Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-09-02

Lady Laelia was decidedly imprudent
with regard to Mr.. De Cruza. 1t was
distinctly foolish, for instance, to be
seen so often bicycling with him. The
world would probably have said some
thing strong if it knew that she made
that arrangement to ride down to
Richmond Park on bicycles with him.
If there was one thing more silly than
making the engagement, it was keeping
it. Lady Laelia did both.
1t was a delightful day, warm and
bright, yet not too hot. The roads
were smooth and hard, and though
the water-carts had been active, the
effects of their passage had worn off
sufficiently to prevent danger from
side-slip.
De Cruza was gorgeously arrayed.
He wore a bright blue coat, orange
waistcoat, trousers to match the coat,
a white broad brimmed (Jameson) hat,
patent leather shoes and tie of new
and wonderful shade of red. Instead
of the usual transfer on the lower
main tube of the machine his own sig
nature sprawled In gold.
Richmond Park was at its best. 1t
was deserted save by the deer The
heavy woodlands shut out the horizon,
the houses, the busy life which teemed
all around at such short distance. 1t
was possible to imagine oneself in the
heart of delicious desert of oak and
fern and chestnut, traversed by excel
lent roads, tempered only occasionally
by low hills.
Lady Laelia most unwisely called
halt by clump of towering trees. The
pair dismounted, and, abandoning
their bicycles, sat down on the com
Portable bank to rest.
The spirit of the scene, of his art,
of the divine passion, entered the
breast of the poet. Hand in hand
came the thought of that excellent
business speculation. Here in the
wilderness THAT was so near town.,
under the open sky just ten minutes
run from tirst-class hoteD, he would
declare himself to Lady Laelia. The
proposal should be veritable poem in
prose 1t should thrill her to the very
soul, and reveal to her, as in light
ming flash, what manner of man he
was.
Dear Lady" he began, with i'm
passioned tenderness.
Lady Laelia turned toward him, and
by that movement fate willed that her
eyes should catch sidelong glimpse
of the two bicycles which leaned in
close company against tree.
"Oh, Mr.. De Cruza," she cried in
great excitement. "what is that man
doing to my bike?"
Much Disguised at this prosaic in
terruption, the poet turned his head
impatiently in the direction indicated.
A distinctly rufiianly and unkempt in
dividual was undoubtedly standing
in suspicious proximity to the ma
chimes. Lady Laelia sprang to her
feet with the impetuosity of mother
who sees her child in danger. Mr..
DE Curza rose with far more delibera-
ton, and feeling of uneasiness be-
came manifest IN his breast. Good
heavens was there going to be an al
tercation with q common, low, uncul-
tured person who would probably use
the most uurefned language? How
odious! How unpoeticl How excrucia-
tingly discordant to the artistic sensel
Besides, the common person appeared
to carry an ugly, thick stick, which he
held precisely as Irishmen do their
what were they called?-oh, shille-
laghs in pictures.
Lady Lselia rushed into the fray
without thought of art or poetry, or
even of the stick.
How dare you touch my bicycle?"
she cried. What are you doing to
it?"
'No arm, iydy," replied the tramp