Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-27
A WHEELMAN's STORY.

one arrondissenent had detained US two
days. 1 say u.s. for, although had started
alone from Genoa, for the long 500 miles
wheel, had come, early along the Cor
nice road. on Pierson, n little chap from
Manchester, who was deploring a punct-
ured tire, and whom helped with my kit.
He, too, was in search of adventure, and
fell easily into my purpose. 1 indeed don't
know what l should have done without
him in the long distances beyond aarseiltes,
when on the fourth day we fell into a re-
gion OF peasantry speaking patois that
was about as dense as their superstition
and distrust of strangers. Yet all went
we'll enough until that afternoon, when in
Il desolate stretch of moor We rode into
bowling thunder and rain.
The way fell bit hilly and rutty with
mud. Drenched and disheartened, the moor
seemed limitless. We must have erred at
a crossroad, for the inn We hoped for did
not appear-not house, nor human be-
ing, nor dog, nor sheep. We might have
turned back, but we had come so far that
it seemed better to pedal on. The scurry-
ing wet bit our faces brutishly, and our
legs Were like mechanical metal cylinders,
had 1t not been for their aching, and, to
add to our weary dismay, the night reached
across the waste, crushing Us with fear
some shadows.
We. indeed, were about yielding, when
great battlemented house to which the
path led. Directly we were on it, and, leav-
ing the wheels, poked toward it, wonder
ing why none had given us question, and
why there was no CLEAN of light through
any chtnk. A great outer gate was open,
and we CROPPED to an inner one at the bot
tom OF the narrowing passage, and then
more penetrating flash struck glare
over broad door, and there looked down
a great bronze fox's head, with the knocker
ring hanging listless from its jaw
Our impatience left us no discretion. The
biackness was provoking, and I raised the
ring, which struck a chill through my
gloved finger. The spot where it fell may
have been cushioned, for we were dunn
founded by silence when the door was
opened as of its own volition-sending a
certain splendid glow over us-the light
OF many candles. and the sight, but strange
ly enough not crackle, of burning log
In deep fireplace at a long halls end.
The furnishings. elaborate in the extreme,
were of Henri Quatre. Portraits and mailed
figures lined the walls The Pickering
light sought the polish of the oaken floor
ing and ceiling, and close at the door was
a iackey-a tall, dark fellow with a dash
of the hired bravo you gather from old
books and old pictures, for he was dressed
in livery fitting the period of all the dec
oration of this interior. His voice surprised
us quite as much as this unexpected splen-
dor of light that no chink had revealed to
us when cropping outsIde-a faint sounding,
yet distinct, tone in French that we under
stood, although 1t seemed not exactly the
French we were schooled to-
The Sieur de Bellaire, sirs, has been
waiting you, and, despairing of your ap-
pearance. has sat down to dinner. I am to
show you there"
I began. and Pierson bore out my dis
ClDinlar 70 toll hot
could not be expected; that we were SIM
ply itinerant bicyclists lost in the blind
ness of the storm on the stretching moor.
And we wondered who this gentleman could
be who displayed so bizarre taste in fur
nishing and dress of his lackey in this for
saken spot. adding this new alteration of
the eccentricity possible in eccentric mill
ionaires. Surprise was doubled by the mans
quick retort, "Ah, gentlemen. no mistake
has been made. assure your
And although he looked at us slyly, yet
his manner seemed to reflect a masters
cordiality. I thought of all had heard of
strange personages who kept their doors
open for chance guests. Perhaps a glass
revealed us struggling on the moor along
the path, ending in this unexpected well
come. And, mistake or no, our condition
and WEAKNESS and hunger made US accept,
after our proper disclaimer had been dis
allowed. We asked but to go back for our
Wheels when the man said he would care
for them, and that his master ought not to
be kept waiting longer. The master would
excuse our appearance IL we would Join
him at once, and we, now inclined to see
the adventure to it's end, followed with
some amazement that the burning log on
the hearth seemed to give out no warmth
we were ushered into great dining hall,
where table was elaborately spread with
quaint and strange dishes-all, it seemed,
of the day of Henri Quatre. and it was
gentleman of that period, nicely attired
in silken hose, who bowed urbanely and
mctioned US to the board, where places
for two showed that we alone were ex-
pected. Yet for moment we paused. OBJ
livious of manners, at the hosts face
thin, narrow, clever, cunning, high bred.
with strange looking black eyes, and the
voice had that same French which had
certain antique phrases that reminded me
of an essay of the Sieur de Montaigne for
the Sieur de Bellaire appeared to have that
nice sense in this masquerade which Mr.
Irving brings to the setting of n play
where accuracy In every detail is to be
sought. The mouth put into the expression
of this gentleman's face-with cruel lines
and eager white teeth now and again
show ing-something belyfng the graces of
exquisite breeding. Yet when he spoke this
feeling faded, and We took. on his motion,
our places.
You have kept me waiting, gentlemen" :"
said he, with suavlty. land yet think you
will find the dinner not so bad for a
country house"
We again cried out that n mistake had
been made. when he smiIinSly said that
this was not so, and that were IL not for
the favor of the storm he should have
dined alone. The man who had admitted
US returned and became the waiter, gliding
abcut, serving US and pouring out from
dusty flagon some heavy wine that
sparkled with delicious suggestiveness and
sent through us a subtle fire that stole
the chill away. We began to talk with
loCsened tongues, while our host watched
us as If amused at our subjects-as If he
indeed were q gentleman of the old time
who heard us as one might the redoubt-
able Baron NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. us with
n sneer that was only half covert and
yet. while listening. said absolutely moth
ing of himself, and but shrugged his shoul-
ders when we exclaimed at the exact taste
which had made this perfect illusion of a
long gone day. And when We had done
remarkinS at the oddity of the viands as
well as at their appetiZiug qualities-he
still said naught of himself leaving us
wondering the more at the Sieur de Bel
laire-that we never should have heard of
him. and that any person, even with a
millionaire's power could produce such an
effect.
Tomorrow" said he. and ] fancied 1
saw a CLEAN of his eyes and a twitching
of his lips, "I will explain. Now, l know
you are weary. Theodore will show YOU
your lodging, which I hope may prove sat
isfactorv''