Smyrna times., 1896-03-11
LOVE AWHEEL.
BY ED. I. TORIALLE.

smoking in the club, one afternoon.
"That is my solemn conviction, - re-
piled Bob, knocking the ashes from
his pipe.
''But you must admit that there
have been some capital prizes drawn
in the Hymeneal lottery?"
Certainly; I will admit that. Yet
we can't all of us get a capital prize.
But come, let us go for a spin on our
wheels; it's too fine a day to remain
indoors"
''No, 1 believe I'll not go out just
yet, Bob; have some mail to go over
and few letters to write.
"Well, I'm off, and with this Bob
Laight left the club house and was
away like the wind, over the fine, hard
roads of Woodhaven. Up hill, and
down again on the other side, he flew
until he had left the town far behind
him. What fresh, invigorating air
there is out in the country districts!
How the chickens and geese scatter to
get out of the way of-they hardly
know what! How the children about
the farmhouse gates look at him with
envy on their rugged and dirt-begrimed
facesi
He had covered four or five miles
when, approaching sharp curve in
the road, he came up with fair rider
who had come to grief
"Can be of any assistance?" asked
Bob, jumping from the saddle.
'I'm afraid not" said the young
lady, smiling. cts punctured tire,
and see you have no tool-case with
you. 1, unfortunately, have only a
wrench and air-pump, which are not of
much account in repairing a puncture. -
cts most unfortunate, said Bob,
glancing at the most interesting BIZ
cycler. "Have yOu far to gO?"
"I'm from Warringford; 1 guess it
must be four or five miles from here.
1t is a predicament, isn't it?" she said,
with merry little laugh, as if she
rather considered it good joke. eff
1 could get telegraph message into
WarringfOrd 1 would have them send
the wagon out for me-"
"But there's not telegraph office
within three miles of here. 1t would
be dark before | could ride to it and
back, " said Bob, somewhat perplexed.
''There is only one thing to be done.
You must take my wheel and ride
home"
''But what will you do?" asked the
bright girl, brushing the dust from her
leather Logging with her glove.
"Oh, I'll walk over to the railroad
station, about two miles from here, and
take the train to Woodhaven, where ]
live"
'No; don't do that. I'll ride on
fast, and send the wagon out with your
wheel, and it can bring mine back.
I'll have the wagon here in less time
than you could walk to the railroad
station"
Gas you like" said Bob, looking re.
gretfully at the chance acquaintance
which he was so soon to lose.
1t took but few minutes for Bob tc
adjust the saddle on his wheel, and tc
see that it was in readiness for its fan
burden. She mounted like and adept.
and IN few minutes the neat, g1ay bi.
cycle suit, and the sweet piece of fem.
unity in it, were far down the road,
speeding in the direction of Warning.
ford.
81 wouldn't mind investing in a lot.
terry if l could draw prize like that, .
soliloquized Bob, as his eyes followed
the direction taken by the fair wheel
woman.
He set to work to examine again the
puncture made in the tire, and took &
peep into the tool-case.
"Hellol What's this?'' he exclaimed
pulling out card from the bottom Of
the leather case. "Miss Mabel Grant
her card. 1 think I'll keep that; L an
certainly entitled to that for my kind.
ness, " and he slipped the little piece OF
pasteboard into his pocket.
''Mabel Grant, he murmured. "a
pretty name, and pretty girl. 1 be.
lieve I'll try my hand at this lottery
business!'
His very pleasant train of thought
was finally distracted by the sound OF
a horses feet. Yes, there was the
wagon, and his wheel, coming at q
rapid pace up the road!
'Well, well, you haven't lost any
timel" exclaimed Bob to the driver, 3
gray-bearded old man.
'Break down, eh?" said the driver,
getting out.
Yes; rather fortunate that 1 hap
pened along"
''No; it didn't take me very long .
came from the region of the gray
beard, as the old man lifted Bob's
wheel out and put the damaged one in
the wagon.
Very clever woman, that Miss
Grant?" said Bob, with a view Of
pumping the old fellow.
The man made no reply.
Miss Grant reached home safely ]
trust" came from Bob, adjusting his
saddle and handle-bars.
I'm little hard o'hearing. sir. ,
said the driver, putting his ear down
close to Bob,
''Well, old man, murmured Bob II
himself, as he mounted his silent steed
'the chickens go to bed early out here
and / don't want to wake the 200,
things up conversing with You. so Tn
off for Woodhaven.
The afternoon of the next day founf
Bob Laight pedaling in the direction
I of Warrin0ford