Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-01-09
CHAPTER TX.
FROM PORTSMOUTH TO CHICHESTER.

Upon our arrival at Guildford we i'm
mediately drove to a well known hos
telry in the High street, and there we
remained until our baggage arrived
from Waterloo, which, you may guess,
was not dispatched with any break
neck speed. Needless to say, ever since
that adventure on the Winchester plat
form my father had grown more highly
excitable and nervous, and as a conse-
Quence he was totally unable to remain
for long In any one place. Suspicious
of everybody, he knew not where to
turn to escape his enemies, real or i'm
aginary. He sat in his room, even in
the daytime, with locked door, and
he would never permit me to make an
excursion into the street without first
inquiring IL had my revolver and IL 1t
was loaded. And then the same in
junction always followed: IF you drop
across that man you saw on the Win
chester platform, shoot quickly. You
once boosted of putting ball between
q mans eyes. Do it to him." And this
advice was rather strange. because this
occasionl
A few days of Guildford wearied us.
Heaven itself would not have pleased
us with the little yellow man knocking
at the gates. So we began our aimless
wanderings round the country, visiting
in turn Godalming, Haslemere, Peters
field, Petworth, and eventually, as my
father would say, we dropped anchor
at Chichester.
We had been some three months in
Chichester. The summer had gone, and
the leaves were beginning to turn, and
occasionally chill wind which had in
1t the first breathings of the coming
winter crept up from the sea during the
night. We now began to consider our
selves extremely fortunate and were
accordingly happy or comparatively SO,
and my father, who during this short
period had regained surprising
amount of self possession. not only
took an occasional turn through the
town by himself, but he placed no re-
strictions whatever upon my coming
and going. AS consequence secured
the country on my bicycle and lived
and enjoyed life for the first time dur
ing the whole period of our long, wea-
ry companionship. In this way got
to know every road and byway within
20 miles of the town, and often went
for very long journeys, sometimes with
an acquaintance, but more frequently
alone. Indeed had been SO much
alone that could easily tolerate my
self, but when got the bicycle ! was
no longer solitary. 1t was compan-
ion, q friend, and II 1t could not talk
to me could always talk to 1t. And
many secret we had shared with
each other and many happy jaunt.
Well, one day after luncheon l set
out for run to Portsmouth, a journey
l had accomplished several times with
ease and satisfaction. But upon this
occasion fate did not smile on me. AS
entered Portsmouth town the clouds
began to pile up from the south, and I
viewed with apprehension the promis-
ed deluge, for your bicycle is nothing
but fair weather bird. Give him mud
uuu diippilS oliSStos anu NhC DAuLc VIII
probably break your neck If you try to
ride him. But the young fear neither
the one nor the other, and as for neck
breaking-well, that simply does not
come into the count.
However, rode straight on through
the town down to the Clarence pier
and, dismounting, looked about me.
Truly the sky was dark, the clouds
seeming to hold perfect deluge, but
as yet they were high and, though
scudding furiously, promised not, l
thought, an immediate downpour.
Therefore turned about, determined
to get some distance on the road before
the deluge came. But before reach
ed Cosham the first drops fell, and
these were followed SO quickly by the
real downpour that l rode into the
little town amid perfect torrent Of
rain.
Here, much to my chagrin, was
forced to stop for nearly two hours
and when at last ventured forth II
was In slight drlEzle, as there WEIR
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