Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-06-30

aside:
by Jove! There are two hout and
hout American bicycles"
"Yes." WAS the answer, land they are
hout and hout American girls who are
going to ride them too. Well wait and
see them CO."
Its an easy matter to get away from
the vulgar crowd,'" call back to EIDE
as we sail swiftly down the street, turn
the first corner and are lost to sight
We linger around Liverpool for couple
OF days to see the sights and get our
bearings" and then early one morning
cross the River Mersey to Birkenhead
and take the turnpike road to Chester,
the old walled city Of which We have
read SO much. The road for the entire
distance is like floor. but it is far too
interesting to hurry over. The gentry" !"
with their stately homes and ancestral
acres, line the sides of the road all the
way, with an occasional little settlement
Of more common people and = country
tavern or two, where we stop for cool
ing drink or some other refreshments.
We stop to chat with the country peo-
pie we meet on our way. most Of whom
are so ragged and dirty that il we met
them in America we would be likely to
call them tramps and give them wide
berth. Here their honest. good natured
faces reassure us, and we often gain u
fund Of interesting information from
these slow going farmer folk, who al
ways seem to have plenty Of time to stop
their horses and chat. We meet party
after party Of cyclists, many Of whom
slow up as they draw near us for pleas
ant word. We are informed that at
Mrs. Browns. the "half way house." we
can get a good dinner, as she caters es-
pecially for cyclists. As we draw up to
the door the following inscription greets
us: Mrs. Brown is licensed to sell in
toxicating liquors and small beer to be
drank on the premises"
WELL" said Ede firmly, Il won't
sacrifice my temperance principles and
20 in there. If | am hungry" and we
journey on. In short time we come to
an inn that is decidedly coy and COM
Portable in appearance, and we decide to
stop. As we pass around to the side to
the entrance the big sign swinging in
the wind reads, Licensed to sell wine
and spirituous liquors."
The corners of Edith's mouth droop q
little as this meets her eyes, but she
walks steadily forward this time, and
we enter the coziest Of dining rooms,
and an enticing repast is soon spread be-
fore us.
The obliging waiter asks Us il we
would like some beer or anything else to
drink. There is considerable acidity in
Ede's voice us she orders lemonade and
disapproval in her eyes as ask for .
glass Of porter. l silence any remon-
strances by remarking that am going
to drink it for its flesh producing quail
tiles, and as there is no occasion for her
to use it for that reason she may as well
drink lemonade.
We linger around until we suddenly
awake to the fact that night is drawing
on apace and settle down for quick run
into Chester. We dismount in front of a
little shop, and l enter to make some in
quiries as to lodgings or hotels.
A quaint, motherly little old lady
meets me, and after a somewhat pro-
longed survey of my general appearance
and glance at Ede, who is standing
guard over the wheels outside, says
heartily: 'rm an old fashioned woman,
but ! have = comfortable room and a
good, clean bed. The two Of ye are tired
and dusty. Now, then, come in and stay
the night, and I'll do the best that ever
can for ye."
The place is antiquated and gloomy,
but neat, and decided to accept the in
vitation. Sponges, brushes and quanti-
ties of soap and water soon set us to
rights, and when we come back from
our room to find table spread with the
most immaculate linen and daintiest Of
ancient eggshell china, which Is loaded
with an appetizing supper for Just i've
two," we sit down and heartily dis-
cuss it and feel at peace with all the
world. Eide creeps into the depths Of q
big chair, and curl up on the comfort
able, old fashioned lounge and listen
dreamily to our garrulous little land
lady.
Dear, dear, and it's hard to believe
that ye're all the way form 'Mericky.
Ye must have hearts like oxen to start
out like this, just the two Of ye. And
tell me why ye didn't bring some men
with ye too"
Ede is convulsed with laughter In the
depths Of her chair, and manage TO an
swer with due gravity that we didn't
want to bother with men and that we're
better off without them.
"Well, don't know but that ye are
right, but it don't seem 70. Now, ye
two are travelling all over the world. and
here am l, poor soul that never gets
out Of Chester. I've two brothers mar
ried and settled in your country. May
hap ye may have heard speak Of them.
! It's somewhere in Canada they live.
Now, tell me, is that near Boston,
Mot very
"Well, Canada's the queens own, and
isn't Boston too%
"Oh, nor hastily answer.
"Well, I've heard speak Of it and d
Chicago and Pennsylvania and all them
places, but it's little know Of them"
| She hunts up q long unused lamp and
fxes it mp for us because folks from
our country don't Like candles, and hel
last appearance Is just as we are read,
for bed. '.Of course ye two girls dom
mind il come in now, for want 70 tel
ye that the key to your door Is lost, bu
ye're just a. safe a il ye were undel
yer mothers wing at home. THERE
nobody here but me and my man. Hs'
| . shoemaker, - his father was befor
him. and many good bit be picks up b.
his trade. Miss H0rley. she had thes
rooms for near three years. and she
was that lost the key to the door; bu
never mind, ye're al safe,r Z and Of Oh
trots. We pile things up against the nm
locked door, look under the bed and pea
into the closets and then crawl into th
mowy bed. which smells Of lavender
and are speedily lost to ths thingsd hi
world