Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-08-21
The Lady Of
The Road
By CLINTON ROSS

| y AC 4\O0O6
By CLINTON R0Sa
rcopyisht. 1900. BY Clinton Roal
We discussed II many times after the
weary day was over and the morrow
promised but another as weary. We
saw before u vacation and Arcadia.
Tommie said you could find It on q
wheel. and finally he persuaded me-
| My persuasion was complete the third
day out To be sure. We had not JET
found Arcadia. but We had the navog
| Of some good health already and were
hopeful that when we least expected
II we should cross the boundary. The
road had gained our spirits. We knew
already why gypsies persist In the gyp.
sying; why the most entertaining pages
In "wilhelm Meister' and In "Kenelm
Chiliingly" are those where the he
roes take the road "over the hills and
Tar away" why "Prince Otto" IL the
most delightful Of Stevenson's stories
and "Walking Tours" the most ex-
quisite Of his essays, although ] have
not heard that he rode q wheel. We
recalled that the real charm Of Pick
wick was In coaching and the footing
OF horns and that Dick Turpin was
more hero than scamp.
And so. feeling nt and our hearts At
tuned to simple, natural things. We
rode into that bosky wood which was
to be the scene Of our irst misadven-
ture. The road was smooth and prom.
iseful. Through the branches at our
right was the glimmer Of lake where
Tommie said we might loaf comfort
ably for an hour with our pipes 30
We left our steeds by the roadside and
went down by that shore. stretching
ourselves out for comfortable contem-
plation. An hour must have passed
when Tommie gripped my arm.
Look. Fletcher-there In the road"
I followed his eyes and saw by our
whecls-a bit Of sunlight on her face
most charming young woman who
was gowned In one OF those walking
costumes that are now the most ad-
mirable achievements Of the modiste.
She was young. say. and blond. and
she was smiling to herself and looking
our wheels over. One she raised and
before we even fancied twas In
the saddle as easily as any boy and
tearing around curve and out Of our
ken.
We'll. I'll be hangedr' said Tommie.
II hope she'll bring II back" said I.
Particularly as it's my Wheel" said
Tominie But In the road we could see
no trace Of her. She had vanished.
Get on yours and catch her." said
Tommie.
"oh, she'll bring Il back. She
wasn't
"Yes. she was
"a gentleman Of the roadT
"No: a lady. Times have changed"
said Tommie ruefully. 'well. I'm aft
er her. Fletch."
And he. too. was around the curve on
my wheel. leaving me laughing and
mourning. But In Eve minutes he was
back. hot and irritable.
There are three forks Of the road
Just beyond. How In thunder am I TO
know which she tookY
TRY your luck"
Its bad enough" said he. II can't
afford another wheel this year.
II think" said I. that she's Just
playing a trick"
Its rather near q theft" said Tom
mie 'Confoupd you. II wasn't your
machiner'
No." said I. lighting cigarette.
WED better walk on She's gone.
The wheel is-well. perhaps It's pawn
cd by this time"
"You think you're funny" quoth
Tommie. "Rids on. and I'll walk"
"No." said 1: "we'ii both walk. But
she was an Internally pretty
Thief"
"Now. Tommie. you don't know
that" said I.
"well." said be. haven't I the evi-
dences Of my sensesY
''rhey sometimes lie." Eaid I. for I
saw he was not pleased. n wasn't my
wheel. and OF course I could philoso
phize more easily than he. We took
the most hopeful turn at the three
roads. since our map refused to be ex-
plicit. and presently We came on rus
tic In boots.
did you see woman riding mans
wheely
II swan" said the rustic.
IL should remark" said Tommie.
''She stole my wheel"
"You don't say" said the rustic.
where does this road leadY'
"Nowheres," said the rustic.
Don't you live hsreY' asked Tom
mie.
"Since I was born. solly." said the
rustic.
"Then where the deuce will this road
bring US tor asked impatiently.
THAT depends on where yer goin."
remarked the rustic practically.
"Oh. Lordr said Tommie. "pve no
ton to pound this fooir'
The rustic looked frightened and r.
treated step.
1--WE want to 60 anywhere-to dnd
the stolen wheel" said I.
This ere road goes TO Arcadia" !"
said the rustic.
A female Dick Turpinl ArcadiaI
We opened our eyes.
"It's q queer name that Merivale
calls his place." said the rustic. "It's
round that thar turn"
We left him. despairful Of getting
anything more lucid from him. but II
appeared that at least we had reached
Arcadia. began to laugh. when Tom.
mie said irrltably. "Ehut upy'
About the turn we came on a road
leading from ours between high gate
posts, and there on grassy bank was
our lady of the road. ! stepped back
embarrassed. She was laughing to
herself. Yes. she was undenlably pref
ty. And as we paused she began to
sing In q voice that probably was not
. good one by common standard. brit
here 10 the wood. singing to herself. II
seemed singularly delightful clutch