Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-03-08

enoreb 10 satisfy himself that his fears
were well grounded. lie no" ap-
proached the professor ard begged 20
he allowed to take them Immediately
m his own home where every comfort
awaited them. But the illuStrlouS pair
had already had all the adventures they
sesired for one night, and so they tooh
rooms at the hotel and retired.
one can only Judge of their surprise
the next morning when they found
hill for medical services rendered Ine
oi,bt before OF course this was paid
without murmur.
The hospitable member of the par VINO
had taken such an interest In them UMe
night before paid them an early call
since he wished to save the fragments
Of the regulation of the city. He begged
them to be his guests. but they Declined
for want of time. When he found that
they wanted TO see the constitutional
convention of the state in session, he
ACCOMPANIED them TO Frankfort Ihen
beinr DESTROYS Of showing them now
RAPIDLY an American town could grow
he took them to Middleborough In the
extreme southeastern part OF kentucky.
Mrs. Bryce, like many English wo-
men. is an accomplished rider; so the
three procured saddle horses, since the
steep roads were well-nigh impasSloie
for vehicles. The party rode up TO the
Cumberland mountains from whence
they had a grand view of four States,
with scenery diversified enough 10 suit
the eye of a chamoiS.
When the trio were descending they
caught sight Of an object half way up
the mountain side. This OBJECT was
moving. and il looked nearest like the
picture of vampire by mad painter.
IL seemed to have wings, an enormous
mouth and considerable tail. Prot.
Bryce was unable to decide whether 1t
was the American gyaScutuS, the Tor
nation of feud or a kentucy orator:
and he very prudently allowed his legal
escort to ride ahead.
They had perhaps descended quar-
ter of a mile with great care, when TIE
object resolved itself into a very print
tive looking vehicle with vampire
winged top, drawn by mule. The dr.
yer was squat low like a toad in the
center of the wagon, which was bounc-
ing from side to side and threatening
every minute TO upset. The three were
SPECIFICS when they beheld in the toad
like figure the person OF Mr.. Merle.
Without paying any attention TO the
rest of the party, he exclaimed with the
tones Of something in pain: Mrs.
Bryce, I'm sorry that l did not see you
had supper last night. | didn't think;
forgot"
The scene was so intensely ludicrous
that even the Sedate historian had hard
work to keep from laughing. The gi-
gantic ears of the emaciated mule, the
antediluvian wagon, the painful earn
eStneSS of the object holding the relns,
would have called forth an amused
smile from Diogenes.
Mrs. Bryce, with the keen intuition
Of woman, took in the situation at a
glance Mr.. Merle, at great inconveni-
ence and considerable expense, had
come two hundred miles to beg her par
don. Whether he had been Influenced
by his own thoughts after considering
the reception his guests had met, or by
a certain woman'S broomStickS, did not
matter. The look Of sorrow on his face
would have moved almost anyone.
Mrs. Bryce replied in her kindest
tones: you are perfectly excuSable,
Mr.. Merle We all forget many things,
and are often abSent-miIded. Socrates
had those very characteristics, and none
of US think any the less OF him for
them, but rather the more. Do not
trouble yourself any more about that.
Tell Mrs. Merle that it was all right,
and please give her my regards"
The look of relief which came over
Mr.. Merle'S face was like sunrise at
sea. He accompanied them to town.
and took the first train for Louisville as
happy as a child. The party saw no
more OF him.
Prof and Mrs. Bryce resumed their
Southern journey that night In the
next edition of his great work we may
look for a chapter entitled, Some Curl
ositieS Of the American Common
wealth" DAVID WECHsLER.