The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-02-07
The Joy Of Living

fragrance of an April morning; the
scent of rain-sprinkled earth, wall
flowers and g%reening thorn-hedge.
Aimee stood and drank 1t in thank
fully, till she realized with a shock
that 1t was past ten.
The only bath available at Ivy cot
tage vas a tub of spring water.
Aimee made the most of this, and,
dressing hurriedly. came downstairs
glowing like a picotee. Billy was in
the parlor.
Morning !" he cried.
Have you been down long?' ex-
claimed Aimee.
Bout three hours" he chuckled.
I've covered sixty miles since then.
Just a little breather."
"Why-you haven't waited break
fast for me, have your" she cried.
"Oh, that's all right. Rang a baker
up an got a roll an milk at Syder-
ford. Nothing done yet-couldn't
breakfast without my partner
Mrs. Summing. with bare, dimpled
arms and her face wreathed in smiles.
brought in the breakfast. There were
brown ducks eggs. cream, water
crosses and a brace of brook trout.
Billy glanced at his companion
from time to time. with a quiet watch
fulness.
sleep all right, old chap?" he
asked presently.
Rather. Didn't wake up till just
now said Aimee. taking a large
spoonful of comb honey. Did your
Billy paused.
"Middling." he said slowly. "Say,
partner. what'd you like to do now?
Rest a bit %
REST !" said Aimee scornfuily. "I
want to live. not resti"
Ready to get busy on the Sphinx.
an cleave the ether?''
"Yes, right away"
Good I'll get her fixed"
Twenty minutes later they met by
the shed where the Sphinx was stored.
AS Billy wheeled the machine out, he
looked keenly into Aimee's eye
Partner" he asked, you haven't
anything on your mind. have your"
Aimee laughed aloud. Her eyes
sparkled.
do I look as If / had?"
mo. by the Great Horn Spoon, you
don'tl" said Billy, cycling her with a
flash of admiration. You look as If
you'd face the world and laugh at
everything 1t handed you-from a
bunch of roses TO sudden death.
You're IT. Come on"
They went out through the little
gate. Billy did not offer to mount the
Sphinx till they were clear of the lane.
When he stopped, Aimee observed for
the first time that the Sphinx had a
brand-new spring pillion-seat clamped
to the carrier.
whats this for?' exclaimed Aimee.
"Why, for you. old chap. Easier
riding" ~
q didn't need IT. Billy. The carrier
was good enough"
Nope" said Billy with determine
ton. mot nearly good enough. Car
rierl You amt baggage. are you?'
Don't know. It's what a lot of
people have called me-"
"WhoY" said Billy Indignantly.
"Oh, frumps."
There's a lot of discriminating
people about" said her partner alb
ruptly.
The Sphinx started, and Billy
threaded lanes at an easy pace. The
soft wind of the morning earessed
them as they rode. Not that 1t had
any pacifying effect on Aimee's spirit.
The sense of adventure mounted TO
her head like wine.
Here we arei" said Billy, turning
onto a long, deserted stretch of high
road. running delightfully."- level and
straight. He let the Sphinx out. For
eighty seconds the hedges flashed by
like long green streamers. At the end
of a mile and a half Billy stopped and
dismounted.
"Now," he said, we're not going to
talk about how to sell the Sphinx vet
awhile; the first thing is to put you
wise to her. You've got to know her
inside out and backwards-and she's
the sweetest thing that ever burned
gas. Now. look herel"
Aimee kneeled eagerly on the grass,
and Billy ~fiuently explained, disman-
Ting the parts as he talked.
For twenty minutes she followed
him, testing for herself.
why" said Billy with delight,