The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-04-15
"Wha. is that to you. sly? It's
Shoi-acnnorn

you'll excuse me, said Tommie
but my wheel has been stolen
.'StoIenw she cried in a crimson
glow; and then with tone that went
despairful: Down by the lake,"
"Yes, down by the lake." said the
malicious Tommie
''Oh,' she cried. how can explain
There it is l thought it was Freds.
1 thought Fred and Harry left them
there"
sits no matter, said l. I'm sorry.
1t was a natural mistake,
She looked at me with world OF
thanks in the blue eyes. Did l tell
you before they were blue? Tommie
simply walked to his wheel.
Il am glad you did it, he said, be-
cause it has given me a chance to
know You"
You're atrocious," she said, and
turned and fled up the road behind
the gateway.
wasn't she jolly2 he said. I'm go
ing TO follow.
You are not going to do anything
of the kind, cried. But he always
is stubborn, and il ended by me fol-
lowing HIM.
The road led from the wood into a
broad sunny lawn, which was domino :
ted by a great stone house, where
man was just stepping into high
dog cart
"Why. said Tolnmie, its Harry
| Wharton
At that moment Wharton saw US.
well, l declare" he cried, coming
forward.
'She didn't lie after all, said Tom
mie. He the Harry of the Fred and
Harry probably"
Did you think she did?,' cried
tiercely; but Tommie was explaining
to Wharton that we had lost our way
and Wharton was insisting on the hos
pitality of the Merivale house, which
he had rented for the summer, he ex-
planned; and Tommie was accepting,
while [ stood speeches.. At the mo
ment our lady of the road came out of
the house and blushed at the sight of
us aud looked as if she wanted moth
ing so much as to take to her heels,
which were very pretty heels, l must
assure you, topped by delicious an
| kle. Wharton presented us "Miss
Rose Burton" Iommie had the au
dacity to say, "We've met before"
"You have?" said " harton.
Il don't remember" said she. Civ
! ing Tommie glance that would have
troubled me but only seemed to de-
light him. But she rewarded ne by
turning to me, and extending her
hand and saying: Il don't see why
your friend is so odious about that
! mistake"
Il don't know, I'm sure, | said.
Mrs, Wharton just then appeared
and | had ner--l don't mean Mrs.
Wharton-quite to myself-an oppor-
tunity / tried to deserve. l began to
believe that Arcadia was all that the
poets have claimed for it. | told her
that [ knew it was mistake from the
first; and, to be frank, | didn't try
very hard to defend Tommie's chur
| lishness. | told her she had rather
startled me when | saw her mount
Tommie's wheel like
Like boy" she interposed
"Oh, [ don't know" said 1.
"And how Harry and Fred
'And Fred?' l said beginning to
suspect every man.
:Oh, he's my brother. How they'd
laugh, | was going to say. But a
joke is with him who laughs last =
with your friend" I think.
He thought you Dick Turpin dis
guised,' l said, trying, I'll conf ess,
to make his case bit worse.
He might have known" she said,
as if much provoked.
Yes, he might. assented.
Yet in strict fairness, felt called on
to let him know my perfdy; and
that night as we sat smoking and re-
viewing the days adventures; | said
''She thinks you insufferable, Tom
mie."
She told you that already ?''
why. yes" I replied with rather
self conscious air.
Il say, Fletch, | believe there'll be
more fun in this house than on the
road. | don't believe that we can
have another adventure like"
Like getting your wheel stolen.
Do you wont another?'
''Shes an amusing girl, said Tom
mie inconsequently.
''Yes she is, l agreed. But you
see you've offended her.
And you haven't"
"Oh, don't know. / said from the
first you would get your wheel back.
And you told her that; and that /
insisted that she was q thief"
"Well, yes | admitted guiltily. Il
believe [ did"
''And you think she'll like you any
better for running me down?' he ask
ed as sarcastically as he could.
''WhC said wanted Der to like me 81
Your manner-you concerted ass
YOU'RE the conceited ass. Tommie
for yoC think you've made an impres
sion''
/ well now that you mention it, ]
hope may have
And that | haven't
We'll. yes, Tommie answered hon
estly.
Look here. Fletch, let's solve fol
ourselves that moot question-whicl
way Will make the most impression
, on a girl bhat-hattery or brutal
frank1ess.
I'VE may end by disliking eacl
other, | went on.
''Oh. If | lose, I'll not hold i
against YOU, said Tommie.
But | may against you, said
, Such tomboy sort of a girl. too
said Tommie.
, Il think YOU wrong her / hav,
found some tine qualities
'Oh. you have. Well. you're
quick one. he retorted.
Those dear people who formerl,