The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-10-03

~ anu AECAula. IOM-
ME said you could find it on a wheel ;
and finally he persuaded me. My per.
sussion was complete the third day
out. To be sure, we had not yet
found Arcadia, but we had the flavor
OF some good health already, and were
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
attuned 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 tho gllmmer OF a lake, where
Tommie said we might loaf comforta.
bly, for an hour with our pipes. SO we
left our steeds by the roadside and
went down by that shore. stretching
ourselves out for comfortable contem-
plation. An hour must have pissed
when Tommie gripped my arm.
'Look, Fletcher, there in the road"
followed his eyes, and saw by our
wheels, bit Of sunlight on her face, a
most charming young woman, wearing
one OF those walking costumes that are
now the most admirable achievement
ofthe 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
tancied it, vaulted in the saddle as
easily as any boy, tearing around a
curve and out of our ken.
"Well, I'll be hanged" said Tom.
ME.
81 hope she'll bring it back" said I.
Particularly as it's my Wheel, u
said Tommle. But in the road we
could see no trace of her; she had
vanished.
sect on yours and catch her," said
Tommie.
"Oh, she'll bring it back. She
wasn't"
eyes, she was
"a gentleman of the road?"
''No, lady-tlmes have changed,
said Tommie, ruefully. "Weli, 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 / to
know which she took?"
'Try your luck"
'It's bad enough" said he. 81
can't afford another wheel this year. !"
II think" said I, f''that she's just
playing a trick"
otis rather near a theft" said
Tommie. "Confound you, it wasn' t
your machine.
''No, said I, lighting a cigarette.
"We'd better walk on. Shes gone
the wheel is-well, perhaps it's
paWned Dy thls Time.
"You think you're funny" quoth
Tommie. "Ride on, and III walk. u
"No," said I, "we'Il both walk. But
she was mighty pretty"
"Thief."
'Now, Tommie, you don't know
that" said ].
"Well, said he, haven't the evi.
dences of my senses?"
"They sometimes lie," said I, for
saw he was not pleased; it wasn't my
wheel, and, of course. I could philoso.
phize more easily than he. We took
the most hopeful turn at the three
roads, since our map refused to be OK
plicit; and presently we came upon 6
rustic in boots.
"Did you see woman riding 8
mans wheel?"
81 swan" said the rustic.
Il should remark" said Tommie
"she stole my wheel"
"You don't say" said the rustic.
"Where does this road lead?"
Nowhere" said the rustic.
Don't you live here?' asked Tom.
''Since [ was born, said the rustic.
'Then where the deuce will this
road bring us to?' asked impatiently.
"That depends on where yer 60
in, remarked the rustic practically
ooh, DEAR" said Tommie. "I've 6
notion to pound this fool"
The rustic looked frightened auo
retreated.
"We want to 90 anywhere-to fine
the stolen Wheel" said I.
This ere road goes to Arcadia, >
said he.
A female Dick Tarpin! Arcadia
We opened our eyes.
''It's a queer name that Merival.
calls this place." said the rustic. "It'I
round that thar turn"
We left him, despairing OF getting
anything more lucid from him, but Il
appeared that at least We had reached
Arcadia. I began to laugh, wher
Tommy said irritably, "Shut up"
About the turn we came on roai
leading from ours between high gate
posts; and there on a grassy bank
was our lady of the road. I stepped
back embarrassed. She Was laughing