Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-03-28

az the war into the enemy's coun.
try. eoi
IL you will excuse my asking. what
nave you been doing?" | asked 81
am sure something has happened
Let me help you over the ditch"
NO, thank you; I can manage II
py myself. And she sprang over Rut
the refusal was stiff, and | felt 7
must proceed with caution. When
she had cleared the ditch | saw she
she had something tied up in her hand
kerchief in her hand.
"Ah!" I observed. "I see YOU have
been gathering mushrooms. Very fno
ones in that field, are there not?'
Yes, and hope 1 shall never see
them again, she replied, and, some
what to my establishment she threw
the bundle over the hedge. "If Won
knew what had happened to me this
morning you'd understand whv T
just slipped through the hedge to get
them. | began with seeing one in the
bank here, and while l was out of
sight some horrid creature came
along and stole my bicycle; and here
l am, fifteen miles from home and
my hats spoiled, and I've lost my ma
chine, and there will be such a row
when l get back" she concluded, with
something like sob.
Good gracious" | exclaimed eft
must have been the tramp! He GER
tainly went early"
What tramp? l never saw one
I'll explain" And l did, at some
length.
Alicia smiled, and my spirits rose.
I'VE are both sufferers from mush-
rooms" she said. But what are we
TO do next?"
Lets sit down and think about it."
l said, and dropped down on the grass.
After a moments hesitation she fol-
lowed my example.
But we can't sit here for ever" she
observed at length
mo, nice things never do last long"
I rejoined
Il shall never forget this morning."
she said, pulling mushroom TO
pieces.
Nor l."
Come, you must suggest something.
l must get home somehow"
There's a station in the neighbor-
hood" l said brutally.
Il know; but it's miles off, isn't it,"
''Three, I think
"You are comforting! And I'm so
tired!"
$50 am I. That's why I'm not anx-
ious to move"
You're very selfish. What am I to
do?"
II can only see one course open to
us. There's a man near here who lets
out a trap; we must hire that trap
and"
HE can drive me to the station"
Nothing of the kind l shall drive
you back with me and feed you, and
then send you to the station. You
can't take a busy man away from his
work And you must have some lunch
or you will be ILL.,"
WELL" said Alicia, with a deep
sigh, "how you can have the audacity
to propose such a thing after-'
"Well, it won't be the first time
you've driven with me in a trap" l
replied.
But that was before; not since"
you might make it before again if
you liked" l said without regard to
syntax.
There was a pause. Then Alicia
sighed again and said plaintively:
Everything has gone wrong lately"
Everything" 1 replied gloomily.
Jack said Alicia, turning on me
quite viciously, eff you keep on re-
peating what I say shall shake you!"
I sprang to my feet.
Would you like to begin now?" I
said, Jack is only too anxious to be
shaken"
She flung away the mushroom and
got up with her hands behind her.
She tried to look severe and couldn't
manage it.
as it to be trap or not?" said.
I'm tired, and I'm hungry, SO let us
decide on the trap. And do take
those things out of your pockets, for
you don't look fit to be seen. We shall
look like beanfeasters coming along
the road"
well, beanfeasters are not such
ugly things if they look like you"
Don't talk any more nonsense,
Jack!"
So we drove home in the trap, and
don't suppose our conversation would
interest any one but ourselves. Bay
ly was standing on the front door
step as we drove up, the sun lighting
up the bald patch on his head till
it shone l got down, helped Alicia
out. and went to greet him, when
the cry from her made me turn
round.
Jack! My bicycle!"
"Your what?" l said.
1t was true There it was, care
fully propped up against the side OF
the porch. We looked at each other
and then at Bayly.
Have you any idea how long it has
been here?" | asked.