Smyrna times., 1896-03-11

she may be out for spin, this after
noon" And she was.
81 trust 1 didn't keep you waiting
any longer than was absolutely neces-
sary, yesterday" said the sweet rider.
''No; the wagon got out in remark
ably quick time, L thought. You will
pardon my introducing myself, 1 hOpe?"
said Bob, handling her his card.
Certainly, +" replied the young lady;
''but I'm sorry 1 haven't one of my
own with me.
''Never mind, Miss Grant, f." said Bob,
smiling; 81 have one of your cards. L
found it in your tool-case, after you
left, yesterday. trust you will par
don the theft?"
"Of course, L WILL" said his com
panion, with a merry laugh; "but are
you sure you prefer that one to one |
will give you?"
"Oh, yes; think prefer the one |
have. Stolen fruits are sweet, l know
of no reason why stolen cards should
not be-.
''Well, have your own way; men in
sist upon that privilege, you know"
and she laughed long and heartily.
Weeks passed, and Bob found the
road to WarringfOrd the most attractive
place for spin He met his captiva-
ting chance-acquaintance frequently
on the road, and the happiest moments
of his life were spent spinning over the
fine roads in her company. The more
he saw her the more he liked her, and
he really believed he had met the wO-
man he could make his wife. A long
spell of bad weather came, and, al
though Bob ventured out several times
he did not meet Mabel Grant. He
wrote letters to her, but no answer
came to them.
When the weather became fine
again, he met her ON her wheel. She
laughed at him when he chided her for
not answering his letters, and dismiss
ed the subject by declaring that she
disliked writing. He couldn't
help loving her, even if she did dislike
letter writing. It was sort of a bore,
when one came right down to think of
it! And how much better thar com
municating ones thoughts through the
medium of paper and irk was it to be
spinning along in the fine, fresh air,
and listening to the merry ripple from
those sweet lips!
His secret was confded to his friend,
Forester, and that young gentleman
was pleased to be relieved from plz-
zling his brain to discover what motive
his friend had in always appearing to
take lonely rides in the direction of
Warringford
1t was bright fall day, and Bob was
flying over the road which ed to the
home of Mabel Grant.
'Jove! that's an idea!' he exclaimed
to himself "I'll propose to her on my
wheel. That will be something new
under the sun, without doubt'
She was there, looking, Bob thought,
prettier than ever She wore a rose in
her jaunty little coat, and the refresh
ing fall air had put color in her cheeks
that rivaled the color of the flower.
'Miss Grant" said Bob, after they
had spent half an hour in riding, 81
have been wanting to say something to
you for long time
"Oh, Mr.. Laight, broke in the fair
companion, jumping from her wheel;
"there is something the matter with
those pedals. Won't you look at
them?"
Bob dismOunted, and examined the
pedals carefully, but could find moth
ing wrong.
On they went, but every time Bob
was about to broach the momentous
question she interrupted him, but in
such happy, laughing way that he
couldn't help but love her just for that.
The time came for separating, and Bob
carried back his secret with him. But
did he? Didn't this captivating little
miss know he loved her?
/ will let my readers into my conf
dence, just here. Women are credited
with being deceitful, but in this case
Mabel Grant did not have the least
suspicion that Bob loved her. She
laid her head on her pillow, that night,
in perfect ignorance of Robert Laigbts
infatuation.
The next few weeks were sad ones
for Bob. He rode every day. He used
up quantities of nicely-tinted note
paper in sending missives to Warning
ford. He passed and re-passed the
house, thinking he would see the wo-
man whom he hoped some day to make
his wife One day he called, and
learned that she was away visiting
friends in New York. She was to re-
turn next day, however.
The express took down to Warning
ford, the next day, wonderful basket
of flowers addressed to Miss Mabel
Grant, and accompanying it was
note, one which had taken hours to
pen, and perusal of which would set
at rest all doubts as to whether Bob
was in love or not.
Bob followed the flowers and the
note, and boldly presented himself at
the front door of Miss Mabel Grants
residence. He sent in his card, and
was shown into the handsome parlor.
There he saw that his floral gift had
prominent place.
Presently he heard a light footstep
in the hall, the door opened, and a
young lady entered, perfect stranger
to him, but he saw at glance a re-