The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-09
THE LADY OF THE ROAD.
By Clinton Ross copyrghr 1885, The S. s. Mcclure Co.
From Wheeling in Arcadia

By Clinton Ross. Copyrig.
Copyright, 1896, the S. S. Mcclure Co.
We discussed it many times after
The weary day was over, and the NOR
row promised but another as weary.
we saw before us vacation, and Ar
cadla> Tonmie said you could find lit
on wheel: and finally he persuaded
me. My persuasion was complete the
unlrd day out. To be sure, we had not
yet found Arcadia, but we had the
havor of some good health already.
and were hopeful that when we least
expected 1T we should cross the bound
ary The road had gained our spirits.
we knew already why gypsises persist
IN the gypsYing; why tine most enter
: tanning pages in Wilhelm Medster and
IN kene1m Chillingly are those where
the heroes take the road over the
nils and far away" why Prince Otto
is the most delightful of Stevenson S
stories, and Walking Tours the most
exquisite OF his essays-although
nave not head that he rode wheel.
We recalled that the real charm Of
Plckwick was in the coaching, and
the footing of horns and that Dick
Turpin was more hero than scamp.
And so feeling fit, and our hearts at
tuned to simple, natural things, we
rode into that boslly wood which was
to be the scene of OUT first misadvent-
ure. The road was smooth and prom
Useful; through the branches at our
right was the glimner of a lake,
where Tommie said we might loaf
comfortably 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 contemplation. An hour
must have passed, when Tommie
gripped nv arm.
Look. Fletchar-theTe in the road
! followed his eyes, and saw by our
wheels bit OF sunlight on her face
a most charming young woman who
was gowned in one OF those walking
costumes that are now the most adj
mirabie achievement of the modfste
She was young, say, and blonde; and
she was smiling to herself, and look
ing our wheels over One she raised,
and-before we even fancied twas
in the saddle as easily as any boy, and
tearing around a curve, and out of our
ken.
well, III be hanged" said Tommie.
Il hope she'll bring it back said 1.
Particularly as it's INV wheel said
Tomnie. But il the road we could see
no trace of her; she had vanished.
Get on yours, and catch her." said
Tommie.
wasn't"
YES, she was"
"A gentleman of the road"
NO, a lady-times have changed
snid Tommie, ruefuily. ''Well, I'm
after her, Flefch.''
And he. zoo. was around tine curve
1.,,
mourning. But IN five minutes he was
back, hot and irritable.
There are Ihree forks Of the road
just beyond How in thunder am 1
to know which she took?"
TRY your luck
ITS bad enough said he. ''I can't
afford another wheel this year"
..s"I think, said I, that she's just
playing a trick
TITS rather near a theft" said Tom
mic "Confound you, il wasn't your
machine"
mo" said I, lighting a, cigarette.
'eWe'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 Tn WALK. But
she was an Internally pretty
Thief"
Now, TOmmle, you don KNOW
that" said 7.
We'll" sand he, haven't I the evil
dences of my senses?'
They sometimes lie" said I. For I
saw he was not pleased; it wasn't my
wheel, and of course 1 could philoso- |
pfatze more easily than he. We took !
the most hopeful turn at the three
roads, since cur map refused to be ex-
plicit: and presently we came on a
rustic in boots.
did you see a woman riding
mans wheel?"
Il swan said the rustic
Il should remark, said Tommie; /
''she stole my Wheel
You don't say said the rustic.
Don't you live here?" asked Tom
ME
..since I was born, golly," said the
rustic.
.Then where the deuce viii this road
brin. us top / asked impadiently.
'sThat depends on where We goin',''
remarked the rTsic practically.
"Oh. Lord" said Tommie. I've a /
notion TO pound this fool