Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-12-27
A RUNAWAY WHEEL.

Erred, old man, you are indeed for
tunate, - said / as 1 leaned back in the
easy chair before tho grato fire in his
coy home.
Eyes. fortunate is the worry word"
he answered musingly. 1.-THE events Of
an hour changed tho course Cf my life.
II that hour had been left out Of the
day, I should not be tho possessor Of
such a home, but would DO back in the
old bachelor quarters. They were not so
bad, and there was only one woman Tor
whom 1 would give them up. At that
time she had refused me-was, III fact,
engaged to another.
II have never before spoken Of this,
but what 1 have gained has been we'll
earned. Twas favored by fortune in that
hour, but it was seizing the opportunity
that made mo successful.
"a party Of us had gone away on o
wheeling trip. Wewere young, gay and
Joyous, and tho weeks slipped BY until
it came time for Us to think Of return
ing.
"From being in love with Emily
Brant / became nadly infatuated with
her. Though she treated me in the most
distant manner, I still thought, with
the conceit Of youth, that she cared n
little for me. I was helped out ii this
idoa by little incidents and trivial cir
cumstances which led ne to hope she
would accept me-.
II had q rival-a man who did not
seem TO consider my actions Of eny i'm
p~ortance. 1 could not seem tomalIe him
jealous IN the slightest degeo He had
naturally a very self composed manner,
but this alono would-not account for his
bearing.
IT came to tho conclusion that I must
propose to Emily before wo returned to
the city, as 1 would have a much better
opportunity Of stating my case amid ia
vOrable surroundings than in the city
with its hustle and interruptions.
Zone afternoon we were riding
through q beautiful valley, and it so
happened Emily and myself We're quite
q distance to the rear of tie party. Tho
road was smooth, the trees nrchcd over
4tlut Nl6 hulAlEAN nAltNtilllAA III koANA
shafts through them, falling alternately
upon Emily rs sho rode her wheel SO
easily and gracefully, lighting her
beauty with a soft glow. l could keep
silence no longer, and riding close be-
side her, as We sped on together, 1 told
her how much / loved her and asked
her to DO my wife.
"'Thon camo tho breakingof tho dream
I had had for 50 many weeks and
months. In a few words l learned there
was no hope for mo; that though she
admired and respected me hhe had mover
thought of mo in any other way; that
there was already an understanding be.
tween Mr.. FornOw aud herself, nnt
that their engagement was soon to be
announced.
"At first / could hardly believe my
cars. We rode tho rest Of tho way II
silence. For me the glory Of tho day
had departed. II was as if a haze, hki
the melancholy haze Of Indian SIMMER
through which / should sec all thing
for oil time, had closed around me.
"n II had been possible, 1 shoul,
have left that night for tho city, bu
circumstances compelled me to accom-
pany the party on one last ride.
1T never saw q gayer set Of peopl
than We were when we started the mes
day. Some Of them guyed me a littl
about my lack Of gayety, but answers
that I was TO leave the next day anI
felt sad IN consequence.
Eve were to ride down ono valley
then descend a mountain into anothe
valley. 1 was the only one in the part,
who had been over the road, and it wa
50 long ago I had partially forgotten il
When we began to descend the noun
tain, I told them we had better walk
as the road was very steep. They too.
my advice for a time, and we had gon
the greater part Of the way, when ON
Of the party, in a spirit Of frohc, mount
cd his wheel an6 dared the others to d
likewise.
Thinking we were almost at b efoo
Of the mountain. we all followed hi
example. I was riding in tho lead, Eai
nest Farnow was close beside me. Sud
denly, ON turning a bend, wo came upo
: pitch IN the road SO steepas 30 great
alarm %.
1--WE had all been riding at goo
speed This IN itself would have maj
torbd little had eaca a Of us had on