Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-09-30

| MI " nSnI Uoy "oo wa
II ~ II and the orroT
| bJh4 promised but anothel
SM/H as weary. We saw
>N A o before us vacation
SD y ~ and Arcadia. Tom
,nie said you could find it on wheel
and finally he persuaded me. My per
suasion vas 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 90 feeling fit, and our hearts
attuned 20 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 gllmmer OF 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 conten.
plation. An hour must have passed
when Tommie grippeo my arm.
''Look. Fletcher, there in the road. "
I 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
of the modiste. She was young, Isay,
and blond; and she was smiling to
nerself 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.
swell, IN be hanged" said Tom
mie.
'I hope she'll bring it back," said L.
Particularly as it's my wheel, "
said Tommle. But in the road We
could see no trace Of her; sne had
vanished.
sect on yours AMI catch her." said
Eommie.
"ou, she'll bring it back. She
wasn't"
"Yes, che was"
ga gentleman OF tue roal?"
"No, lady-tlnes have changed, "
said Tonmie, ruefully. "Weli, I'm
after her, Fletch."
and he, too, was around the curve
on my wheel, leaving me laughing aud
mourning. But in five minutes he
was back, hot and irritable.
"There are three forks of the road
Just beyond. How in thunder am I TO
6now which she took?9"
TRY your luck"
"It's bad enough" said he. 81
can't afford another wheel this year. I"
81 think, "said ], "that she's just
playing trick.
dts rather near g theft" said
Tommie. "Confound you, it wasn't
your machine.
"No," said I, lighting a cigarette.
"We'd better walk on. She's gone (;
the wheel is-well, perhaps it's
pawned by this time"
"You think you're funny" quoth
Tommie. "Ride on, and I'll walk. "
"No," said I, "we'll both walk. But
she was mighty pretty"
"Thief."
"Now, Tommie, you don't know
that" said I.
"Well," said he, haven't 1 the evi.
dences of my senses?"
'They sometimes lie, said /, for I
saw he was not pleased; it wasn't my
wheel, and, of course, could philoso-
phize more easily than he. We took
the most hopeful turn at the three
roads, since our map refused to be ex'
plicis; and presently we came upon a
rustic in boots.
"Did you see woman riding a
mans wheel?"
81 swan" said the rustic.
81 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'. -ou live here?" asked Tom.
"Since I was born," said the rustic.
"Then where the deuce will this
road bring us to?" asked impstiently.
"That depends on where yer 60
in, remarked the rustic practically.
"0h, DEAR" said Tommie. "I've q
notion to pound this fool"
The rustic looked frightened and
retreateo.
"We want to 90 anywhere-to find
the stolen Wheel" said I.
''This ere road goes to Arcadia, u
said he.
A female Dick Turpinl Arcadia
We opened our eyes.
'It's queer name that Merivale
calls this place." said the rustic. ''It's
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. 1 began to laugh, when
Tommy said irritably, "Shut up"
About the turn we came on road
leading from ours between high gate
posts; and there on q grassy bank
| was our lady of the road. I stepped
back embarrassed. She was laughing
| to herself. Yes, she was undeniable
pretty. And as we paused she begar
| TO sing in voice that probably wa'
not good one by common standard
but here in the wood, singing to her
| self, it seemed singularly delightful
] clutched Tommie and held him back
Sing no more ditties, sing no more,
OF dumps so dull and heavy,
The fraud OF men was ever so,
Since summer first was ieafy.
"And of women" said Tommie
stepping forward, cap in hand; a
least he remembered SO much of hi
manners. The singer started ant
drew herself up.
"sir!" said she, like the affrontet
lady in the play.