The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-11-06
AWHEELMANS STORY

artly nothing had, although an official or
ono ACCOMPLISHMENTS had detained us two
days l say us, fer, although had start
ell alone from Genoa for the long 500
miles wheel had come, carly along the
Cornice road, on Picrson, little chap
from Manchester, who was deploring a
runcturcd tire, and whom [ helped with
my kit He. too was in search of adTen-
turc, and fell easily into my purpose. l
indeed don't know what [ should have
done without him III the long distances be-
vond Marscillos, when on the fourth day
we fell into Il region of peasautFy speaking
4 Datois that was about as dense as their
siInerstition and distrust of strangers Yet
all went well enough until that afternoon,
when in des0latc stretch of moor we rode
into bowling thunder and rain. The way
fell bit billy and rutty with mud. Drench-
ed and disheartcrcd, the moor seemed linz
illesS. We must have erred ut a croSsroad,
Tor the inn We hoped for did not appear
rot II house, nor u human being, nor dog,
ncr sheep. We might have turned back,
but we had come so far that it seemed bet
ter to pedal on. The scurrying wet bit
orr faces brutshly, and our legs were like
mechanical metal cylinders, had it not
Iccn for their aching, and to add to our
weary dislnay the night reached across the
waste, crushing us with fearsome shadows
We, indeed, were about yielding, when
suddenly burst "l VIVA H@htlliiG s!i"',So
a great hnttlemcntcd house to which the
path led Directly we were on it, and leav-
ing the wheels pol.ed toward it, wondering
Why none had given US question ana why
there was 10 S!c!iA Oh hSh1 through any
chlnk- a great outer gate was open "il'.
We gropcd 10 an lhhor one at inc Do'Volii OIL
the narrowing passage anu tAeH q liCIo
penetrating fash struck a glare over a
broad door, ard there looked down Giea5
rronZo foE head, WITH inc khoch"f ring
hanging hstlcss from Its inv
Our i:npatience left US no discretion
The hlaci,nesS was Provokin&, ana L raised
tie ring, which Struck e chill through my
G!oVed finger lhe spot WheTe IL leli may
have been CuSa!cned, Tor we were dliM-
-OunCed by S!SEco When the uoor WAS
opened as Of Its own Toll1loh-S2huihE
certain Splendid glow over uS-the HSh6
Of many c"hd!2s, ana the SlghE' eu6
strangely enough not the cracklc OF
burning log IL deep fireplace at "a long
halls cad. The furnishings, elaborate IN
the extreme, were OF Hcnri Quatre. For
traits ard ha!i.a figures IIEca tiic walls
Tho iicEcrtng light sought the polish OF
tac o&.lrn flooring and ceiling, "Hd close ut
the door vas q l@cIcy--a tail, dark fellow,
from CID DOCKS and old pictures, for no
was dressed IL livery 1itC:E@ the period of
all tic decoration OF this INTERIOR Ills
voice surprised us quite rs much as this
unexpected sil2HCor O. light th:Ii no chlnK
lad revealed to us Whcn cropping outside
a faint sounding yet distinct, tone in
I'rCncn that To understood although 1t
seemed not exactly the French we were
aehooiod TO-
The Sleur dc beliai@n, s!rS, has oeen
waiting you, and, CcSp~iFlAG OF your ap-
Telranca, has SAT down to dinner. ! am 10
show you there. >
I began, and Pi2Tson bore out my dis
Csaimer tha5 lie WIS mistaken; th&5 we
could NOS DO expected; that wo were sim
Ply itincTant bicyClists lest in tie blind
ness OF the storm on the stretching moor.
And VIC wondered who this gentleman
could be who displayed 81 bizarre a taste
in furnishing and dress of lis lackey in
this fCrslken spot, adding this new ahcTra-
ton Of the ccccrtri"!ty possible II occcn-
trio millionaiTc5. surprise was doubled
ny the man 5 quick Tctoft An, gentle
men, no mistake has been made, assure
you!'
And although ne looked ct us slyly, yet
lis manner seemed to reflect Il master
cnrdiaiitr. / thought OF al / had heard
N''N'
open for chance guests. GefhspS q g!2sS
mad revealed us struggling ON the MOOR
along the path, ending IL this unexpected
welcome And mistake or no, our conGl-
ton and WEAKNESS anu hunger mace Us
accept. after our proper disclaimer had
boon diSalloWed. We asked buG to 90 back
for our wheels, when the man said he
would calc for thcm and that his master
ought not to be kept waiting longer. The
master would excuse our appearance if we
would join him at once, and we, now in
clined to see the adventure to its end, fol-
lowed, With some amdze:nenG that the
burning log on the hearth seemed to give
out no warmth.
We were ushered into n great dining
hall, where q table was elaborately spread
with quaint and strange dlshes-all, 1t
vas a gentleman Of that Deriod nicely at
tired in siII,e7, hose who bowed 11rhanely
and r,otioned us to the board. whers
1laces for two showed that we alone vera
evnected Vet for n moment we nausrd
chIivinns of ,ronnors M tho bos+,s faca-
+bin ,,o,.-o-r- eleven n1,,r;nc bicb Ic-~l
I'll to,,,,, 1o,I-i,', IL go nj ~.
,oicn I'D int sorle Fro1,.b which had
aor+i 80, ,, 80 ,.,,,i,,lo1 ,,,,,
= 49,, -. - ~, c., do NTo,,+,i,.,,o
Il 60 80 -, - 80 -,
j., tI,i y,,I';E
Ne ", e,,l ~ -i,
-, ,,'.,,,.,- i, - Ill :; ~ ho
,,,,.E4 i-,+ ,,a,-,,,.;,,,
- IL; .-,,+,,,,, ;tt, - -
80 - lll-1'
;, .,,,att;, 49,, -, - ~.
-.,,i..i+, t,ro,,,I;,,,, ~ -, e. go eli,
Fa,Ii,,,. f.,.IoI n,,d -, FOOD. ~, liz ,no+foa
- ''
", t,o,.o 1-o,4 49,, ,,.,i+i,,,. ,.o,,+,o
,,,c,, ,, Gid bo Nth er,ovitI. ND yc+ 7
IL a. 49,
for a country house y
We ne-a;r2 cried ont that - mistake had
bnc1 mad ,,-Le,, bo s,.,iIi,,--Iv. I'D +L,t
tLis ,.,,s NOT en- and 4,,t z,.o,S il NOT Cow |
Icfavorof tbn Storm, he should tarn Linad
.,I-o r,,o ,t, - ,I,'i4+J
turned and became she waiter, gliding |
about serving rs and pouring out from q |
dusty lagoon some heavy wine that spar |
iIcd with delicious suggestiveness and |
sent through Us Il subtle fire that stole the |
emil away We began to talk with loos- |
oHcu tongues "hlo our h"S6 watched US
'ts II tsIil,'S'u a' our SuoJecUs-fs II ne In
Ngp'', "1'| " SeH'leii'.'n Vi inc olC Cline
VINO he'II us as one might the redouDtaoie !
D"roh au'eh-Watched US with
sneGr GlaV was ohly nan covert ana YET,
"nllo iistehihg' saitl anSolutGiy mourning OF
''iiise+l' ana puI SnrusSeu MS shouIders