently for sight Of the farm house,
which must be near, and wherein nc
had been informed he could find board
for few weeks fishing in some of the
famous moutain streams. His mind
was divided between this desire and
his uncommon good fortune in getting
this holiday. He felt sorry i'll his heart
for !he boys back in the city, cOoped ny
in TINT over-cr0w,ica office, where brain
and car Were never rested and the etcr-
nal click click Of telegraph Instrument:
sometimes become So rasping to tht
nerves. 1t was with almost SHOCK
that he remembered how tiulIod, how
like piece of machinery one grows ii
that business where messages OF birth ol
death, marriage or murder, fash !ntt
the cnr and barely reaches the brain err
they arc gone.
cit wouldn't be hard to be good, ant
say your prayers and keep out Of temp
taiion here" he was thinking as n tar,
in the road brought him in full view
of that which he was sceking--a com
Portable, iow-caveu farm house.
AT its front door 'aIl form WAS Wis
ibie in the twilight, feeding pack c
hounds.
"Gee-Whin ~
The expression was repleto with ger
uine and spontaneous as;ouishmcnt, q
the young man SO suddenly dawnc