The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-10-20

n y and the morrow
NI5' promised but another
N1 rs weary. We saw
oAk before. us vacation,
oP ~ and Arcadia. Tom.
ME said you' could fipd it on IA wheel /;
aud finally no persuaded me. My per
suasion was complete the third day
=. ont. To be sure, We had not vet
found Arcadia, but we had the flavor
OF somo good health already, and were
hopeful that when wo least expected
1t we should cross the boundary Tho
road had gained our spirits.
Aud so feeling fat, and our hearts
attuned to simple, natural things, we
rode into that bosky wood which wa.
to be the scene OF our first misadven-
tdre. The road was smooth aud prom
Useful, through the branches mt our
right was the glImmer OF lake, where
Iommie said We might loaf comforta.
bly, for an hour with our pipes. so we
LETT our steeds by tho roadside and
wont down by that shore, stretching
ourselves out for comfortable contem.
plntion. An hour must have pussel /
when Tommie gripped NV arm.
Look, Fletcher there in the road. "
followed his eyes, and saw by our
wheels, bit OF sunlight on her face, n
most charming young woman, wearing
one OF those walking costumes that are
now the most admirable achievement
, OF the modiste. She was young, i shy.
and blond; and she was smiling 10
: herself and looking our wheels over.
One She raised, and, before we even
tnnnIpI II vanltaI -,
casilY'as any boy, tearing around a
curve aud out of our ken.
Wei, I'll be hanged" said Tom.
mics
ST hope she'll bringqt back" said /.
Particularly rs it's my wheel, ="
said Tommle. But in the road we
could see no trace of her; she had
vanished.
"Get'on yours aud catch her. " said
Tommie
GOA, she'll bring it back. She
wasn't"
"Ycs, she was
"a gentleman of the roal?"
''No, lsdy-timcs have changed, "
said Tommie, ruefully. "Well, 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 aud irritable
There are three forks Of tho road
Just beyond. How in thun Ter am / TO
know which she took?"
Cry yourluck "
Its bad enough said he. 81
can't afford another wheel this year. &"
81 think, said 1, "that she's Just
playing trick.
"it's rather hear theft" said
Tommie. "Confouud you, it wasn't
your machine.
no." said /, lighting cigarette.
"We'd better walk on. She's gone !;
the wheel i6rwell, perhaps Its
pawncd by this time
"You think you're funny" quoth
Tommie. "Rijo on, and I'll walk. "
mo" said l, "we'll both walk But
she was a mighty pretty"
"Thief"
"Now, Tommie. you don't know
that. said ].
We'll, said he, haven't the cyi
dences of my scuses?'
"They sometimes lie" said !, for i
saw he was not pleased; it wasn't nv
wheel, and, of course, could philoso.
phize more easily than he. We tool,
the most hopeful turn at the three
roads, since our map refused TO he ex.
1 plicit; and presently VIC came upon a
! rustic in boots.
"Did you sec woman riding "a
mans wheol?"
''l swan, said the rustic.
4 81 should remark" said Tommie I:
"she stole my wheel
You don't say, sniI the rustic.
'Whcre does this ronj lcod2'
Nowhere, ~ said the rustic.
Don't you live hereY asked Tom
'Siuce ! was born, said the rustic.
Then where the doucc will this
road bring MS ?' asked impaticutlv
That depends on whcro yer 20.
aiu', remarked the rustic practically.
~ "Oh, dear, said Tommjc "Tyo o
= oton to pound this fool
The rustic looked frightened and
retreatod
we want TO go anywhere to find
he stolen wheel, said J.
'Ihis ere Iood goes to Arcadia, "
pail ho.
a female Dick Turpin Arcadia
Vo opened our eyes.
"Its n queer uomo that Merigalc
'..H this place, said tho rustic. "fts
.nuI that thar turn
We Icit him, dcsporug Of getting
Wy thing moro lucid from him, but h
tppoor.l that at least we bad reached
rca j.n ! began 10 Ian gb, when
.my said irritably, Shut up
AbJut the turn wo came on road
tIp2 from ours between high cato
ps's AMI there on n grassy bank
os onr lady Of the road stopped
los cmblrra sell She was laughing
herself Ycg, chs was undeniabls
-c''y, And Rs We paused she began