The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-09-10

m All Il peioro us vacation,
cIP ~ and Arcadia. Tom
mic said you could find it on wheel
and finally he persuaded me. My per-
sunsion was complete the third day
ont. To be sure, we had not yet
found Arcadia, but we had the flavor
OF tome good health already, and we're
hopeful that when we least expected
it We should cross the boundary. The
road had gained our spirits.
And so feeling fit, and our hearts
nttuned to simple, natural things, we
rode into that bosky wood which was
to be the scene of our first misadven-
ture. The road was smooth and prom.
Useful, through the branches at our
right was the glimmer OF n lake, where
Tommie said we might loaf comiorta.
bly, for an hour with our pipes. SO we
left our steeds by the roadside and
won't down by that shore, stretching
ourselves ont for comfortable contem-
plation. An hour must have pussed
when Tommie grippod my arm.
''Look, Fletcher, there in the road"
l followed his eyes, and saw by our
wheels, a bit of sunlight on her face, n
most charming young woman, wearing
one of those walking costumes that are
now the most admirable achievement
of the modiste. She was young, Isay.
and blond; and she was smiling TO
herself and looking our wheels over.
One she raised, and before we even
fancied it, vaulted in tho saddle as
easily as any boy, tearing around a
curve and out of our ken.
"Well, I'll be hanged" said Tom.
mie.
az hope she'll bring it back" said !.
particularly as it's my wheel" p"
said Tommie. But in the road We
could see no trace OF her; she had
vanished.
"Get on yours and catch her." said
Tommie.
ooh, she'll bring it back. She
wasn't"
"Yes, she was"
"a gentleman OF the roGd2"
"No, lady-times have changed "
said Tommie, ruefully. swell, I'm
after her, Fletch."
And he, too, was around the curve
on my wheel, leaving me laughing and
mourning. But in five minutes he
was back, hot and irritable.
"There are three forks of the road
Just beyond. How in thunder am tc
know which she took?"
"Try your luck.
'It's bad enough" said he. a.
can't afford another wheel this year. '
al think" said |, "that she's jus
playing trick.
ats rather near theft" sait
Tommie. "Conround you, it WASH
your machine
"No," said !, lighting a cigarette
"We'd better walk on, She's gore
the wheel is-well, perhaps it
pawned by this time"
"You think you're funny" quot
Tommie. "Ride on, and I'll walk.
"No," said l, "we'll both walk. Blu
The was a mighty pretty"
"Thief."
Snow, Tommie, you don't know
that" said /.
"Well," said he, "haven't the evi
dences of my senses?"
"lhey sometimes lie," said i, for
saw he was not pleased; il wasn't IN
wheel, and, of course, could philoso
phize more easily than he. We too
the most hopeful turn Mt the thre
roads, since our map refused to be eI
plicit; and presently We came upon
rustic in boots.
"Did you see woman riding
mans wheelP"
al swan" said the rustic.
81 should remark" said Tommic
"she stole my wheel"
"You don't say" said the rustic.
"Where does this road lead?"
; "Nowhere." said the rustic.
"Don't you live hore?" asked Ton
"Since / was born" said the rustic
"Then wEere the deuce will tn
road bring us TO Z" asked inpatient,
"rhat depends on where yer q
in" remarked the rustic practically
"Oh, dear" said Tommie. "yo
notion to pound this fool"
The rustic looked frightened nj
retreated.
, "We want to 20 anywhere--to iii
the stolen Wheel" said /.
'This ere road goes to Arcadia
said he.
: A female Dick Turpini Arcadii
3 We opened our eyes.
4 "lfs . queer name that Meriva
calls this place, said the rustic. "T
round that thar turn"
We left him, Departing OF gettil
9 anything more lucid from him, but
!. appeared that at least we had reach
|. Area liza. l begdS TO laugh, VIII
Tommy said irritably, "Shut up"
About the turn we came on ro
leading from ours between high 90
, posts; aud there on a grassy bal
was our lady Of the road. stepp
I, back embarrassed. She was laughi
!, to herself Yes, she was undeniat
pretty. And as we paused she beg
=