1 
 
 1 
 
 \l
 
 ACRE* OF DOCKS 
 U PACIFIC AVINlfc 
 !_* ACH. CALIF.
 
 /vo^

 
 WHEELS AND WHIMS, 
 
 n fgtclritqj. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 CUPPLES, UPHAM & COMPANY, 
 
 (Dli) Corner 
 
 1884.
 
 COPYRIGHTED, 1884, 
 
 BY 
 FLORINE THAYER McCRAY 
 
 AND 
 ESTHER LOUISE SMITH. 
 
 All rights reserved. 
 
 PRESS OF THE CASE, LOCKWOOD & BRAINARD CO., 
 HARTFORD, CONN.
 
 6166:
 
 'The abject people, gazing on thy face 
 With envious looks, 
 
 That erst did follow thy proud chariot wheels, 
 When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets." 
 
 (2d) KING HENRY VI.
 
 In a word to the leader, it may be said that this book is not 
 an attempt at belles-lettres. In it will be found no psychological 
 perceptions, no impression effects, and no flowers of rhetoric 
 being simply an unadorned narrative of a tricycle trip by four 
 young women, with its experiences, incidental, accidental, and 
 adventurous. 
 
 If it will influence to out-of-door activity, and incite an escape 
 from listless lounging in sunless rooms and the artificial heat 
 and vitiated atmosphere of modern houses, to vigorous exercise 
 in sunshine and open air, and to freer association with all 
 nature's beauty, its object will have been accomplished.
 
 PuTOUT. "^b/ tale tbou didst well etcf?. 
 
 ^ELLPOOL. " Btcb ! Wberefore? (^>|?ou art 
 witty. 
 
 PUT, " Fio, it is tbou wbo art witty. 
 
 (ij)ELL "8nd wby?" 
 
 PUT. "WbyV Because on Rature's metallic 
 plate, tbe acts, tbe facts, tbe smiles, 
 tbe tears, tbe li^b"!", tbe sbade, do marl^ 
 tbemselves witb equal strenatb- ^is 
 tby wit and tbme intelligence dotb bite 
 and eat tbe impress witb viaor tbat 
 dotb sbow tbe reprint witb stril^ina force. 
 We do exclaim, (ipis well done!" 
 
 (ij)ELL " ^bn am ^ clever I 
 
 PUT. "Ha! ba! Rot so. Rot as clever 
 as yonder furry feline. (Ipbou canst 
 not scale tbat fir. 
 
 FROM STURM'S "LIFE'S COMEDY."
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 WAS the evening of Tuesday. 
 'T was Tuesday the ninth of October. 
 
 'T was October of '83. 
 
 It was with slow, weary steps, at a late hour, that Mar- 
 gery Prescott mounted the winding stairs to her room. 
 Entering, she turned the key. 
 
 Touching the electric chain attached to the chandelier, 
 the instantaneous flood of light illumined her pale face ; a 
 paleness of which she felt conscious, for she stepped 
 quickly to the long mirror which stood between the gas- 
 jets. Turning on their full blaze, she looked closely at 
 her image in the glass. Then, straightening up, tall and 
 defiant, she said in a strained voice, "Now tell the tale if 
 you dare!" 
 
 For the first time in her young life, she felt a sore pain 
 in her heart, which brought this pallor to her cheek. 
 
 "Yes, this comes from a heart-ache. I have hitherto 
 experienced but one phase of love. Here comes the other. 
 Pleasure, pain joy, grief inevitable, they say; but I had 
 
 (7)
 
 g WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 not believed it. It shall not be so with me." She closed 
 her lips firmly together and still gazed at herself, almost 
 wondering at the hard look she saw in her own face. 
 'Those lines around my mouth how hard they look, and 
 drawn and old they are tell-tales, too, of pain within. 
 They shall not be." Here she forced a smile. "Havel 
 a frown, also ? No, thank heaven ! the brow is fair and 
 clear. No lines shall show there." 
 
 She pushed back the waves of her heavy brown hair, 
 and gave a proud toss of her head. She rubbed, with her 
 cold finger-tips, the glow again to her cheek, and bit her 
 lip a little, to give again its coral hue. A little laugh 
 came to show the pearly teeth, as she unfastened the lace 
 at her throat. 
 
 "Beautiful as ever! so it shall remain," she cried. "I 
 will not suffer, and pine, and droop. Indeed, he shall not 
 break my hopes of life ; my heart shall not be torn by his 
 fickleness ; I despise him for it ! Man-flirt ! How I hate 
 him ! Shameful enough in silly girls but a man-flirt is 
 detestable." 
 
 She loosened her long tresses ; the brilliants in her ears 
 were unclasped ; the diamond on her finger hastily drawn 
 off and dropped into the jewel-case without a glance at 
 them. Mechanically, she lowered the gas and sank into a 
 fauteuil by the window. 'T was midnight hour; the full 
 moon shone on all around. Cold and sad it streamed in 
 on her, as she raised her dark eyes to meet its rays with 
 burning glance. It was the fire in her soul that lent the 
 fervor to her gaze, for to all outward things she was 
 oblivious.
 
 MARGERY. g 
 
 She pressed her hand to her beating brow. She buried 
 her face in her hands. She arose and paced the floor. 
 
 "What what shall I do?" she said. "Something! 
 Somewhere! Where can I go? What must I do? I 
 shall never see him again, never." 
 
 The hour was passing. Still she sat turning over in 
 her mind the situation the new and strange position of 
 herself towards one other to her, the one other of all the 
 world. But now she was to give him up. What beside 
 did the world contain for her? her heart cried, but she 
 pressed it down with both her hands, and her proud lips 
 replied, "The world is large. I have papa. For my own 
 little world, he should be enough." But her heart would 
 undertone, as it heavily .beat, "What's the world to me? 
 What's life, now?" 
 
 ''Yes, what is it all for?" she moaned; "and I have so 
 long to live." But now pride, which was the strong 
 underlying quality of her nature, came to lift her out of 
 this despair. 
 
 "It can be what I will make it," she exclaimed, and 
 walking firmly to the glass, she saw a new courage in her 
 eyes. 
 
 "It shall be grand, and good, and joyous, as any life 
 may be ; it shall not be a failure because because oh 
 dear!" she sighed, drooping again. "If I had never 
 known him at all ! No ! I do not wish that I have found 
 out what to expect. I have had my experience." 
 
 She stood erect and faced the black clouds which had 
 obscured the light of the moon and dimmed all around. 
 She drew the curtain and turned again to the lighted
 
 I0 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 mirror. This time a brave, glowing face showed its reflec- 
 tion. "No, I will not be a failure because of him!" She 
 gave a trembling, upward glance. A tear fell down her 
 burning cheek. She gave a scornful turn of the lip, and 
 brushed it quickly away. "I'll not shed tears for him, 
 however much it hurts me," she said. "They may be 
 beautiful in the shedding, but their after traces tell poor 
 tales." 
 
 As she looked at the little bronze clock on the mantel 
 her eye fell upon a letter, which had before escaped her 
 notice. Opening it, she rapidly took in its contents. 
 "Why, here is dear, good Mike," she cried, joyfully clasp- 
 ing her hands. "Join her? To be sure I will! What a 
 god-send this is." She re-read the missive. "Just the 
 thing, exactly. Papa will never object he is such a 
 darling ! I fear I shall not sleep a wink ; but I must, for 
 he will see in a twinkling if aught is amiss with his pet. 
 Oh ! what would I do without papa ? How glad I am that 
 Newport and Watch Hill are done with. No more of that. 
 But what glorious times we did have, though ! But I hate 
 the very thought of them now and of him," she said, 
 biting her trembling lip for an instant. " What a novelty 
 it will be to go off with Mike and her aunt, Mrs. Mather, 
 too," she exclaimed, consulting the note once more. " It 
 will be just delightful ! I am so glad papa had my wheels 
 put in perfect order. They are all ready. We can start 
 at a day's notice. But I must get to sleep." 
 
 While she sleeps, we will look over the previous few 
 hours and learn what had so turned the tide in the affairs 
 of this lovely girl. As the betrothed of Felix Plummer,
 
 MARGERY. 
 
 \l 
 
 she had passed a year of uninterrupted happiness. Fine 
 fellow that he really was, he was wonderfully wound about 
 with the silken cords of her love. As the immediate cause 
 of her disquietude, we look to the events of the previous 
 evening. Margery had planned an informal party. Full 
 of gay anticipations of the occasion, she had, of course, 
 confided to Felix an account of all her arrangements. 
 He was as usual en rapport with all her plans, and prom- 
 ised to be early in attendance ; even proposed himself to 
 assist in the reception of her guests. A sudden shower, 
 which came up just at nightfall, deterred a few delicate 
 ones from the scene, but only served to give greater zest 
 to the enjoyment of those who were assembled. Each, in 
 lively repartee and answering laugh, rivaled the other in 
 merriment, lest the disappointment might spoil the enjoy- 
 ment of the hostess whom they all loved. 
 
 But Felix did not come. In spite of her regard for the 
 pleasure of her guests, she could scarcely conceal her 
 uneasiness at his unaccountable absence. Once she laid 
 her hand on her heart as she overheard George Fuller say 
 to Young White : " Pretty grass widow considerably 
 struck they do say." Impossible! Unkind! She 
 would not believe it ; so she tried to smile, and finally 
 Felix appeared. He wore a deprecating air (as it seemed 
 to her now jealous eyes), and said, as she gave him a cold 
 hand, "So sorry to be late, Margie, dear." Aside : " Met 
 Mrs. Bangtry, without an umbrella, of course ; could do 
 no less than protect her from the rain. So far, too. And 
 my watch had stopped, so I did not realize it was so past 
 the hour. Would have called a cab, had I known."
 
 12 
 
 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "Ah ! " Margery felt a tremor of indignation thrill her 
 frame. She drew her hand from his, nor would even meet 
 his gaze. Felix was astonished. 
 
 "Margery," he said, "you surely do not " 
 She had turned away from him and was talking with 
 great animation to Alex. White, who was only too glad of 
 a chat with her, having once been quite hopeful of more 
 than passing favor in her eyes. Margery gave Felix 
 Plummer no chance for further conversation during the 
 evening. She succeeded in avoiding him, and, finally, as 
 the party broke up, offered him as escort to a limp, timid, 
 young girl, whom she knew to be his special aversion, 
 thus effectually dashing his hopes of an explanation of her 
 coolness. An indifferent "good night" was all she con- 
 ceded as he left the door, and such was the savage air 
 with which he offered his arm to poor, bashful Miss Brown 
 that she knew not whether to be most amazed or angry.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 ^ "NT OW what in the name of all that's outrageous and 
 l\l unreasonable, did Margery mean by treating me 
 in such a manner this evening ? " 
 
 Mr. Felix Plummer, cashier of the Fourth National 
 Bank, a muscular, blonde, and cheery specimen of hu- 
 manity, had come in a few minutes before, in a state of 
 surliness, which was a painful surprise to the black and 
 silky Gordon setter, whom he loved and usually petted 
 with the tenderness which all great hearts feel for kind 
 and intelligent animals. But to-night, as the beautiful 
 dog sprang up at his entrance, welcoming him with soft 
 cries and licking his hand, he shouted : " Get out ! Lie 
 down ! I'm busy." But then, as the sensitive creature 
 sank at his feet with a piteous sigh and looked up in such, 
 mute surprise at this unwonted treatment, he softened a 
 little, and said, stooping to pat her sleek head, " Never 
 mind, Lady, I did not mean it. Good dog ! " 
 
 Then he fell into a chair and glowered at the knob on 
 the bedpost for some minutes. At last he arose with a 
 
 (13)
 
 I4 WHEELS AND Will. MS. 
 
 jerk, and, going to a little closet in the corner, commenced 
 to rummage among the things therein. 
 
 " Confound her meddling ! I wish that green chamber- 
 maid, who isn't so particular about sweeping in the corners, 
 would let my traps be where I put them. That's the 
 curse of living in hired rooms," muttered he, tossing over 
 papers, diaries, books of trout flies, a reel of unwound and 
 tangled line, some cigars, a silk cap, some paper shells 
 ready loaded for his shot-gun, a few pairs of gloves, and a 
 silk band worked with his initials, for the inside of his 
 hat, which he would never wear, rather scorning the small 
 elegancies affected by modern dudism. " Well, where 
 under heavens did that knife come from ? I have looked 
 high and low for it. Oh ! here's the pipe, after all, on this 
 little ledge where I always keep it. I have been think- 
 ing," mused he, as he rilled the capacious bowl of the 
 well-blackened pipe, "that I should have a home" (he 
 struck a match), " with a loving wife to take care of me 
 (puff, puff). But the way things have gone to-night (puff, 
 puff, puff), there don't seem to be much prospect (puff) of 
 it, for if she thinks," said he, raising his voice and address- 
 ing the wood-basket, " that I am going to stand much of 
 this kind of nonsense, she is mistaken, that's all." 
 
 Here Lady, aroused by his fierce tones, came softly 
 through the dim gaslight and licked the clenched fist with 
 which he had struck the arm of his chair. 
 
 "But perhaps it is just as well," he said, as he drew a 
 deep sigh. "Jim Osborn tells me that his wife is always 
 cleaning house (puff, puff), and when he has things 
 arranged to his mind and thrown carefully under the bed,
 
 FELIX. j - 
 
 she will fish them out and say things She gets his 
 
 shoes and rubbers together and makes a row clear across the 
 room, and whenever he speaks of getting a new pair, she 
 goes and fetches out some of the. old ones he is saving for 
 fishing and throws them in his face that is, metaphor- 
 ically, I suppose But what oh earth ailed Margery 
 
 to-night, passes my understanding ; the way she poked that 
 slimpsy Brown girl on to me, and kept herself on an 
 unapproachable pinnacle of dignity when I was near, and 
 set to work, systematically, to bewitch Alex. White, is not 
 to be borne by a man of any self-respect. I'll let her know 
 I am not little Brown, to be smiled upon or scorned, as 
 her ladyship chooses ! No, sir ! I shall teach her a lesson 
 to-morrow that she will remember !....! am sure she 
 loves me ! . . . . What can it be ? " 
 
 Here Lady, failing to attract any attention by her 
 gentle caresses, began to shove her black nose under his 
 elbow and to raise it up several times in quick, repeated 
 knocks. Then her master, taking his fireless pipe from 
 his mouth, laid his flushed cheek down upon her smooth 
 head, saying, " Poor- Lady ; good girl," with a moisture in 
 his blue eyes, that told he was much more grieved than 
 angered, but, man like, was trying to disguise it, even to 
 himself, by a show of righteous indignation and high 
 words. 
 
 " Can it be," he ruminated, getting cooler, " that the 
 evident preference that the little grass widow has for my 
 society can have macle her jealous ? " 
 
 Quite flattered by this idea, he raised' his handsome 
 head, and leaving the chair in which he had sat so long,
 
 jg WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 he walked to the window and stood with his hands clasped 
 behind him, looking out on the quiet street and at the 
 shadows in the moonlight. As he cogitated, he smiled a 
 little, and pulling and twisting his fair moustache, he said, 
 "No, she would not be so foolish." A pause, another 
 smile and lighting of the eyes. " If that is the trouble," 
 he says, " she must know at once that a decent-looking 
 fellow cannot prevent women from going for him." Then, 
 unconsciously settling his neck-tie, " I vow, I believe that 
 is it ! Why, she ought to kjiow that while a man cannot 
 help being polite, and even a little sweet, to a festive little 
 female like the Bangtry, he would never think of marrying 
 
 her I shall tell her to-morrow that my Margery need 
 
 fear no rival in such a person, or anywhere. My rare, 
 fair Margaret ! How different she is from this other 
 woman, whom she compliments enough to be jealous of ! " 
 He threw back his head. " Ha ! ha ! Well ! well ! That 
 is too much ! I'll go and see her now. Hum I think I 
 won't. It is past midnight. Poor dear ! I know how 
 glad she will be to see me ! I will run up before ten in 
 the morning. She will be freezing at first, of course (with 
 a happy laugh), but I shall make her listen to me, and she 
 shall give me a kiss before I leave, or my name is not 
 Felix Plummer." 
 
 And so, sending Lady to her rug in the corner, he went 
 straightway to bed, where he was snoring peacefully in 
 less than five minutes, a combination of good nature, soft- 
 heartedness, and self-complacency destined to be consider- 
 ably disturbed by the events of the morrow.
 
 FELIX. 19 
 
 The next morning Felix Plummer'came to himself and 
 started to get out of bed, but, oh ! dear ! how dizzy he 
 was ! His eyes ached and everything looked double. So 
 he was glad to close them again ; and, ugh ! how sick and 
 faint ! His back and limbs ached in a dull and constant 
 grind, and to lie still or to move was an equal agony. In 
 a word, our friend had a slight bilious attack, and, being a 
 man, he felt sure that he should die in a short time. 
 Rapping on the wall to call his adjoining neighbor, whom 
 lie heard whistling as he squeaked about the room in new 
 shoes, he managed to stagger to the door and admit his 
 friend. As he sunk into a chair and rested his poor, snap- 
 ping head on his feverish hands, he said in a woe-begone 
 voice : 
 
 " Smith, I'm sick. I don't know what is the matter 
 with me. Will you be kind enough to send Dr. Good- 
 hardt up here when you go down town ? No, no, don't 
 bother yourself, I could n't look at breakfast ! Oh ! dear ! 
 I have got something that I guess will kill me. Smith, 
 did n't poor Brainard's sickness begin like this ? Oh ! 
 Lord ! how my head feels ! " 
 
 Smith, who was a friendly little fellow, ran down stairs 
 and out to the doctor's office and had the medical man in 
 poor Felix's room in a trice. But the sick man ungrate- 
 fully growled, "I thought you'd never get back," and 
 "Doctor, I never was so sick in my life." 
 
 He had taken a small mirror, and squinting and shading 
 his weak eyes with his hand, was looking at his tongue 
 and at his sickly face. 
 
 "What's the matter, my boy?" said the genial doctor
 
 20 
 
 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 : as he entered the room, bringing an atmosphere of health 
 and good cheer with him. "Lobster salad? Got a sick 
 headache ? " 
 
 " Oh ! worse than that. I am afraid I am in for a tough 
 time. Do you think you can stop the disease now, doctor? 
 Oh ! my back and legs ! " groaned Felix. 
 
 "Oh! my lungs and liver! What do you want! Oh I 
 goroo ! goroo ! " added the doctor, laughing heartily. 
 " Really, Plummer, your exclamations remind me of the 
 old ogre who frightened poor little Copperfield nearly to 
 death. Well, well, to assume the gravity which your very 
 serious case demands, I rather think you are pretty bil- 
 ious. Been getting angry or uncomfortably excited ? 
 Nothing like that to stir up the bile. Does your business 
 plague you ? " 
 
 "No, nothing plagues me," answered Felix, gloomily, 
 " except my head and stomach, and all my bones. Great 
 heavens ! Now these bed-clothes are out at the foot 
 again, and my feet are out of doors, and these pillows are 
 hot, and this cussed sheet is all of a wrinkle ! " 
 
 Dr. Goodhardt shook and smoothed the pillows, pinned 
 the edges of the sheet under the mattress so the uneasy 
 patient could not rumple them again, and tucked the 
 blankets in firmly at the foot of the bed. 
 
 Somewhat comforted, but still despondent, the demoral- 
 ized individual who would hardly have been recognized as 
 the debonnaire cashier of the Fourth National Bank, spoke 
 again feebly. 
 
 " Doctor," he said in a trembling voice, " do not disguise 
 it from me. Is my disease anything like poor Brainard's ? "
 
 FELIX. 2 1 
 
 "Disease! Ha! ha! "roared the doctor. "Plummer, 
 my boy, you have* a slight bilious attack; nothing more, 
 as far as I discover, and you are so cross, I think you 
 will be out to-morrow. Here, take this corrective ; give 
 your stomach a rest for a few -days, and you will be all 
 right. By the way, where did you go for your vacation ? " 
 
 " Nowhere," said the young man. " Only run down to 
 Watch Hill once or twice over Sunday." 
 
 "Take it this month, then," ordered the physician. 
 " You cannot afford to neglect to give yourself a change 
 and rest from the routine of business. You may find you 
 have nerves, if you stick too close to the bank. This is 
 the finest season of the year, and you must leave your 
 work right where it is. Remember what I tell you." 
 
 The doctor departed. The morning grew to noon. 
 Our very unheroic hero had slept again, and awakened 
 feeling somewhat better. There came a knock at the 
 door, and in response to his doleful " Come in," a lady 
 walked briskly into the room, saying, " Hello, Felix ! 
 Dr. Goodhardt stopped at our door awhile ago to tell me 
 that you were sick this morning, and so I came right 
 down. Dear me ! how yellow you look," she said in a 
 very sisterly fashion. " Hair, eyes, and skin, all the same 
 color. 'Whiskers reether redder than I could wish/ but 
 shade in very well. Bub, you are a perfect symphony in 
 old gold and copper, and the white pillows bring you out 
 beautifully/' 
 
 Felix smiled a little at this badinage, which he was so 
 accustomed to hear from his lively, married sister. 
 
 " Kupfer und gold," he said musingly. "That's what
 
 22 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 they used to call my chum Farnham and me at Yale. He 
 was a royal good fellow, with reddish hair, and we were 
 inseparable. But I say, Sis, don't throw any more Dickens, 
 at me. This is the second dose I have got this morning. 
 I believe Dr. Goodhardt would quote it if everybody was- 
 dying," he continued, a little resentfully. 
 
 " Except himself," added his sister. " Yes, I believe he 
 would. By the way, Felix," she said abruptly, "where's 
 Margery gone ? " 
 
 His fretful languor vanished, and a rush of crimson 
 blood colored his face. 
 
 " I stopped at the house as I came along, to tell her to- 
 come down and see you after I had got you fixed up a 
 little," pursued his sister, " but Betsy said she had gone 
 away, and would be out of town several weeks." 
 
 "Gone away!" gasped the dismayed lover. "Bosh, 
 impossible ! She was home late last night. The girl is a 
 fool ! Gone several weeks," he repeated incredulously. 
 " I know better ! But why did you not ask where she had 
 gone ? " he demanded querulously. 
 
 " I did, and she said she did not know where." 
 
 Felix answered nothing, but buried his face in his 
 pillow, until his sister said, gently resting her cool hand 
 on his hot head, " Brother, is there any trouble between 
 you and Margie ? " I should regret such a thing exceed- 
 ingly, because I love and respect her already as a dear 
 sister, and I should fear .that you were in some way to 
 blame." 
 
 " I am not at all to blame," protested the young man, 
 quickly turning to face her. "I don't even know what 
 it's about."
 
 FELIX. 23 
 
 " Then there is trouble," said the lady, sadly. 
 
 "Yes, there is, Sis," responded her brother; "and if 
 you, another woman, can tell me wherein I have done 
 anything to offend her, or give any explanation of such 
 unnatural capriciousness, I will thank you to do it." 
 
 He then rehearsed the events of the previous day and 
 evening, and cried at last, with an air of abused virtue, 
 " Now tell me what I have done ! She is getting fickle, 
 like other girls. They are all changeable as the wind. I 
 thought Margery was an exception, but I have been a 
 fond fool ! They can't appreciate true love ! They are 
 too full of flirtation and vanity ! " 
 
 Apparently not much relieved by this sweeping tirade, 
 poor Felix sat disconsolately up in bed and reached out 
 for a glass of water which the doctor had left on the stand 
 by its side. His sister quickly arose and handed him the 
 glass, but said nothing until she had returned it to the 
 little table. 
 
 "Felix," she said in a low voice, but looking him straight 
 in the face, " you were late at Margery's party last even- 
 ing, because you went to see Mrs. Bangtry home." 
 
 " Yes, but what of that ? Can't a man be decently 
 polite to " 
 
 " Are you aware that you have been classed as one of 
 this lady's admirers ? " 
 
 A flush rose to his sallow cheek and he opened his 
 mouth to speak, but she continued : 
 
 " It has happened that you have been walking with her 
 often, and at times when every one was on the street ; you 
 have, once, at least, taken her into your buggy ; you have 
 carried books to her house ; and "
 
 24 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Stop ! I can explain all those ! I 
 
 "Very likely, Felix; but explain them to Margery, not 
 to me," said his sister, raising her hand. "To put the 
 thing in a nutshell, Mrs. Bangtry has flattered you. You 
 have been pleased by her attentions, and your better judg 
 ment dulled. I may as well tell you, furthermore, that 
 people are saying that Margery is getting left. She has 
 doubtless heard something of this, and you can see that it 
 needed only the last little drop, of last evening's happen^ 
 ing, to overrun her cup of indignation." 
 
 " Could it have been such a thing, and Margery never 
 spoke of it to me ? " wondered the now somewhat con- 
 science-stricken young man. 
 
 "I am convinced of it," rejoined his sister. "A woman 
 of her pride and strength of character, Felix, is not likely 
 to upbraid a man for preferring some one else to her." 
 
 "I have never preferred any one to Margery, and she 
 ought to have faith enough in me not to notice the 
 dastardly insinuations of contemptible busy-bodies. You 
 know how it is, Sis ; a man cannot treat any lady un- 
 kindly " 
 
 " Yes, I know just how it is, Felix. Every man with 
 any claims to good looks and you have some of the 
 family beauty," said she, eyeing him quizzically, " is insuf- 
 ferably conceited. Let him meet any woman like this gay 
 widow-by-grace, and if she looks trustingly in his eyes a 
 few times, asks information upon money matters, and 
 seeks his opinions upon literature or art, tells him how 
 she admires large men (or light, or dark, or anything to 
 fit the case), confides a secret to his honorable keeping,
 
 FELIX. "27 
 
 occasionally passes very near to him during an interesting 
 interview, gives him the breath of her perfumed hair, 
 and brushes \ho; froti-frou of her silken skirts across his 
 tingling feet " 
 
 " Sis, you are too bad ! Get a man sick in bed and 
 abuse him like this ! You know I would never dream of 
 making love to her ! " indignantly remonstrated Felix. 
 
 " I know it ; but for such a woman's society a man will 
 neglect his artless fiancee, draw disparaging comparisons 
 between his sister's style of hair, and her more theatrical 
 get-up " 
 
 " I knew you'd never forgive me that ! " 
 
 " Don't interrupt me ! Snub his brother-in-law who- 
 ventures a warning word, get himself on the list of her 
 lovers, and think it is all right, if he only assures his 
 friends that he would never think of martying her!" 
 Felix winced. "Why, Bub, she would never think of 
 marrying you! If her husband does not reappear, she 
 will marry old Brown. A golden mustache looks well 
 beside her dark eyes on the street, but ducats, my dear, 
 gold dollars, are what she will marry. Now, if you con- 
 sider your present position (in society, I mean) dignified, 
 why, continue it, though your family will regret it. If 
 not, find Margery, and be a sensible fellow once more." 
 
 Felix sat in bed with his knees drawn up, his hands 
 clasped around them, resting his chin upon them, as he 
 regarded his sister while she spoke. When she had ceased, 
 he bowed his tousled head and said not a word for some 
 time. 
 
 Mrs. Burton arose and busied herself in replacing and
 
 2 g WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 packing up some books. Felix raised his head at last, 
 and, speaking in a pitifully dejected manner, he said: 
 " Sis, do you think if I have been such an ass, such a 
 villain, as you make me out, that Margery will ever forget 
 it ? She may forgive me, but will she forget it ? Won't 
 she tell me of it all my life ? I could never bear that ! " 
 
 "His sister smiled, consciously, "she might" she said, 
 "if you were ever likely to repeat the experience." 
 
 The humbled suitor sought his loved one's door the next 
 day, only to receive in answer to his inquiry for Margery, 
 " She's gone away, sir." 
 
 Where? "I don't know, sir." 
 
 Then, well-nigh bursting with surprise, rage, and grief, 
 but trying to preserve his usual equanimity, he went to 
 the office of Mr. Prescott and found, " He had just gone to 
 New York, sir."
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 SCENE. The Prescott's breakfast room. 
 Margery, more than usually excited and brilliant. 
 Her father, tender, thoughtful, and complacent. 
 
 MARGERY kissed her father warmly, as she entered 
 the breakfast-room the morning after the party. 
 She hovered caressingly around him, as if to charm him 
 by her magnetism into acquiesence with all her plans. She 
 had just mentally framed a very nice way of telling him of 
 her desire to leave him alone for a short time, a few days 
 a week or ten days it might be a fortnight and of her 
 plans, which were all formed, between the fitful slumbers 
 of the previous night. But she waited. He seemed about 
 to speak. He laid his hand upon some letters by his side 
 freshly-opened letters from the morning mail. He 
 gazed abstractedly at her a moment, and the current of 
 his thoughts turned from his business to her. 
 
 " What is it, pet ? Your eyes and cheeks are as bright 
 as the sunshine ! You have some scheme on hand that 
 your mind is full of, I'll warrant." 
 
 " Yes, papa dear. I want to go off on a little excursion 
 with Mahala Wright. I received a note from her yesterday. 
 
 (.29)
 
 ^~. WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 
 
 She talked of the plan the other day when she called, but 
 I did not give it much attention, as I was thinking of 
 other things. We want to go on our wheels a little trip 
 down the river." 
 
 " What ! You two alone ? or is Felix " 
 
 "Oh no!" interrupted Margery, "not we two alone, 
 Mrs. Mather and Miss St. John are to be of the party, four 
 of us." 
 
 " Well, I thought Mahala rather wild to take care of 
 you," said her father, "and you surely are too young to 
 chaperone her! " 
 
 " You understand, papa, that her aunt, Miss St. John, is 
 in the habit of going off on her tricycle on sketching trips. 
 She is going again this week. So, it is a capital chance 
 for a novel jaunt for us all. Now papa, you know nearly 
 every one down the river, and with letters from you, we 
 would get along splendidly ! Mike writes that Joe wants 
 to go too. You know he goes everywhere with her. 
 Such a devoted brother ! But we don't want any gentle- 
 men along. It would spoil half our fun. We want just 
 ourselves. I have always taken care of myself, papa, and 
 never had any trouble." 
 
 " Yes, my dear. I sometimes wish you had a sister, and 
 were not so much alone," responded he, thoughtfully, 
 " But won 't Felix " 
 
 " Felix need have nothing to say about it, if you agree, 
 papa." A slight color came to her face as she said this. 
 
 "Well," slowly spoke her father, "it may be the best 
 thing, for I have letters here, which will necessitate my 
 leaving you, for perhaps even a longer period than you
 
 THE PLAN. 21 
 
 propose being absent. I do not like leaving you here alone 
 with Betsy and John. Very safe, but not very enlivening 
 companions." 
 
 Margery quickly answered, " Oh, if you want to stay 
 longer, papa, and think I had better not be here " (a for- 
 tunate idea, she thought), "Mahala will let me stay with 
 her till you return. Mrs. Wright is always so kind in 
 urging me to go there. She says no one can keep Mike 
 in order so well as Margery Prescott." 
 
 " But how will you manage about clothing, my girl ? 
 You cannot live three weeks in a wheel-suit Though," 
 he added, " I never saw you in a more becoming rig than 
 that last new gray." 
 
 " Yes, is it not neat ? " said Margery, much pleased to 
 see her father appreciate a creation that had given her 
 some anxiety. " Mike and I put our heads together over 
 those suits. The others are just like mine. In fact, we 
 expect this style will be adopted by the club. I am so 
 glad you like it, papa. Oh, we shall get along nicely with 
 one large trunk," continued she. " Express it to any point 
 where we wish to stay a day or two. We shall not want to 
 ride all the time, you know. Now, papa, you make us a 
 list of the best stopping places and points of interest ; 
 those old farm-houses of which you are always telling, and 
 country taverns where we can stop for dinner. If you 
 write them out we will make no mistake." 
 
 Betsy now laid the steaming breakfast upon the table. 
 Margery proceeded to pour the coffee for her father, who 
 declared again that no cup was ever quite as delicious as 
 hers.
 
 2 2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 Mr. Prescott had drawn out a little plan of the river 
 towns. Giving it a few more touches and taking the cup 
 of fragrant coffee from her hand, he said, " Here is a list 
 of the places you 'd better make your points of rest. I 
 will telegraph to three the three underscored so there 
 will be no trouble about your reception. You, yourself, 
 have been with me at several of these places. There you 
 of course will be known. Miss St. John visits in Crom- 
 well, and Mrs. Mather has relatives in Essex. They will 
 not be at a loss, I am sure, to make up any deficiencies in 
 this list, both having friends and acquaintances along the 
 river. But, daughter," said he, as he cracked an egg- 
 shell, " when you are ready to return, had you not better 
 take the boat and come directly home ? To retrace one's 
 way is often tedious. And probably you will by that time 
 have had quite enough of wheeling." 
 
 " You are right, papa, as you always are. I am glad you 
 suggested that idea. So then we can ride as far as we like 
 without a thought of the coming home. I will tell the 
 girls about it." 
 
 " Well, now, my dear, how long will it take you to get 
 ready ? " 
 
 "How long? Why?" 
 
 "Because, Margie, I must leave you before noon. If 
 you can be ready in an hour think you can ? John can 
 drive you to Judge Wright's, with your trunk. The 'cycle 
 can be taken to you this evening, and you will be ready if 
 the rest are, for your trip at once." 
 
 "Yes, we can be off to-morrow, I am sure," exclaimed 
 Margery, excitedly, "because they are only waiting for me. 
 Then, papa, I will write you at what point?"
 
 THE PLAN. 23 
 
 "At New York, to-night. Give your letter to John, to 
 post on the midnight train, so I will get it before starting 
 west. Telegraph to this address in Chicago" he took 
 out a card and wrote on it "in case of any accident. If 
 all goes well you can write me there, and it will be for- 
 warded to me. Now eat your breakfast, dear; you have 
 scarcely swallowed a morsel." 
 
 "Oh! I have eaten a great deal. I have finished now," 
 said the girl, swallowing her coffee in haste. "I will be 
 ready in half an hour, you see if I am not," and she ran 
 nervously out of the room. The packing was soon dis- 
 patched, the gray suit laid carefully on toj^ to be worn for 
 the first time on the morrow. Her hands trembled in her 
 haste, especially when she took out her box of jewelry and 
 she saw the discarded ring glitter in the darkness. But 
 she would not think. " I must hand this to papa for the 
 safe," she said. She pulled out, folded up, and tucked 
 away, in unfaltering determination. She pressed the disk 
 which rang the bell for her maid, in whose care she left 
 the room for re-arrangement. She gave the girl permis- 
 sion to go to her home during her absence. Only Betsy' 
 and John need stay to care for the house. Margery 
 evaded any direct reply to the girl's questions, merely 
 saying she might be gone two or three weeks. "I will 
 send you word, Susan, when I return. Take care of your- 
 self and have a good time, while I am away." "Well, 
 indeed, Miss Margery, I'd rather you stayed at home, 
 inself," answered the faithful creature. 
 
 Margery snatched her gloves and sped down stairs as 
 she heard the carriage coming around. She was flying 
 from him ! Faithless! Trifling! She must get away.
 
 , 4 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 In tight embrace her father kissed her, once and again. 
 She was all to him all he had left. She seemed a little 
 tremulous and nervous, but she was tired with her party 
 and these hurried preparations. This trip would do her 
 good. ' 
 
 Mr. Prescott put her into the carriage, telling John to 
 return for him as quickly as possible. 
 
 An hour later, while Mr. Prescott was arranging busi- 
 ness to take the fast train for the metropolis, Margery sat 
 in Mahala Wright's sitting-room, hearing of all the plans 
 for the anticipated trip. She produced her father's direc- 
 tions, which she^had placed in her little satchel, and read 
 them excitedly to her friend.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SCENE. Evening in Mrs. Wright's well-lighted reception-room. 
 
 Mahala poses, with both elbows on center-table. She complacently 
 regards her friends. 
 
 Mrs. Julie Mather stands near, embraced by Margery. 
 
 Aunt Dude (otherwise Miss Lucy St. John), coming across the 
 room, essays to get a peep at the folio which lies before her niece. 
 
 Mahala instantly covers it with both hands, and mskes an impudent 
 face at her aunt. 
 
 MAHALA. " Now, everybody sit down." They take 
 chairs. "I say, these rules have to be implicitly 
 obeyed ; or the party is non est." 
 AUNT DUDE " Go on." 
 
 MAHALA. "Rule first, then, received with no objec- 
 tion ?" looking with questioning air at each individual. 
 
 "Rule second. Each member of this party shall con- 
 sider herself for the time being as belonging solely and 
 exclusively to this party. No outside interest shall rival 
 that of this party, which compels the exclusive devotion 
 of each and every individual to the amusement and diver- 
 sion of the party collectively. Sworn ? " 
 ALL. " No objections. All right." 
 
 (3.0
 
 2 6 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 MAHALA. " Rule third. On meeting with other parties 
 or individuals en route, no communication whatever must 
 be made." 
 
 JULIE. "But, Mike " 
 
 MAHALA. " No interruptions." Reading again. " On 
 occasion, each member shall simulate deafness, by raising 
 the right hand to the right ear, and inclining the body. 
 If chaperone number one or number two judge best to ask 
 ' what ? ' then all three shall repeat ' what ? ' in a louder 
 tone. If chaperone chooses after that to hold further con- 
 versation, it will be allowed." 
 
 Great laughter and cries of " Oh ! Mike ! what an 
 idea ! " and so forth. 
 
 MAHALA. Stamping her foot. " Swear ! " 
 
 THE TRIO. " Well, sworn ! " 
 
 MAHALA. " Rule fifth. Each member shall carry blue 
 eye-glasses (already provided by Miss Wright) which, 
 under any embarrassing circumstances shall be immedi- 
 ately placed upon the bridge of the nose." 
 
 ALL, " Sworn ! " 
 
 MAHALA. " Rule sixth. One good pistol " 
 
 MRS. MATHER. " Yes, I have one." 
 
 MAHALA. " Silence ! That one good pistol shall be 
 carried by chaperone number one. Also that three large 
 toy pistols, unloaded (already provided by Miss Wright), 
 shall be visible upon three other members. Any objec- 
 tions ? " 
 
 ALL. "None no" Laughter. 
 
 MAHALA. "Rule seventh. One tin horn, small size, to- 
 be carried by Mahala Wright concealed in the folds of her
 
 RULES AND REGULATIONS. ?y 
 
 dress. Small ivory whistles (also provided) to be worn by 
 other members for convenience in calling the party 
 together in case of any separation." 
 
 MARGERY. " For instance, when the artist stops for an 
 impression, or Mike pursues a specimen." 
 
 MAIIALA. " Rule eighth. At hotels and farm-houses, 
 no one will be allowed to form any acquaintance, except 
 that of host or family of host." 
 
 ALL. " Agreed." 
 
 MAHALA. " Rule ninth. Letters to be written on 
 Sundays only. No posting except on Mondays." 
 
 Demurs from Mrs. Mather, who turns appealingly to 
 Margery. Margery flushed and looked away. 
 
 MAHALA. Coming down with great suddenness from 
 her administrative tone. " Oh ! Yes ! I know how it will 
 be ! Just how it will be ! When I want some fun and 
 entertainment, you and Margery will be scribbling to your 
 devoted highnesses' devoted lover and husband. I've 
 been there before ! ' Now don't now, please keep quiet 
 I want to write,' etc., etc. Letters on Sundays only ! 
 Swear one and all. I insist upon it!" 
 
 " Sworn ! " 
 
 A wicked twinkle comes into Mrs. Mather's eye. She 
 .gives Margery's hand a little squeeze. 
 
 " I guess we shall get along," she whispers. 
 
 MAHALA. " Nine rules ! Now give me your hands on 
 this, and we '11 be off to-morrow at eight o'clock ! 
 
 TABLEAU. All stand around the centre-table. Hands 
 clasped. 
 
 Good night.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE meeting of the quartette the following morning, 
 at Judge Wright's door, was, according to agreement, 
 at an early hour. At eight o'clock, after much preliminary 
 activity on the part of the four friends, which we will leave 
 to the imagination of those who have undertaken similar 
 excursions, the party was ready to start. They wore the 
 gray cloth suits tastefully trimmed with black braid which 
 edged the plaitings around the full skirts, adorned the 
 collar, cuffs, and flaps of the jaunty postilion basques, and 
 met in frogs across the front of the perfect-fitting waists ; 
 black poke hats, the severity of which was relieved by 
 various short, curling feathers, which were massed on one 
 side toward the front ; and black kid gloves drawn up over 
 the close wrists of the sleeves. 
 
 Their blue glasses, which were not without practical 
 utility in an out-of-door life of whole days in the dazzling 
 sunshine, were attached to a black cord which encircled 
 the neck. 
 
 The butts of four pistols peeped out of small pockets on 
 the hips, and which one carried the real, defensive weapon,, 
 
 (33)
 
 THE START. ,Q 
 
 and who the toy imitations, it would have been difficult to 
 decide. 
 
 Small silk umbrellas, folded in smooth cases, were fast- 
 ened to the handle on the left side of the tricycles. 
 
 Judge and Mrs. Wright and the boys were interested 
 assistants in the preparations, and interspersed their con- 
 sultations with advice, cautions, and injunctions, which the 
 wheelers did well to remember on subsequent occasions. 
 
 Miss St. John was diligently engaged in strapping her 
 sketching apparatus on behind the saddle of her machine. 
 Her artistic traveling outfit comprised a light camp-stool, 
 a box of water colors, a case of pencils and brushes, and a 
 pad of paper. 
 
 These would be sufficient to enable her to catch any 
 choice bit by the way. Her oils, canvas, folding easel, 
 etc., she had placed in the trunk. She could only use 
 these to advantage when she had time to work out an 
 idea. 
 
 Margery had several paper-covered books of light fiction 
 attached in a roll to her saddle, and stood, tall and fair, 
 chatting gracefully with Judge Wright, as she drew on 
 her gloves. Mahala, closely superintended by her older 
 brother, made ready a box for butterflies, and tied a net 
 on to her tricycle. 
 
 " Now do be careful, Mike, if you get anything nice, not 
 to break its wings. Remember to look for a lunar moth 
 on the trunk of some tree in the woods. It is getting late 
 for all moths and butterflies, so secure all you can before 
 the first frost comes. This bottle of cyanide you must be 
 careful about, as it is deadly poison. Tell them all about 
 it," said her good brother Joe.
 
 . Q WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Yes," spoke up Frank, who was standing on the curb- 
 stone with his hands in his pockets, looking on enviously 
 at the busy scene ; " if you don't, they may be putting it 
 on to their faces for lily white ! " 
 
 " What do you know about lily white ? " retorted Mahala. 
 " Boys of fourteen should be seen and not heard. Don't 
 you wish you could go, Bubby, dear?" she said tantaliz- 
 ingly, giving his nose an .exasperating little tweak. " But 
 it must stay at home, 'cause it 's too little," and she ran 
 briskly into the house. 
 
 "Humph!" he called after her; "I can travel right 
 around you on my bicycle ! I would not go on such a 
 slow trip, anyhow ! " 
 
 "Well, I would," said Joe, "if they would let me. I am 
 only provoked that we fellows had not thought of it first." 
 
 "There is no copyright on the idea, Joe," said Margery, 
 smiling at him. 
 
 Mahala ran down the steps. " I came very near for- 
 getting those insect-pins, Joe," she said, as she opened 
 the box and placed the paper and the wide-nosed bottle 
 within. 
 
 " I say, Mike " (again .Frank), " don't those thick boots 
 make your feet look awfully big?" Her particular pride 
 was a dainty foot, and he knew it. 
 
 " Do they, Joe ? Mamma ! Are these boots very clumsy ? 
 I was afraid they were, when I got them, but " 
 
 " No ; they are very neat and sensible, dear. Don't 
 mind him," quickly answered Joe. 
 
 "Frank, be quiet," said his mother. 
 
 "Let her call me 'Bubby,' then, that's all," and the
 
 THE START. 
 
 43 
 
 young gentleman grinned and gave his head a threatening 
 shake. 
 
 Meanwhile, a portly, middle-aged gentleman was hold- 
 ing the 
 
 Math- 
 er, and 
 talking 
 earnest- 
 
 " Be very 
 careful and 
 not take cold, 
 Julie ; and if 
 you see the least 
 cause to fear any 
 tramp, use your pis- 
 tol. Don't hesitate 
 a moment. Shoot 
 one as you would a 
 mad dog, if he offers 
 molest you. I am 
 almost sorry that I con- 
 sented to your going. If 
 anything should befall 
 you " 
 
 " I would not think of 
 going, Fred, if you were not to be away," answered his 
 wife ; " but this trip will serve to pass away the time until 
 your return. I will write you at every possible point."
 
 AA WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 44 
 
 " Do, dear ; and be sure to send to the post-office at all 
 your stopping-places." 
 
 "Do you think you need to tell me that?" said Julie, 
 archly. 
 
 Mr. Mather raised his hat to the other ladies as they 
 mounted their tricycles, and turned again to kiss his wife. 
 She looked sadly back at his retreating figure as she laid 
 her hand on her wheel, and waved a farewell with her 
 handkerchief, as he stopped to look back. Then she 
 quickly took her seat. 
 
 "Well, girls, are we away?" she said in her cheery 
 voice, looking around. 
 
 "All away ! " they answered, and she pressed the treadles 
 and sped along the street. A confusion of cries followed 
 them as they left. 
 
 "Good-by, good-by." 
 
 "Be careful, Mahala, dear." 
 
 "Get some nice pictures, Dude!" 
 
 "Good-by, Miss Margery." 
 
 " Look out and not make a mistake about that face- 
 powder, now!" 
 
 Mrs. Mather turned once again to catch another glimpse 
 of her husband just as they turned the corner, and the 
 flutter of her bright handkerchief was the last thing he saw. 
 
 In a short time they were well through the town and 
 coming to the hill which rises to the colleges. Here 
 occurred the first annoyance, which, indeed, they scarcely 
 minded, being used to various expressions of surprise at 
 their comparatively new mode of locomotion. Passers by 
 the way, who saw the tricycles for the first time, often
 
 THE START 
 
 45 
 
 gave expression to their ideas about them in more or less 
 complimentary language. As they ran smoothly along 
 the macadamized streets, laughing and talking blithely, 
 
 full of pleasant anticipations, and enjoying to the utmost 
 every moment in the invigorating air and genial sunshine, 
 they scarcely noticed a company of boys, who, "with shin-
 
 4 g WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 ing morning faces," and straps of books dangling from 
 their hands or slung over their shoulders, came noisily 
 trudging to school, earnestly discussing the affairs of life 
 which are so absorbing and important to them. They 
 were all well-dressed, and most of them were at that age 
 when they have passed their usefulness as pets, but have 
 not yet grown into the innate sense of honor and gen- 
 erosity which ennobles most young men in their conduct 
 towards ladies. Suddenly, one saw the riders approach. 
 He gave the word to the others, and they all stopped to 
 better realize the unusual sight. 
 
 " Oh, fellers ! " cried he, ."see the women's righters ! " 
 
 "Oh-h! Oh!" chimed the party, in derision. 
 
 "Hullo, Susan Anthony!" 
 
 "How are you, Susan B. ?" 
 
 " When are you going to vote ? Sa-ay ! " 
 
 While almost deafened by the din, the ladies could not 
 keep from smiling, but Miss St. John was seen to exclaim 
 (they could only see the working of her mouth) that she 
 would like to teach them better manners. But all at once 
 the jeering ceased the stillness was almost painful. A 
 natty little fellow of fifteen had made himself heard over 
 all. He had to jam the hat of one of the more earnest 
 vociferators down over his eyes with a crushing blow to 
 secure his attention, and ordered: "Shut up! Stop your 
 infernal noise, I say! That's Frank Wright's sister! 
 Keep still, will you?" And having effectually quelled the 
 riot, he raised his hat, with reddening cheeks, in response 
 to a bright little bow from Mahala, who said, "Thank you, 
 Harry," and cast such a look of pitying contempt at the
 
 THE START. ^ 
 
 insulting boys that they began to have business somewhere 
 else at once. They became much interested in something 
 over the fence, and passed on in haste. 
 
 While the tricycle party, having dismounted, were push- 
 ing their light machines up the hill, Miss St. John, who 
 had been walking ahead for some time in silence, turned 
 to her friends. 
 
 "What a bold and unbecoming thing it seems to be a 
 'woman's righter'!" she said, repeating the term used by 
 the derisive juveniles. "How even the masculine youth 
 resent the slightest innovation upon what they consider 
 their exclusive rights!" 
 
 " Ah, but we have taken the right to dress sensibly, to 
 walk, and skate, and row, and swim," said her niece, " and 
 they will soon all get used to our using the tricycle." 
 
 "Yes, they will, of course," assented Miss St. John, 
 "but how truly they sense the tendency of all these 
 emancipations from indolence and inefficiency. Their 
 very ire shows their selfish fear of the result of a healthier 
 condition of mind and body in women." 
 
 Mrs. Mather said she did not believe boys gave the sub- 
 ject much thought. 
 
 " It is bred in their bones," retorted the lady, " and 
 fostered from the first minute when th'ey discover that 
 Sister cannot do this and that because she is a girl. If 
 so many girls were not spoiled in bringing up, one great 
 obstacle to the coming era would be done away with." 
 
 " You mean " began Mrs. Mather, hesitatingly. 
 
 " I mean the duties and privileges of full citizenship," 
 declared the artist. "I do not often say this aloud,
 
 4 g WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 because it is at present rather unpopular, and especially so 
 in an unmarried woman." 
 
 Mrs. Mather raised her eyebrows dubiously. " Women 
 seem to be gaining admittance to the professions," she 
 said. " They can select any work for themselves, and if 
 they have a strong purpose and persevere, they can 
 achieve a modicum of success which is due to their 
 abilities and not in any way precluded by their sex. I 
 really do not see that to vote is at all necessary to their 
 happiness or advancement." 
 
 " It is not strange that you do not, who live and move 
 and have your being in your husband's love. You are 
 evidently so enervated by the balmy atmosphere of his 
 protection that you do not care to trouble your contented 
 heart with these problems." 
 
 "Well, really, Dude," answered the matron, "I do not 
 quite know whether to consider that remark as compli- 
 mentary or not." 
 
 "You must judge it from your own standpoint," said 
 the other, laughing, " but is it not true ? " 
 
 "Yes, it is," acknowledged the loving wife. "I try 
 sometimes to brace up to it and to look discriminatingly 
 into the question for the sake of other unfortunate and 
 lonely women, but I cannot yet see how the franchise 
 is to help them." 
 
 Mahala spoke up. " Suppose women could vote, and 
 that a war was inevitable or necessary to preserve the 
 interests of the Republic. Women are physically unable 
 to back up, by their ability to fight for anything, the votes 
 they may have cast for war."
 
 THE START. ^g 
 
 " Ah, Mike," said her aunt, " You know that argument 
 is good for nothing, although I doubt not you hear your 
 father and other intelligent men advance it. In the first 
 place, it is only very rarely, as in the case of our late war, 
 that the masses rise to put down a great wrong. War is 
 usually brought on by the differences of a few diplomats, 
 who, mind you, do not do any of the fighting they have 
 caused. Secondly, and this is an argument for allowing 
 them to vote, no majority of women would ever vote for a 
 war. They are essentially merciful and averse to blood- 
 shedding. Supposing these questions and differences 
 were all adjusted by arbitration, would the world be less 
 Christian or in any respect hindered in its progress 
 towards the right ? " 
 
 " Oh ! I surrender, aunty ! Don't grind me to powder, 
 to impalpable paste, I pray thee ! " 
 
 Here Margery interposed. " It is an argument, you 
 know, Miss St. John, against admitting women to the 
 ballot, that you place a dangerous power in the hands of 
 many vicious and ignorant ones at the same time that you 
 extend the privilege to the purer and more intelligent 
 portion of the sex, so that politics will not become purified, 
 but only more complicated." 
 
 " Well, girls, I do not intend to spoil our pleasure on 
 this perfect day by a lengthy argument on this question. 
 I will only remind you that the fear of corruption in the 
 bad ones, and the indifference of the pampered darlings," 
 here she looked hard at Julie, who opened her lips in a 
 reply, but thought it not worth while and said nothing, 
 " has not the slightest bearing on the point of doing justice
 
 EjO WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 to one-half of humanity who are now without a voice in 
 their own laws. But my grand idea for. the purification of 
 politics, for the enlightenment of the masses, and an irre- 
 sistible incentive to the education, industry, and frugality 
 of every individual, is this. It has been in my mind as a 
 solution of many growing evils and abuses for a long time, 
 but I have never given it utterance, realizing that it is so 
 far in advance of the world's civilization that it is not yet 
 available." 
 
 " Hear ! hear ! " cried Mahala, and all listened attentive- 
 ly for the exposition of the plan for the saving of the 
 Republic. The lady spoke impressively as she leaned 
 against the saddle of her machine, and emphasized the 
 portentous words with one finger on the palm of the other 
 hand. 
 
 " I would have an educational and property test which 
 should be applied to every candidate for the elective 
 franchise, male or female. No one should be allowed to 
 vote who could not pass an examination upon a good com- 
 mon-school education. No one should vote who had not 
 a small property, say three or five hundred dollars' worth, 
 unincumbered by debts. Individuals who cared enough 
 for the privileges of citizenship to educate themselves to 
 this extent, and who, in saving this amount of taxable 
 goods had gained also habits of industry, would not make 
 careless voters. They would not be led blindly by any 
 demagogue who would stoop to do it, and they could not 
 vote away money which they have never earned, as they 
 now are so free to do. Thus you would exclude the dense 
 ignorance which is now permitted at the polls, the only
 
 THE START. ^j 
 
 passport at present needed being a certificate of mascu- 
 linity. I also recommend it as a remedy for the disease 
 known variously as Communism, Nihilism, Socialism, and 
 so forth. But," resignedly, "I do not expect to live to 
 see it." 
 
 " No, I am afraid not, aunty, unless you can stick by as 
 long as Methuselah did," suggested her irreverent niece, 
 dashing ahea,d in "a terrific burst of speed," as the race 
 reporters would say. 
 
 " But, Dude," said the chaperone of the party, after a 
 respectful silence of about two seconds, " politics are not 
 becoming to you. If you only knew how much more lov- 
 able you look when you are sketching." 
 
 Miss St. John turned upon her friend with unconcealed 
 exasperation, which was certainly justified by the irrele- 
 vancy of the remark, but her lips softened into an indulgent 
 smile as Julia kissed her gloved finger-tips to her in her 
 own ingenuous manner and rode ahead, laughing at the 
 indignation she had provoked. 
 
 " This will take us over the lovely ridge-road," said Mrs. 
 Mather, leading away to the left. When they came to the 
 narrow single track which runs for some distance between 
 the fence and a high bank, they rode in single file. Lest 
 they should meet some vehicle in the narrow way and be 
 forced to pull their wheels up the steep bank to let it pass, 
 Mahala blew a lusty blast upon her tin horn to warn 
 approaching travelers that some one was on the single 
 road. She was considerably conceited over her fore- 
 thought when, on emerging into the broader way, they met 
 a heavily-loaded team which was waiting at the entrance
 
 C 2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 for them to pass. Then along the beautiful road which, 
 stretching by the side of the ridge, gave such a glorious 
 view of the gorgeous world of woods and meadows to the 
 left. They selected several building-spots for themselves, 
 to be purchased when their ship should have come in and 
 they be searching for an unsurpassed location for a sum- 
 mer villa. 
 
 They conciliated barking dogs, admired homely farm- 
 houses, discovered a busy mother-cat hunting in the fields, 
 and spatted their hands and trundled swiftly after a snort- 
 ing and disapproving old horse who was wandering aim- 
 lessly in the road, until they were tired. 
 
 Even pale Margery was forgetful of everything but the 
 beauty of the day, the merry jests of her companions, and 
 the novelty of the excursion. They did not stop to con- 
 sider anything as better than laughter on this day, and 
 wheeled along the road how light and noiseless ! at a 
 rapid rate. At length they ran around the corner at 
 Wethersfield, on the main road. They had made many a 
 turn in and out from the highway, ever and anon catching 
 glimpses of beautiful scenery which was too enticing, and 
 they must get a nearer view. One "wee bit of the river," 
 had to be jotted down in the sketch-book "just one, for 
 the first day," the artist pleaded, and the others graciously 
 loitered. Mahala cast her eye about for entomological 
 specimens ; but saw nothing save some plebeian beetles, 
 which she said "Joe had a million of now." 
 
 They were at Wethersfield, their first stopping-place. 
 " Yes, here we are at Aunt Phebe's," said Margery, as she 
 alighted from her saddle. "Did you ever see grander 
 trees ? "
 
 THE START. *^ 
 
 "What a dear, old-fashioned house!" exclaimed Mrs. 
 Mather, looking up to the gambrel roof and at the quaint 
 little dormers. 
 
 "But the inside is full of interesting things," said 
 Margery, as she shook her skirts to free them from all 
 dust, "and when you see Aunt Phebe, you will love her at 
 once. Just a kind, silver-haired woman, of sterling worth 
 and sweetness. She will be so surprised to see us ! But I 
 am always sure of a welcome. Inconvenienced ? No fear ! 
 She will be delighted. There she stands now ! out under 
 that old back stoop. She has her basket full of oh! 
 ripe tomatoes," said Margery, stepping lightly through 
 the open gate, to greet her aunt. The lady came forward 
 with the hesitating air of a person whose sight does not 
 serve as quickly as in younger days, and could not believe 
 her eyes until she was fairly in the warm embrace of her 
 favorite niece. The basket of tomatoes was still upon her 
 arm. 
 
 " What, all four of you ! came from Hartford and on 
 those things!" The lady had been shut up in the house, 
 an invalid for more than two years. " Well, you will not 
 need any oats for your horses!" she rejoined, smiling 
 " You would be welcome if you did. But you need rest 
 and food for yourself and your friends. Bring them in, 
 dear, and tell me who they are." 
 
 Margery beckoned smilingly to the party of tricyclers, 
 who had remained modestly at the gate, and presented 
 them. 
 
 "Thomas Wright's daughter] Oh my dear!" The 
 pleasant eyes looked searchingly at Mahala as she held her
 
 C4 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 off to get a clearer sight. The young girl had impulsively 
 bestowed a kiss upon the kind face. " Why, your father 
 " she paused and felt for the glasses. They were not 
 in their accustomed place. She wiped her eyes as if to 
 clear the vision. "Your father and I were friends, years, 
 ago. Do they say you favor him ? " 
 
 " They tell me I have his laugh and his eyes," answered 
 the girl. 
 
 "Well, well, and so he has a daughter as old as you 
 you are the oldest ? " 
 
 " I have one brother older, twenty-one." 
 
 " Twenty-one," repeated the lady, meditating. She put 
 the basket down, still looking at Mahala. 
 
 " Yes, it must be thirty-eight years ago ; we planted 
 that tree together. 'Twas a happy day." Here the 
 tomatoes began to fall, slowly bumping down the steps, 
 the basket having toppled over from its insecure resting- 
 place. Both stooped to catch them, but the quick move- 
 ment of the older lady's hand was with her apron to her 
 eyes ; while Mahala caught and replaced the fruit. 
 
 " Yes, it is so," and she looked up at Mahala' s lissom 
 figure. " Then we then he went away. He studied 
 law, I heard. I never saw him again until after he was 
 married. He came one day to see how the tree had 
 grown. That was when you were in the Land of Nowhere, 
 dear. I remember now your brother was a little thing ; he 
 told me of him and of his wife ; and you are his daughter," 
 she said, coming back to the present moment. " Well, I will 
 love you, too," she said, with glistening eye resting on the 
 interesting face glowing with youth and beauty, and she
 
 THE START. 55 
 
 laid her gray head beside Mahala's dark locks as she took 
 her into her arms. 
 
 Mahala had unfastened her hat and stood bare-headed 
 under the trees, accepting eagerly all the interest of the 
 occasion, and wondering if she had ever heard papa speak 
 of this winning lady. 
 
 The entertainments of the remaining afternoon and 
 evening were as enjoyable as the day's beginning. 
 
 To see all the antique belongings of this ante-revolu- 
 tionary mansion was a feast in itself. There were glimpses 
 in the dining-room of the delighted artist, making a study 
 of the big fire-place. One could sit inside its yawning 
 mouth in the corner in comfort, if the fire were not too hot. 
 There was an ancient piano with attenuated legs, a violin 
 of historical value, and interesting associations ; little yellow 
 sheets of mournful music, marvelous wall-paper, scores of 
 things to keep the young visitors in enthusiastic expres- 
 sions of admiration, and to further win the heart of their 
 owner by their manifest appreciation of her cherished 
 relics. 
 
 The friends were shown at night into a large room with 
 two beds in it. Their trunk, which had been brought to 
 the house by an expressman, stood awaiting them in a 
 corner. 
 
 " What a day this has been ! " exclaimed Mahala, as she 
 sat down in a chair and stooped to unbutton a boot. She 
 yawned. 
 
 " It has certainly been most delightful in every respect," 
 agreed Mrs. Mather, as she vigorously brushed her gray 
 waist at the window, and they congratulated themselves
 
 - WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 on their hostess, and chatted of the home where they felt 
 so sheltered. "The roads are in prime condition, too," 
 said Margery, " and the weather absolutely perfect." 
 
 "Yes," answered Miss St. John, "and the foliage is 
 beginning to. take on just the coloring I want to study for 
 my last picture." 
 
 She was carefully rinsing and wiping some brushes, 
 and making ready for an early start on the morrow. 
 
 They were all weary and longing for rest. Each one 
 was busily preparing for bed. 
 
 "Now, isn't it perfectly delightful," said Mahala, as she 
 kicked off one boot, "to be able to take such a jaunt as 
 this, without any men along to dictate, and bother, and 
 spoon ! " She put such vindictive force into the last word 
 that a button flew off from the second shoe, which she 
 was removing. 
 
 "Oh! dear! there goes a button, and the first day, too! 
 Now I have got to sew it on. I tightened them all up, 
 yesterday." And she got out her little work-box, and 
 commenced to sew. "If there is anything that I perfectly 
 abominate, it is untidy shoes. But," returning to the sub- 
 ject of special rejoicing, "isn't it jolly not to have any 
 masculines with us?" 
 
 "Yes, indeed," quickly responded Aunt Dude, who was 
 pasting her hair into montagues, and tying them down 
 with a piece of white net. 
 
 "Of course it is nice, very nice, to go it alone, when no 
 more difficulties are in the way than we have met to-day. 
 I hope it will all be as smooth sailing," said Mrs. Mather, 
 sighing faintly. 
 
 "Wheeling, you mean, little woman," added Mahala.
 
 THE START. ^ 
 
 "Gracious! how lame my legs are! or limbs, I suppose I 
 should say. Twigs would be even more modest." 
 
 "I believe ladies are allowed to have legs in these 
 days," said their diminutive chaperone, smiling at Mahala's 
 undiminished flow of spirits. 
 
 "Well, they have got to have them to ride a tricycle, at 
 all events," said the irrepressible hoyden. "Mine are 
 sorer than they have been before, since Sim Blodgett first 
 loaned me his wheels to try." 
 
 By this time all were in bed except Aunt Dude, who 
 put out the light, and Miss Wright declared her intention 
 of being asleep in less than a minute. But in ten seconds 
 she burst out : 
 
 " Margery, what did Felix say to your taking this trip ? 
 He is so partial to clinging-vine women, that I should have 
 expected him to be horror-stricken at the idea." 
 
 Poor Margery, under the cover of the darkness, was able 
 to reply, quietly, "O, he made no objection; you know, I 
 am still my own mistress." 
 
 " So am I," said the pert young miss, "and furthermore, 
 I mean to remain so." 
 
 Another quiet spell, and a delicious drowsiness began to 
 steal over the senses of the tired travelers, when the little 
 wretch was heard to giggle convulsively. 
 
 " Goodness gracious ! " exclaimed her aunt, getting out 
 of patience, " why don't you go to sleep ? I am sure we 
 are all tired enough." 
 
 "I was just about to start my mill (knitting up the 
 * raveled sleeve of care/ you know) when I happened to 
 think of how Sim proposed to us girls, and how we paid 
 him. Let me tell you, it won't take but a moment."
 
 eg WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "Oh, Mike!" groaned Julie. "Keep it until to-mor- 
 row," begged Miss St. John, who well knew that concilia- 
 tion was the best policy at such a time. But it failed in 
 this instance, for Margery, who was not disposed to sleep, 
 and was glad of anything to divert her thoughts from her 
 lover and his supposed trifling, said, " Go on, Mike. Let 
 her tell it, girls." 
 
 They all used the name which had been given to merry 
 Mahala by her brothers, and accepted by her as a matter 
 of course. Encouraged by Margery, she began. " Well, 
 you all know just what kind of a fellow Sim is dresses 
 well, is attentive to all the girls, indispensable at every 
 party and picnic, and can do everything, from leading a 
 German to sewing on fancy work or making a salad. 
 He 's real nice " (generously), " but you 'd never think of 
 marrying him, never" (positively). "But Sim is getting 
 old. He has let at least half a dozen sets go by him and 
 sink into the insignificance of married life, and he has 
 begun to think it is time he married some girl whose 
 father will board him, and her, while his salary will just 
 about pay for his clothes. You see, if she will furnish the 
 bread, he will try and get the water." 
 
 "Don't elaborate, Mike, and on borrowed wit, too," 
 said the voice of her aunt in the other bed. " Make it 
 short." 
 
 " Well, it suddenly popped into my head that he was 
 getting unusually sweet on me, and one evening, going 
 home from Margie's house, he proposed to me. Of course 
 1 told him it was of no use ; liked him as a friend, and all 
 that, and furthermore that I meant to live and die entirely 
 free and at my own sweet will."
 
 THE START. tjg 
 
 "Don't be too positive, Mike. You are not very old 
 yet," interjected Mrs. Mather. 
 
 " It was too good to keep, of course," continued Mahala, 
 " and I had to tell Em. She commenced to laugh, and 
 said, ' Poor Sim ! he proposed to me, too.' ' No,' says I. 
 'Yes,' she says, 'and to Stella, too.' 
 
 " Well, you know, that was too much, so we rushed over 
 to Stella's, and I fell up the steps and tore the ruffle off my 
 new garnet silk. It was an awful tear; went zig-zaggy in 
 every direction. Had to take it to the dress-maker's and 
 have a piece taken out." 
 
 " Never mind the tear, tell us about Sim," said Margery, 
 who was laughing in spite of herself. 
 
 "I was just going to, my dear, if you had not inter- 
 rupted me," retorted Mahala, briskly. "So we put our 
 heads together, not to make a plank walk" (this execra- 
 bly stale joke was allowed to pass without remonstrance), 
 "but to make a plan, and we wrote three notes, each one 
 saying in different language, of course that we had 
 changed our minds ; that if he still loved us we would 
 accept his faithful and unswerving love, and asked him to 
 wear a white rose-bud in his button-hole Em. said a pink 
 one, and Stella named daisies as he went to church the 
 next day. We mailed them at the same time, and of 
 course he received them simultaneously. Sim has been 
 perfectly demoralized ever since. Won't go to a party, or 
 look at one of us on the street. They say, now, he is 
 going to marry a wealthy girl in the country. Was n't it 
 rich ? Good night, girls. I am tired half to death and 
 really must go to sleep. I have not made this as inter- 
 esting as I could if I wasn't so slee ."
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Cj-o -to 
 
 IT is not the intention of the authors of this sketch to 
 follow the tricycle-riders over every consecutive mile 
 of their route along the banks of the Connecticut river, 
 from the (nominal) head of navigation to its mouth. We 
 shall content ourselves with an outline of the more interest- 
 ing scenes and incidents among the great variety of events 
 and experiences which befell our venturesome quartette. 
 
 Sunday morning found them all well and in the best of 
 spirits (except, perhaps, Miss Prescott, whose pride however 
 enabled her to effectually conceal the rankling hurt in her 
 heart) at a home-like hotel in a pleasant town some miles 
 below Wethersfield. 
 
 As they sat at breakfast, Mrs. Mather addressed the 
 neat maid who waited upon them at table. "Maggie, I 
 think there is a church in this place ? " " Oh yes, ma'am," 
 the girl answered in some surprise, "there's two or three." 
 
 "Yes, yes, I understand you, Maggie," said the lady, 
 kindly, "but I refer to The Church an Episcopal Church, 
 of course." 
 
 " It is very evident that our little chaperone has con- 
 
 (60)
 
 THEY GO TO CHURCH. j 
 
 victions on some subjects, if not upon others," said Miss 
 St. John behind her hand to Margery. 
 
 "Thank you, Maggie," said the lady, graciously, "I was 
 informed there was a church here. It is such a comfort," 
 she continued, turning to her friends, " to know that 
 wherever you are, at home or abroad, the doors of the 
 Church are always open to you. One needs no introduc- 
 tion or permission to enter ; the universal God is every- 
 where. One fears encountering no personal diatribes from 
 the rector. The sermon is not a lecture with a religious 
 tendency, but an explanation and application of the Word, 
 as the great minds in Church office understand it. It is 
 such a rock in stability and strength ! I suppose the ser- 
 vice is at the usual hour, and we will find our way by 
 inquiries." 
 
 They were all glad to welcome the day of rest, and were 
 soon ready for church, as no change could be made in 
 their dress, except to put on clean collars, to carefully 
 brush their hats, and don better gloves and shoes than they 
 wore while traveling. 
 
 " There ! " said Mrs. Mather, as she shook a fresh hand- 
 kerchief out of its folds, " I feel quite like a respectable 
 member of society once more." 
 
 This caused Mahala to remark that she believed Julie 
 would be happy cast away upon a desert island, if she could 
 only have plenty of clean and pretty handkerchiefs. 
 
 Soon the bells began to ring, sending their urgent 
 resonance far over field and river, quickening the feet of 
 devout souls whose inclinations led them to worship, and 
 increasing the speed of family carriages which were
 
 fa WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 decorously wending their way from distant places, " a few 
 to Church and more to meeting" Mrs. Mather said, senten- 
 tiously. 
 
 The four companions walked along the pretty street with 
 a directness and purpose which at once marked them as 
 city women. 
 
 " It 's a female seminary ! " said a youth who, with 
 others, was curiously watching the gray suits approach. 
 
 " I don't believe it. They are temperance workers ! " 
 said another. 
 
 "Not much!" asseverated the youth. "Humph! I 
 guess not ! They are too good looking ! " 
 
 Here, one of the younger boys, who stood behind in the 
 group of bystanders, gave the youth a vigorous push, so 
 that he was violently projected into the path in front of 
 Margery. She, passing swiftly, stepped on to his foot. 
 
 " Oh, sir ! I beg your pardon ! " she instantly cried, 
 sensing the whole situation, " did I hurt your foot ? " 
 
 " Oh, no ! No, indeed ! Not in the least; it was all my 
 fault!" protested the crimson youth, and the low-voiced 
 " sir " and her beautiful smile warmed his heart for many 
 a day after. 
 
 The friends entered the church-door. Above it was the 
 legend 
 
 JMs is a fgfoes tmrcfc. 
 
 But Mrs. Mather, politely accosting a tall gentleman 
 who stood in the vestibule, asked him to show them a 
 seat. He replied, " This is a free church, madam. You 
 can take any seat you like."
 
 THEY GO TO CHURCH. 5^ 
 
 " Is it really so ? " said Miss St. John quickly, looking 
 up to him in her bright way with a glint of sarcasm in her 
 gray eyes, " or shall we mortally offend some good pillar 
 by occupying the pew which he has acquired by right of 
 possession? Free seats in theory, is one thing " 
 
 " This is a free church in practice," answered the gentle- 
 man, with a pleasant smile, and a look of interest at the 
 party. 
 
 " I congratulate you ! " said the artist, as they passed 
 inside. 
 
 It was, indeed, a blessed hour in the subdued light and 
 stillness, which was broken only by the rich voice of the 
 rector, as he recited the impressive words of the service, 
 and the low responses of the kneeling congregation. A 
 restful peace fell upon the troubled breast of proud and
 
 5 4 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 wounded Margery, and at the words : "Almighty God, 
 unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from 
 whom no secrets are hid," the tears came unbidden to her 
 eyes. 
 
 Mrs. Mather paid strict attention to every change in the 
 service, entirely absorbed in the ceremonials so dear to 
 her. Miss St. John allowed her thoughts to wander to a 
 very tasteful window, which she observed with an artist's 
 eye for color ; and Mahala sat quiet and attentive, uncon- 
 sciously raising a disturbance in the cardiac region of a 
 young physician who sat in the pew behind. He assidu- 
 ously found the hymns for her, and leaned over the back 
 of the seat in passing her his own book to get a look at 
 her eyes. Conspicuous in gilt letters upon the flexible 
 cover of his hymnal was the name Dr. Launceolot Cutter. 
 
 " He ought to be a good surgeon," breathed Mahala to 
 Margery, without moving her lips, as she looked demurely 
 at the stamp. She cast a bewitching glance of gratitude 
 toward the young ^Esculapius as she returned the book, 
 which he understood to be full of meaning and rapturous 
 possibilities and never thought of him again. 
 
 The strangers all joined in the singing, and Mahala' s 
 bird-like soprano rose sweet and clear, so that several staid 
 worshipers turned about to see where the new voice was, 
 and were considerably distracted from the remainder of 
 the service thereby. 
 
 As the visitors filed out with the slow-moving congrega- 
 tion, they were met at the door by a beaming and cordial 
 lady of perhaps forty years. She was rather stout, with 
 large pleasant eyes, a funny little nose, which was inclined 
 to be red, and a smiling and voluble mouth.
 
 THEY GO TO CHURCH. g,. 
 
 "I perceive that you are strangers here, ladies," she 
 said in a most hearty tone, " and I am very happy to wel- 
 come you to our little church. I am Mrs. Moore, the wife 
 of the rector." 
 
 "It is very pleasant to meet such a greeting, Mrs- 
 Moore," said Mrs. Mather, with feeling, "when, except for 
 the sheltering arms of the Church, we felt we were among 
 strangers. These are my friends, Miss St. John, Miss 
 Margery Prescott, and Miss Mahala Wright," said the 
 chaperone, who was much touched, as indeed they all were, 
 at this unexpected and, alas ! unusual kindness. 
 
 "This is my daughter," said the good lady, presenting 
 a young girl of sixteen, who was standing near and eagerly 
 scanning the interesting group. 
 
 "I am so glad to know you," asserted the daughter, 
 with a youthful reproduction of her mother's cordial man- 
 ners. " I could hardly wait to get through the service," 
 she said to Mahala. " I was so impatient to know if you 
 were not the ladies who came here yesterday on tricycles." 
 
 "I suppose we are," answered Mahala, showing her 
 dimples as she smiled pleasantly upon her new acquaint- 
 ance. 
 
 " Oh ! then, you will let me see them, won't you ? " ex- 
 claimed the little Miss. " I am just crazy to ride one ! " 
 
 "Fie, fie, Jennie ! how wild you are ! " her mother said, 
 gently. 
 
 But Mahala gave her hand a little squeeze as they stood 
 together, and Jennie understood her. 
 
 " Henry, dear ! " Mrs. Moore exclaimed, as the rector, 
 now divested of his robes, came out the green-baize door, 
 w. & w. 5
 
 56 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " here are some ladies whom you wish to know. This is 
 " and she remembered every name. Then they saw 
 that it was the rector that they had spoken with on their 
 entrance. 
 
 "I met these ladies before service and felt sure you 
 would capture them, wife," replied the rector, who was a 
 tall man with grayish hair and beard, and a deep musical 
 voice. " Have you invited them to lunch ? We shall take 
 you home with us this noon," he said, bending politely to 
 Mrs. Mather. 
 
 " Oh ! really, sir " she commenced. 
 
 " Yes, we shall," he insisted ; " my wife always does so. 
 She purposely sits back, so that she may detect and way- 
 lay any unsuspecting visitors." 
 
 "Hemy!" exclaimed the lady, laughing. "But you 
 will go, will you not?" she said earnestly to Miss St. 
 John. "We shall deem it a favor to us." 
 
 Mrs. Mather looked at Miss St. John an instant, in 
 pleasurable doubt. 
 
 Miss St. John nodded just a sixteen-thousandth part of 
 an inch. 
 
 " There is certainly every inducement for us to accept 
 your kindness, and no reason to refuse, except that we 
 hesitate to trespass so much upon your hospitality, Mrs. 
 Moore," said Mrs. Mather. 
 
 " Then you shall go ! " said the young daughter, who 
 already had Mahala by the arm. She joyfully skipped 
 along by her side in fervent admiration of her new friend. 
 Her quick eye had taken every detail of the city girl's cos- 
 tume, from the stylish hat that sat so jauntily upon the
 
 THEY GO TO CHURCH. ~ 
 
 dark curls, to the ends of her daintily-clad hands and feet. 
 " Oh, mamma," she begged an hour later at lunch, " can 't 
 I have my new dress cut in Hartford ? They," looking 
 wistfully at the symmetrical gray waists, " they are so dif- 
 ferent from Miss Seamer's work." 
 
 Yes, reader, the strangers were actually taken home by 
 this minister and his family. Mr. Moore walked atten- 
 tively beside Margery and Mrs. Mather, while his wife 
 chatted in a most agreeable manner to Miss St. John. 
 
 "To explain my husband's dreadful insinuations con- 
 cerning my artful designs," she said, as she trotted along, 
 " I do sit rather far back in church, with an idea of the 
 better seeing and greeting our parishioners, and so I 
 naturally meet all the strangers, and one can do no less 
 than make them welcome," she said, in an almost apolo- 
 getic way. 
 
 Miss St. John thought grimly, that some could do con- 
 siderably less. 
 
 " Will some one kindly stick a pin into my arm, pull my 
 hair, or in some way convince me that I am awike ? " said 
 Mahala, in a suppressed voice, and offering a plump elbow 
 and a curly head, to her companions when they were left 
 alone for a moment in the cosy sitting-room of the rectory. 
 Mrs. Moore had bustled away with her daughter to prepare 
 lunch, and the rector had stepped up stairs to procure a 
 book he had been talking of. " Will no one accommodate 
 me with a pinch?" she inquired again. 
 
 " S-sh ! Mike, no nonsense now," whispered Mrs. 
 Mather, shaking her head at the frolicsome member. 
 ""But isn't this too delightful for anything?" she said, as
 
 58 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 she looked around with glistening eyes. She was highly 
 appreciative of the kindness shown them, and proportion- 
 ately affected by it. 
 
 "It passes belief." 
 
 "It is true Christian love and fellowship" chimed the 
 artist and Margery. 
 
 A simple and satisfying lunch, pleasant conversation, 
 during which all had become as old friends, exchanging in- 
 formation regarding themselves, expressing opinions, gain- 
 ing ideas; and, after two hours, the traveling party, who 
 had almost forgotten that they were pilgrims and compar- 
 ative strangers, went back to the hotel, but not until they 
 had promised to spend another hour or two the next morn- 
 ing at the rectory, and give Jennie a chance to try the 
 fairy wheels before they went on their way.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MONDAY morning was fair, and after paying their 
 small bill at the hotel Mrs. Mather was purser, and 
 paid all expenses from a common fund, keeping a strict 
 cash account, as well as attending to the dispatching of 
 the trunk they called upon the Moores as agreed, much 
 to the delight of the sprightly daughter, who, under 
 Mahala's kind tuition, achieved her wild hopes and rode 
 the tricycle up and down, round and around, for an hour. 
 Then they bade good-by and God-speed, parting with 
 mutual reluctance, and were once more upon the road. 
 They were within a mile of Middletown when. 
 "Girls! assume your glasses; here comes a man!" 
 Instantly, at the word of the chaperone, who rode in 
 advance with Mahala by her side, the four pairs of eyes 
 were covered with blue glass. The tricycles slowed up con- 
 siderably as they came nearer to a team, which, by means 
 of a sedate and thoughtful old horse, was making its way 
 along the road. Attached to the sober animal was a rusty 
 vehicle which had once been a nice affair, but its shining 
 freshness was past long ago. On the middle of the high 
 
 (69)
 
 JQ WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 seat sat, or rather perched, an individual in black clothes 
 with worn and fraying bindings. A small clump of sparse 
 whiskers grew on his rather prominent chin. This mascu- 
 line adornment would naturally have been gray, but the 
 owner, evidently deluding himself with the idea that a 
 purple-black dye would conceal his age and add a general 
 festivity to his appearance, had used the deceitful fluid 
 upon them, but some days before, so that, as the beard 
 grew out and was unavoidably dampened by his daily ablu- 
 tions, it showed a quarter of an inch of dirty yellow next 
 the face which deepened through various shades of orange, 
 pale green, and greenish purple, into the deceptive and 
 fascinating black, which looked about as much like nature's 
 glossy jet as his faded satinet clothes resembled the fine 
 broadcloth of a fastidious gentleman. A severely high 
 collar, surrounded by a wrinkled black neck-tie, held his 
 long neck as in a vise. He wore a tall hat with a wide 
 weed, and black kid gloves, through the rips in which the 
 ends of his thumb and several fingers were seen. The ex- 
 pression on his sallow countenance was an indescribably 
 funny mixture of priggish dignity and amazed curiosity, as 
 each party turned out for the other. 
 
 " I know it is a sin 
 For me to sit and grin 
 
 At him here-" 
 Muttered Mahala; 
 
 " But his shocking weedy hat, 
 And his gloves, and all that, 
 Are so queer." 
 
 " Be still, Mike," whispered her leader. The man was
 
 ON THE ROAD. ^j 
 
 looking at tnem, and urging the indifferent beast into an 
 imperceptibly faster walk. Seeing that he was about to 
 speak to them, Mrs. Mather forestalled his intention by 
 saying in a tragic tone, " Sir, please tell me, are we nearing 
 Portland ? " 
 
 The shabby gloves pulled up the dejected steed, and 
 the owner slowly surveyed the quartette and then replied, 
 " Portland ? You are on the wrong side of the river, 
 madam." 
 
 " What ? " quickly asked the stern woman, with her 
 hand behind her ear. 
 
 " You are on the wrong side of the river," he repeated 
 in a louder voice. "This is Middletown." 
 
 Four pairs of dense blue glasses remained leveled at his 
 face, and no one said a word. 
 
 " Is the lady hard of hearing ? " inquired the stranger, 
 turning to Miss Wright, who came next. 
 
 " What ? " ejaculated Mahala, raising her hand to her 
 right ear, and sending the monosyllable with such force 
 that the man fairly jumped. 
 
 He suddenly caught the ghost of a smile on the face of 
 Miss St. John, who rode in the rear, and putting on a 
 sickly smirk, intended to be attractive, he said to her, 
 " Madam, your young ladies are playful. Nothing like 
 merriment in the young. Oh ! yes, let them laugh and 
 joke while they may, for when they have passed through 
 trials and bereavements" (an affecting sigh), "when they 
 have lost a dear partner in life" (a sniff), "they will not 
 feel so gay. May be, ma'am," said he, leaning over im- 
 pressively towards the artist, "may be you, too, have 
 suffered such a loss."
 
 ^ 2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 She put her hand behind her ear. " Wha-at ? " drawled 
 she. 
 
 This was a poser. He looked searchingly from face to 
 face, and failing to perceive the truth, as no betraying 
 eyes were to be seen, turned in doubt to Margery. 
 
 " Miss, I do not know whether an insult is intended or 
 not. If your friends are really deaf, perhaps you can be 
 ears for them. I have a work here which I am introduc- 
 ing to the intelligent people of this community. It is a 
 very interesting and instructive book. Deacon Smart of 
 Middletown, whom perhaps you know, the Rev. Mr. 
 Oliphant, Miss Sharp, the music-teacher, and many other 
 distinguished names, are upon the list of my subscribers. 
 Perhaps you would like to look at it," he said, encouraged 
 by the interested expression Margery had wickedly as- 
 sumed. He leaned far out of the wagon and extended a 
 large book towards her. She turned her glasses upon it 
 but made no move to take it from his hand. He gave it a 
 little twist and added, " It is the life of " 
 
 "What?" said Margery, politely, and in her sweetest 
 tones. 
 
 The man's eyes opened. His jaw fell, and after an 
 instant of apparent petrifaction he picked up his lines in 
 solemn wrath and drove away. 
 
 Mahala dashed along the road with her handkerchief 
 stuffed into her mouth, and when the rusty team turned a 
 bend in the street, with its driver still casting now and 
 then a puzzled look to the rear, she tumbled off from her 
 saddle, and sitting down on a stone by the way, held her 
 hands to her sides and laughed till the tears ran down her 
 cheeks.
 
 ON THE ROAD. ~* 
 
 " Oh ! dear ! dear i " she gasped. " How my sides ache ! 
 Was n't it too funny for any use ? Ha ! ha ! ha-a-a ! And 
 when he ! he ! and when he discovered an affinity in 
 Aunt Dude, I thought I should die." 
 
 "Pshaw! you silly girl," said Miss St. John, flushing a 
 little while she laughed, " do not call upon your imagina- 
 tion in order to get a joke upon me." 
 
 " But, girls, I'll leave it to you, did n't he look too 
 utterly sweet as he spoke to her, and threw his chin out 
 sideways in such a captivating manner?" 
 
 Mrs. Mather and Margery wisely refrained from taking 
 sides on this important question, and the young mischief- 
 maker continued on her way, feeling that the plan for the 
 battery of blue glasses and the baffling " what," which had 
 been hatched in her fertile brain, had proved a brilliant 
 success. As they rode on, she repeatedly broke out into 
 one of her infectious chuckles, so that all were forced to 
 join again in the enjoyment of the ludicrous scene just 
 enacted. 
 
 At five o'clock, after a run of seven or eight miles, they 
 came into a beautiful shaded high street in the little city 
 of Middletown. " You remember, do you not, Mahala," 
 said Mrs. Mather, "that Dickens refers to this town and 
 this street with particular admiration in his 'American 
 Notes ? ' " 
 
 " Oh ! is this the street ? " said Mahala, casting a look 
 about them. " I knew he did praise one thing in America. 
 I am glad to see it with my own eyes." 
 
 " He told us many distasteful truths, though, did n't 
 he?" said Mrs. Mather, smiling, and they stopped at the 
 house of a friend of Mr. Prescott's.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 1 1 "\ 7OU must certainly visit the Connecticut Hospital for 
 JL Insane at Middletown," Mr. Prescott had said to 
 Margery, and had given her a letter of introduction to an 
 old friend of his, who held a position of trust at the insti- 
 tution. 
 
 Therefore, in pursuance of a part in the plan to which 
 all had looked forward with interest, they started about ten 
 in the morning to ride out to the hospital. It is beauti- 
 fully situated a mile or more out of town, upon an eminence 
 which commands an enchanting view of city and river. 
 
 They rode steadily out of the handsome streets, on to a 
 low road, by some factories, across a bridge, and soon came 
 to the hill. Here, as usual, they dismounted and pushed 
 their machines, but as they reached a neat little lodge at 
 the gate which opened into the extensive grounds, they 
 took to their saddles again and rode rapidly up the well- 
 kept drive, which ran in graceful curves to the main en- 
 trance of the building. 
 
 They remarked the slope of the green grass stretch mg 
 away to the boundaries of the grounds, and saw several 
 
 (74)
 
 SANE AND INSANE. ^ 
 
 rustic arbors with seats for many people underneath their 
 canopies. They noticed in the flower-plats, which were 
 cut in many graceful designs, that a few brilliant blossoms 
 remained untouched by the frost. 
 
 " I presume the more delicate plants have already been 
 housed," said Margery, "for papa tells me that they have 
 a perfect bower at the end of every ward where the patients 
 are at all capable of appreciating them, although they are 
 obliged to protect the plants from irresponsible hands by 
 wire screens." 
 
 Having given their machines into the charge of a polite 
 coachman, who met them as they drew up to the massive 
 stone steps, they rang the large bell at the door, and were 
 shown at once into a reception-room by a young lady. She 
 took Margery's letter of introduction, accompanied by her 
 card, to the office of the gentleman, who soon after entered 
 the room. 
 
 He was known to all his associates in the building as 
 "the major," and was seen to be a remarkably fine-looking 
 gentleman of sixty or thereabouts, with a well-filled figure, 
 which was clothed in garments of fashionable style and 
 finest quality. His gray hair, which was receding from his 
 already high forehead, grew thickly upon his temples, and 
 was continued in a full mustache and side-whiskers, which 
 he was prone to clasp and pull to their extreme points when 
 discussing or considering a question. His manners were 
 graceful, and held a flattering deference to all ladies. 
 
 "Is this Miss Prescott?" he said, as Margery arose and 
 came a step forward at his entrance. 
 
 "It is."
 
 ^5 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "I am very glad to know your father's daughter," said 
 the major, "and wish to extend him my thanks for sending 
 you with your friends to call upon us here." 
 
 Margery now introduced her friends, and they spent a 
 few minutes in pleasant conversation. 
 
 Miss St. John had made up her mind about the major in 
 five minutes of a close scrutiny of his face and general 
 deportment. 
 
 "A perfect gentleman of the old school," she said aside 
 to Mrs. Mather, who sat near her, and this was much from 
 her, as she had a critical eye for the short comings of the 
 male sex. 
 
 "Now, let me see," said the major, rising and consulting 
 his watch, "you will wish to go about the building, of 
 course." 
 
 "Yes; if you please." 
 
 "I will go out, if you will excuse me, and see if Mrs. 
 Duncan has returned from her morning rounds. She is 
 the matron, and is an indefatigable worker, and just at 
 present has several quite sick patients upon her hands. So 
 perhaps ah, here she is now!" he said, as they heard a 
 business-like voice in the hall. It was saying: "Yes, doc- 
 tor, it seems to me that Miss Merton is now in a fair way 
 to recover. But Johanna is still a very sick girl. Don't 
 you think so ? " and as they all waited, a low conference 
 ensued. "Did you want me, major?" she said at last, per- 
 ceiving him in the doorway, as they heard the invisible 
 doctor walk away. 
 
 "Yes, if you are at leisure," he said, turning to present 
 her to the visitors who sat within the reception-room. She
 
 SANE AND INSANE. ~~ 
 
 was a lady of energetic action and of very attractive coun- 
 tenance. She carried several keys at her belt and had a 
 small glass of some cordial in her hand. They all knew 
 that she had been in charge of the women's wards since 
 the hospital was instituted, and held a large responsibility, 
 which she discharged with unvarying promptness and good 
 judgment. 
 
 "We shall certainly be pleased to show you about the 
 place," she'said to them, "although it is not our regular 
 visiting day." 
 
 " Oh, then, I am afraid we are giving you too much 
 trouble," said Mrs. Mather. 
 
 " Not at all," was the reply. " I trust you will find 
 things in comfortable order, although some of the patients 
 who are scrupulous about their appearance may not have on 
 their best dresses," she -added, smiling. " Will you come 
 with us through the north side, major?" 
 
 " Certainly, if the young ladies wish, and you will per- 
 mit." As they started out he turned to the matron and 
 said : " Perhaps I may as well tell you now, Mrs. Duncan, 
 that Miss St. John, after presupposing that we have some 
 dark and noisome dungeons down in the earth where 
 howling maniacs lie in chains, on filthy straw, overrun with, 
 rats and smaller vermin " 
 
 "Oh, sir!" said that lady, with some spirit, "did my 
 small insinuation that you did not show all your wards to 
 visitors convey such an exaggerated idea to your mind ? 
 I merely asked if we would be allowed to see the worst 
 cases." 
 
 "That was what I was about to add, Miss St. John, and
 
 yg WHEELS ANg WHIMS. 
 
 was going to ask Mrs. Duncan to gratify your truly femi- 
 nine desire ; I will not term it curiosity," and he laughed 
 in amusement, at her expense. 
 
 "It is only for you to elect," said the matron, "where 
 you will go. Later, I will take you through one of the 
 worst wards, and if you are not then satisfied, you can 
 see more." 
 
 She was unlocking a door which opened into a sunny 
 corridor which, having a strip of bright carpet running 
 through it, was hung with pictures, and a large stand of 
 green plants was seen at the wide window at the further 
 end. The doors of the neat bedrooms opened into the 
 hall, and the inmates sat or walked about on every side. 
 
 Just as the door swung to behind them, a tall woman 
 with her front hair in curl-papers seized the major by the 
 arm. 
 
 " You never delivered that note I gave you ! I know 
 you never did ! " she cried, vehemently. " If you did, why 
 don't he come to see me ? You are trying your best to 
 prevent him from marrying me, but he promised to do it, 
 and will, if you do not break it up ! " and her expression 
 of angry impatience somewhat discomposed Mrs. Mather, 
 who clung close to the matron. 
 
 " She is harmless," said Mrs. Duncan. 
 
 " Oh, now, Mrs. Small ! don't scold me so. You know 
 I am willing to help you all I can," said the major, taking 
 her by the hand. She snatched it away. 
 
 " You are not ! What do you want to tell that for ? 
 What have you got against me, anyhow ? " 
 
 "Well," was his answer, "I really do not approve of
 
 SANE AND INSANE. ~~ 
 
 those thing-um-bobs in your hair. If you want to please 
 the doctor you must take them down, you know." 
 
 She struck fiercely at his hand, but a gleam of amuse- 
 ment showed in her eye, although she tried to look as cross 
 as she could. 
 
 " There now ! you look much prettier already," said the 
 major, in a bantering tone, "you will be much more likely 
 to win him if you smile." 
 
 " Oh, go away ! " was the sharp reply. 
 
 " She is not really sincere in that talk, is she ?" said Mrs. 
 Mather to the matron as they passed on. 
 
 " It is impossible to tell. She talks it every waking 
 moment," answered Mrs. Duncan. 
 
 They looked into the neat rooms with their clean white 
 beds, and saw old women lying quietly upon the couches, 
 and touched their wrinkled hands with their young fresh 
 palms, as the aged patients looked up with a degree of 
 interest and pleasure in their feeling eyes. One pale, 
 slender girl, whose thin hands and hopeless face stopped 
 Mahala's feet, begged to be allowed to kiss her. 
 
 " She is very gentle," said the matron, and Mahala lent 
 her round cheek to the wistful caress. 
 
 Some patients flung themselves around in impatient 
 scorn of the visitors as they came in view, but many fol- 
 lowed softly along with the party and gently touched their 
 garments or their hands. 
 
 They looked into a large room where were cases filled 
 with books, some lounges, work-tables, and a piano. 
 
 A girl with short hair and the Usual emaciation which 
 attends the " mind diseased " was playing an accompani-
 
 3o WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 ment which did not chord with an incoherent song she was- 
 singing, but which seemed to give great pleasure to the 
 performer. 
 
 They remarked that there seemed to be no association 
 among the inmates. Each patient was alone, with her own 
 delusion or fantastic imaginings. Those who sat near 
 seldom spoke to each other, and when one was in any way 
 refractory, the others merely stood around and laughed 
 wildly at the scene or paid no" attention to it. 
 
 "They do not associate or sympathize," said the lady 
 who was in charge. " It is this fact which makes it safe 
 and possible for two attendants alone to manage a whole 
 ward." 
 
 Up stairs and down stairs, unlocking doors, speaking 
 with attendants, and looking with pitying eyes upon scores 
 of demented human beings, they went, until almost 
 bewildered with a repetition of the same sad scene. 
 
 Once they met a beautiful lady with gray puffs at the 
 side of her face, who came with a graceful walk into the 
 hall. She was attired in a handsome calling costume. 
 
 "Good morning, Mrs. Duncan. Ah, major, I am glad 
 to see you within our precincts once more," she said, with 
 a perfectly possessed air and t*he general style of a well- 
 bred lady. She was introduced to the visitors as Mrs, 
 Clapham ; and greeting them in a queenly manner, invited 
 them to come to her room, and rest when they were tired. 
 
 " I have just been over to town, to the dentist. A most 
 unpleasant ordeal, I think we all find it, but nevertheless 
 an act of prudence. I shall be ready to receive at any 
 time ; until then, good-by," and she sailed away down the 
 hall.
 
 SANE AND INSANE, 8j 
 
 " She is doubtless some official, or the wife of some of 
 the doctors," Mrs. Mather had whispered to Margery. 
 
 "The lady we just met is " Miss St. John began, 
 inquiringly. 
 
 " Is a patient." 
 
 " Not insane ! " 
 
 " Yes, and sometimes very troublesome. But again, as 
 to-day, she has lucid intervals, when she can be allowed to 
 go to town, but with always some watchful eyes upon her," 
 and Mrs. Duncan smiled at the surprise of the unsophisti- 
 cated visitors. 
 
 "Would you like to visit a bad ward now?" she said, 
 turning, key in hand, before a door. " You will perhaps 
 not feel like speaking to any here, as they are sometimes 
 excitable. Shall we go in ?" 
 
 " Yes," said Miss St. John. 
 
 " Yes," echoed her niece, more faintly. 
 
 " Shall we ? " said Mrs. Mather to Margery, who did not 
 seem very anxious to do so. 
 
 " O, I do not know ; well, yes, if all wish it," said Mar- 
 gery, gathering up her courage with a long breath ; and 
 they went in. 
 
 The ward was perfectly neat and clean, with, however, 
 no superfluous ornamentation. " Nothing that will smash 
 or tear," the major said, quietly. "You will have ob- 
 served," he continued, "that we have no patients under 
 any fixed restraint. We profess to live up to the most in- 
 telligent and humane ideas in the care of the insane in this 
 institution, and you will see that the superintendent car- 
 ries the principle of non-restraint into the wards where are 
 w. & w. 6
 
 g 2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 the most violent sufferers. The restraining hands of 
 attendants are always ready to prevent injury to them- 
 selves or others, but we use no gyves or fetters." 
 
 " Yes," said the matron, " in this liberation of the 
 violent ones, we consider that the Connecticut stands ahead 
 of other State hospitals." 
 
 " Is Maggie out of her room to-day, Mrs. Duncan ? " 
 said the major. 
 
 " O, yes, she is here, and quite enjoying herself." 
 
 They looked, and there upon a bench sat a woman with 
 a shock of brick-red hair, a face covered with large freckles 
 and spotted with a hectic flush. Her light eyes glanced 
 continuously from one thing to another, seeing nothing, 
 and as she drew up and straightened out her bare legs they 
 saw that she wore a dress of heavy sailcloth which hung in 
 shreds around the bottom and came just below her knees. 
 From the short sleeves protruded thin and cordy arms, and 
 in her claw-like hand she held a piece of thick canvas. 
 This she was biting and tearing with her jagged yellow 
 teeth, and occasionally emitted a wild shriek. 
 
 " She is comparatively quiet to-day, so we brought her 
 out of her room," said the woman in attendance to the 
 matron. 
 
 Miss St. John thought, " What a subject for a painter ! " 
 
 Mahala had taken refuge behind the form of the major, 
 who assured her that the maniac was under the watchful 
 eye of her attendant, although not in any way restrained 
 by straps or straight-jacket. 
 
 " O ! Julie's fainting," said Mahala, suddenly. 
 
 " No, I am not," said the little lady, " but I am sick ;
 
 SANE AND INSANE. g, 
 
 shocked to the core. Let us get out of here ! O, that 
 there are such possibilities as that for any of us." She 
 shuddered and buried her face in her hands. 
 
 Margery clasped her friend's waist and they shortly 
 -emerged into the center, or officer's department, "which is 
 where ostensibly sane people reside," said the major, 
 smiling. 
 
 They sat resting for a few minutes in the pleasant parlor 
 set apart for Mrs. Duncan ; and the major, who had pre- 
 viously excused himself at the door, came back with a 
 young physician, whom he introduced, and asked to 
 accompany them to the south side. 
 
 " I am sorry," said this officer, " that our superintendent 
 is at present away and that so poor a representative as my- 
 self is left to do the honors of the institution. I trust, 
 however, that you will receive every attention. I am glad 
 to do all in my power to make your visit a pleasant one." 
 
 Mrs. Mather replied politely to the seeming cordiality of 
 the doctor, as they proceeded on their way ; but he was 
 evidently not able to devote much time to the entertain- 
 ment of the ladies, and when they met an assistant phys- 
 ician in the halls, he excused himself, delegating his office 
 to Doctor Manly, who made the other's place good and 
 accompanied them with respectful kindness through the 
 south side, or men's department. 
 
 They found that the acumen of strangers was sadly tried 
 in passing among this motley crowd. They shrank back 
 from a young man whose eyes, "in fine frenzy rolling," 
 evidently meant mischief, and were introduced to a gentle- 
 manly attendant. They engaged in a pleasant talk with
 
 g^ WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 an elegant gentleman who told them astonishing things 
 about the institution, and were laughingly requested by the 
 major not to waste any more time on that lunatic. They 
 had commented freely on the beauty of a certain young 
 lady on the north side, and were somewhat confused when 
 she smiled very sanely and informed them that she was in 
 charge of some patients, and did not need their pity. 
 
 A noticeable object among the men was Mr. Murphy. 
 He stood out in the hall, his spare form animated by the 
 music which was thrumming in the parlor, and his feet 
 trotting out every note. His small skull was covered by 
 a thin parchment-like skin drawn tightly over it. A sparse 
 growth of white hair covered his cranium, and his fleshless 
 face was adorned with one blind eye. His nose and chin 
 were becoming near neighbors over his shrunken lips, 
 which, parting, disclosed two teeth only upon the lower 
 jaw. His natural charms were enhanced by a red silk 
 handkerchief which he wore under a much-prized straw 
 hat, the corners of which hung down beside his amiable 
 countenance in the most jaunty manner. His politeness 
 upon introduction was extreme, and he thought he saw a 
 resemblance in Margery to her father, whom he considered 
 a handsome man. This gave rise to sad memories, and he 
 wept. " As for me," said he, in a broken voice, " I resem- 
 ble my poor mother." They were sorry the old lady was 
 dead, but were willing to forego a vision of like feminine 
 beauty. 
 
 That some of these unaccountable creatures like fun and 
 even perpetrate a pun upon occasions was seen. A power- 
 ful man, playfully called " Old Cobby," upon introduction,
 
 SANE AND INSANE. 85 
 
 opened conversation by saying to Mrs. Mather, " I am go- 
 ing to hammer you." The Major, appreciating his little 
 joke, squared off as if to defend her, and gave him a little 
 tap on the nose, whereupon he pretended to be dreadfully 
 frightened, said he did not mean it, and begged pardon. 
 
 The doctor, assisting the fun, pointed to a little eruption 
 on his cheek and asked, "Is that where he hit you, Cobby ? " 
 when he quickly rejoined, " O, no ! that's where I boiled 
 over a. little." Then becomhig suddenly dignified, he 
 made a courtly bow to Miss St. John, and said, "Could 
 you favor me with a chew of tobacco, madam ? " 
 
 At the hour of noon they were enabled, through the 
 kindness of the doctor, to see some of the patients at table. 
 The insane men behaved generally with great propriety at 
 dinner. One, who labored under the impression that he 
 was the King of Ireland, was very polite, assisting all 
 around him to whatever they 'wished, and carried himself 
 with princely condescension and kindness. This was en- 
 tirely unexpected, as he was usually anything but urbane 
 in manner. It had been his habit to thrust his head under 
 a faucet of running water many times a day, and visitors 
 felt inclined to shrink behind a corner as he came down 
 through the hall, his wild eyes rolling and his hair dripping 
 with water, as he fiercely asserted his claims to the throne. 
 A most venerable old man, whose resemblance to William 
 Cullen Bryant was remarkable, sat at the end of a table, 
 accepting the viands offered him with a quiet grace. 
 
 " Red Patsy " was an attractive individual, who had 
 gorged himself to repletion, and sat lazily contemplating 
 the world over his ponderous body. He certainly weighed
 
 gg WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 three hundred pounds. His Henry the Eighth head and 
 face bristled with short red hair, and his skin was of the 
 same brilliant hue. They were told by Dr. Manly that 
 Patsy was formerly a great fighter, sending terror to all 
 hearts when angry ; but he is now settled into imbecility, 
 knowing just enough to eat. 
 
 One man confided to Margery that he had eaten one 
 hundred and fourteen potatoes. He said he sometimes 
 composed poetry, and proceeded to repeat some . which 
 was certainly remarkable. 
 
 "But," said he, "it's an awful hard job to be deranged 
 the year around." 
 
 They visited the Annex, where insane convicts are con- 
 fined. They peeped into the laundry and sewing-rooms. 
 They wondered at the enormous kitchen and larder, and 
 confessed themselves tired and their minds full of inter- 
 esting remembrances. 
 
 After a lunch, which was hospitably tendered them by 
 Mrs. Duncan, they went to the South Hospital, where 
 incurable patients are kept. There they met Doctor 
 Dempster, who has this department in charge, and after a 
 short look about this new building, with all its modern 
 improvements, of which the doctor is justly proud, they 
 rested in the cosy sitting-room belonging to the physician 
 and his wife. They were surfeited with pitiful sights, and 
 glad of the change to agreeable and intelligent conversa- 
 tion. Their entertainer here was a very fluent talker, 
 and the flood of anecdotes, quotations, comparisons, and 
 original conclusions that fell from his lips served to par- 
 tially dissipate the sense of horror that hung over at least 
 two of the visitors.
 
 SANE AND INSANE. g^ 
 
 " What is it ? What makes them crazy," Mrs. Mather 
 had said to him. " It must be overtaxing the brain. And 
 yet they told us many of them were servants, cooks, ditch- 
 diggers. I cannot understand, it." 
 
 "Ah, madam," said the doctor, gallantly, "if we could 
 understand it, we might hope to prevent much of the 
 misery which the friends of the demented undergo." 
 
 " The friends ? " repeated the lady in some surprise. 
 " Do not the poor victims of such a malady suffer beyond 
 all endurance ?" 
 
 "Probably not," said the physician. "They rarely, I 
 might say never, shed tears, and are often happy in their 
 delusions. These are usually of an exalted character, and, 
 as far as we can judge, they are happier than most sane 
 people." 
 
 " Oh, Doctor ! " said the soft-hearted little chaperone, 
 "you surely would not tell me that the poor man was 
 happy who met us at one' door of a hall, and, as we entered, 
 tried so hard and yet in such a hopeless way to get out. 
 He had on a shawl, and his hat was in his hand, and he 
 said ' I want to go home. Why can't I go home ? ' with 
 such a wretched voice and look of misery " the lady's 
 eyes filled with tears. " They tell me he never leaves the 
 door, in the vain hope of returning again to his loved ones 
 at home." 
 
 "Yes, I know," said the doctor, respectfully; "that is 
 old Whitney. I allowed myself to be considerably troubled 
 over his ungratified longing for home until I learned that 
 when he had been let out for a short time that he pounded 
 his wife and children, and became the terror of the neigh- 
 borhood, so that they begged us to take him back here."
 
 38 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Oh, how incomprehensible ! " sighed Mrs. Mather. 
 
 " Very ! " said the doctor. "Crazy people are apt to be." 
 
 " But are they mostly made so by overwork, brain-work, 
 and a whirl of excitement, the madness of Wall-street 
 speculation, or strenuous efforts to win a high place in the 
 world ? " 
 
 " I am truly sorry, my dear Mrs. Mather, to be obliged 
 to answer you to the contrary, but I will take a catalogue 
 (this one is a year old, I see, but it will serve our purpose 
 as well as another), and read you some* facts. I am not a 
 Gradgrind, but facts are stubborn things." 
 
 " Girls, you must all hear this," said the lady ; " we are 
 going to find out from statistics what makes people insane." 
 
 " While not willing to say that I can answer so intri- 
 cate and baffling a question," said the doctor, with a 
 deprecating smile, " I merely intend to show that it is 
 frequently monotony that kills the intellect. That it is 
 not those who are pleasantly occupied with a pursuit 
 which is interesting and varied, even though it may be 
 somewhat exciting, who oftenest lose their reason." 
 
 " Pardon me, Doctor ! " interposed Miss St. John, in her 
 crisp way; "can you judge the whole subject by the pa- 
 tients who come to you here ? In the first place, Connec- 
 ticut has no hurrying, scurrying, tearing, and nerve-des- 
 troying metropolis. Our small cities are steady-going 
 places. Secondly, is it not a fact that you do not receive 
 the wealthier class of patients ? Are they not in private 
 asylums ? " 
 
 "Miss St. John," said the doctor, "your points are well 
 taken. I can only say that I think you will not find any 
 great difference between the occupations of the patients
 
 SANE AND INSANE. gg 
 
 in other State asylums and those of ours. As to the men 
 of brains, of professional callings, and busy lives, you are 
 perhaps right in supposing that their friends are apt to 
 place them in some smaller and more expensive hospital, 
 feeling a repulsion to sending them to a hospital in part 
 supported by the State. Still, as their cases prove obsti- 
 nate or of long duration, they are very generally sent here. 
 But even allowing for a large percentage of unknown 
 brain- workers who have gone ' daft,' the showing is a 
 surprisingly large majority of people who have mentally 
 stagnated. It is no doubt a surprise to most people to 
 see, upon a study of these tables, that it is not those who 
 lead lives of business, distracted by the turmoil and excite- 
 ment of the world, who lose Jtheir reason, but rather those 
 who rust out ; those who are crushed by the hopeless 
 monotony and ceaseless grind of uninteresting work. 
 Out of the two thousand three hundred and thirty-three 
 patients admitted from the beginning up to the time this 
 catalogue was made, six hundred and ninety-nine are 
 housewives and domestics." 
 
 " Of course, the majority of female patients are entered 
 under these two heads," spoke up Miss St. John. 
 
 " But, here are two hundred and sixty-two farmers ; of 
 day-laborers, two hundred and twenty-six ; of factory 
 employees, one hundred and twenty-six. Consider these 
 figures as against one broker, three engineers, two lawyers, 
 five physicians, and three telegraph operators. Saloon- 
 keepers, it seems, are kept bright and sane by an occa- 
 sional fight, or a visit from a customer's irate wife ; here 
 are only four. Landlords meet with a constant variety in 
 the different excuses as to delinquent rent, in the unex-
 
 QO WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 pected departure of a tenant whose money was due, in 
 inventing plausible reasons for not doing repairs, saying, 
 'Why, the house does not carry itself now, sir.' Only one 
 landlord has been wrecked in the storm of life. Seriously, 
 it is monotony, routine, that destroys the mental faculties. 
 See again, thirty-nine seamstresses have gone crazy, 
 stitching on 
 
 " ' Band and gusset and seam, 
 
 Seam and gusset and band, 
 Till the heart is sick and the brain benumbed, 
 As well as the weary hand.' 
 
 " Yet only two milliners. They can pin on a knot of 
 ribbon and a bunch of plumes and tell Miss McFlimsy 
 that ' it 's a little beauty, modeled after a Paris hat, and so 
 cheap at twenty-five dollars.' " 
 
 Mahala was a little doubtful if the doctor was not run- 
 ning on in this light manner to relieve their minds of any 
 unpleasant impressions which might remain from the 
 pitiable objects they had seen lying and sitting about in 
 the wards by scores. 
 
 Miss St. John considered it a very attractive way of 
 putting hard facts. They thanked the genial doctor who 
 had done so much for their entertainment and instruction, 
 and returned to the entrance of the main building, where 
 they had left their wheels. He insisted upon seeing them 
 off and walked over with the major to see them mount and 
 run their curious vehicles. 
 
 " I shall fear going crazy constantly," said Margery, 
 " after this day." 
 
 "I shall not," declared Mahala, T never was so sure of 
 my sanity in my life."
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 M AH ALA looked out of the window. 
 " Now this looks, as Joe would say, 'rather jubious/ 
 What is to be done? Here we are, miserable prisoners in 
 this town, which yesterday seemed so beautiful. All 
 because of the rain. Say! who has rubbers any one? 
 We have our umbrellas, if we had only thought of rubbers ! 
 
 "I have mine," said Miss St. John, with a superior air, 
 " and will lend them. For my part, I think a rainy day 
 not much loss. There is a lovely old highboy in the 
 kitchen and a quaint side-board in the dining-room of 
 which I shall make a sketch." 
 
 "Of course," merrily rang out Mrs. Mather's voice, 
 " there is always something an artist can take hold of for 
 diversion. Mike, where do you suppose I found your 
 industrious aunt this morning before breakfast ? At work 
 on some old barrels in the door-yard there, one tub half 
 full of water, and a quantity of other wet truck that she 
 said were delightful bits for light and reflections ; and 
 really they did look so, after she had caugh't the effect with 
 her pen and ink. I don't see how she does it ! and the 
 way she works while I sit idly gazing is a marvel to me. 
 
 (90
 
 g 2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 She has that sketch-book three-quarters full now, and here 
 we are only a week out." 
 
 Miss St. John smiled at this effusion, but was too intent 
 upon her work on an old tumbledown mill which could be 
 seen from the window, to give any expression to her 
 thoughts. 
 
 The raindrops fell from the eaves with steady plash and 
 patter upon the line of pebbles below. The wet wood was 
 delicious in its darkness, and as the moist herbage stood 
 erect and dripping with the rain, the vines surging to and 
 fro in the wind, loosened here and there in swinging ends 
 from their support, it was in some respects more satisfying 
 to sit and idly gaze than to make even an attempt to depict 
 the beauty one could not but feel. 
 
 " Come, Margie, you and I can venture out. Let Aunt 
 Dude and the devoted wife meditate and work at their 
 pleasure. We will have some fun, if it can be found in 
 this stupid " 
 
 " Now, Mahala, don't call this place any bad names ! It 
 is just charming here, and I think this is almost the best 
 day yet. This rain will soon cease and we may get a gray 
 day, by way of variety. These autumn colors do come 
 out so forcibly against a gray sky. I never half realize 
 the gorgeousness of this turning foliage till I see it in con- 
 trast with the grayness about and above. Do come and 
 see it, Mike." 
 
 "Yes, aunty sweet, I know it all. I am just getting on 
 my boots, though, and hunting out your rubbers from the 
 family trunk, so please forgive me if I only turn my mental 
 eyes to the appreciation of your divine scenery. My 
 material optics are turned to my bodily needs at present."
 
 THE RAINY DAY. g^ 
 
 Here she dragged the long-sought-for rubber shoes from 
 their tight pack near the bottom of the trunk. 
 
 " Say, girls ! what do you think about peanuts ? Let's 
 have some, and some molasses candy ! I wouldn 't talk so 
 much if I had something to chew on occasionally. Cara- 
 mels, for instance. Caramels ! Fifteen cents a quarter!" 
 sang out Mahala, as she skipped across the room, swinging 
 Margery around in a deux temps till they both lost balance 
 and came plump against Mrs. Mather, nearly upsetting her 
 in the mad whirl. 
 
 "Ah, Madame Julie, pardon! pardon, Je vous prie" cried 
 Mahala, and, in turn, she caught that little lady and per- 
 formed a similar escapade, 
 
 " Come, come, Mike," endeavored Margery, in persuasion. 
 " Let us be off, or the rain will be over, and we shall have 
 not half so much sport as to go with umbrellas and water- 
 proofs." 
 
 " I am all ready now," said Mahala, and the two sallied 
 forth. 
 
 "Dude, do you think I might try to make that tree? 
 Lend me one of your pencils. I have some paper." 
 
 " Surely, you may try, Julie," said the artist, who was 
 always ready and pleased to encourage any attempts in her 
 friends to catch a reflection of the face of nature. " That 
 is an admirable subject for a trial." 
 
 Mrs. Mather made a fe*w traces resembling a tree and 
 then her pencil glided off into something like this : 
 
 " MY DEAREST OLD FRED: If that door would only 
 open and you would walk your dear self through it, I 
 should be in the seventh heaven of ecstatic bliss ; i. e., I
 
 g^ WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 should be in your arms in a twinkling. Those girls are 
 just off for a frolic, and I shall get a chance to drop this 
 little note (if they remain long enough, it may be extended 
 to a letter) in the mail to-night. I thought of trying to 
 telephone you yesterday, I did so want to know if you had 
 returned from your hunting expedition all right and well. 
 But Miss St. John will be wanting to look at my tree, 
 which I began, so I will wait now till she has approved of 
 my sketch, and I haply find her in a more absorbed state in 
 regard to her own work." 
 
 The girls went down the street, through and around in- 
 numerable puddles, passing under the dripping trees, 
 which showered them from the tips of their wet leaves as 
 the wind soughed through their heavy branches, and 
 stepped gingerly across the little rivulets that ran across 
 the path. A procession of waddling ducks was coming up 
 from an adjacent pond, quack-quacking as they marched in 
 irregular single file. They squawked and spattered along 
 in loud consternation, making little dives and dips with 
 their broad bills as the strangers drove them before. 
 
 Proceeding further the two unabashed misses stopped a 
 milk-wagon, and each took a pint of fresh milk from the top 
 of the can, paying double price for the detention of the 
 cart. But whether the extra bit, or Mahala's enlivening 
 remarks upon the occasion, most pleased the astonished 
 driver of the steady establishment, it is not for us to say. 
 
 " Now, will you please direct us to the drug store ? " said 
 Margery, in a manner so sweet that the young man said 
 he would carry them there if they wished. It was quite a 
 walk in a stormy day.
 
 THE RAINY DAY. ~$ 
 
 "Oh, but that is too much trouble for you. We could 
 not think of taking your time for that," said Margery. 
 
 "Not at all! not at all, miss. I was just going down 
 that way myself." A curious fact, considering the direc- 
 tion of the horse's head. 
 
 Mahala nudged Margery. " Let's ! " said she, in under- 
 tone. 
 
 "Well, we certainly would be glad of the ride," said 
 Margery, " if you are surely going thatway. Thank you ! " 
 
 They were soon handed down at the drug store, much 
 to the excitement of those rainy-day loungers who seem to 
 be indigenous to country stores. The milkman was fully 
 rewarded for his part, by the interest and evident curiosity 
 which was displayed by the heads at the glass in the door. 
 They plainly could not explain the advent of such pretty 
 faces, in such weather, and with Silas Bound ! 
 
 Your real country lady has a fixed antipathy to going 
 out of doors in the rain. 
 
 The idlers within the store speedily dispersed, only one 
 or two of the more courageous remaining to see what the 
 young ladies came to buy, and to ascertain, if possible, 
 where they came from. One of these took refuge behind 
 the well-thumbed morning paper, and another picked his 
 teeth meditatively with a pine sliver as he stared at the 
 rows of jars upon the top shelf. 
 
 MAHALA " Do you keep peanuts, sir ? " 
 
 DRUGGIST " No, miss. You will find them next door, 
 
 MAHALA " Any caramels ? " 
 
 DRUGGIST " Those you will also find at the store 
 above here."
 
 06 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 MAHALA " Peppermints ? " 
 
 DRUGGIST (promptlyX "Oh, yes, we have all the medic- 
 inal confectionery. One-quarter of a pound, did you say ? " 
 
 MAHALA (laying down the change) "Any lime drops ? " 
 
 DRUGGIST (with increasing alacrity) "Very fine fresh 
 ones, miss. One-quarter of a pound ? Thank you ! " 
 
 "Hello-o! " came in stentorian tones from the back part 
 of the store. 
 
 The girls jumped as if struck. 
 
 "Do not be startled, ladies," said the polite apothecary, 
 "it's only the telephone and the new clerk." 
 
 " Who is it ? " A pause. 
 
 "Well, who is it?" 
 
 " Stop buzzing so, or I can't hear a blamed word." 
 
 "Stop your own noise and listen, boy," quietly com- 
 manded the patient pharmacist. " Listen ! " 
 
 "Yes, who? Collinses? Yes! How much baggage ?" 
 
 "Oh ! Four packages. All right. Two colic plasters. 
 Colored lasting ? " "Well, I thought not" Mahala snick- 
 ered. Margery passed her handkerchief over her mouth. 
 
 " All right ! What ? Two dudes ? " 
 
 Mahala laughed outright. 
 
 Poor clerk, with a very red face, "Wait a minute. I'll 
 get a piece of paper and take it down." 
 
 " Hello ! Go on ! " 
 
 "Who are you talking with ? It's me, Mr. Opdyke." 
 He straightened himself up as he threw a glance over at 
 the young ladies and stroked his smooth jaw. Another 
 anxious time of listening at the tube. 
 
 "He wants you, Mr. Smythe," and that gentleman re-
 
 THE RAINY DAY. g 
 
 lieved him at the telephone, while Opdyke, a little crest- 
 fallen, presented himself behind the counter to receive 
 further orders from the customers. They had, however, 
 completed their purchases, and with suppressed mirth were 
 making their way out as fast as possible. 
 
 " Where now," said Margery, as they stood upon the 
 sidewalk. "Suppose we go to the dry goods store. I 
 want to get something pretty, to fix over Mrs. Furness's 
 bonnet. It is altogether too shabby for the poor thing. It 
 will delight her to somewhat approximate present fashions. 
 She is so overcome with our style, as she calls it." 
 
 "Very well. Perhaps we will see a little more of of 
 the natives, you know. Find some specimens for instance. 
 There go four ladies, or waterproofs, anyway." 
 
 " Let's follow." 
 
 They fell in the rear of the four ladies, who entered the 
 only dry goods store in the place. They saw a small, wiry, 
 thin-nosed person in advance of the others, and were just 
 in time to hear her say to the girl behind the counter : 
 " Have you any v-very v-very nice purple gros-grained 
 ribbon ? " 
 
 The girl looked inquiringly. 
 
 "Something uv-very, uv-very fine, you know. Purple 
 gros-grain. About so wide." She measured the width 
 upon the forefinger of her much-worn but carefully-mended 
 glove, with the black kid forefinger of the other hand. 
 " Best quality. About so-o wide." 
 
 The box of ribbons was handed down. 
 
 " Is that the width you wished," said the clerk, as she 
 took up a roll, glancing at the same time at three others, 
 who awaited in suspense the words of the speaker. 
 w. & w. 7
 
 g3 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "Do you think so, Mrs. Plum?" 
 
 "Ye-es, the width is right, I believe, but is it nice, Mrs. 
 Joy, you know ! " 
 
 Mrs. Joy took it in her hand, and after fingering it care- 
 fully, held it to the light. 
 
 "Well," she said, with the deliberation befitting so 
 important a question, " I think a great deal of color. Yes, 
 this is good color. Royal purple. Will wear well, I judge. 
 You know we want it to wear well. What do you think, 
 Mrs. Bliss?" 
 
 fc O, it is all right if you think so, Mrs. Joy. You are 
 such a good judge." 
 
 " Perhaps/' assented the other, modestly ; "but you have 
 had actual experience," Then sympathetically, " I know 
 that Mr. Bliss handled the others twelve years." 
 
 " Yes, true," sighed Mrs. Bliss, and looked around with 
 a sense of her large responsibility in the matter. 
 
 "What did you say was the price? "asked the first 
 speaker, with a little sharpness, 
 
 " One dollar and a half a yard." 
 
 "A dollar and a half?" the thin little lady repeated. 
 She looked inquiringly at the faces of the other three, who 
 had gathered near. 
 
 " Did I understand you to say a dollar and a half a 
 yard ? " 
 
 " Yes, ma'am." 
 
 " It is too much ! " 
 
 "Not for this ribbon," answered the girl; "it is the* 
 best." 
 
 "Yes, certainly it must be the best," came in chorus.
 
 THE RAINY DAY. gg 
 
 Then the first speaker leaned confidingly over the 
 counter towards the girl. " Well, you see," she said in an 
 impressive voice, "it is for religious purposes. Do you 
 think, if we could see Mr. King, that he would throw a 
 little off for us ? " 
 
 Every one of the committee bent eagerly forward to 
 catch each word of the reply, and as the girl went towards 
 the desk to speak to the proprietor, each lady advanced 
 two steps in that direction. 
 
 They all earnestly scanned the features of the store- 
 keeper as he came forward to deal with them. 
 
 " Mr. King," said one, in undertones which were dis- 
 tinctly heard by the interested bystanders, "you see we 
 want to buy new book-marks for our church pulpit. We 
 all feel a deep interest in getting a good thing. And 
 generally, you know for religious purposes money being 
 raised in small levyings upon each member it is advisable 
 to make a good bargain." Here the lady srm'led and 
 looked fascinating. Each other lady simultaneously 
 smiled and murmured, "As good a bargain as we can." 
 
 " You feel the importance of this, Mr. King. You 
 yourself are a church member. Baptist, I believe." 
 
 Mr. King assented with a nod. 
 
 " Could you not do better with us than " 
 
 "A dollar and a half?" put in the first speaker, aching 
 with impatience through the long sentences of the other, 
 and feeling she must speak now. 
 
 Mr. King debated a moment as he bit the end of his 
 pencil. "Profit's little enough, any way," he murmured, 
 "but to accommodate customers "
 
 1OO WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "Yes," quickly exclaimed one of the ladies, thinking 
 this was a point not to be lost, "church custom is consid- 
 erable, of course," and the three cast glances of approval 
 and admiration upon the able diplomatist for her perspi- 
 cacity. 
 
 The store-keeper drew a piece of wrapping-paper towards 
 him and made a few figures upon it. 
 
 " I suppose I might call it dollar thirty-seven and a 
 half, if you wanted any quantity." He looked at the end 
 of the roll. " I don't think I have more than five yards, 
 of that width. You can have what is here at that price," 
 and he sighed slightly. 
 
 The four women gathered in close conference. 
 
 " You know we shall divide the old ones up for our silk 
 bed-quilts. Each one can have a strip, if she likes," said 
 the one called Mrs. Bliss. 
 
 Mahala had drawn near, apparently looking at the things 
 in the show-case, while Margery made her purchase from 
 the clerk. 
 
 The first speaker then said audibly, " Those marks that 
 we are now reluctantly discarding, have been placed by 
 holy hands since 1810. Four divines lived and died un- 
 der them. Does Mr. King know this ? It may be so with 
 these, if we buy them of him." She cast her eyes to the 
 ceiling with a religious glow upon her face. " So comfort- 
 ing ! Isn't it ? " 
 
 But Mrs. Joy now had Mr. King's ear. "We do not 
 want so much as five yards," she said, "but if we can have 
 the quantity we want at that price, we will take it, Mr. 
 King."
 
 THE RAINY DAY. 
 
 101 
 
 Now all four ladies edged the counter. 
 
 " Two yards is a great deal for three marks." 
 
 " It needs three, doesn't it, Mrs. Bliss ? " 
 
 " Three are desirable. One for the hymns you know." 
 
 " Yes, one for the hymns," in chorus. 
 
 " Well then, that will make" 
 
 " Could you measure off five-eighths, Mr. King ? Well, 
 thank you ; giving you a great deal of trouble, we fear. 
 Now, three times five-eighths " 
 
 They all looked inquiringly at the merchant. 
 
 "One yard and seven-eighths," he answered, after pen- 
 ciling on the edge of some paper. 
 
 "Well, now, that is just it! " said the wiry little woman, 
 who seemed to stand eminent as a financier. " Call it one 
 yard and three-quarters, and you'll have us ! Isn't that so, 
 ladies ? " said she, turning to the others, with a keen light 
 in her eye. 
 
 All assented, with an anxious glance at Mr. King, who 
 was by this time pretty well worried into acquiescence with 
 anything. 
 
 " Mamma rna ! Just look here a moment." Mrs. Joy 
 went over to where stood her daughter, who had gone into 
 the store a short time after the ladies. 
 
 "Ain't this handkerchief lovely ? and so cheap ! It's 
 only two dollars ! It is just the shade I have hunted and 
 hunted for. Couldn't find it in Hartford last week." 
 
 " This lot came in only yesterday," said the clerk. 
 
 " Can't I have it, mamma ? It would look so sweet 
 w.ith my blue velvet. Just that shade, Rob says, is all the 
 rage. Something between a peanut-skin red and an 
 orange. Neither one nor the other ! "
 
 IQ2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Buy it if you wish, my dear. I am just now very busy. 
 Get it charged," said Mrs. Joy, as she turned back to the 
 ribbon counter. 
 
 "Well, Mr. King," she resumed, "if all are agreed, you 
 may please cut off a yard and seven-eighths. Here is just 
 the money for it," counting it out. " One penny short, by 
 mistake. Mrs. Bliss, have you another cent ?" 
 
 " Let it go," said the man, with anything but .a religious 
 expression of countenance. Then the women, all chatting 
 together, left the store. 
 
 Margery had found something very pretty for an old 
 lady's hat. The rain was now over, and they made their 
 way home as fast as possible, hoping for another start ort 
 wheels by afternoon.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE artist was seated in view of a barn interior. Mrs. 
 Mather and Mahala were searching for amusement. 
 
 " Behold her ! " exclaimed Mahala. with a theatrical pose, 
 as they came upon Miss St. John, who, after spending an 
 hour in looking for a study, finally put her camp-stool down 
 under an old apple-tree and was taking " an interior " of 
 the most rustic order. 
 
 " True genius is a fellow who has an idea, and works with 
 all his might to carry it out. I say, Aunt Dude, how long 
 is that remarkable creature to consume? I am pleased to 
 announce that the man has brought around our tricycles in 
 splendid order, although I, as the .most cautious member 
 of this party, was very much afraid to trust them to him. 
 We ought to make a good run in the next two hours. I 
 feel 'like a bird let loose,' " she sang, in a sweet voice. 
 
 "Will you please not sing around her, Mike? See, she 
 is a fine old model, that bossy. Just look at her beautiful 
 eyes ! they are so steadily fixed on me. If you will only 
 move quietly on now, you may tease as much as you like 
 when I am through this." 
 
 (105)
 
 I0 6 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "O, yes, in the 'sweet bye and bye.' Well, let us take 
 ourselves into the 'beautiful beyond,' Julie. But mind, 
 aunty, if you don't hurry up I will be here again soon and 
 assist, or my name is not Mike Mahala Wright. Come 
 Julie," whispered she, as she tried to please her aunt and 
 go quietly away, "there's that rustic drawing water with 
 the old oaken bucket; let 's interview him! Don't he look 
 dudey this morning ; actually got a neck-tie on. He has 
 evidently been regarding himself in the mirror. Do come 
 and award him a smile of appreciation. I am frightfully 
 thirsty ; let 's quaff from the old bucket. ' Touch thy light 
 finger to its metal rim, burnished gold it becomes to him. 
 On its rough brim rest thy ruby lip ; 'twill remain there 
 forever, when he goes for a dip.' That last line is rather 
 superfluous, considering the meter, but absolutely essential 
 to the rhyme, you see ! Now, isn't he a real specimen ? 
 Genus homo, species rustico. What a pity he is a little too 
 large for my cyanide bottle." And Mahala ran on in this 
 nonsensical strain, as if she never had a serious thought. 
 
 She had been dreamily walking under some apple-trees 
 a day or two before, when her eyes suddenly caught a 
 glimpse of something clinging to one of the tender twigs 
 which was not a leaf, although its body-color was almost 
 imperceptible against the green tree. It was a large worm, 
 with a brilliant head. The red knobs which protruded 
 from its back had arrested her quick eye, and seizing a 
 pole which was in the yard she eagerly bent down the 
 limb and soon had in her hand the little branch which held 
 her prize. She ran to her friends, holding out her latest 
 acquisition, and cried in delight, "0, girls, see what a
 
 WHYS AND OTHER WHYS. 
 
 107 
 
 lovely thing I have found ! Joe will be so pleased. He 
 has not found one this year." 
 
 " What is it ? " said Margery, going to meet her. " Oh ! " 
 and she recoiled with a little cry of disgust. "A horrible 
 worm ! What can you want of that ? Throw it away t 
 Please don't put it near me, Mike ; I shall die if you do." 
 
 Mahala looked at her with a pretense of scorn. 
 
 " No, I don't think I will trust it near you. Likely as 
 not you would burn it up, or some such thing ! The poor 
 thing can't live much longer, anyway, and he shall have a 
 nice nest and plenty to eat ;" the girl stroked his hideous 
 form with her taper forefinger. 
 
 "Why, my dear," said Mrs. Mather, coming up, "what 
 will you do with this crawling monster ? If you gently 
 suffocate him as you do your beetles, you have no way to 
 preserve such a fluid body. It will soon decay." 
 
 "Well!" said the naturalist's sister, addressing an im- 
 aginary audience in the vicinity of the well-curb ; " I must 
 say that the shameless ignorance of some people who pre- 
 tend to a fair amount of intelligence is positively astonish- 
 ing. Do you suppose I would poison this gorgeous 
 creature ? Not for the world ! Look at those lovely scarlet 
 knobs with the little black prickers which crown him right 
 royally ! See those little spots of blue enamel, which bead 
 his neck so beautifully against his light-green skint 
 Where can you find another such exquisite combination of 
 seemingly conflicting colors ? Aunty will appreciate that. 
 But you certainly must respect the spike on the end of 
 his tail. 
 
 "Yes, we do!" shuddered Margery.
 
 lo g WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "But you need not fear; he is tired with living. It is 
 getting chilly, and after he has eaten a little more he will 
 go into his winter's sleep. Poor fellow ! How short and 
 apparently useless has your little day been, and how soon 
 <lo you give it all up." 
 
 "What a strange combination that girl is," said Mar- 
 gery, as Mahala walked away, tenderly shielding and talk- 
 ing to the sluggish creature that clung with his great feet 
 to the branch. " Her alternations from boisterous mirth 
 to the tenderest solicitude for any beast, and sentimental 
 soliloquies over objects that merely fill me with creeping 
 chills, are a constant surprise to me." 
 
 " Mahala is indeed a very interesting character, and not 
 the least of her charms to me is her innate all-pervading 
 love of nature," responded Mrs. Mather. "She has a 
 spontaneous interest in and love for everything that God 
 has made. A crawling worm, that we shrink away from, 
 she finds a fascinating study. A lonely child or a sick 
 mother will elicit a flow of sympathy from her that no 
 society queen can command." 
 
 "Yes, it is so, Julie." 
 
 On the morning of which we write, the artist at her 
 work and the two others, who were making preparations 
 to depart, were startled by Mahala, who came running to 
 them with a cracked fruit-jar in her hand. "O, girls, my 
 beautiful worm is dying i It 's very accommodating in him, 
 certainly, to assume this portable form, so I can send 
 him home in a box. You know I have kept him supplied 
 with leaves, but yesterday he stopped eating and in the 
 night he commenced to spin his cocoon. See ! He is
 
 WHYS AND OTHER WHYS. IO ^ 
 
 weaving his own shroud of finest silk. If I only could 
 have seen him at work ! But he has taken his last look at 
 earth and now is almost hidden from sight. You can 
 just see the red spots on his head down in this enveloping 
 case How he seems to have shrunk and dwindled away. 
 O, the wonder of it ! To make these preparations to pre- 
 serve his chrysalis for another life in the spring time. His 
 little day is ended. What was that existence for ? Why 
 should it have to be given up and a long oblivion ensue 
 before coming out into the beautiful winged floating exist- 
 ence in the future ? I wonder if it is painful, this change ; 
 or is he so weary and chilled that he is glad to wrap this 
 mantle around him and lay him down to rest ? " 
 
 "Mahala, child," said her practical aunt, "do not trouble 
 your young head with these vain conjectures. It is after 
 all but a poor worm undergoing a change which is inevita- 
 ble in the order of things. It is a natural transition from 
 the worm to the chrysalis, to the moth, and again the egg, 
 which hatches the worm. And so we go, round and round, 
 life after life ; and so we wax and wane. Leave weaken- 
 ing reflections, and do what we can as we go, I say." 
 
 " But, Dude," gently said Mrs. Mather, "this, being an 
 emblem of human life, and death, and immortality, it must 
 and does appeal most powerfully to a thoughtful mind." 
 
 " True, Julie ! I merely make a general obj ection ta 
 the constant turning over and over in the mind of these 
 questions, which will never be answered in this world. 
 As we do not know, and cannot possibly find out what this 
 existence is all for, let us do what we can. Accomplish 
 something in this life, an.d then accept its termination as-
 
 j I0 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 trustingly as we did its beginning. We shall be equally 
 helpless and ignorant of the future." 
 
 Meantime Miss St. John had finished her sketch, and 
 gotten together the paraphernalia necessary to her work. 
 She now went to assist Margery, who, with her little 
 housewifely ways, was always picking up and settling 
 things so as to make the progress of their journey easy 
 and comfortable. Impatient calls were heard from Mahala, 
 and soon the friends were assembled at the gate, ready for 
 departure. With many kind wishes from all at the farm 
 house ; and promises from the travelers to return some 
 future day, they took their leave. Even the old watch-dog 
 gave a friendly wag of the tail and turned sad eyes after 
 them as the party rolled off and were soon lost to sight. 
 The day was fresh and bright, and the wheeling good. 
 The glow of cheeks and the flow of spirits showed this 
 to have been a most exhilarating jaunt. Nothing had 
 occurred to mar their vivid enjoyment of the road, the 
 scenery, the people. They were now prepared with pocket- 
 luncheon for a good eight hours' pleasure, with hopes to 
 rest at nightfall at Haddam. 
 
 "Friends," said Miss St. John, "you must let me halt 
 at my first call. When I get a glimpse of a lane an 
 overgrown, weed-covered, untraveled, long, winding lane, 
 vines running over the side-fences, tumbled-down stones, 
 little standing pools of water made by cattle hoofs, low 
 bushes, and all that a lane such as one where my child 
 ish feet used to wander, while I, picking berries or flowers 
 by the wayside, felt that I could go on and on forever (for 
 I never reached the end), when I come on just such a per-
 
 WHYS AND OTHER WHYS. 
 
 Ill 
 
 spective, leading out from the roadside, I shall call a halt 
 and you may take a rest. 
 
 Here Mahala cried " Oyez Oyez Oyez ! " and waving 
 her hand not ungracefully, as if addressing an audience. 
 " When, lying before me in dim uncertainty amid the 
 green grass, I behold a hopper of unusual size, I halt 
 to further examine the creature, if I cry out 'A specimen, . 
 a specimen ! ' then let this body of riders gather itself in a 
 circle around the animal while I make a capture. If aunty 
 is allowed at every view to check the onward moving of 
 this procession, and for so simple a thing as an 'impression,' 
 I too shall crave your leniency. A 'specimen' is what I 
 am in search of, and having thus far found little worth 
 .sending to my expectant brother, who, we all know, is to 
 "be the future naturalist of Connecticut, this day I shall 
 devote myself to an earnest and continued search till I 
 meet with success." 
 
 "We make no objections to your artistic or naturalistic 
 -departures, I am sure," quietly said Margery. "At the 
 Junction the other day I came across that new story we - 
 were talking of. As the book-boy stepped off the train I 
 caught sight of him, and as he had just the one I called 
 for, the book was mine in a trice. Here in my belt-satchel 
 it was lain, awaiting just such an hour. We can enjoy it 
 by ourselves, Julie, under some quiet shade, while you, our 
 artist, impress your lane, and Mike makes a capture." 
 
 " But won't you assist ? " asked Mahala. 
 
 "No, no." 
 
 " How can I catch a vile creature without some help ? I 
 should "
 
 j j 2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "Now don't say 'smile.' 'Tis too stale for anything,"" 
 put in Julie. 
 
 "Scream, probably, then," continued Mahala. " Suppose 
 it should not be a grasshopper at all ? Suppose it a green 
 snake or a great lizard." 
 
 " Lizards are small." 
 
 " Or a horn-beetle." 
 
 " Or a butterfly," suggested Margery, 
 
 "Or a bear" growled Mahala, making great eyes at 
 them. 
 
 Onward they rode. 
 
 The sun shone on the darkly-green grass. Golden-rod 
 and purple asters blossomed on every side. Merry little 
 chirpers sprang up from the roadside and hid themselves 
 again a second afterwards. Crickets chirruped in the 
 warm hedge-rows, and occasionally a songless bird flittered 
 through the clear air above. After a time the tricy- 
 clers came into some cool woods. Overhanging trees 
 shaded either side. 
 
 " Really," said Mahala, taking off her hat and throwing 
 back the curls from her moist forehead, "this shade is 
 delicious ! The sun is almost as fierce as in June. To-day 
 seems like a return of summer. Hark ! Was not that the 
 notes of a wood-thrush ? " 
 
 " No, Mahala ; it is too late in the season," said her aunt, 
 as she measured the proportion of a graceful tree with her 
 eye. 
 
 "Well, it was a wood-thrush, just the same; I am sure 
 I am not mistaken there!"
 
 WHYS AND OTHER WHYS. 
 
 It came again ; the clear flute-notes echoing through the 
 distant trees : 
 
 " How sweet in the dear little thing to greet us so ! " 
 said Margery, as they stopped their wheels and listened. 
 But he sang no more. 
 
 "I'll write Joe about that," said Mahala, delighted, as 
 she reluctantly started her pedals. " How the lusty fellow 
 did pipe it up ! He is not going to hump up and look for- 
 lorn, although winter is coming. He is glad to have one 
 more such perfect day, and when the cold pinches his toes, 
 I'll wager he will not complain, but make the best of it. 
 He is a kind of Mark Tapley among birds, and I like him ! " 
 
 Refreshed by the change from the almost oppressive 
 sunshine to the umbrageous coolness of the woody air, on 
 and on they went. Each moment in their swift transit 
 new beauties sprang into life at their gaze. As they 
 neared again the open country, devotional stillness seemed 
 to have fallen on our party, as if the "splendor of the 
 grass, the glory of the flower" were all too glorious, too 
 beautiful for expression. Each soul was glad with an inno- 
 cent delight joy so filled their hearts, and beauty so glad- 
 dened their sight. Now they came out to a view of the 
 picturesque .village. Midday light shone on the homes as 
 they lay snugged in below the hills ; the farms, the wind- 
 ing roads, the glistening stream, busy life, lay all before 
 them. Church and school-house stood in relief in the 
 landscape. 
 
 w. & w. 8
 
 U^ WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Please tell me," said Mrs. Mather, as she rode beside 
 Miss St. John, "why is it there is always a certain 
 unquestionable beauty in a spire ? Is it really beauty of 
 form that always excites pleasurable emotions? Is it 
 really that two lines simply meeting do enclose a form 
 of beauty. Almost any other angularity seems objection- 
 able." 
 
 The artist, after a little thought, said, "I believe it is 
 not in the lines; not in the thing itself." 
 
 " Be that as it may, is not everything earthly, however 
 beautiful in itself, enhanced or spiritualized as it approaches 
 a heavenly nature ? " 
 
 "You think, then," said the artist, "that the view of a 
 spire, tapering as it does insensibly to the heaven above 
 us, awakens in us all the secret associations of that 
 heaven, even though we ourselves may be unconscious of 
 the mental process." 
 
 "Aha ! " derisively shouted Mahala, checking her wheels 
 and falling back into line with the others, "so much for 
 impressionism. I can do better than that : 
 'If eyes were made for seeing, 
 Then beauty is its own excuse for being.' " 
 
 " Original, of course ! Suppose nobody knows Emerson 
 but Miss Wright," quickly retorted Mrs. Mather. 
 
 "Well, we must put a stop to sentimentality," im- 
 periously declared Mahala, as she rode forward again. 
 *' Now tell me, Aunt Dude," she continued, as she stopped 
 in the road and waited for the more steady riders to 
 approach, "why, of all things in earthly (or heavenly, if 
 you will) creation, does a spider affect you with such
 
 WHYS AND OTHER WHYS. U^' 
 
 shivers of horror, that you feel each individual hair creep 
 and stand upright inside your new poke? Why are you 
 thrown in a malarial condition at the sight of this harm- 
 less creature ? Why do your hands grow cold ? Why 
 -does sweat appear in beads upon your artistic brow and 
 <:ome dripping down your pale cheeks ? O, say." 
 
 " You little goose ! if you don't let us have a little com- 
 mon sense once in a while," exclaimed her aunt, laughing, 
 you will demoralize the whole quartette before we get 
 home. You just march ahead and keep Margery com- 
 pany." 
 
 "Very well, if you and Julie cannot answer civil ques- 
 tions I will return to my more congenial companion." But 
 she continued in distinct tones, turning her face half way 
 around so that they might hear, "Margery, why do alliga- 
 tors usually inspire me with an awful feeling of respect ; 
 and why in their tracks do even wise men fear to tread ? " 
 
 " Because because," began Margery, laughing and hes- 
 itating, "of the inequality of the line of their backs, I 
 guess ; or a certain regularity in the shape of their teeth, 
 perhaps." 
 
 "And why does a snake, even though his line is a 
 curved one, and frequently even spiral (especially when 
 coiled for a spring), not inspire one with that sense of 
 beauty which would ordinarily move one in other beautiful 
 curves ? And why, unconscious though one may be of 
 the mental process, is one affected to a rapid withdrawal 
 from the scene ? " . 
 
 A general laugh ensued. Whistles were blown as signal 
 for rest and lunch.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 IT was one of October's perfect days. The sun shone 
 brilliantly across the landscape, now resplendent with 
 the gorgeous hues that only a New England climate pro- 
 duces on the dying leaves. Masses of color in a thousand 
 hues, from the deep maroon of the oaks, through the 
 countless shades of crimson to fiery scarlet and orange in 
 the maples, to' the pale yellow of the walnuts, dazzled the 
 senses with a flood of delicious tints. Ferns in the open 
 field showed a combination of browns in every shade, from 
 chocolate to a woody yellow, and even to a pale white in 
 the bleached fronds, which stood like pure spirits of de- 
 parted friends among the dying ones. The deep green of 
 firs and the bright emerald of the grassy fields gave a per- 
 fect background ; and on the more distant hills there lay a 
 purple haze softening the whole view into a dreamy 
 beauty.' The air was so soft and thin that distant sounds 
 came to the ear, faint, yet clear ; the lowing of kine in 
 far-away places, the tolling of bells, or the call of a child, 
 came floating over the land, musical and almost unearthly 
 in effect. 
 
 Oi6)
 
 CONFESSIONS AND CONFUSIONS. jj^ 
 
 "It is near here," said Miss St. John, whose artistic soul 
 was full of joy in the beautiful day, "that I made that lit- 
 tle study last year. Now if you girls can amuse your- 
 selves for an hour, I can get just the effect in this autum- 
 nal haze that I want. Yes, here are the bars where we 
 went in before." 
 
 "Very well, Dude," said Mrs. Mather, "we certainly 
 can find enough to enjoy anywhere to-day. You go ahead 
 with your traps and begin work, and we will take care of 
 your tricycle." 
 
 The artist disappeared, all intent on her beloved work, 
 and as soon as the trio had pulled their wheels inside the 
 wall and walked over the knoll, they found her already 
 hard at it. An umbrella, fixed on a stick, which was 
 thrust firmly into the ground, her folding easel in position, 
 her green bag of paints and brushes lying on the ground 
 by her side, she sat on her camp-stool, working rapidly. 
 
 " There, now she is using her diminishing glass, and see 
 what a wrapt and ecstatic expression she wears, as she re- 
 places it in her little watch-pocket," said Mahala, as they 
 approached the absorbed artist. "Now see her draw down 
 the outside corners of her eyes' and squint at the innocent 
 river. I always know something is going to be done when 
 she does that." , 
 
 "Well, dear, we won't disturb her," said Margery, with 
 a smile. "Suppose we sit down on this old tree-trunk." 
 
 "You can, if you wish. I am going to explore this 
 region a little. Good-by." 
 
 " Don't fall into the water, Mike, and don't go too far 
 away; remember, there maybe tramps about," cautioned
 
 ng WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 her chaperone and loving friend, as she sprang away over 
 stumps and knarled roots down towards the water, which 
 ran in a limpid stream around the knoll. 
 
 " No fear ! " answered the volatile miss, as she ran across 
 a teetering log on to the sward beyond. 
 
 Margery was very quiet as they sat together on the 
 log, breaking up the bits of sticks and throwing them list- 
 lessly into the water, and Julie, who it will be remembered 
 had been prompt in swearing to keep all of Mahala's rules
 
 CONFESSIONS AND CONFUSIONS. j jg 
 
 before starting, was taking a few notes, as she said to 
 Margery. She wrote : 
 
 "My DARLING OLD BOY: I am having a charming 
 trip, of course. If you were only along ! But then it 
 would not be a feminine excursion, and I quite enjoy it 
 daytimes, and have many funny little things to tell you ; 
 but when it comes night how wretchedly homesick I am ! 
 Then I vow I will never, never, NEVER, NEVER leave you 
 so long again." 
 
 Here Margery, who had been lost in reverie, with her 
 eyes fixed upon the rippling water, turned suddenly towards 
 her friend, who smiled guiltily and blushed a little as she 
 thrust her pencil and the scrap of paper into her pocket. 
 
 "Julie!" said she, reproachfully, "you are writing to 
 your husband ! and you promised not to." 
 
 " Sh-h, sh-h ! " said the faithless one, " do not let them 
 hear us ! Margie, I will say to you in confidence, that no 
 loving wife ever promises anything without a mental reser- 
 vation in favor of her good man. When any one says 
 ' You must not tell a soul ! ' I say ' Oh, no ; certainly not 
 (except Fred);' and when another assures me that she 
 would not for the world have any one but me know, I say, 
 ' My dear, it shall be a sacred trust to me (and Fred) alone.' " 
 
 " Oh, Julie ! " exclaimed Margery, somewhat shocked at 
 this confession of duplicity in her friend, "then it is not 
 safe to tell a married woman anything you do not wish her 
 husband to know ! " 
 
 " Not as a rule, my dear," answered the intrepid lady. 
 "If a woman loves her husband she is pretty sure to make 
 him the repository of all her thoughts and feelings, and if
 
 120 
 
 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 he is worthy the confidence, his opinions and views, from 
 a masculine standpoint, are often of the greatest assist- 
 ance to her in advising her unmarried friends. But keep 
 it in mind that a married woman is only one-half of a com- 
 posite being. It is not at all unsafe to confide in the wife 
 of an honorable man, Margie, but beware of others; for 
 they, nearly all, will tell their other half everything they 
 know. Perhaps you consider this acknowledgment dam- 
 aging to the veracity of the sex, but it is true nevertheless. 
 Still," said the artful little woman, "you who are the prom- 
 ised wife of a noble man, too, Margie, should not wonder 
 at the near and dear companionship which supersedes all 
 girlish intimacies, and shares even the most trivial idea as 
 sympathetically as the most important concerns of life." 
 
 Margery turned her face away toward the babbling 
 river, which here rippled over a stony shallow ; her eyes 
 followed a fleck of foam as it rose and fell upon the minia- 
 ture billows and whirled about and sailed smoothly on as it 
 reached the deeper water further down the stream. 
 
 Her friend, who had seen that something, an indefinable 
 shadow of sadness and occasionally an unnatural and sur- 
 prising bitterness was clouding the crystal purity and re- 
 fined brilliancy of Margery's mind, would fain have in- 
 quired into its cause, but dared not. She leaned forward 
 now to look into the proud face, and pressing the hand 
 which lay listlessly in her lap, she said, "Margery?" and 
 conveyed at once an affectionate sympathy and a tender 
 inquiry in her tone. 
 
 " Julie," said the girl, suddenly turning her face to the 
 other, " I wish I might ever again have the faith in a good
 
 CONFESSIONS AND CONFUSIONS. 
 
 121 
 
 man that you have in your husband. But I find that one 
 whom I loved the best in the world, thinking him all that 
 was noble, chivalrous, loving, and generous, is not above 
 petty flirtations, trifling love-makings, which are an insult 
 to me, his affianced wife ! This has come to my ears from 
 various sources, and at first dismissed with incredulity and 
 contempt for the friendly warning voice ; but the disgrace- 
 ful thing has been corroborated by his own lips, and I re- 
 fttse to remain any longer an object of the sneering pity 
 of my own associates ! Felix Plummer is at liberty to 
 play lover to all the grass widows on earth if he chooses ! " 
 The rapidity and force with which the indignant and 
 wounded Margery poured forth her grievance, and the 
 tragic emphasis laid upon " refuse " and " at liberty," as 
 well as the proud gesture with which she rose to her feet 
 and swept her clenched hand with now spreading fingers 
 out into a swift circle as if to cast her faithless lover to the 
 four winds, was a stunning surprise to Mrs. Mather, who, 
 while loving her elegant and self-contained companion, 
 had sometimes said to Fred that she thought she lacked 
 force and depth of feeling. But now, as Margery sank 
 trembling and weeping and resting her graceful head upon 
 the little wife's lap, she felt an admiration for the sobbing 
 girl she had never before experienced. She rose to the 
 occasion, and a flood of gladness came over her affection- 
 ate heart that the trouble she vaguely suspected was out 
 at last, and that she, as she felt sure, could bring about a 
 reconciliation between the estranged lovers. She smoothed 
 the soft hair of the bowed head and said, " Tell me all about 
 it, my poor child. Possibly you do Felix wrong."
 
 j22 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 The proud lips unclosed upon the humiliating theme, and 
 gave the facts as we have already become acquainted with 
 them, only adding that Mrs. Bangtry had been indecent 
 enough to boast that she could take Felix Plummer away 
 from his cold and stately fiancee if she desired, " and it 
 seems she could," cried the mortified young lady, in end- 
 ing. 
 
 "Fie, fie ! Margery ! Be a woman ! Think," said her 
 friend ; " do you know of cause enough on the part of 
 your lover, so that you are warranted in not giving him one 
 chance to defend himself? Things are wretchedly per- 
 verted and magnified in coming through the mouths of 
 one or two mischief-makers. No girl is right to throw 
 away her happiness on mere hearsay, and without a word 
 of explanation ! Why, Margie, I am surprised that your 
 pride should have so run away with your common sense. 
 Oh ! if people would only talk more ! Why not speak of 
 any wrong as soon as it is felt ? One need not descend to 
 fretful fault-finding, but trifles, which would melt into thin 
 air at one reasonable word, grow into mountains of sorrow 
 in an atmosphere of silence and distrust. Promise me, 
 Margery, that you will write to him at once (Mike's inflex- 
 ible rule, notwithstanding). I am sure you have been un- 
 just to him, and, also, that when you are his precious wife, for 
 you will be, dear " Margery was shaking her head. " O 
 yes, you will be, sure as you both live promise me that 
 you will speak of anything that hurts you, as there will be 
 many times, of course, men not understanding such a 
 proud, sensitive, zvicked, cruel nature as yours " 
 
 Julie had the now faintly smiling face by the chin, and
 
 CONFESSIONS AND CONFUSIONS. I2 j 
 
 while talking to it in this incoherent and thoroughly 
 womanly manner, was giving the fair cheek a little pinch 
 as she added the last adjectives, when there came a pierc- 
 ing shriek from the woods across the river. 
 
 "Hark!" 
 
 " Oh ! oh ! oh ! Help, gins i Ah-o-o-o ! Hurry ! e-e ! 
 Help, quick." 
 
 "Mike's drowning!" gasped Margery. 
 
 "Or being murdered," said Mrs. Mather, in a low voice 
 with clenched teeth, and she started on a run down the 
 woody slope to the bank of the stream. 
 
 "Margery!" she panted as they ran, "have your pistol 
 ready ! You took it this morning ; cock it in your pocket ! 
 I can use this club ! Run ! Faster ! Yes, yes, Mike, we 
 are coming ! " she screamed. 
 
 Margery fell to the ground. " Oh ! Julie ! I have broken 
 my ankle ! I am going to faint ! " 
 
 "No, you are not," said the plucky little woman, 
 fiercely, "you shall not ! Come on ! Mike is being killed !" 
 and she dragged Margery to her feet and sped away across 
 the log bridge into the pasture beyond, with the strength 
 that fear lends. Margery followed as fast as her sprained 
 ankle would permit. 
 
 That Mahala was still alive was evident by the screams, 
 which apparently issued from a patch of white birches 
 across the open field. As the two friends came in haste to 
 the spot whence the cries seemed to come, their terror in- 
 creased, for, in the woods or along the river they could see 
 nothing of the girl, when, " Up here ! Up here ! Put 
 something under me ! I can't hold on a minute longer I
 
 I2 4 
 
 WHEELS AI:D WHIMS. 
 
 Can't you get hold of 
 the tip and pull this 
 tree down ? Or climb another tree 
 and pull this one up so I can get my 
 feet on something. Do something 
 quick. I've been hanging here an eternity now ! "
 
 CONFESSIONS AND CONFUSIONS. I2 e 
 
 Mrs. Mather saw at a glance that there was no way to 
 straighten up the tree or pull it farther down, as they 
 could not touch the ends of her toes as she clung to the 
 willowy birch, kicking and writhing in the vain attempt to 
 swing back to a hold upon its slender trunk. Her hat 
 was on the ground, the dark curls hung in hopeless con- 
 fusion over her frightened eyes, and her distressed face 
 was red and distorted in agony. 
 
 " Mike," said Mrs. Mather, decisively, " the only thing 
 for you to do is to drop. We will catch you and break 
 your fall as much as possible." 
 
 "But I shall kill you!" 
 
 "No, you will not. Now drop." 
 
 They held up their arms and Mahala let go of the birch, 
 which quickly rose to a perpendicular, while the three 
 young women came in a heap to the ground with tremen- 
 dous force. 
 
 " I know I have killed you both ! " exclaimed Mahala, 
 jumping up. "Julie, have I hurt you? Tell me, Mar- 
 gie, dear, are n't you terribly bruised ? " 
 
 " N-no," said Mrs. Mather, who had now regained her 
 feet, " I guess I am all right, except my elbow ; I think 
 that is barked," she said, as she felt of it, " but the sleeve 
 is so tight I shall not know until bed-time." 
 
 Margery now leaned forward and spat out a mouthful of 
 blood. Mahala began to weep hysterically at sight of it. 
 
 "Oh! dear Margie!" she cried, "you have some inter- 
 nal injury, and I I am to blame." 
 
 " Oh, no, Mike ! I only bit my tongue as my chin came 
 down on something hard. It- will stop bleeding soon, I 
 think."
 
 I2 g WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 Mahala began to rub her head thoughtfully, and a grat- 
 ified expression came over her face as she said, "I do 
 believe it was my head. There's a great lump on my 
 bump of cautiousness. Oh ! but it is sore. I am so glad ! 
 I was so ashamed when I thought I was not hurt at all." 
 
 "Well, Mike," said Margery, who could not forego this 
 mild retort, " if this occurrence will in any way help to fill 
 out that organ, which is naturally a cavity, it will be a re- 
 lief to your friends, and they will bear their wounds with 
 cheerfulness." 
 
 Mahala looked at Margery reflectively for a moment, 
 and then stooping picked up her hat and put it on her sub- 
 dued head. Julie tightened up her disheveled hair, and 
 with Margery limping a little and occasionally stopping to 
 discharge more blood from her mouth, they took their dis- 
 heartened way back across the field. Nothing was said 
 for some time as they walked slowly toward the river. At 
 last Mrs. Mather remarked, " It may be proper now to in- 
 quire, Mahala, how under heavens you came to be in the 
 awkward, not to say dangerous predicament in which we 
 found you ?" 
 
 "Why, I was only swinging on the birches, as I have 
 done thousands of times before with the boys," she 
 answered, in an injured tone. " It 's glorious fun ! " added 
 the giddy thing,, brightening a little. 
 
 " So it seemed," interpolated Margery, coolly. 
 
 "Well, it is, when you do it right ! You climb the tree 
 by the little branches and when you get to the top where 
 it is too limber to go higher, you just jump right out into 
 the air, and over you go, flying to the ground like a bird."
 
 CONFESSIONS AND CONFUSIONS. I2 y 
 
 " Yes," said Mrs. Mather, laughing a little in recollec- 
 tion of the recent scene, "you looked like a bird, but it 
 was a stork with red legs'! " 
 
 Not apparently noticing this thrust, which keenly 
 wounded her pride, for reasons best known to herself, 
 Mahala continued, "But you must not get an old tree that 
 will break with you, nor one that is too large and stiff. 
 That was what was the matter with the last one. I had 
 swung twenty times, I think, and it was just lovely ! I 
 was just going to have one more and then return to you," 
 she added, ruefully. 
 
 "Well, my dear," said Mrs. Mather, good-naturedly, 
 " like many another harum-scarum, you dared your fate just 
 once too many times. However, it is not as bad as it might 
 have been, so we will think no more about it, if Margie's 
 ankle does not prove troublesome." Suddenly, "Why, 
 where is Dude all this time ? Can it be possible that she 
 has heard nothing of all this ? " 
 
 "Of course," said her saucy niece, "give Aunt Dude 
 some trees, a bit of water, and a rock or two, and she 
 would not hear the sky fall ! There she sits," said Mahala, 
 as they drew near the spot, "oblivious of the rest of the 
 earth." Here she tittered. "She would not be holding 
 her head on one side in such a satisfied manner, if she 
 knew that cow was looking over her shoulder ! Cattle are 
 the only things in the world that she is afraid of." 
 
 " Well, girls," said the unconscious lady, rising as they 
 neared, " have you got tired of waiting for me ? I have 
 succeeded in catching a most charming glimpse of ugh ! 
 a horrid cow." She had turned slightly to get a different
 
 I2 8 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 light on her canvas, and caught sight of the great face of 
 the animal which was sniffing at her shoulder. She threw 
 herself forward away from the dreadful monster, and upset 
 her easel, throwing the picture to the earth. Green bag 
 and basket, umbrella and stick, camp-stool and canvas, 
 were scattered broadcast at the mercy of the gentle cow, 
 who evidently was wondering in a dreamy, bovine way, 
 what the melee was all about. Mahala took her by the 
 horn, and patting her brown neck, turned her away and led* 
 her to a distance. "Did it fall on the buttered side?" she 
 said, returning again. 
 
 " No, for a wonder," answered the disconcerted lady,, 
 who was picking up her picture, " but thanks to you, 
 Mahala, that the creature did not step upon it." She was. 
 gathering up her artistic paraphernalia and engaged in 
 packing it into a surprisingly small space and making a 
 compact parcel. " But where have you been so long ? " 
 she queried, and then they told her. 
 
 They continued their ride. As soon as Mahala could 
 get an opportunity to speak to Mrs. Mather aside, she said, 
 "Julie." 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " Did I make a shocking appearance, up there, hanging 
 to the tree ? " 
 
 " Why, without doubt, there was considerable braided 
 underskirt mixed up with some very lively red stockings," 
 answered Mrs. Mather, smiling. 
 
 "Of course," rejoined Mahala, shortly, "you could see 
 that, being right under me; but could any one, I mean 
 could you, see more than my feet, across the field ? "
 
 CONFESSIONS AND CONFUSIONS. I2 Q 
 
 " Why, I did not give it a thought, I was so frightened. 
 I really do not remember. But why should you care ? No 
 one was near to see you." 
 
 "That's just it," said poor Mahala, choking a little and 
 swallowing hard, " I am sure there was some one in the 
 woods, and I am afraid it was a man," winking back tears 
 of vexation, "for just as we fell I heard a crash through 
 the brush, and when I got to my feet, his back was just 
 going down behind the fence, and it was a great broad 
 back, and I know he saw me, and I ha-ate him ! " 
 
 Her voice broke a little, and she furtively wiped a tear 
 from her eye. " I despise creatures who are always poking 
 around when they are not wanted ! " 
 
 Mrs. Mather, who could not feel that it was any serious 
 catastrophe if some farmer had perchance been cutting 
 rails in the adjoining woods and so become a witness to 
 their adventure, dismissed the subject from their conversa- 
 tion and said to them all, that they had better get back to 
 the hotel as soon as convenient and take a rest. 
 
 Margery's wrenched ankle, which had been the only 
 severe hurt in this chapter of accidents, was found to be 
 only slightly injured, much to the relief of the whole 
 party, who had feared a dentetion on her account, 
 w. & vr. 9
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A BRIGHT morning after a rain, and our party of happy 
 *V. wheelers bade good Farmer Bodge and his wife good- 
 by and started away down the winding road, which had 
 been plashed and packed firm and smooth by the rain- 
 drops which had fallen during the night. 
 
 Mrs. Bodge had acknowledged to them, as they were 
 chatting and oiling up their machines, which were safe on 
 the barn floor, that she had not been clear in her mind 
 about them when they arrived. "I see," said she, as she 
 took a seat upon a cart -tongue, "that Jerry was jest be- 
 witched, when he come a runnin' acrost the barn-lot with his 
 cheeks as red as Balding apples and his eyes a shinin', and 
 he bu'st into the wood-shed, where I was (I had stepped 
 out for a handful of kindlin's ; my fire had got low and bis- 
 cuits must be done quick or they ain't fit to eat), and says 
 he, 'Mother, there's four ladies a-comin' up the road and 
 they 're all a-ridin' on machines which they call tricycles. 
 You know Uncle Ben told us about how he saw them in 
 England. They are all in gray dresses,' says he, 'with 
 snipperdings on the front of the waist and little coat-tails 
 
 (130)
 
 THE BODGES. j^j 
 
 behind, and they can just spin over the ground faster'n 
 old Dick can trot.' Says I, 'Jeremiah Bodge, stop your 
 puffin' an' blowin'. Set down in the chair and tell me what 
 you mean ! " 
 
 " ' Wai, mother,' says he, ' father and I were down in 
 the further pastur', mowin' brush, so as to plow it fo-mor- 
 
 rer, when father looked up, and says he, ' Jerusalem crick- 
 ets!' I looked up and I tell yer ther' wan't no more 
 mowin'. Whiz ! They come along just as smooth and 
 pretty with them spider-web wheels, and their hats all 
 covered with feathers, and they were all singing something
 
 ^2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 like peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo ! Wai, father leant on his 
 scythe, and couldn't say a word, but I knew in a minute 
 they was city girls from the way their waists set, and when 
 they came nearer, such pretty shoes ! ' Says I, 'Jeremiah, 
 they 're bad women. They must be some of those circus 
 creeturs like what enticed Sam Burnet away to New York. 
 Come into the house/ says I, 'and I'll lock the door. 
 Come right in and we '11 peek through the front-room 
 blinds, and see 'em pass ! ' ' No, no,' says he, ' they 're 
 comin' here ! ' ' Comin' here,' says I ; ' wal, I guess not 1 
 If your father can be made a fool of, I can't, and I can tell 
 him no such truck shall darken my doors ! I'd sooner ' 
 ' But hold on, mother,' hollered Jerry, as I started to bolt 
 the doors, ' they are nice ladies ! Yes, they are, real ladies. 
 One of 'em is a daughter of Mr. Prescott, who was here 
 huntin' partridge last year ! Wait till I tell you, before 
 you fly off the handle ! ' I am a little touchy about bein' 
 at all familiar with strange women. If everything ain't 
 jest right, I suspicion it right away ; but the minute he 
 mentioned your father's name, I cooled right down, and 
 settin' down to the churn, let the boy run on. I 
 was dreadful late about my churnin' yesterday morn- 
 in'. I don't know whether it got chilled or what 
 was to pay, but that cream would not come. I had 
 about made up my mind to give it up when he come in ; 
 but I guess I put extra venom into the handle after he 
 scart me so, for it come all of a sudden. I hadn't got it 
 out of the churn when you rode up. But he told me how 
 you stopped at the bars and asked him how far it was to 
 Mr. Bodge's house, and father, says he, ' I am Mr. Bodge/
 
 THE BODGES. j^ 
 
 and how sweet and genteel one jumped off her machine 
 and come into the lot and gave him a letter introducing 
 you, and then Jerry run acrost lots to tell me. Jerry said 
 you was all perfect ladies, but the one with her hair cut 
 short in front and parted on the side with little curls all 
 
 around her face and behind the ears, with her dimples and 
 white teeth, which she showed all the time because she 
 was always laughing, was enough to make a man strike his 
 grandmother if she asked him to ! " 
 
 Mahala blushed. "O, dear, Mrs. Bodge, I would not 
 ask any one to do such a wicked thing."
 
 !34 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "Of course you would n't !" said the matron, rolling her 
 bare arms up in her apron preparatory to a run for the 
 house, " that's only his exaggerative way of speakin'. J 
 hate to have him use such language, but his father is 
 awful on by -words too ! " 
 
 " I'm darned sorry to have you go," said Farmer Bodge, 
 as the tricycle travelers made their last preparations for 
 starting away from the comfortable place that had shel- 
 tered them for a day. 
 
 " By John Holland !" he continued earnestly, in his slow 
 and heavy way, "when I see you* four comin' down the 
 road yesterday, I was beat. I'd heard of them ma- 
 chines, but never expected to see ladies on 'em. But it 
 must be good for you, judging by the looks of these rosy 
 cheeks and shinin' eyes." 
 
 Farmer Bodge felt a little dashed at his own gallantry 
 as displayed in this last remark, and looked around quickly 
 to see that " mother " was not near enough to hear him. 
 
 "Thunder and orcrow ! " he exclaimed, "if there ain't 
 Jerry ridin' on one of the things now, along with Miss 
 Curlyhead ! Jerry '11 be spiled for the neighbor girls now, 
 sure. Haw ! haw ! Sarah Pease won't be nowhere ! " 
 
 Jerry, who until % these fatal days had not realized that 
 his hands were coarse and his feet inelegantly shod, had 
 begun to despise his own pleasant, though confessedly 
 verdant personality. He had taken his father's razor the 
 evening before, and by the light of two kerosene lamps 
 had succeeded in scraping off the soft growth from his 
 cheeks and chin. He carefully omitted to perform this 
 operation on his upper lip, and, by dint of the least bit of
 
 THE BODGES j^e 
 
 burnt cork on his finger-tip, had darkened the incipient 
 mustache until it was visible to the naked eye. The lad 
 was almost handsome, as, with burning cheeks and a new 
 and strange expression in his eyes, he followed his merry 
 companion around the square. Then, as they stood 
 together lowering the saddle again for Mrs. Mather's use, 
 as the travelers were soon to depart, his hands trembled. 
 He bit his lip, and looked down to where he was smooth- 
 ing his forefinger to and fro along the wire spokes. 
 
 "You have been very kind to us, Jerry," said the good- 
 hearted little flirt, " and when you come to Hartford I 
 hope you will call and make the acquaintance of my 
 brothers. Jo has a wonderful entomological collection, 
 not to mention quantities of minerals and an aquarium." 
 
 "I would like to call and see your brothers," wistfully 
 murmured the miserably -happy youth, "but you would 
 not want a countryman like me around," he added bitterly. 
 "Probably you have dozens of fine fellows a in new style 
 hats and tailor's clothes, with white hands and all that. 
 No ! " he shook his head, " unless I could be as elegant and 
 easy and and no ! " he said again, vehemently, " I shall 
 never call upon you." 
 
 Mahala was confused, seeing that in her desire to be 
 kind to the young man she had innocently wounded his 
 pride. She tried to think of some pleasant disclaimer to 
 his consciousness of his disadvantage in appearance beside 
 city-bred boys, but remained silent, distressed by his man- 
 ifest feeling, which she could not truthfully controvert. 
 
 When they all shook hands in saying farewell to their 
 kind entertainers he made no reply to her bright "Good-by,
 
 j^6 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 Jerry," but squeezing her little hand in his sinewy palm, 
 he turned and walked hastily away to the barn, and threw 
 himself face down upon the haymow, where we will leave 
 him with a pang in his boyish heart. With this new and 
 painfully sweet experience, which no one can know as a 
 country lad who is fascinated, enthralled, by the uncon- 
 scious graces, the hundred little aids and appurtenances of 
 toilet, the captivating self-possession, and the innocence 
 of her own charming ways, which are among the attributes 
 of a bright and lovable city girl.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 A BY-PATH, woods in rear, school-house near. 
 " If there is n't Aunt Dude before that easel again ! 
 I thought we stipulated for one day's respite," said Mahala, 
 always first to speak. " If she is not the most persistent 
 worker! Aunty, you make me feel tired!" 
 
 "I wish," retorted Miss St. John, "I could make you 
 feel tired of doing nothing, then you would go to work 
 and perhaps make something of your gift ; I can't call it 
 talent, for that implies cultivation." 
 
 "But what should I have done, I wonder, without Julie 
 and Margie all the quiet days ? A pretty scrape I would 
 have gotten into, if, according to your first proposition, I 
 had accompanied you alone on this expedition ! You and 
 you only," she repeated, leaning over her aunt's chair and 
 touching her lips to her cheek. "A pretty scrape! I'd 
 been worn to a shadow from very pining and loneliness. 
 Was n't it a happy thought to get such a jolly, charming, 
 fascinating trio to make your trip complete ? You ought 
 to be very grateful to us for coming, to make a variety for 
 you."
 
 j^g WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "It was, indeed," answered the artist, smiling, "but 
 now, most jolly, fascinating, and charming trio, if just as 
 agreeable to you, I will permit you to dispose of your- 
 selves as you like. You may leave me to my work this 
 morning ; I have a great deal more before me than I can 
 master. If you will kindly amuse yourselves under those 
 lovely pines, your absence I shall not feel at all. Try that 
 path leading down the ravine. If you follow it to the lit- 
 tle bridge, you can cross the brook. Mount the opposite 
 hillside ; there you will find a charming view to the south- 
 ward. If you find a scene to please you, Margie, mark 
 the point of view. I will paint it for your wedding pres- 
 ent," she added, casting a swift, searching glance at the 
 young girl. 
 
 Margery made no answer gave no sign. 
 
 Mahala had started off, at her aunt's first suggestion, 
 Margery and Mrs. Mather following more slowly. 
 
 "Well, what is it, Margie ?" said the latter, as, passing 
 her arm through that of her friend, she gazed inquiringly 
 up into her face. 
 
 Margery tried to smile, made a sorry failure, blushed 
 hotly, and tears came into her eyes. 
 
 "Not be troubled about it?" she said, repeating her 
 friend's kind words. " How can I help it, Julie ? " 
 
 " You probably expected to receive an answer to your 
 letter about this time," said Julie, in a low voice, "perhaps 
 it may not yet have reached him," she suggested. 
 
 " Oh, it must have done so. There has been plenty of 
 time for a reply too," returned Margery, in a choking 
 voice.
 
 THE ARTIST'S DAY. 
 
 "Yes, but he might 
 be out of town. Not 
 an improbable surmise, 
 is it ? " 
 
 " Oh, he is at home. 
 Perhaps too angry to 
 read it even. He may 
 be more pleasantly en- 
 gaged," she added with 
 a curl of her lip, " than 
 in reading letters from 
 me." 
 
 " Pshaw ! "Margie, for 
 shame ! I tell you it 
 is more likely he is 
 disgusted with himself, 
 for ever having looked
 
 J.Q WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 at Mrs. Bangtry. The apparent flirtation was evidently 
 all on her side ; a man's vanity is easily reached, and 
 upon reflection he may only blame himself for ever having 
 given cause for remarks, by his polite attention to her in- 
 vitations. Almost every man (as well as most women), 
 sooner or later, has some experience in that line, only to 
 call himself a fool afterwards." 
 
 " Oh, Julie, how can you say that ? I never should 
 have " 
 
 " No, perhaps not. You probably never will, and I make 
 no confessions myself in that line. But I do not hold it a 
 bad thing to test the caliber of your lover now, before he 
 is tied." 
 
 " Tied ! " repeated Margery, " I wonder what an engage- 
 ment means, if it is not a tie, as sacred, too, as marriage ! 
 I felt I was bound to him, before all the world." 
 
 They had walked slowly, talking as they went, and now 
 they had stopped under an old tree. Margery leaned up 
 against its gnarled trunk, and stood picking bits of bark 
 from its rough side, letting them fall unheeded to the 
 earth. " My whole world was in him," she said, with 
 tears 
 
 Mrs. Mather rested on a broken limb, which had been 
 torn nearly off, and hung with its smaller branches upon 
 the ground. She feigned to be interested in the tortuous 
 course of a tiny ant which was laboring up the limb, 
 dragging an insect of twice its size over the many obsta- 
 cles in its path. She absently picked off a few scales of 
 dead bark to make a smoother way for the industrious lit- 
 tle fellow. Then she said quietly, " Some men there are, 
 real men, with true hearts and unswerving affections "
 
 THE ARTIST'S DAY. ! 4 j 
 
 " I thought him such," said Margery, with rising empha- 
 sis. 
 
 "Who do so love," continued Mrs. Mather, without 
 noticing the interruption, "that it is impossible that they 
 should give a thought beyond the one woman who absorbs 
 their love, and there are women who are worthy such 
 devotion, but," she added, hesitatingly, "the world is not 
 crowded with such people. Felix, however, has had one 
 lesson. A rather severe one, I think, considering his 
 slight and very excusable fault. His proud maid is not to 
 be trifled with in this way, and I presume it will not hurt 
 him to find it out now ; and perhaps," continued she, 
 lowly, and smiling a little, "it is a lesson to you, too, to 
 take to heart in another way, Margie." 
 
 " I did not need it," declared Margery ; " I despise petty 
 jealousy." 
 
 "Ah! so you think. But were you not very hasty? A 
 few words from him would have doubtless assured you 
 that there was no cause for your anger and sudden depart- 
 ure. I would have advised you by all means to have given 
 him a chance to explain all those things. But don't worry 
 now, dear, we have talked it all over ; repetition can do no 
 good ; you have written to him, and the answer must 
 surely come ere long." 
 
 "Do you believe so, really?" said Margery, leaving her 
 place by the tree and brushing the bits of bark from her 
 gray dress. She looked more cheerful and wiped a tear 
 from her cheek as she spoke : " Julie, you are such a com- 
 fort to me. I am so anxious to believe that you are right 
 that I almost feel it will be so."
 
 j^2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "I am confident of it," said Mrs. Mather. 
 
 A cry from Mahala broke in upon this quiet interview. 
 
 The bridge over which she had tripped consisted of two 
 logs with short planks laid across them. In her usual 
 haste, Mahala had attempted to spring over the gap to the 
 opposite landing. She had not miscalculated the distance, 
 nor her ability to leap it, but the ground was covered with 
 pine needles dropped from the overhanging trees. It was 
 thus too slippery to gain a secure footing, -as the bank 
 sloped steeply to the water. She fell and lay- helpless 
 upon her side, unable to regain her feet, and fearing to slip 
 further down the bank if she made the attempt. " Oh, do 
 come and help me," she cried. " Cross down on the stones 
 below there. You can't come this way. You'll jump on 
 me. Don't, don't," she persisted, while the two friends 
 hastened down the stream to where the water was low. 
 "I'm slipping I can't get up I've nothing to hold on to," 
 she cried, trying to dig her fingers into the earth. " Oh, 
 hurry, do, or I shall wet my feet. Call Aunt Dude. If 
 she was n't at that everlasting painting I'd get some 
 help!" 
 
 "Well, hold on to silence, a minute," called Mrs. Mather, 
 " you are three feet from water, and in no danger of get- 
 ting wet, if you will only be quiet until we can get at 
 you." 
 
 " Here we are, now," said Margery, giving her hand to 
 the prostrate girl, who speedily crawled to her feet. 
 " What *s all this great cry about ? " she continued, looking 
 around. " Mike, you will have to have a special body- 
 guard if you do not take better care of yourself. Julie and
 
 THE ARTISTS DAY. l ^ 
 
 I cannot have a moment's quiet talk, but, alas ! a 
 shriek from you. And you have never once used your 
 whistle, according to programme ; it is always a feminine 
 squeal." 
 
 Margery had commenced her remarks with a little im- 
 patience, but was forced to smile at the impudent indiffer- 
 ence with which her rebuke was received by the erratic 
 individual whom she had so lately rescued. 
 
 "Now, please, Margie, don't be hard. I'm bruised 
 enough already," rubbing her side. " Don't hurt my fceliris 
 too ; though probably they are not so tender as my flesh." 
 
 " It is slippery here, Mike. Take care, Julie oh ! " 
 and as Mahala was now upon her feet, down went Miss 
 Prescott, in the most undignified manner imaginable. 
 Mahala was convulsed. 
 
 " Pshaw ! " exclaimed Mrs. Mather, as she attempted to 
 raise Margery to her feet. " It is very strange " and 
 down they both went together in great discomfiture. 
 Mahala clapped her hands in irrepressible glee, and they 
 all joined in the laugh. 
 
 " What is all this cry about ? And it is certainly very 
 strange that you people cannot stand upon your feet ! 
 Oh, that the artist were on the spot now ! " cried Mahala. 
 " But they never are around when needed. They always 
 come in when it is all over, and make up the picture from 
 imagination. That is why their work is seldom really 
 touching." 
 
 Meanwhile, the artist was far from all these disturbing 
 influences. She quietly lived in her dream of nature and 
 its mystery. An hour had passed in uninterrupted work,
 
 j^ WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 when she heard approaching footsteps. Supposing her 
 companions to be near, without even glancing up from the 
 canvas, she gave expression to her thoughts in measured 
 sentences something like the following : " They baffle me, 
 those changing shadows upon the hills. I put them in, I 
 put them out. Each fleeting effect seems more beautiful 
 than the last, and so I try to catch it. If I could only keep 
 to the one idea, when once recorded, keep, it, the same 
 effect often returns and " 
 
 "Wai, I dunno," said a deep voice, in a sort of grunt, 
 behind her. 
 
 The artist started violently, nearly upsetting her easel. 
 
 " Wai, I dunno," it said, and a horny hand came forward 
 over her shoulder to save her picture from falling, imprint- 
 ing a big thumb in the sky in one corner. Not at all 
 aware of the fright he had caused, or of any harm done to 
 the sketch, the honest man continued : " It beats all fire, 
 how you can do it," and a burly figure came round to her 
 side and scanned the picture closely. " I 'spect it pays, 
 though. I've heerd how they get big prices for them kind. 
 He paintin', ain't it ? " 
 
 " Yes," said the artist. 
 
 " Wai, I vow. Do tell how much you expect to get for 
 that ! It 's terrible real now, ain't it ? " He looked at it 
 from one side and then from the other. "That blue sky 
 now, and them hills ; I tell ye, it can't be beat ! I say, 
 how much '11 you git 'f it sells ? " 
 
 "I always wait for a purchaser. It will be time enough 
 then to set a price," answered the lady, smiling. 
 
 "I don't suppose now I could buy it. Squire Jim had
 
 THE ARTISTS DAY. j^e 
 
 his place took, barn and all. 'T wa'n't colored, you know ; 
 took by a photographer, and he spent nigh onto two dol- 
 lars for't. I'd give that 'f I could have it all colored; but 
 probable you ain't a-takin' it for money," said he, half- 
 ashamed of his offer, and looking at her a little sheepishly. 
 
 "Not just now, but if your farm is near, and I could get 
 there easily, I might find some good cattle, or a favorite 
 horse or cow, to sketch for you." 
 
 "Oh, now, would you? That would be kind. Could 
 you paint my Jersey cow? Registered stock, pretty 
 creetur as I ever milked. Gentle., too, as a kitten." 
 
 "Very well. To-morrow, if you will come and show me 
 the way," said Miss St. John. "I would like right well to 
 see her. I am fond of cows at a picturesque distance. 
 We are at Widow Ryerson's, down by the post-office." 
 
 The good man was heartily pleased, and with some 
 further complimentary remarks upon her skill he walked 
 away, saying he would "hitch up and take her over in the 
 morning," and the artist fell busily to work again. 
 
 After a time she heard approaching footsteps again, and 
 turned to face the intruder this time. 
 
 " Ain't it pretty ? " It was a small, weak-looking woman, 
 who, however, showed a lively interest in the strange lady 
 and her picture. 
 
 "That's them trees off there, ain't it?" she said, look- 
 ing entirely in the wrong direction. "Oh," with a nod, as 
 she was righted in the view by the artist. "It's first-rate, 
 any how; I couldn't begin to do it so well myself," and 
 she passed on, wrapping a faded shawl tighter about her 
 slight form. 
 
 w. & w. 10
 
 I4 6 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 The school now had its recess. The children, catching 
 sight of the umbrella and easel, made a rush for the stand 
 and soon surrounded the artist, not quite to her pleasure, 
 She made no sign of consciousness of their presence. 
 They in turn fell into a sudden silence. Little whisper- 
 ings went from one to the other. 
 
 " See how she dips in all them colors ! " 
 
 " What great long brushes ! " 
 
 "And what a lot of 'em, one, three, four, seven, ten 
 all together ! " 
 
 "See that umbrella; how funny it sets on the stick." 
 
 They were all so quiet, nudging, and* whispering, and 
 treading their little feet on the turf, that Miss St. John was 
 amazed on turning to find some twenty or more boys and 
 girls staring at her work. 
 
 One little boy and his sister had climbed up on the fence. 
 Their relationship was apparent in the two tip-tilted noses, 
 which bore a striking resemblance to each other. The boy 
 sat on the top rail holding on to the bar with his hands 
 between his knees. The little girl stood upon the lower 
 rail and resting her elbows upon the top of the fence, sup- 
 ported her fat cheeks upon her tiny fists. The artist en- 
 gaged the others in conversation until she had made a 
 rapid sketch of these two, and then said : " Now, the one 
 that wants his picture put in just here," pointing to her 
 canvas in the fore-ground, "may run off there and take 
 that stick and hunt for chestnuts in the leaves. Now, 
 when I call stop, then he must stand quite still for five 
 minutes." 
 
 A dozen eager ones ran for the stick, but one quiet little
 
 THE ARTIST'S DAY. 
 
 147 
 
 fellow caught it, and also the idea, for when the word stop 
 came he was able to pose in a very satisfactory manner. 
 His fair-haired little sister stood behind, eagerly watching 
 the progress of the study, calling out to him from time to 
 time : " Keep still a little longer, Eddie, one minute 
 more ! " in the proud supposition that she was lending 
 material aid to the artist. 
 
 Soon a modest young woman appeared at the school- 
 house door and rang a bell, and the children ran reluc- 
 tantly back to their books, not without first stopping to see 
 how the little boy was put upon the canvas. 
 
 "Jest as if he stood there, ain't it ? " and all scampered 
 away in haste. 
 
 Miss St. John was left in quietude again. The shadows
 
 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 were lessening. The artist's hour was passing. Under 
 the advancing noonday sun, Miss St. John was giving the 
 last touches to her picture, when a surly-looking old man 
 
 made his appear- 
 ance, coming over 
 the neighboring 
 hill. 
 
 "Say," he accost- 
 ed the lady, in a 
 rude tone; his hat 
 was pushed down 
 upon his head with 
 a determined air; 
 "say, if you think 
 you can set down 
 here, and paint 
 around my place, 
 and then send in 
 your bill, as they 
 did last year for 
 Deacon Wells's 
 house, you '11 be 
 mistaken. Mis' 
 Gleason, what's jest 
 been here, told me 
 you was here to 
 work, and I want ter tell you beforehand that I ain't a-goin' 
 to pay no such bills. I ain't no objections to your settin' 
 and your paintin', but I warn you now that I ain't doin' no 
 payin'."
 
 THE ARTIST'S DAY. J.Q 
 
 " Here is a queer individual," thought the lady, "I think 
 I will be deaf, just now." 
 
 Instantly she glanced at his moving lips with a dazed 
 expression, though inwardly much amused, and applied her 
 hand to her ear. 
 
 "Deef, eh!" 
 
 She inclined a little more toward him as he stood before 
 her, with a basket of potatoes in his hand. She still ex- 
 pressed no understanding of the situation. He repeated, 
 in a louder tone: "I hain't no objections to a lady set- 
 tin'" 
 
 She arose as if to hear more distinctly; she seemed so 
 very deaf. 
 
 " ^.nd paintin' ! " he screamed. Still she did not hear. 
 "Thunder! " he muttered, "I'd ruther pay her bill than to 
 set them school-children at me with this hollerin'. Little 
 torments, they '11 pester a fellow about anything. They 
 are jest like hornets. It don't make no odds if they ain't 
 very big ; I don't want 'em to git set on to me ag'in, as they 
 did t 'other day when I got mad cause they 'd broke down 
 my bars," and casting an uneasy glance at the windows of 
 the school-house, he started back over the way he had 
 come, talking to himself. "I wonder if she makes her 
 livin' at that blasted nonsense. Humph! Wai, my 
 farm's pertaters, and they bring an honest livin'. I don't 
 suppose she makes enough at that torn-foolery, a-settin' 
 and a-paintin' on that paper stuff, to put salt on 'em. I 
 reckon they don't git much outer me with their pictures. 
 If she beared or didn't hear, she's been warned, and if she 
 brings in a bill, I won't pay a darned turnup for the trash.
 
 JCQ WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 That 's all there is about it. I don't like the looks of the 
 creeturs around. I don't hanker after 'em gittin' into my 
 diggin's. Now, if Betsy Ann was to set eyes on sech 
 doin's, she would soon be sp'ilt for the fryin'-pan and the 
 wash-tub. I have seen it before. I have had trouble 
 enough with the boys, a-learnin' city goin's on and turnin' 
 away from the lights of their parents. I don't calkerlate 
 to see Betsy sp'iled too," and he strode over the fence into 
 the adjoining lot. *' But I 've warned the creetur ! " He 
 turned and saw the quiet worker picking up her things for 
 removal. 
 
 As she watched his retreating steps, she saw a rough, 
 uncanny man, with a pack on his back, meet him, and 
 after a moment's wrangling, he came on towards the woods, 
 shaking his black and curly head and pounding his^'thick 
 staff into the ground at every step. He was evidently 
 angry at what he considered interference with his trade,- 
 and consequently not likely to be very agreeable to any 
 defenseless woman. 
 
 " Oh, dear," sighed the artist, " here is another. I wish 
 I were out of this. I do not like his looks. I do wish the 
 girls would come." 
 
 She dared not blow her whistle, lest she might attract 
 his attention, when possibly he might pass on without 
 noticing her. But, no ; he saw her, and, turning aside 
 from his way, he made rapid strides in her direction. She 
 affected not to see him, but kept busily at her picking up. 
 
 " Penting, hey ? " he said, with a hideous grin, and he 
 stood looking at her as he leaned upon his stick. Then 
 he let down the pack which he carried from his back.
 
 THE ARTISTS DAY. 
 
 "'Veil, uf you'd ghoost step 'ere und look at my laces " 
 Hereupon he was proceeding to open a case and to hold 
 out some of his 
 stock, when 
 Miss St. John 
 said decidedly 
 that she did not i 
 wish to buy. 
 "Veil, 
 xna'm, uf 
 you ghoost 
 but look at 
 dem, I'm 
 sure we'll 
 strike 
 barg'n." 
 He camel 
 close to' 
 her side, 
 
 and looked into het 
 face with a leer. 
 
 Shuddering with 
 fear and disgust, 
 she did not dare to 
 "betray the least per- 
 
 turbation, so she - ity of his dirty 
 
 looked coolly at I / <qdo 
 
 him, but drawing I / notwant 
 
 off a little from the \ ^ ^ 
 
 unbearable proxim- ^ x no money."
 
 JJJ2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 The man jeered as he glanced at her white hands and 
 at her earrings. " I nefer gif up a lufly ladee like you, 
 vithout making some kind uf a barg'n. Really, now, uf 
 you hav n't no money, you might like to trade those ear- 
 rings or that ring for something. I am sure I could per- 
 suade you " he was insisting with one hand raised, palm 
 upward, to his ear as he held his shaggy head on one side. 
 
 " I tell you I do not wish for any of your goods ! " Miss 
 St. John hoped to get rid of him without serious trouble. 
 But now he took a quick step towards her, saying, with a 
 hard look : " You shall buy sometings. The old man has 
 insuked me, und now I vill have some money from you ! "" 
 
 Quick as thought, Miss St. John started back, and 
 drawing a pistol from her little pocket, she pointed down 
 the road. 
 
 " If you are going down the road, sir," she said, calmly 
 as she could, "and should see a blue-jay, I wish you 
 would just whistle a bit. I want another specimen for 
 mounting. I'm doing a little sharpshooting this morning ; 
 brought down two little fellows just now and wouldn't 
 mind doing it again before dinner." 
 
 She was able to speak quite easily before she had fin- 
 ished this sentence, and as she did so she turned the pistol 
 in a careless manner toward the impudent peddler. 
 
 He gave a quick, sharp look at her impassable counte- 
 nance, and shut his box together in trembling haste. He 
 closely watched her as he drew the straps and threw the 
 huge burden to his shoulder. 
 
 " I '11 whistle, yes, when I get down the road. I '11 hurry,, 
 yes ; I'll see a blue-bird for you."
 
 THE ARTIST'S DAY. j^ 
 
 Miss St. John saw that she had made the desired im- 
 pression, and that the man was thoroughly alarmed. 
 
 " P-please, ma'm, wait till I get out of the line, ladies 
 don't always aim straight. Goot-by. Don't shoot till I 
 get away, quite." 
 
 The pack was on his back, and he was out of sight be- 
 fore the artist had fully convinced herself of the success 
 of her ruse. 
 
 Replacing the toy pistol in her pocket, she blew three 
 shrill notes upon her whistle. This soon recalled her three 
 companions, who were tired of their trampings, and came 
 briskly back at her call 
 
 " Really, I do believe Aunt Dude is scared. How pale 
 she looks ! " 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " I don't see anything to be afraid of." 
 
 "What is the matter, Dude ? " 
 
 " I am afraid we shall be late for dinner," answered the 
 artist. 
 
 " Is that all ? " 
 
 They went back to the Widow Ryerson's, down by the 
 post-office, to dinner.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 a 
 
 THE next stopping-place on the pleasant journey down 
 the river was at the house of an uncle of Mrs. 
 Mather's. Mr. Stearns had been many times pleasantly 
 entertained at the cosy home of his niece in the city. He 
 was a widower, without children, dependent upon a house- 
 keeper for society, and was greatly delighted to welcome 
 the party of high-spirited young women, feeling that their 
 liveliness waked up his youthful spirits, and cleared 
 away the cobwebs of old fogyism which a life of loneliness 
 and inaction had fostered. So he made it very pleasant 
 for the travelers, only sorry to hear them say that they 
 would stay but a day or two under his hospitable roof. 
 
 Thursday morning, two weeks from the day of their de- 
 parture from home, the four gleesome friends, with bound- 
 ing blood and an exhilaration induced by healthful exercise 
 in the open air, long hours of refreshing sleep, and appe- 
 tites which astonished and flattered their caterers, started 
 out in quest of chestnuts. 
 
 "There's plenty of them down on the edge of Farn- 
 ham's woods," said their good host, " and as the frost was 
 
 (154)
 
 THEY GO CHESTNUTTING. jce 
 
 sharp last night, I reckon they'll come down lively Ihis 
 morning," and he directed them to the woods a mile away. 
 
 " Good-by, Mr. Stearns," called Mahala, as they started 
 their wheels. " Remember and have plenty of dinner for 
 for us at noon, for we shall be hungry as four bears when 
 we get back with our bags full of chestnuts." 
 
 " Good," responded their genial host, to whom Mahala's 
 merry quips and gibes were welcome as sunshine. 
 " We '11 try and roast beef enough to satisfy you ! " 
 
 " Who are the young ladies who seem to be enjoying 
 an ideal pleasure-trip ? " said a young man in hunting- 
 jacket and knickerbockers, who had come around the 
 house with his gun and dog, just in time to see the 
 tricycles glide swiftly away. 
 
 ' " Morning, Philip," said Mr. Stearns, without taking his 
 yes from the departing quartette. " Is n't it a queer 
 sight ? They came here last night, from Hartford. I 
 don't mean to say they came direct from there, because 
 they have been two weeks on the road. One of them is 
 my niece. She 's married " 
 
 " Which one ? " 
 
 " Well, the little plump one ; she 's riding behind now. 
 Her husband is F. W. Mather, of Wright, Mather & 
 Company." 
 
 Mahala was now looking around and pointing at some- 
 thing by the wayside. She was laughing as usual, and 
 showing her pretty teeth. Her mouth was a generous one, 
 as her brothers often told her in moments of unpleasant- 
 ness. Her piquant profile came into view as she threw 
 back some laughing words at her aunt.
 
 jijg WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Ah, who is the one turning around now ? " asked the 
 hunter carelessly. 
 
 " Oh, that 's Miss Wright," responded the older man, 
 heartily, " and she is the life of the party, though none of 
 them get left very often. Four fresher and brighter girls 
 I never saw before," he added. 
 
 "Oh!" said the young man. As he went off in the 
 opposite direction, he smiled he laughed outright. Some- 
 thing in his thoughts was very amusing. Soon he 
 stopped ; then, as he came to a set of bars in the stone 
 wall, he entered the fields, making a slight detour back of 
 the house. He came out into the road and tramped away 
 in the direction our party had taken. 
 
 The first severe frost of the season lay upon the field s, 
 as the tricycle party trundled along. The fences were 
 white with its glistening rime, and the leaves of plants 
 and tender shrubs hung limp and blackened by its nipping 
 breath ; but every blade of grass, every spike of dried 
 golden-rod, and every fallen twig were as sparkling crys- 
 tals, along the shaded places. The clear and bracing air 
 lent a new color to the faces of the travelers, and they ran 
 rapidly over the smooth road to keep their blood in quick 
 circulation. They all wore perforated chamois jackets 
 under their dresses, and in vigorous exercise defied Jack 
 Frost. 
 
 As the sun rose higher, the myriad of tiny ice crystals 
 which earlier gemmed everything out of doors, wasted 
 away. The air was softened under its warm rays, and a 
 saucy squirrel ran along the wall, now in, now out, up and 
 down the fence-posts, with a flick of his brown tail and a
 
 THEY GO CHESTNUTTING. j^ 
 
 little chatter at these new intruders upon his highway. A 
 covey of quail started up at their approach, but at a signal 
 from the anxious mother they scattered in all directions 
 and lay motionless beneath the brown leaves until the 
 strangers had passed. It was a worrisome time for poor 
 Mrs. Bob White with her family of eight heedless young 
 ones, who, although nearly grown, were not at all able to 
 care for themselves, and she really believed they would 
 stand staring at a man with a gun until they were all 
 killed, if she did not insist on their swift retirement in some 
 friendly nook. You are in no danger now, little mother, 
 but hie away quickly under the wall, for there may be a 
 hunter on the road. 
 
 " There are the woods, I am sure," said Mahala, as they 
 pushed their machines up a short, steep hill. 
 
 " Yes, this must be the place," agreed Margery, and they 
 chained and locked their wheels in a protected corner of 
 the lot and trudged off over the undulating ground. 
 
 " O, what a splendid great tree ! there must be bushels 
 on this," said Margery, who, with Mrs. Mather, had gone 
 ahead. They seized some gnarled and crooked sticks 
 which were lying on the ground, and began to poke and 
 brush the brown leaves which thickly strewed the turf ; 
 but they searched in vain. 
 
 " There dos n't seem to be any burrs on it, either," said 
 the disappointed young lady, looking upward. 
 
 " Why should Mr. Stearns send us so far, for nothing ? " 
 
 " He probably did not refer to this tree, Margie, as it 
 is an oak," said Miss St. John, coming up ; and Mahala 
 laughed in a most provoking manner as they passed by on 
 their way towards the woods.
 
 jijg WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Ah ! Here are the chestnut trees," exclaimed Mrs. 
 Mather, in a few minutes, "with burrs by scores, too. 
 There must be plenty of nuts on the ground. See ! The 
 wide-open burrs with their golden plush linings are many 
 of them empty." 
 
 They all went speedily to work, picking up the shining 
 brown nuts, which were lying by twos and threes upon the 
 faded grass, resting upon the dried leaves, or almost hidden 
 on a mat of green moss at the roots of the trees. They 
 brushed away the crackling leaves and picked up the fasci- 
 nating harvest until they had perhaps a couple of quarts,, 
 when Margery said, "We certainly have more than we can 
 use already. Why take any more ? Some boys will 
 doubtless be woefully disappointed to find them all gone, 
 for I fancy we are the first in the field, and anxious young- 
 sters will be here to-day." 
 
 " All right, Margery, you are a dear to think of others 
 in such an exciting moment ; but let 's get a few more 
 for Mr. Stearns," said Mahala, and as she kept on picking 
 up nuts, eagerly flying here and there, and rapidly filling 
 her bag, the others returned to- the captivating pursuit and 
 were all as busy as could be, when Miss St. John ejacu- 
 lated faintly : 
 
 " Horror ! Here comes a man with a bull-dog. And he 
 means trouble ! See how red his face is ! " 
 
 Striding across the field in his rough boots came a man 
 that one would dislike to meet anywhere. The alarm 
 of the almost defenseless women was not without 
 cause. A brutal face he had, with coarse overhanging 
 brows, and he showed rows of irregular and monstrous
 
 THEY GO CHESTNUTTING. l ^ 
 
 teeth, as he came cursing, and leading a fierce bull-dog by 
 a chain. 
 
 Mrs. Mather instantly laid her hand on her hip. She 
 had never let her good pistol go out of her possession 
 since the morning when they had the false alarm, when 
 she had loaned it to Margery to practice shooting at a 
 mark. Mahala's suppositious danger from tramps had 
 served this purpose, to make her, as the guardian of the 
 safety of the party, more careful to keep her weapon 
 always on her side. 
 
 Miss St. John, made more timid by her encounter with 
 the peddler, a few days previous, now began to feel that 
 ill-fortune was attending the latter part of this journey so 
 pleasantly begun, and continued so successfully, almost to 
 its end. 
 
 "What are yez doin' here ! " shouted the ruffian, as he 
 came nearer. " Stalin' chestnuts, oi suppose ! " 
 
 " Have you any right to inquire, sir ? " said Mrs. 
 Mather, stepping towards him, white but calm, with a 
 proud pose of the head and a glitter in her eye that some- 
 what cooled the man's temper. 
 
 " In coorse I have, or I would n't be here. I tell ye, 
 ye must lave them nuts on the ground or pay me for 'em. 
 Oi s'pose ye know thim is worth two dollars a bushel. 
 It's stalin' ye are, however foine ladies ye be." 
 
 " We care nothing for your chestnuts, sir. You can 
 gather them for yourself," and taking her bag by the closed 
 end, the lady with a quick gesture scattered the nuts far 
 over the field. "Only relieve us of your insulting 
 presence."
 
 j5o WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 This act of defiance, and the stinging contempt in the 
 last remark, was enough to thoroughly enrage the man. 
 He had expected to bully the unprotected girls into paying 
 him for the nuts, or by forcing them to give up the con- 
 tents of their bags, to reap the benefit of their toil. But 
 now, frantic with rage, he sprang after Mahala, who alone 
 still held on to her harvest, and with a frightful oath was 
 about to lay a hand upon her arm, when like a log he fell 
 to the earth. 
 
 His dog sprang upon him, whining and licking his face. 
 In a second or two he moved, and turning upon his elbow 
 to get up he met the eyes of a young man in hunting- 
 jacket and knickerbockers, who stood with his gun in his 
 left hand looking down at him. The fist that dealt the 
 stunning blow behind the ear was still clenched and ready 
 to repeat the dose if necessary. 
 
 Miss St. John had seen the stranger running towards 
 them almost simultaneously with the advent of the fero- 
 cious man and dog, and like Sister Ann, in story, she had 
 waved and beckoned with energy and hope to the rescuer. 
 
 " Now, Finnegan, tell me what you purposed to do ! 
 Insulting and terrifying ladies like this ! " said the 
 stranger, with fire in his brown eyes, his nostrils distend- 
 ing with his quick breath and his breast heaving with in- 
 dignation. 
 
 "They was stalin' the nuts, and I won't have it," mut- 
 tered the fallen man, sullenly, and he glared at the fright- 
 ened party like a caged hyena. 
 
 " Stealing is a poor word for you to use, who are only 
 cutting my father's wood on shares ! I have heard of your
 
 THEY GO CHESTNUTTING. 
 
 161 
 
 villainous robbing of boys at this place, and when I heard 
 these ladies were coming here, I took pains to be in the 
 vicinity. Now, take your miserable carcass off the land 
 and I will see to it that your contract on these premises 
 
 ends to-day. Leave! I will stay here to see you go. 
 Ladies, perhaps you had better return to your wheels," 
 he said, politely addressing them. 
 
 The discomfited scoundrel had risen to his feet and 
 w. fc.w. 11
 
 jg 2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 stood stealthily glowering around, under pretence of ad- 
 justing his clothing. As he stooped to recover his hat, he 
 hissed "S-st! boy!" and pointed towards the ladies, who 
 were starting away to their wheels. The beast sprang 
 forward with a low growl. Instantly, the gentleman 
 brought his piece to shoulder and the bull-dog rolled over 
 with a deadly wound in his side. 
 
 "You were foolish, Finnegan, to do that," said the 
 young man, coolly, as he turned to the revengeful brute, 
 " there 's another barrel ready for you, if you get too 
 wild. I fortunately had just loaded, as I came upon the 
 scene of your brilliant exploits. Now, leave, will you ? " 
 
 More than ever baffled, and grinding his teeth in futile 
 rage, the man stopped for a minute to bend over the 
 defunct dog, and seeing that he was dead, gave his lifeless 
 body a kick, and walked sullenly away. 
 
 Their protector watched the furious Irishman well out 
 of the field, saw him disappear far up a lane, and then 
 walked over to the spot at a little distance from the dis- 
 agreeable encounter, where the group was waiting to 
 express their appreciation of his prompt services in their 
 behalf. 
 
 "Ladies," he said, addressing them as he drew near and 
 lifted his hat, " I hope you will suffer no ill effects from 
 the outrageous conduct of that brute." He turned and 
 looked again in the direction the man had taken. " I re- 
 gret, exceedingly, that I have not insisted upon his dis- 
 charge before. But my father, considering only that he 
 was a good worker, would not listen to the tales of his ras- 
 cality which have come to my ears since I came home. 
 Is there anything more I can do for you ? "
 
 THEY GO CHESTNUTTING. jg^ 
 
 " You will certainly let us thank you for your assistance 
 in this very unpleasant situation," said Mrs. Mather, 
 warmly, giving him her hand. He accepted the friendly 
 grasp with perfect ease, again lifting his hat from his 
 fine head. The lady continued, "It was perhaps foolhardy 
 in ladies to come into the woods alone, but we have never 
 before been troubled." (Miss St. John had said nothing of 
 her small unpleasantness with the peddler.) "We should 
 be glad to know to whom we are indebted for this timely 
 aid," she added, giving him a look of frank gratitude. 
 
 " My name is Philip Farnham," was the simple and direct 
 reply. "I have been in business in New York for seven 
 years, but return to my home here, every fall, in time for 
 duck-shooting," and he gave a little deprecatory glance 
 and slight shrug at his worn costume. " So far from re- 
 ceiving thanks for this trifle, I acknowledge that I am glad 
 to have had the opportunity to put a quietus upon that 
 wretch, no less than to be of service to you." 
 
 " Sir," said the chaperone, " we can never forget this 
 experience, and my husband, Mr. Frederick W. Mather, 
 will send you hearty thanks." She turned to the group 
 behind her. "My friends are Miss St. John, Miss Margery 
 Prescott, and Miss Mahala Wright, of Hartford." 
 
 The artist cordially extended her hand, Miss Prescott 
 made a graceful inclination of her tall figure and expressed 
 her obligation in a few well-chosen sentences ; but Mahala, 
 blushing furiously for some unknown cause, said, irrele- 
 vantly, and with an air of great unconcern, which was in- 
 tended to convey the idea that she had not been fright- 
 ened at all, "I am glad I did not give up my chestnuts," 
 with a little hitch of her dimpled chin.
 
 T g4 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "So am I, Miss Wright," responded the new acquain- 
 tance, with great heartiness, and he stood and looked after 
 with a curious smile as she skipped lightly away to the 
 corner where the tricycles were. Then, after making a 
 few polite remarks . concerning the machines and their 
 utility, and casting another look about him to assure him- 
 self that the furious and reckless Irishman was at a safe 
 distance in the opposite direction, Philip Farnham bade 
 the party good morning and proceeded down the road, 
 thinking that the mounting of the tricycles might be an 
 awkward thing for be-skirted femininity, and he would not 
 be near to embarrass them. But he quickly turned about 
 after striking into the brush, and from this coign of van- 
 tage saw that his fears were entirely uncalled for, as the 
 gray forms stepped inside the wheels and resting lightly 
 on the two handles, put their feet upon the bars in front 
 and rose gracefully to the saddles. They gave quick 
 impetus to the wheels with their hands and were away. 
 Only the tips of their toes were seen beneath the heavy 
 folds of their skirts as the treadles rose and fell. Certainly 
 it was an ideal locomotion. The young man now stepped 
 out of the brush to get a better view of the swiftly-reced- 
 ing riders, and at that instant Miss Mahala gave a look to 
 the rear. He quickly raised his hat, and she, red as a rose, 
 impatiently turned her eyes. 
 
 Margery, who had been severely shaken by the fright, 
 was still tremulous and pale. "Oh, girls!" she said, 
 earnestly, "what a fortunate deliverance out of the 
 clutches of that horrible man ! I could not have run a 
 step, I trembled so. I was so thankful when I saw this.
 
 THEY GO CHESTNUTTING. jge 
 
 gentleman coming. His eyes fairly flashed fire as he 
 struck the man ! How terrible it was to see him fall so 
 like, a clod to the earth !" 
 
 " But what an admirable person Mr. Farnham seems to 
 be," said Miss St. John ; " he is doubtless of a good family. 
 You could see that in his well-shaped hand. . It was brown, 
 to be sure," she added, "but that was from hunting, of 
 course. I like side-whiskers, too ; yes, he is my idea of a 
 man." 
 
 "Why, Aunt Dude!" exclaimed* Mahala, laughing ner- 
 vously, "you would not fall in love with a stranger, and 
 one with red hair, too ! " 
 
 "He has not red hair," spoke up Mrs. Mather, defen- 
 sively; "it is just a lovely auburn, and if I had not an 
 old fellow somewhere," she added, with a little yearning 
 in the merry tones, " I am not sure what might not happen 
 to me. Well," she continued, more soberly, " It certainly 
 was a boon to us that such a muscular cavalier was around." 
 
 "Yes," grumbled Mahala, under her breath. "He is 
 always around, I believe." 
 
 A light broke upon Mrs. Mather. 
 
 " Some people are always happening about, and intrud- 
 ing themselves," said the perverse girl, with surprising 
 unreasonableness. 
 
 " Why, Mike," exclaimed Margery, in astonishment, " I 
 never saw you so contrary. What ails the girl ? " 
 
 " She is tired and cross, I suppose," was Miss St. 
 John's opinion ; but Julie Mather had her own ideas about it. 
 
 " There 's nothing the matter," asserted the girl, with 
 some petulance, " except that I don't agree with you in
 
 j66 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 admiring this young man. Of course, it was very obliging 
 in him to knock the man down and kill the dog ; though 
 it is nothing more than he would have done for a lot of 
 factory girls ; but as for thinking him at all nice, I don't ! 
 I can't bear the sight of him ! " 
 
 Mrs. Mather gently shook her head at Miss St. John, 
 who was about to argue with her pettish niece, and 
 changed the subject by pointing out a mendicant robin, 
 now sadly wandering about in his old dilapidated clothes, 
 and as Mahala's ready Sympathy with all living creatures 
 in feathers and fur went out at once to him, good humor 
 was once more restored. 
 
 " Poor fellow ! " said Mahala, in humorous pity, " he is 
 not such a dandy, now, as when he came out in the spring ! 
 What a handsome swell he was then, in his jet black cap 
 and red vest ! and now how shabby he is, to be sure ! You 
 had better get into the thicket and out of sight as soon as 
 you can, young fellow! You areftasse for this year." 
 
 Mr. Stearns was much disturbed to hear of the perilous 
 adventure which had befallen his guests, and blamed him- 
 self, over and over again, for allowing them to go into the 
 fields alone. He was saying this for the twentieth time 
 as they sat at the dinner-table. 
 
 " Oh, we should probably have come out all right, uncle, 
 if I had not lost my temper and scattered the nuts around,"" 
 said Julie. 
 
 " Temper !" roared Uncle Stearns, bringing down his 
 fist upon the table so that all the glasses jingled. "Great 
 Scott ! who could keep his temper under such an insult ? 
 I wish I had the villain here," said the wrathful old
 
 THEY GO CHESTNUTTING. 567 
 
 gentleman, tightening his fingers. " I'd wring his neck for 
 him ! " 
 
 " Well," said Miss St. John, giving her head a satisfied 
 little shake, "young Mr. Farnham fixed his ear for him. 
 That 's one sure thing ! " 
 
 " So the fiend was reaching for Mahala, was he, when 
 Farnham knocked him down ! Well, well, that would 
 annoy a handsome young fellow like Phil." 
 
 Mahala winced under the old man's harmless joke, 
 and found no pert answer like those which usually came 
 to her lips. 
 
 " Uncle," said Julie, as their plates were changed for pie, 
 "you are probably well acquainted with Mr. Farnham. 
 He seems to be a well-bred person." 
 
 "Well-bred? Why, certainly. The Farnham s are one 
 of the oldest and most respectable families in Essex, and 
 Philip, personally, is fully up to the standard. He is the 
 youngest partner of Estey, Brown & Company, wool 
 brokers in New York, and is rich, they say. That is of 
 no consequence, however, as he is an energetic worker 
 and a real gentleman." 
 
 ."Mrs. Bronson," Mahala whispered to the housekeeper 
 at the beginning of this eulogy, "I do not care for 
 dessert; may I be excused?" and had quietly left the 
 room. But astute Mrs. Mather noticed that she lingered 
 in the hall long enough to hear it through, and was 
 inwardly amused, for she knew that if there was anything 
 Mahala doted upon it was squash-pie and new cheese.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 e ^FcMH4ri-ci4Hd call t^povi- -t&c 
 
 AT evening, Mr. Stearns's rather bare and uninterest- 
 ing sitting-room had taken an unusually bright and 
 cosy appearance. 
 
 Her uncle, who had been looking through the telegraph 
 columns of the paper, turned to the cheery group around 
 the center-table and said, "Julie, I hope you and your 
 friends will come here soon again." He took off his 
 glasses and sat regarding the young ladies, who were 
 gracing his home, with unalloyed pleasure as he wiped and 
 polished his spectacles. " I never realized how dreary 
 the house was until you came. Somehow, you seem to 
 furnish it with life and color." 
 
 Mahala was curled up in the corner of the wide lounge, 
 reading an old-fashioned love-story which she had found in 
 the top of the "secretary" and drawn forth from its 
 uncongenial companionship with a concordance, a dic- 
 tionary, Young's "Night Thoughts," Pope's "Essay on 
 Man," Watts' "On the Mind," some almanacs, and other 
 miscellany. 
 
 068)
 
 THE FARNHAMS CALL UPON THE TOURISTS. jgg 
 
 She wore a tea-gown of light blue, with dainty ruffles 
 at the throat and wrists. One slender foot,' clad in 
 black silk hose and pointed slipper showed underneath 
 the graceful folds of the soft cashmere robe, and her deep 
 blue eyes with fringed dark lashes ran back and forth 
 along the quaint lines of the book she read. 
 
 Plump Mrs. Mather, who knew her possibilities and did 
 not tamper with esthetic styles in clothing, wore a per- 
 fectly-fitting dress of dark maroon velvet. She was busily 
 engaged in making a napkin-holder for her uncle. She 
 had seen that the dear old man was in continual trouble 
 with this convenient article at table. He would drop it to 
 the floor, recover it, and tuck it into- his bosom or into his 
 coat-tail pocket, and when it was needed was surprised 
 and annoyed at its unaccountable absence from his knees, 
 and would hunt for it, slapping his sides and looking under 
 his chair in vain search. So, with a pair of clasps which 
 she had found at the store, and a bit of ribbon, she was 
 working on some "stitches" in silk floss, and deftly 
 fashioned the useful little article as she chatted of 
 pleasant things. 
 
 "Be sure you wear it, won't you, uncle?" she said; 
 "for if you use it once you will never be without one. 
 Fred finds his invaluable. I will keep you supplied as they 
 get worn." 
 
 Miss St. John, always in subdued colors, had exchanged 
 her gray wheel-dress for a genteel black silk, which was 
 soft and lusterless, and was mechanically knitting on some 
 scarlet wools. She was discussing charitable societies, 
 and the results of their work, with Mr. Stearns. He was
 
 IJQ WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 disposed to think that the ponderous machinery of some 
 of these institutions absorbed much of the money donated 
 by a trusting public. " It seems all out of proportion to 
 the meager results," he was saying. " In a town of say 
 fifty thousand inhabitants, which are largely counted 
 among the upper class, with small and easily get-at-able poor 
 districts, with the town alms-house, Widows' Home, Church 
 Home, Woman's Aid Society, Woman's Christian Associa- 
 tion, Young Men's Christian Association, and half a dozen 
 other associations, it would seem impossible for any pauper 
 to escape, and as if the tone of morals must be well-nigh per- 
 fect. Is such the result of your evangelical guild, your 
 combination for city charity, and your free kindergartens, 
 sewing-schools, and reading-rooms ? It is the impression 
 among us country people, that it is a lot of fuss and 
 feathers, without any adequate result from the thousands 
 of dollars which are poured out every year for the poor." 
 The lady raised her bright gray eyes to his honest face. 
 "That there is considerable machinery about the system of 
 organized- charity there is no doubt, and probably full as 
 much in our city as in larger places, because it has become 
 the fashionable thing to do. You see, we ladies of the 
 inner circles do no work. We attend the meetings and 
 see that no outsiders come in to vote different methods 
 from those we consider to be proper. Money we collect 
 from the lay members each year, to be sure, but there 
 their usefulness ends, with the exception, perhaps, of half 
 a dozen devoted women, who sit and cut out garments ; 
 manage the different departments ; and report to us once 
 a year. We vote to accept their work. Most of us are
 
 THE FARNHAMS CALL UPON THE TOURISTS. j^j 
 
 too toney to know how to sew, and are too delicate to 
 make personal visits to our protegees, and so we hire an 
 almoner to do it for us." 
 
 "Ha! ha!" laughed the amused listener. 
 
 "Now, Dude, you stop such sarcasm," interposed Mrs. 
 Mather, who was smiling in spite of herself, while her 
 cheeks were hot with vexation. " You know it is far better 
 to give the dispensation of alms to a competent person 
 than to work individually, oftentimes at cross purposes, 
 repeating assistance to some families and neglecting others 
 who are worthy." 
 
 " Yes, that is true, Julie, if the whole idea of these institu- 
 tions, publicly organized to support the thriftless portion of 
 the community, who are too lazy, or too abandoned to all 
 responsibility in their own or in their children's welfare 
 to work for themselves, is not fundamentally erroneous." 
 
 " These are certainly vexed questions," said Miss. St. 
 John, fairly, " and felt to be so by many members of 
 charitable societies. The fact is, certain men will waste 
 their money, whether their families are helped or not. 
 The question then, is, will you let their wives and babies 
 freeze and starve because you cannot convert them from 
 their worthlessness ? " 
 
 "You must look at the effect of your work in the 
 aggregate," insisted Uncle Stearns. 
 
 "We' know it is a thankless, discouraging, and heart- 
 weary task," said Mrs. Mather, troubled with the recol- 
 lection of her trials in the work, " and none realize it so 
 well as those who come into direct contact with the poor. 
 But shall we stop work because we do not see direct 
 results for our pains ? "
 
 T - 2 WHEELS AND WHIMS 
 
 "Perhaps not," answered Mr. Stearns, who was a trifle 
 hard-headed, although notoriously soft-hearted ; but the head 
 held control, as a man's always should. " But should we 
 not look to the showing of ten years, in order to judge 
 fairly of the result of the instinctive sympathy which you 
 philanthropic souls have extended to these suffering classes, 
 without considering whether you were not indirectly work- 
 ing harm to humanity in general ? Now, is the amount of 
 pauperism in your city less in proportion to the population 
 than it was a decade ago ? If not, your institutions are 
 falling far short of their object. While in town the other 
 day, I was in Judge Green's office, and the subject was 
 under discussion. He, and other practical men who were 
 there, claimed that poverty is steadily increasing in Hart- 
 ford, in spite of the astoundingly large sum which statistics 
 show has been devoted to bettering the condition of igno- 
 rant and helpless humanity. Facts, Julie, are " 
 
 "Stubborn things. Yes, I know," said Mrs. Mather, 
 with her own inimitable faculty of playful abuse, which 
 was generally rather flattering to the recipient, "and so 
 are hard-hearted old uncles, who talk very severely and yet 
 would stop to kick a caterpillar out of their path rather than 
 tread upon it ! I saw you do it this morning ! Now, 
 permit me to say that these same facts which are ever 
 referred to as incontrovertible, can be arranged or selected 
 so as to prove almost anything. Your crushing reference 
 to statistics only implies, to me, that whereas ten years 
 ago we passed by on the other side, unconscious of or 
 indifferent to the sufferings of our fellow creatures, we now 
 seek them out, and bring to light an alarming number of
 
 THE FARNHAMS CALL UPON THE TOURISTS. ^3 
 
 cases of degradation and suffering. I have no doubt it 
 existed in the same degree ten years ago. Do you 
 imagine that the abject misery of thousands of poor people 
 in London is any worse than it was before Dickens wrote 
 of it and opened its gaping squalor to the world ? " 
 
 "Mrs. Mather," said her uncle, not ill-pleased, "allow 
 me to protest against any personalities in a discussion. 
 It is extremely poor taste. You will not for an instant 
 hear me advocate any neglect of this great problem 
 which is forcing its ugly form into view with startling 
 prominence in the present day. My idea simply is that 
 instead of throttling the monster of shameless pauperism, 
 we are now fostering it with a system -of coddling, until it 
 will gain such strength that it will turn and rend us. Now, 
 braving your wrath that any one should be so cruelly cal- 
 culating, I must tell you that Judge Green said that he 
 figured that with the money that has actually been given 
 to charity, during these years, he could have boarded 
 every deserving pauper at the Alden House, and given 
 them rides in carriages every day." 
 
 Miss St. John laughed delightedly. 
 
 " Dude," said Mrs. Mather, somewhat annoyed at this 
 presentation of a conclusion against a work in which she 
 was much interested, " I believe that your heart is lost in 
 your pursuit of art, which is cold and unsympathetic. It 
 demands the admiration of the world, and gives nothing 
 but the privilege of gazing upon its perfections in 
 return. It is a cold, unresponsive mirror, and tends to 
 chill its votaries to human joy or woe, except as they are 
 interested to reproduce it. Who was it Giotto ? that
 
 !^4 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 tortured a poor old man to death so that he might paint 
 his dying agonies ? " 
 
 To this feminine retort Miss St. John answered, 
 smiling, " It was Parrhasius, dear. But, Julie, do not bring 
 art into disfavor, because I smiled at an amusing state- 
 ment, and because Parrhasius was cruel." 
 
 The perfect equanimity with which the artist regarded 
 her friend's rather illogical retort in favor of her charitable 
 schemes, no less than the spirited rejoinders of the warm- 
 hearted little chaperone of the visiting party, was a great 
 diversion to Mr. Stearns. He had not been so entertained 
 for a long time. He softly rubbed his hands together and 
 waited for the little woman to finish. 
 
 "And, uncle," she flashed, turning upon him, "I must 
 beg you and the astute lawyers who thus summarily closed 
 a question which few feel competent to answer, to con- 
 sider, that mere physical relief is only one of the objects 
 of an enlightened charity. It costs more to send a boy to 
 school than it does to give him a dinner, and the educa- 
 tional schemes now in practical working in sewing, train- 
 ing, and cooking schools, in mothers' meetings and read- 
 ing-rooms, as well as in constant advice and counsel, are 
 far more expensive in time and money than an occasional 
 turkey or a basket of cold pieces." 
 
 "My dear niece," said her uncle, with affectionate re- 
 gard, "I am sure that the work that you and others do in 
 this field is a power for good to your souls. The admira- 
 tion I feel for a generous, warm-hearted little woman who 
 forgets her own fatigue for the sake of the Lord's unfor- 
 tunates, makes me feel that I would not have the work
 
 THE FARNHAMS CALL UPON THE TOURISTS. j^e 
 
 given up, or differently managed ; but," and he smiled in 
 a teasing way, " is it fair to the paupers ? If it is a fact 
 that they increase under this petting, which is such a rare 
 discipline to you, should you not magnanimously refrain 
 from it, and let some clear-headed, hard-fisted, Christian 
 man take the management of your half-dozen societies con- 
 solidated into one, and care gently for the innocent and 
 disabled, while dealing decisively with laziness and 
 crime ? " 
 
 Miss St. John leaned eagerly forward to catch Mrs. 
 Mather's reply to a proposition which instantly offended 
 her as a champion of the dignity and executive powers of 
 her sex. 
 
 Mrs. Mather smiled across the table at her friend, and 
 then turned again to the old man, who sat intensely enjoy- 
 ing the discussion he had brought about by a few remarks 
 calculated to stir up the ire of these wide-awake ladies. 
 
 "To your idea of consolidation," answered Mrs. Mather, 
 " I say yes. A thousand times, yes. To your declaration 
 that charitable societies tend to foster laziness and crimi- 
 nal neglect of opportunities for self-help, by their proffered 
 aid, I say, its truth has yet to be proven. To your last 
 proposition for a masculine manager of all charities, imply- 
 ing that women are actuated rather by their quick sympa- 
 thies than by good judgment, I say, that in common 
 with many other men, you are condemning our methods 
 without that understanding of them which would qualify 
 you to an unbiased conclusion. You jump at once 
 to the conclusion that, being women, we have not 
 progressed with the rest of the world beyond the old
 
 r ^5 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 and injudicious practice of giving money or provisions to 
 any worthless individual who makes a demand for it. I 
 wish to call your attention to the fact, that one of our 
 women, who is a prominent dispenser of funds trusted to 
 her for the purpose, was among the first in the country to- 
 tKink out the problem for herself and advocate the lending 
 of assistance with the direct purpose of inducing indigent 
 ones to help themselves. She has evei> made it a point 
 not to give anything to those who are able to work for it. 
 She works with this idea constantly in view. Earnestly 
 urging upon her backers the folly of indiscriminate charity, 
 as doing more harm than good, she endeavors to open the 
 chances for discouraged humanity. If she could bring all 
 of the society which supports her to her own practical views 
 there would be less heard about 'fuss and feathers,' less gush 
 and fashionable display, and less wide-spread mischievous 
 effects from a palpable loss of the main idea, under a mass 
 of circumlocution and absurd mismanagement But, taking 
 the running of any of these societies, which are managed 
 by ladies, I am confident they will compare favorably with 
 any which are under the charge of 'hard-fisted men.' " 
 
 Miss St. John clapped her hands softly. " Why, Julie 
 Mather, do you know that you are almost advocating 
 woman's rights ? I am surprised at you." As indeed she 
 was. 
 
 Julie threw her a little smile, and continued, " Well, I 
 let all these knotty points go, unless I am disturbed by 
 some obstinate old uncle, whom it is rrecessary to set right. 
 I am convinced that the educational schemes are of deep- 
 est importance. There is certainly no danger of making
 
 THE FARNHAMS CALL UPON THE TOURISTS. l ny 
 
 children too kind or polite. No fear that in teaching them 
 to do honast work, they can be injured. This work is 
 large enough to occupy many efficient helpers. When 
 you commence with a child and make him clean, you have 
 taken the first step towards leading him out of pauperism. 
 When you teach them to read, to use their brains and 
 hands, you have given them that which no drunken father 
 can take away. When you have convinced a poor boy or 
 girl that it is brighter, happier, better to be moral, you 
 have cured crime, or rather prevented it. It is enough for 
 me," she said, kindling, "to see the children coming out 
 of filth and ignorance under our ministrations. This work 
 takes air my leisure time. Let those who are disposed 
 quarrel over office-holding, or pine for recognition by the 
 figureheads of societies. Uncle, there are some things 
 not reducible to statistics." 
 
 " Bravo, little woman ! I am proud to acknowledge 
 that you have a wider comprehension of the subject than 
 I had given you tender-hearted women credit for. What 
 we need everywhere is a clearer understanding of the 
 principles of this subject. We are not justified in closing 
 our eyes to the needs of our fellows, but he or she that 
 brings into exercise an intelligent caution against inju- 
 rious alms-giving is a veritable philanthropist, in having 
 worked towards the permanently beneficent ends. But," 
 he said, returning to his first idea, "an awful sight of 
 money goes somewhere, with no very encouraging results. 
 However, if they enjoy it (I mean the ladies; of course 
 their pensioners do), I am not sure that it does any 
 harm ! " 
 
 w. & TV. 12
 
 !78 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Uncle, you are incorrigible ! We get you all con- 
 vinced, and then you fly back to your original statement. 
 That is supposed to be exclusively a woman's prerogative," 
 answered his niece, regarding him somewhat reproach- 
 fully. 
 
 "Yes, sir," said the artist, "if you could hear our man- 
 agers talk you would not dare to offer such faint praise. 
 Why, they consider they are bringing about the millen- 
 nium." 
 
 "Well, I suppose they see results that others cannot. 
 It's probably all right, if they like it." 
 
 The old man did not come down very gracefully from 
 his high ground, but Mrs. Mather realized that she had 
 made some effect upon his mind in favor of her favor- 
 ite branches of charitable work, and said no more. 
 
 " Certainly these societies work for good. Whether they 
 achieve the greatest possibilities, or not, it is hard to say. 
 And," she pursued, shaking her head at him, "while I 
 cannot help seeing the ludicrous side of many of their 
 procedures, I decidedly object to your insinuation that 
 they make mistakes because they are women. Men have 
 yet to be proven infallible, and I think all organizations, 
 whether masculine, feminine, political, social, or charitable, 
 have such features, and such is life." 
 
 "There now, it is all settled," said Mahala, from the 
 lounge. She now arose and clasping her hand behind her 
 head, stood for a moment looking at Mrs. Mather with 
 quizzical affection. "There's no use trying to read here," 
 she said, as she came and placed her hands beside her 
 friend's face as she stood behind her chair, "your conver- 
 sation is so much more interesting than "
 
 THE FARNHAMS CALL UPON THE TOURISTS. I JQ 
 
 Here the door-bell rang vigorously, and Mr. Stearns 
 proceeded to the door. Mahala flew back to the lounge in 
 the corner, and Miss St. John sat unwinding a line of 
 scarlet zephyr, while Mrs. Mather looked expectantly 
 towards the door. 
 
 "Ah! Good evening, sir, good evening," the voice of 
 Mr. Stearns was heard to say. " Madam, I am very glad 
 to see you. Come right into the sitting-room. I must 
 introduce to you my young ladies," he said, proudly. 
 
 "Thank you," rejoined a pleasant voice, "it was to see 
 them that we called this evening." 
 
 Mr. Stearns came into the room and stood on one side to 
 allow a beautiful lady with soft gray hair to enter. 
 
 "Mrs. Farnham, this is Mrs. Mather, my niece," and 
 Miss St. John and Miss Wright were in turn presented to 
 the graceful lady, who wore a dress of heavy satin, an 
 India shawl of exquisite fineness, and an unmistakably 
 aristocratic bonnet with rich plumes. 
 
 Mrs. Mather's quick eye took this all in at a glance, and 
 she was not surprised to see the tall figure and strong face 
 of Mr. Philip Farnham, now in exceptionally neat and 
 elegant attire, following the lovely old lady into the room. 
 
 She quickly -went to greet him in her own cordial man- 
 ner, and while expressing her pleasure at meeting him 
 again, she heard Mrs. Farnham saying : " I made haste 
 to call upon you, ladies, and say how much I regret your 
 unpleasant encounter with Patrick Finnegan in our woods. 
 I really hope the fright has not made you ill, nor dis- 
 heartened you from pursuing your very interesting jour- 
 ney, of which I have heard."
 
 jg o WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "Oh, no," answered Miss St. John, "only Miss Prescott 
 has felt the shock somewhat, and as her ankle is still a lit- 
 tle lame from a slight sprain, she has gone to bed, She 
 will be very sorry not to meet you." 
 
 "And I am very sorry not to see her," the lady 
 graciously replied. " Miss St. John," she said, suddenly, 
 " I am sure that I have heard of you before, through my 
 friend, Mrs. Trowbridge. Is she not also a friend of 
 yours ? " 
 
 "Why, yes, indeed," said Miss St. John, with great 
 enthusiasm, and their conversation was at once launched 
 upon a sea of pleasant reminiscences and flowing inter- 
 change of ideas. 
 
 Mahala, who had seen the entrance of Philip Farnham 
 with dismay, had sunk again into the comfortable lounge. 
 There she sat, fingering the long ends of blue satin bow 
 at her neck, with eyes cast down and toes demurely 
 crossed. She made an extremely pretty picture, but, as, 
 Mrs. Mather well knew, was feeling terribly embarrassed 
 and uncomfortable. Seeing that Mr. Farnham had cast 
 many glances towards that corner, and by several remarks 
 thrown in Mahala's direction (which, however, elicited na 
 reply from her) had shown a desire to draw out the shy 
 girl, Mrs. Mather turned her conversation to her uncle for 
 a moment. 
 
 Then Philip rose and crossed the room, and taking a 
 seat on the lounge beside her, in the easiest manner pos- 
 sible commenced a talk of polite nothings and agreeable 
 remarks upon things in general, so that before long Mahala 
 had somewhat forgotten her unnatural reticence and was.
 
 THE FARNHAMS CALL UPON THE TOURISTS. l ^ l 
 
 telling him about her brother's furore for "specimens." 
 She descanted wittily upon the annoyance of the family 
 when some of the beetles refused to die under chlorofoim, 
 and went crawling about the house with long pins through 
 their horny bodies. " But that was before he knew any- 
 thing about cyanide of potash," she continued, raising the 
 long lashes as she gave him an artless glance and rolled 
 the blue ribbon over her taper forefingers. "Now, he just 
 puts them into a wide-nosed bottle with this poison in the 
 bottom, and they crawl about perfectly happy for a while, 
 until the first thing they know they are dead." 
 
 Philip laughed, and told her of some gorgeous beetles 
 he had brought from the South, and said he would like to 
 send them to her brother, feeling sure that so enthusiastic 
 a naturalist as she described him to be would take far 
 better care of them than he might if he kept them in his 
 possession. Mahala could not refuse such an acquisition 
 for Joe, and thanked him prettily for her brother. 
 
 Soon, again, Julie caught fragments of their chat. Mr. 
 Farnham, who evidently considered the frank and unas- 
 suming style of the sprightly girl very charming, was get- 
 ting personal. "I am sure, Miss Wright," said he, "tha,t I 
 heard your friends call you Mike. How did you come by 
 such a cognomen ? " 
 
 Mahala then told him how "the boys" disliked her old- 
 fashioned name, and said she was such a good fellow that 
 she should have a boy's name. So, as Mike was Frank's 
 name for every one, and he did not know what else to call 
 her, she was dubbed by his favorite appellation. 
 
 " I feel that it is hardly appropriate, and not very attract-
 
 jg 2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 ive," she said, opening and shutting her book with a 
 pensive air, "but if the boys like it, that is enough," and 
 she looked at her listener* with her eyebrows raised, while 
 she showed the tips of her white teeth. 
 
 "Yes, indeed. So it is, Miss Wright," assented the 
 young man, with a warmth which seemed a little in excess 
 considering the triviality of the subject. " Your devotion 
 to the boys must be very pleasant to them; and, you 
 know, all names are not appropriate." 
 
 "No," she said, with a quick impulse, and a wicked 
 smile, " I think yours should be Rufus," and then, fright- 
 ened at her temerity, she colored a little and looked away, 
 and then at him askance to see the effect of her saucy 
 words. 
 
 "Certainly, I see, 'The Red,' " answered the gentle- 
 man, passing his hand over his crisp hair which was clip- 
 ped rather closely to his fine head, not in the least dis- 
 turbed. Then he said slowly, and looking intently at her 
 with a meaning smile, " And when I can recall a name for 
 a fire-hang-bircl, I will suggest it to you. How would 
 Oriola suit you ? " 
 
 Mahala was crushed. ' She threw him one piteous glance, 
 in which shame, conviction, and dread were mingled. 
 The worst had happened she was disgraced, ridiculed. 
 
 "Oh, Mr. Farnham," she cried, crimson with mortifica- 
 tion, "were you did you " 
 
 "Yes," he answered, laughing at her mercilessly, "I 
 was, and I did." 
 
 "Oh," she exclaimed, in low but indignant tones, "how- 
 could you do such a thing ? How came you to be away
 
 THE FARNHAMS CALL UPON THE TOURISTS. jg^ 
 
 up in Haddam, anyway ? I think it was horrid in you ! " 
 and she turned away her coquettish head and bit her lips. 
 
 Philip seeing her unfeigned distress, hastened to say 
 most earnestly, "Miss Wright, I assure you there was no 
 intent on my part to distress any one, when I went up the 
 river that morning hunting. Hearing cries as of some 
 one in need of help, I ran through the woods and jumped 
 the fence, to see a young lady in a rather unhappy situa- 
 tion." He suppressed a smile in a most exasperating 
 manner. " But as your friends arrived just at that 
 moment, and you dropped from the birch, I jumped back 
 again, so as not to embarrass you, when I could be of no 
 assistance. I could see from the cover of the woods that 
 no one was seriously hurt, so I went on my way." 
 
 Mahala was twisting her fingers and winking very fast. 
 
 "Am I to blame for this, Miss Wright?" asked Philip, 
 leaning towards her kindly. 
 
 " No ; you were only doing the kind and chivalrous 
 thing," she answered bravely, at last, "but I I am being 
 justly punished for my hideous rudeness." 
 
 " I protest that it struck me as the most natural and 
 unavoidable accident in the world," declared Philip. 
 Mahala smiled in spite of her vexation. 
 
 " Do you forgive me, then, for being near? It was im- 
 possible that I should have foreseen such a contre temps. 
 Please tell me that you will not dislike me for it." 
 
 "Come, Philip," said the gentle voice of his mother, 
 "we are making a shockingly unfashionable call; it is 
 time to go. My dear," she said to Mahala, as she took 
 her hand, " I wish to know you better, and also to see you
 
 jg; WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 on your tricycles, so I have invited your friends to come 
 and dine with us at four to-morrow afternoon. I hope 
 you will certainly come. Mrs. Mather thinks that Miss 
 Prescott will be hardly able to use her wheels, so I shall 
 send the carriage for her." 
 
 An eloquent glance from the red-brown eyes of Philip 
 (burnt sienna, Miss St. John called them) seconded this 
 kind invitation so persuasively that Mahala stammered 
 her thanks and professed herself under the leading of her 
 aunt and chaperone, and Mr. Farnham and his mother 
 took their leave.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 * T THOUGHT we were going on our journey to-day," 
 
 A said Mahala the next morning, and as she had com- 
 pleted her toilet she sat down sideways upon a chair, and 
 resting her arm upon its back, clasped her hands and 
 pouted a little. 
 
 Miss St. John, who was fastening her collar at the glass, 
 turned upon her with considerable asperity. 
 
 "Mahala Wright," she said, "you are developing an 
 amount of perversity of late which is astonishing. Ordi- 
 narily, you would be charmed to visit such an old manse as 
 Mr. Stearns tells us the Farnham house is, to say nothing 
 of the pleasure of knowing such delightful people. Really, 
 you are trying to one's disposition." 
 
 " Well, well, auntie, I do not mean to vex you, and cer- 
 tainly have no objections to going to Mrs. Farnham's if 
 you all wish it. Don't be angry, dear, I only " 
 
 " She only put in her disclaimer, to be consistent," 
 lightly added Mrs. Mather, who had just come into the 
 room. 
 
 " Consistent ! in what ? " demanded Mahala, turning 
 
 (i8S)
 
 1 86 
 
 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 swiftly upon her friend ; but her eyes, which she tried to 
 make unconscious, fell beneath the quizzical gaze of that 
 lady, who merely said, "Oh, nothing." 
 
 "Well, I think you are all getting enigmatical," sniffed 
 Miss St. John, "and I move that we go down to break- 
 fast." 
 
 At precisely three o'clock in the afternoon, the carriage, 
 drawn by a pair of fat bay horses, driven by black Robert, 
 who had grown gray in the Farnhams' service, arrived at 
 Mr. Stearns's door to convey Margery and himself to Squire 
 Farnham's house.
 
 DINNER AT THE FARNHAMS. jg^ 
 
 The old gentleman protested that he could carry Mar- 
 gery over in his buggy, but Mrs. Farnham had insisted 
 that the horses needed exercise, and it would please Rob- 
 ert so much to drive a beautiful young lady in his carriage 
 once more ; so he reluctantly consented to be waited upon. 
 The trio, on tricycles, followed the carriage, and soon the 
 party arrived at the Farnhams' place, where Phflip stood 
 on the stone steps at the entrance to greet them. He 
 carefully assisted Margery up the flight to the door, where 
 she was met and kissed on her presentation to the sweet 
 mother. Then he turned again to welcome the gray-suited 
 ladies, who now came smoothly up the circular driveway. 
 Mrs. Farnham, having thrown a light shawl over her head, 
 now came briskly out of the house. 
 
 "Oh, here you are at last, my dears," she cried. "Don't 
 alight ! I. do want to see those machines work. Are you 
 too tired to run around the circle just once for me ? Oh, 
 how perfectly fascinating that must be !" she said to Philip, 
 as they ran so rapidly and noiselessly over the smooth 
 drive. " It is only when I see the freedom and out-of-door 
 sports of young girls in this age, that I wish I had been 
 born fifty years later." 
 
 "Ah, Mrs. Farnham," said Julie, as she stepped from her 
 wheels, " one must feel, in knowing you, that there are 
 compensations in having been brought up in the old 
 school, though we do enjoy our strength and the robust 
 health which this exercise in pure air brings us." 
 
 " Miss St. John," said their hostess, as she led her into 
 the house, "how independent you are enabled to be of 
 cars and carriages, on your sketching tours, by your tri- 
 cycle ! "
 
 jgg WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "Yes," answered the artist, "it is a great convenience 
 to me. In fact, I wonder how I ever got along without it." 
 
 " Miss Wright," said Philip, with a vivid color in his 
 "bronzed cheek, as he took her neatly-gloved hand, " I am 
 very glad to welcome you to my home. You have done 
 us all a great kindness in coming. My father, who is quite 
 feeble, rfas been anxiously waiting your arrival." 
 
 Mahala looked up, following his slight gesture in the 
 direction of one of the windows, and saw an old man 
 watching them from the library, into which they were 
 soon shown. 
 
 A wood fire was burning in the capacious chimney. 
 Book-cases lined the walls, and contained a valuable law 
 library, as well as standard works in theology, science, 
 philosophy, and fiction. The ancient, hard-wood wainscot- 
 ing and mantel had been preserved. A few choice pic- 
 tures and some pieces of bric-a-brac filled various niches 
 and lightened the dark walls. An air of cultivation and 
 luxury pervaded the room. 
 
 Squire Farnham turned from his conversation with Mr t 
 Stearns to receive the visitors as they entered, and ex- 
 pressed his pleasure at their visit and great admiration of 
 their tricycle costumes. 
 
 "We had to wear them, sir," apologized Mrs. Mather, 
 "as Mrs. Farnham particularly requested to see us in 
 traveling garb." 
 
 "Why, certainly," said the gratified squire, beaming 
 upon one and another, " I should have been much chag- 
 rined to miss seeing these unique dresses. You look like 
 female hussars, with your buttons and braid. Come here,
 
 DINNER AT THE FARNHAMS. l gy 
 
 my dear," said the old gentleman to Mahala, "you are like 
 a peach ; so sweet and fresh ! Don't mind an old man's 
 compliment," for Mahala blushed as he took her hand, " I 
 am sure you are willing to entertain me for a little while." 
 
 "Oh, yes, sir," answered the kind little maid, "I am 
 very fond of elderly people. It will be a pleasure to me. 
 Some of the happiest hours of my life have been spent at 
 my grandfather's knee. We lost him only a year ago," she 
 continued, softly. 
 
 "Young people do not always count it a loss when old 
 ones are removed. But go now, Miss Wright, with Philip 
 and mother, who are going to show your friends some of our 
 antiquities. They are not much, but Philip values them 
 very highly, since such things have become fashionable." 
 
 "Father," said Philip, remonstrating, "you know I 
 always prized family relics, and I repudiate the charge of 
 following a popular craze." 
 
 In the square hall near a window which was draped with 
 a sash-curtain stood a high and massive clock. 
 
 "This," said Philip, "is one of the first of Harrison's 
 gridiron pendulum-clocks. It is number five, I believe, 
 and therefore must have been made soon after 1726. It 
 was brought to New York by an ancestor of my mother's, 
 a Philip Lindsay, who was a younger son of an English 
 earl." 
 
 "Never mind the genealogy, my son," said Mrs. Farn- 
 ham, smiling. 
 
 " This clock kept perfect time," the young man contin- 
 ued, "until about ten years ago, when some wheel was 
 worn out and the old time-piece was still. But, within a
 
 jgO WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 few weeks, I have had an expert in horology examine it, 
 and by the substitution of one new cog it is now running 
 perfectly once more." 
 
 The case was of the richest mahogany, which was beau- 
 tifully carved in symbolical and grotesque figures. 
 
 " I am proud of it," acknowledged the young man, 
 an d " 
 
 Just then the silvery cadence as of tinkling bells struck 
 quickly upon the ear. 
 
 "Ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, " Mahala 
 counted, and turned in amazement to Mrs. Farnham, who 
 was laughing with her son to see the surprised looks of 
 their visitors as the bell struck on to forty -four. " That is 
 only our Anne Boleyn," said she, as all joined in the 
 laugh. 
 
 "Well," said Miss St. John, looking around the hall, 
 " if the Queen reiterated her remarks as many times as 
 that I do not wonder that Henry cut her head off. He 
 probably did it in self-defense." 
 
 " Here it is," said Mr. Farnham, leading the way to the 
 first landing of the oaken staircase. " It is one of Tomp- 
 kin's clocks, and was made in the seventeenth century. 
 It is a fac-simile of one which was presented to poor Anne 
 Boleyn by Henry the Eighth. They seem to have had an 
 unaccountable penchant at that period for striking clocks. 
 This one formerly struck forty-four at twelve o'clock, and 
 between twelve and one o'clock no less than one hundred 
 and thirteen times. It not only struck the quarter hours 
 on eight bells but also the hour, after each quarter. How- 
 ever, the mechanism is long ago worn out and we seldom
 
 DINNER AT THE FARNHAMS. jgj 
 
 wind it. I did so, in an idle moment yesterday, and your 
 presence seems to have given it new life." 
 
 It had been presented to Squire Farnham in England as 
 the souvenir of a dear friend, some twenty-five years be- 
 fore, and was of satin-wood inlaid with brass filigree-work 
 in gothic form, and surmounted by a lion rampant on a 
 shield. 
 
 The delighted girls were shown a great-grandmother's 
 wedding-set of china, with her monogram in gilt upon each 
 piece. A massive silver salver, wrought into pictures of 
 the chase, in matchless repoussS work, upon which the 
 valiant henchman had proudly borne the boar's head into 
 the feudal dining-room of a Farnham great, great, great, 
 great, great grandsire. 
 
 In a case of inlaid wood, which Philip took from a 
 drawer in the desk, was a sort of picture-book of some 
 forty or fifty pages. 
 
 "This book," said he, "was picked up by my father, at 
 an old book-stall in Wirtemburg, twenty-five years ago. 
 While glancing over the stock of aged and yellow manu- 
 scripts and folios, as he often did, being something of a 
 biblio-maniac, he was thrilled with joy and surprise to rec- 
 ognize in it a genuine and unmistakable Biblia Pau- 
 ptmm" 
 
 Here, Mahala, who had been not a little discomfited at 
 her own ignorance of things which seemed so familiar to 
 these Farnhams, said with a little chagrin in her tones : 
 " But, Mr. Farnham, common people do not even know 
 what a. Biblia Pauperum is," and she made a comical little 
 mouth at the name. " Of course the words seem to imply
 
 IC; 2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 'poor mans Bible/ but I never heard of such a one as 
 this." She saw cuts in the quaint style of the middle 
 ages, giving the leading events of Christ's saving work. 
 
 "It is not at all strange that you are not acquainted 
 with this book," said Philip, smiling, and carefully turning 
 the leaves, "as it was used as a text-book before the 
 Reformation, by monks, in preaching, and took the place 
 of the more expensive and unattainable Bible among the 
 poor laity. As these lower orders of the clergy took the 
 title of Paupers Christi, ' Christ's poor,' the book was so 
 called. It is in Latin, you see." As he replaced the book 
 in its case, he said : " I am sure you must be tired with 
 musty old relics, now, and I hope I have not bored you 
 too long with my showman's harangue. How would you 
 like to go out and see the cattle, and horses, and dogs ? " 
 
 " Oh, one could never tire of this beautiful old house," 
 said Mrs. Mather, enthusiastically looking around. " It is 
 ancient enough to be modern ! How fortunate for its 
 possessors." 
 
 "Oh, yes," joyfully assented Mahala to their entertain- 
 er's proposition. " Do let us see the stables. I can 
 always make friends with animals." 
 
 " Do you have any particular difficulty in that respect 
 with human beings ? " said Philip, giving her a humorous 
 glance, which Mahala answered with a bright flash from 
 her eyes. 
 
 " Certainly," said Mrs. Mather, " we should enjoy it 
 much to see the horses. We will get our hats and " 
 
 "Mr. Farnham," said Miss St. John, coming out of the 
 library, where she had been gloating over some art maga-
 
 DINNER AT THE FARNHAMS. ^ 
 
 zines, "Your father is very anxious to hear some music 
 before dinner, and your mother says if you will tune your 
 violin she will soon be here to play the accompaniment. 
 After which, some of us will play," she continued, as she 
 saw a slight intention to demur upon his face. 
 
 " Very well," he said, resignedly, " so be it, if it is my 
 father's wish. Mr. Stearns," he said, looking in at the 
 library-door, "if you will give father your arm into the 
 drawing-room, I will do my twisting and scratching as 
 soon as may be." 
 
 While the old man and his friend and the ladies were 
 coming into the room, the amateur violinist began the 
 excruciating process which always precedes string playing. 
 
 " Miss Wright," said he, " will you be kind enough to 
 strike A, on the piano ? Now now thank you. That 
 will do, I think." 
 
 He did not .make a long affair of it, and when his mother 
 came smiling into the room from a secret consultation 
 with old Viney in the kitchen, and sat down to the piano, 
 he began to play. His bowing was easy and graceful, his 
 inflections in thorough good taste, and the tones which he 
 brought from his cherished Straduarius were round and 
 full. 
 
 After playing several sweet selections from Beethoven, 
 a Larghetto from the Second Symphony, and an Adagio 
 from the Fifth Sonata, Philip set upon the rack the "Lost 
 Chord.." 
 
 " It is by Sullivan, you know," he said, turning to Mrs. 
 Mather, "not strictlv a violin piece, but one of my favor- 
 ites. I do not attempt concert pieces, realizing that 
 w. & w. 13
 
 T Q4 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 they are beyond my power. I think it is better to play 
 such things as these well, than to haggle at music which 
 would tax the skill of Wilhelmj ; " and as the strong pure 
 harmony of the composition rose and fell, finely modulated, 
 and carefully finished, Miss St. John nodded to Margery. 
 "Always in good taste," she murmured. 
 
 The young lady, scarcely knowing whether the ambigu- 
 ous remark referred to the selection, its rendering, or the 
 modest repression of the performer which, more's the 
 pity, all amateurs do not-exercise bowed impressively in 
 return. 
 
 "Mr. Farnham," exclaimed Miss St. John, as he laid 
 down his violin, " I am ashamed to confess that before you 
 began to play, I trembled, for I have so suffered from bad 
 violin-playing that I feel like running away when I see a 
 non-professional take one in hand. I congratulate you upon 
 your touch. Your violin sings ; nearly all amateurs' 
 squeak." 
 
 "You need never tremble for anything Philip does," 
 said his father, speaking from his easy-chair near the win- 
 dow. " It is not his way to fumble at anything." 
 
 " Tut, tut, father," said Philip, looking at him with an 
 affectionate smile, "you mean to say that, knowing my- 
 self, I do not undertake great things." 
 
 " Now, Miss Wright," said Mrs. Farnham, as she rose 
 from the piano, "having shown the clumsiness of my old 
 hands without apology, I trust you will put more life into 
 the instrument with your light fingers." 
 
 Mahala, who had been well trained on this point, and 
 realized that one object of her expensive musical education
 
 DINNER AT THE FARNHAMS. JQC 
 
 was to give pleasure to friends, quietly arose and gave her 
 hand to Philip, who approached her bowing and led her to 
 the piano. 
 
 " Shall I play that little valse and pizzicati, by Delibes, 
 Aunt Dude ? " she said, turning to Miss St. John. 
 " Certainly," answered her aunt, " it follows naturally 
 after the violin." 
 
 " But it is rather a poor imitation, as I shall give it, I 
 fear," said pretty Mahala, looking with a little timidity at 
 the violinist, as she commenced the piquant staccato 
 movement. She played without affectation and with a 
 crispness and delicacy which was born of her own nerve 
 and a perfect technique. 
 
 " Ah ! " sighed Squire Farnham, as she rippled out the 
 last chord, " that is inspiriting. I could almost lock my fin- 
 gers at arms' length and dance, d la ballet, myself, to such 
 music." 
 
 This ambitious expression of the dignified old man 
 raised a general laugh at his expense. Mahala was leaving 
 the piano, but he would not have it so. 
 
 " No, no," he cried, " something more. I shall not have 
 you here often to play to me ! " 
 
 As the old man said the last words, Mahala turned smil- 
 ing to him and met such a burning glance from the brown 
 eyes of his son who stood back of his chair, that her heart 
 gave a quick bound, and something in her throat was like 
 to suffocate her, but she managed to say, " I will play you 
 the March of the Marionettes, if you like a burlesque in 
 music." 
 
 " Oh, anything you choose will be charming, I am sure," 
 said Mrs. Farnham.
 
 jgg WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "Well," said Mahala, showing her dimples, "you must 
 know that this is the funeral march of a broken doll. It 
 is by Gounod, and pleases every one who is not too 
 severely classic to enjoy fun." 
 
 "A kind fate forbid that we should ever get to that! " 
 said Mrs. Mather, who was delighted to see her pet show- 
 ing to such advantage. 
 
 "The first discordant sounds are the wails of the be- 
 reaved companion marionettes, and you must interpret 
 the rest for yourselves," said Mahala, and she struck the 
 harsh notes with an evident sense of the humor of the 
 piece and fell into the ludicrous measured monotones ot the 
 march. Every listener was fain to smile as she cleverly 
 brought out the sudden and exaggerated grief of an explo- 
 sive chord, which was immediately followed by the hushed 
 tread of the successive measures. Louder and nearer 
 came the manikin procession, until on the return the 
 minor and jerky movement was again taken up and finally 
 died away in the distance. 
 
 "Good! good!" cried the amused listeners, laughing, 
 and falling into an animated chattering over the inimitable 
 bit of humor in music, when Robert appeared at the door. 
 "Mrs. Farnham," he announced, with much dignity, "de 
 dinner is served." 
 
 Mr. Philip Farnham had offered his arm to Mrs. Mather 
 in going out to dinner, and it so happened that Mahala, 
 who had been pleased to take the seat beside the old 
 squire, found herself also beside the son at the table. If 
 Mrs. Mather had anything to do with this arrangement, 
 which seemed so intensely satisfactory to the tall young
 
 DINNER AT THE FARNHAMS. ICj ^ 
 
 gentleman, she must answer for it to her own conscience. 
 It was really remarkable how much these two people had 
 to say to each other, and how absorbingly interesting their 
 exchange of ideas upon the most trivial topics. 
 
 " I understand that Hartford society has quite a literary 
 tone," observed Philip across the table to Miss St. John, 
 during a lull in the hum of conversation. "With the res- 
 ident coterie of brilliant writers who have gathered in 
 your beautiful little city, and the distinguished visitors 
 whom they draw into their circle, it must naturally be so." 
 
 " Yes, doubtless," responded the lady, raising her brows 
 with a wicked twinkle in her bright eyes. " Any one can 
 walk or ride without extra charge by Mark Twain's or 
 Charles Dudley Warner's house, and I, myself, have a 
 speaking acquaintance with the Misses Stowe's pug dog. 
 To be sure, he is hardly as select in his tastes as one might 
 expect, and often follows after the grocery wagon or any 
 child he may happen to fancy, and is returned, after some 
 days, and ransomed by his mistress. Still, I feel a sort of 
 prestige in being recognized by him." 
 
 A generel laugh followed this sally, and as it subsided 
 Mrs. Farnham said, "Surely, Miss St. John, you do not 
 depreciate the elevating effect that must be felt, from even 
 the sight about the streets, of those who have accomplished 
 .so much in literature." 
 
 "No, Mrs. Farnham, she cannot," quickly interposed 
 Mrs. Mather, " but Miss St. John cannot resist a little sar- 
 casm because we are all so proud of our literati." 
 
 "And because writing does not happen to be in her 
 line," added Mahala, with some indignation ; "but I have
 
 !gg WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 known auntie to walk five miles to see a celebrated 
 artist!" 
 
 "Ha, ha! There, Miss St. John, now you are certainly 
 silenced!" exclaimed Squire Farnham. "By the way," he 
 continued, turning to the artist, "have you seen C. D. 
 Weldon's last etching ? I am told it is excellent. I used 
 to have a taste for pictures ;" and they began to talk of cel- 
 ebrated proofs and remarques, and after-the-letters, and 
 discussions of the scarcity and rising value of certain en- 
 gravings, and a general interest was excited in the listen- 
 ers, so that Philip said quietly to Mahala : "I judge you 
 incline to literature more than to art ? " 
 
 "Yes, I confess I do," she replied, modestly, "one can- 
 not help but feel the mental impetus which the familiar 
 presence of successful authors does lend to society. But 
 while encouraged by their example to attempt some things? 
 we always feel it is like holding a penny dip to an electric 
 light" 
 
 "Fie, fie, dear. It is well to maintain self-respect in 
 this, as in other matters," said Mrs. Mather, who had been 
 keeping up the picture discussion by an occasional perti- 
 nent question, when conversation seemed likely to flag, but 
 who now showed she had two ears. 
 
 " Miss Wright has written some very pretty things, Mr, 
 Farnham ; and, what is more, sold them, too." 
 
 "Ah, Julie, please!" cried Mahala; but Mrs. Mather 
 now returned to art. 
 
 "Do you know, Squire Farnham," she said, with great 
 interest, "what has finally become of the few last copies of 
 Folo's line engraving of the Madonna dei Candelabri ?
 
 DINNER AT THE FARNHAMS. 599 
 
 There is one in the possession of a friend of mine, and he 
 would not part with it for " 
 
 " Miss Wright," said Philip, with admiration in his face, 
 " I am daily surprised at the versatility of American girls. 
 It is a charming fact that many of our modern journalists 
 are beautiful ladies. I would so like to know what you 
 have done." 
 
 "Oh, it is really nothing at all, to speak of, and except 
 for the possible innuendo in your word versatility" she 
 answered, archly, " I would not tell you anything about 
 it. Do you think it likely that any editor would accept an 
 article from a girl who could be capable of swinging on 
 birches ? " she inquired, as she dipped a piece of celery in 
 the salt by her plate. 
 
 " Oh, Miss Wright, that is unkind ! I never thought of 
 such a thing. I was considering only your bright and 
 winning ways, which are the antipodes of what we used to 
 expect in a literary woman ; your musical accomplishments, 
 your love of nature and out-of-door life on your wheels, 
 and " 
 
 " Well, that will do," Mahala interrupted, putting out 
 her hand and dimpling a little. " Pray do not feel obliged 
 to farther perjure yourself to be polite," and she laughed 
 merrily at his indignant attempt at a protest. 
 
 " Surely, Miss Wright is holding her own, again," said 
 Julie to herself, dishonorably listening. 
 
 "But, tell me about your writings," entreated Philip 
 again. 
 
 "They are really nothing," reiterated Mahala, toying 
 with her napkin, " except a few little chatty sketches of no
 
 2QO WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 depth or importance, which an editor has been kind enough 
 to publish. When I first got out of school I had the usual 
 graduate's idea of a career, and of course was much grati- 
 fied when my little sketches were accepted." 
 
 "I wish I might see your articles," said Philip, eagerly, 
 " I am sure they are full of sunshine and kindness." 
 
 " But," continued the youthful author of the sketches, 
 " I must tell you that what little confidence I had gained 
 from the publication of the poor little compositions was 
 taken out of me when I wrote a story. I suppose the good 
 editor, who had become my friend, would have taken it 
 from pity, but as that was just what I did not want, I sent 
 it where no one knew me, to ascertain if there was any 
 merit in it. As it soon came back to me with a polite 
 printed slip declining it, I began to see the truth." 
 
 "Which is " said Philip, interested. 
 
 " That it requires something more than a small gift of 
 light talk on places and persons to write a novel. Brains 
 are necessary, I begin to believe," she finished, sagely. 
 
 "What was your story about?" inquired Philip, curi- 
 ously. 
 
 " Oh, a simple tale of a poor city seamstress and a young 
 farmer whom she met in the country. It dealt with very 
 unassuming characters, you see. I thought I would not 
 begin with foreign nobility," she smiled at him. 
 
 " Of course there was something of love in it ? " he said, 
 softly, bending his head nearer. 
 
 " Of course," she said shortly, becoming much interested 
 in the figures in the frieze. " Have you had good success 
 in hunting, this year, Mr. Farnham," she offered, as the 
 beginning of a new subject.
 
 DINNER AT THE PARNHAMS. 2 Ql 
 
 "Thank you!" answered the young man, with a busi- 
 ness air, "I have had very good success, so far," and he 
 began to laugh. 
 
 Mahala flushed. 
 
 Then, in a lower tone, he continued, " If I meet with no 
 disappointment in the next few days, I shall count this the 
 most enjoyable season of my life. But please tell me if 
 your story was accepted at some other place." 
 
 " How very persistent you are, sir," said the little maid, 
 looking at him in a manner which was meant to be saucy 
 but which softened into a blush, as she looked away, any- 
 where to escape his disconcerting eyes. " Well, then," she 
 said, dashing into the narrative to hide her unaccountable 
 confusion, " I tried another magazine with the same result. 
 Then I placed the manuscript in a pigeon-hole in my desk 
 and let it lie six months. Then I took it out, and read it, 
 calmly and judicially. It still seemed to me to be rather a 
 good story up to the average in respectable magazines, I 
 think. So I made another offer of it, and it was again 
 rejected. The boys, of course, knew about it," she went on, 
 smiling at the recollection, " and, from at first confidently 
 expecting to see it in one of the leading magazines, they 
 began to make fun as it returned, and they now speak of it 
 as ' the great American traveler.' " Here she fell into such 
 a laugh at her own expense, that Philip, who had been in- 
 dignant for her sake, could not resist the infectious ripple 
 of merriment, and joined at first apologetically and then 
 heartily, so that every one stopped talking to look at 
 them, and Mrs. Mather cried, with a great show of inquisi- 
 tiveness, " What are you laughing at ? "
 
 2Q2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " I am laughing at a little story of Miss Wright's/' 
 answered Mr. Farnham. 
 
 "Which is too worn to bear repeating," added Mahala; 
 and Robert came with the dessert. 
 
 " Where is ' the great American traveler ' at present, 
 Miss Wright ? " said Philip, half an hour later, amidst the 
 noise of leaving the table. 
 
 "It is in Boston, just now," she answered, good humor- 
 edly, "and has been gone so long that I almost begin to 
 think it will make its debut there." 
 
 "Oh, I think I know what is the matter with my 
 story," said Mahala, as she sat down on the window-seat 
 in the hall with her attendant, " it is not in the fashionable 
 style. It is a straight-forward narrative, with no psychol- 
 ogy, and no impression effects. It is necessary just now, 
 you know," she said, with her bird-like turn of the head 
 and look askance, "to convey a world of meaning in one 
 broad touch, just as artists daub on half a dozen blotches 
 in a mist and call it Venice, or a Gypsy Camp. It is not 
 now in good form to work out details, in anything. It is 
 exceedingly unflattering to the reader's or critic's percep- 
 tions. Perceptions must be taken into account and 
 respected. It is because I have not done so, that my story 
 will probably have to go to a dime publication." 
 
 Philip was greatly amused as well as somewhat surprised 
 to hear the prattle of his charming new acquaintance, 
 which, delivered in the most inconsequential and girlish 
 manner, yet possessed an intelligence which showed that 
 she was using her mind to evolve original conclusions. 
 He had been getting rather blasd in New York, and had
 
 DINNER AT THE FARNHAMS. 2 (>3 
 
 almost forgotten that there might be an attractive medium 
 between the traditional young woman of literary tastes, 
 who is always decorated with a green veil, blue glasses, 
 and a copy of Emerson, whose ideas of style are null, 
 and whose information of the world's work and culture is 
 bounded by the narrow horizon around " the Hub," and 
 the stylish New York girl, self-possessed and worldly-wise 
 at eighteen, but with so little unengaged time at her com- 
 mand as to be unable to think of anything long enough to 
 digest it and have opinions concerning it. Unfair as this 
 idea of the distinguishing characteristics of girls in the two 
 cities, which are often thus compared, may be, Philip enter- 
 tained it, as many another man has done, judging the 
 whole from types he had known. But in the actions and 
 conversation of this alternately merry, Jiarum-scarum, and 
 wise and philosophical Miss Wright, he told himself he 
 had discovered a very interesting phase of girlish charac- 
 ter. There are many such in the several cities, mid-way 
 between the centre of worldliness and the acme of self- 
 complacent culture. 
 
 Mr. P. L. Farnham was much interested, " merely in a 
 new style of girl," he said to himself, and he continued to 
 think of her long after the visitors had made their depar- 
 ture, and Robert had returned and reported their safe 
 arrival at Mr. Stearns's. He had taken the "Times," 
 which he had not found time to look at, or indeed thought 
 of, since the mail came, and had been reading an occasional 
 paragraph to his father. The Squire", who was somewhat 
 fatigued by the unusual excitement attendant upon a 
 spirited political discussion with Mr. Stearns (Stearns was
 
 2O4 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 terribly obstinate, he said), lay back in his easy-chair, lis- 
 tening with closed eyes ; but somehow Philip found less 
 interesting matter than usual. " It must be an awful 
 grind to get up a paper every day," he said, " It 's no 
 wonder they are stupid occasionally." 
 
 He had sat silent during fifteen minutes, reading over 
 one line a score of times, while his mind's eye saw only 
 ilitting glimpses of a pair of dark-blue eyes fringed with 
 long lashes, the toe of a neat and practical boot, a gray 
 dress closely fitting the lithe, graceful figure, and the 
 quaint silver chatelaine she had worn at her waist. Then 
 came a vision of a blue gown with satin ribbons, tiny slip- 
 pers, and a book in hand, curled upon a lounge in Farmer 
 Stearns' s sitting-room. Then, a struggling figure hanging 
 "by the arms from. a nodding birch tree, cries of distress, 
 and an ignominious fall to the earth. 
 
 He smiled behind the paper. Every little gesture, every 
 smallest change in the bewitching dimples around the 
 frank mouth, came ever and again into his strangely-wan- 
 dering thoughts ; and always a bewildering maze of curling 
 hair, clustering in soft curves about the intelligent fore- 
 head, and growing so prettily about the neck. He arose 
 at last and walked out into the hall, and stood looking 
 over the sash-curtain, out into the night, and began hum- 
 ming "Little ringlets round her ears." He had consid- 
 ered the hero of " Shandon Bells " a weakly, love-sick fel- 
 low. Why should this line come to his mind ? But it 
 seemed very pretty now, and so descriptive of certain little 
 whorls which he had lately seen. 
 
 ' You hear the secrets that she hears, 
 Little ringlets round her ears."
 
 DINNER AT THE PARNHAMS. 2 Q5 
 
 Hum, he wished he knew what the rest of the verses 
 were. 
 
 He thought he would ride over to the post-office in the 
 morning and just look in at Mr. Stearns's, to see if he 
 could be of any service during the day. 
 
 How kind they were to remain over for the party. 
 
 Twenty-eight to-morrow ! 
 
 His mother always insisted upon making a birth-day 
 party for him. It had bored him somewhat, in times past, 
 to do the agreeable to a horde of distant feminine cousins, 
 and the young men in town, with whom ^he had so little 
 in common. 
 
 But this, this would be so different. He would ride 
 over to town in the morning. In fact,, Mrs. Mather had 
 invited him to do so. 
 
 What a charming lady she was ; and so fond of M-Miss 
 Wright. 
 
 What a vile name to call her by ! " Mike ! " how per- 
 fectly rude and horribly inappropriate ! It should be 
 Psyche. No, that were an omen of unhappiness. Sprite 
 would do better, or 
 
 He thought he would go to the .barn to see if his 
 saddle and things were in order. He had tramped so 
 much of late, that poor old Prince had been neglected. 
 
 " I think I'll ride him to-morrow morning," he said to 
 the old colored servant. " You may have him ready for 
 me at seven o'clock no ! Hang it ! That won't do you 
 may saddle him at half-past eight, Robert." 
 
 " I'm mighty glad to hear ye say that, Mister Philip, for 
 he has n't had a gentleman on his back but two or th'ee
 
 2O 6 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 times since he come from de boat. He tried his bes' to 
 th'ow me, the fust time I mounted him, but he found an 
 old nigger kin stick on, ef he can't look so terrible got up 
 as his master kin. H'yah ! yah ! but aint he a reglar 
 steeple-picker, though, when he 's out on show ! " 
 
 His young master smiled, and saying good-night, walked 
 to the barn-door. He turned. "Robert." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 " I don't mind if you have him at the door a little past 
 eight. I have several places to go to." 
 
 "All right, sir. I guess I'll jes' put a little extra shine 
 on that silver. It looks mighty purty nex' to the russet 
 leather;" said Robert, as he got out his chamois-skin and 
 powder, and took down the bridle from its place in a 
 closet.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 T T AVE you any commissions for me, mother ? I am 
 JL A going to ride over to town," said Philip, the next 
 -morning, as he drew on his gloves in the hall. They were 
 drab, to compare with his neck-tie, which scarcely showed 
 above the close buttoning of the high-collared coat, and 
 with his pantaloons, which were of the same soft tint and 
 were tucked into high boots. 
 
 "No, I "think not," the lady replied, laughing a little, 
 " you could not bring over one letter without distending 
 the pockets of that perfect coat in a shocking manner. 
 No, dear ; Robert will attend to everything. Be a good 
 boy," she added, half in jest and yet in tender maternal 
 pride, that, strong manias he was, in the prime of his 
 strength and self-reliance, he was still " her boy." He 
 lifted his hat from his red-brown locks, and looked back 
 with an affectionate smile as Prince sprang blithely away. 
 
 " He is a handsome fellow, if he is my son, Robert/' 
 said the loving mother, as she turned after watching him 
 out ot sight. 
 
 "'Deed he is, missus/' answered old Robert, rubbing his 
 
 (207)
 
 2O 8 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 hands together, " and I'm bleeged ter say some younger 
 ladies may think so, too." 
 
 " Yes, yes, I know," said the lady, who was accustomed 
 to remarks from Robert which might have seemed un- 
 pleasantly familiar in a whiter skin or less aged retainer. 
 "They must, you know, if they have eyes in their heads." 
 
 Mothers are so singularly warped in their judgment of 
 these matters. 
 
 "Ah, good morning, Mr. Farnham," called a voice from 
 the side of the road where it crossed a bridge. 
 
 He drew up his horse and saw Miss St. John by the 
 way with her sketching apparatus arranged for use. Philip 
 dismounted at once. 
 
 "Oh, pray do not dismount," cried the lady, who held a 
 palette in her left hand, while she poked among the tubes 
 in her lap, and squeezed one after another, leaving a line 
 of colors around the board. She had a thick rug under 
 her feet and her hands were protected, if not adorned, with 
 gloves with the finger-ends cut off. 
 
 " I thought, as we were to be here another day, I might 
 as well get a sketch of this bridge and old mill," she said, 
 in her quick manner, raising heij*gray eyes from her work. 
 " It would be a pity to lose so picturesque a point. Don't 
 you think so ?" 
 
 "Really, Miss St. John," said Philip, "I had never 
 thought of it in that light ; but you are getting a pretty 
 picture out of it," said he looking over her canvas. 
 
 " No, you are wrong. The picture is there," said the 
 artist, extending her hand and giving it a little sweep 
 across the view, " and I can only feebly reproduce it.
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 2O9 
 
 * Art may err, but nature cannot miss,' " and she made 
 hooks by the sides of her head with her fingers to signify 
 quotation marks. Then she exclaimed, "Do you know, it 
 seems to me that most people go about this beautiful 
 world with their eyes shut ! " 
 
 " Possibly," said the gentleman, somewhat absently, and 
 looking around as if in search of something. 
 
 " Probably ! ". insisted the lady. " Look at this scene. 
 Could anything be more perfect in coloring than the grays 
 of that old wood, and the deep maroons and browns of 
 those blackberry-vines ? Then see the little clouds of the 
 feathery clematis on the rails of that fence. And all 
 against the green of the sward, and the blue of the sky 
 and the varying tones in the rippling water ! What is 
 wanting to make it perfect ? " 
 
 "I would suggest a bit of life," said the business man, 
 with a critical coolness, which was in strong contrast to 
 the enthusiastic enjoyment of the artist. 
 
 " Well, there you have it, exacting man ! Oh, is n't he 
 too cunning? Let me get that!" ejaculated the lady, 
 pointing to a lusty squirrel, who suddenly jumped up from 
 the side of the bridge, and with an intensely hurried and 
 business-like air, sat quickly with his umbrageous tail 
 curved above his head, and raising his handy paws to his 
 mouth, commenced to gnaw a hole in a large walnut which 
 he had brought with him. 
 
 The artist made some rapid touches upon her canvas, 
 and an impression was added to the picture. Although 
 indistinct, it was a gray squirrel. 
 
 Mr. Farnham raised his riding cane to his eye. " What 
 
 a shot ! " he cried. 
 
 \v. & w. 14
 
 210 
 
 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Oh, you vandal ! " said the lady, with indignation. " To> 
 think of killing him ! Masculine nature is certainly cruel. 
 I am disappointed in you, Mr. Farnham," she added,, 
 severely. 
 
 " Pray do not be, Miss St. John," rejoined Philip, calmly,, 
 "because we do not shoot squirrels when there is any 
 other game." 
 
 " But murder defenseless birds," she answered, quickly. 
 " I do not see how you have bettered your position." 
 
 "Ah, well, Miss St. John, you must remember we are 
 not all artists, nor women. No one can have a higher 
 appreciation of the natural loveliness of the one, nor of 
 the qualities of mind and heart which permit the other, 
 than I ; but you must admit that practical pursuits and 
 harder nerves are necessary to us who are knocking about 
 the work-a-day world." 
 
 The artist shook her head at him. "Ah, now you think 
 you have disarmed me, with your flattering speech. 
 Where are you going ? " she asked, with the good-humored 
 brusquerie which was one of her characteristics. 
 
 " To to the post-office," Philip replied, not quite at ease. 
 " And possibly to call upon your friends, at Mr. Stearns's, 
 to see if I can be of any service to them." 
 
 "Oh, they sent their telegrams the minute they got 
 back last evening, and I suppose will be looking for replies 
 by this time. Still," she continued, looking at the mill 
 with her head a little on one side, and giving some imper- 
 ceptible wipes to her canvas, "that's better isn't it?" 
 she said, lost in contemplation of her work. " Still what 
 was I saying ? Oh ! You might call, though Margie (Miss.
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 211 
 
 Prescott) was going up to Deep River with Mr. Stearns, 
 now I think of it. Mrs. Mather, I think, will be in as 
 she is always writing to her husband, I believe." 
 
 Not a word of her, thought Philip. " I hope to have the 
 pleasure of seeing you this evening," politely said he, as 
 he took hold of the reins at Prince's shoulder and quickly 
 rose to the saddle. 
 
 " We shall certainly be there if all is well. Good morn- 
 ing," answered the artist, bowing as he raised his hat, and 
 returning instantly to her beloved work. 
 
 " Mike," suddenly exclaimed Mrs. Mather, who sat at 
 the window of the "spare room," which was, according to 
 country custom, in the front of the house, "here comes 
 Mr. Farnham on horseback ! See how beautifully he 
 rides. His is a figure for Fifth avenue and the park, 
 rather than this sedate street. Perhaps he is coming 
 here." 
 
 " I hope not," said Mahala. " It is really enough to 
 make one dislike him to hear you and Aunt Dude cite his 
 perfections ;" but she came to the window with a very rosy 
 face and peeped through the muslin curtains. ^ 
 
 " He seemed very much smitten with Margery yester- 
 day," continued the fathomless deceiver, in an exceedingly 
 careless tone. " His attitude of devotion, as he assisted 
 her to and from the carriage, was very affecting. Perhaps 
 these two matchless beings may majestically decide to love 
 each other. It would seem most appropriate, now she is 
 off with poor Felix," and she went back to her little chair 
 by the side window with a glove in her hand which she 
 was mending, and sitting down in quite a heat, com-
 
 212 
 
 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 menced to sew on a button, with some jerking of the 
 knotting silk. 
 
 " How do you know she is ' off with Felix/ as you call 
 it ;" said Mrs. Mather. The young girl made no reply ex- 
 cept to cover one eye with her hand and wink with intense 
 meaning with the other. 
 
 " He is coming here," said Mrs. Mather, looking out of 
 the window and bowing cordially to some one below. 
 
 " I think I will go down to the door," she said, rising, 
 "for Mrs. Bronson is intent upon cooking this morning. 
 Of course you will come down as soon as you can, dear," 
 she said, pausing at the door and looking back at Mahala. 
 
 " I don't know whether I shall get down before he goes, 
 or not," indifferently replied Miss Wright. " I have one 
 or two buttons to sew on, and they all need tightening," 
 she said, critically examining the glove. 
 
 " Pshaw ! " and Mrs. Mather ran down stairs laughing. 
 
 The instant she had left the doorway, Miss Wright's dig- 
 nity vanished, and rising she sped softly to the window 
 and stood with flushing cheeks and quick breath, peeping 
 through the thin curtain, as the horseman sprang from the 
 saddle and came up the walk with a glow of expectant 
 pleasure in his fine face. 
 
 Then Mahala took two handfuls of her dark curls and 
 wrenched them fiercely as she turned to her chair. "Oh, 
 why ! Why, do I care about this man who never does 
 anything that is inelegant who is so sure of his ability to 
 please and always seems to be laughing at my poor despi- 
 cable, hoydenish mishap ? But I do, I do," she whispered, 
 buttoning her boots with eager haste.
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 213 
 
 As she arose from her seat upon the floor, which is the 
 customary girlish attitude in dressing the feet, she saw her 
 agitated face in the mirror. " You are a little fool ! Yes, 
 a perfect fool ! " she said to it ; which expression seemed 
 to relieve her mind, and she sat down by the window to 
 get cool. 
 
 " Ah, good morning, Mr. Farnham," cried the young 
 matron, who opened the door without waiting for Philip to 
 ring, saluting him with the friendly freedom and charming 
 bonhommie which married women who are perfectly secure 
 in their husbands' love, and are free from all fear of impu- 
 tations of undue regard for otber men, can exercise so 
 pleasantly ; " come in. We thought perhaps you might 
 ride over, this delightful morning." 
 
 " We," whispered Mahala, who was listening at the head 
 of the stairs. " Julie Mather, who gave you leave to say 
 that ? " She bit her lip. " I shall take care to contradict 
 that, in my first remark." 
 
 " Yes, Mrs. Mather," said the deep voice of the visitor 
 below stairs, "it was so extremely bright this morning that I 
 thought I would give Prince a little exercise. The old fellow 
 has suffered from disuse since I brought him on from New 
 York, and as I had some errands to do in town, and you so 
 kindly asked me to call " 
 
 " Oh ! Indeed ! She asked him to come, did she ? " 
 said the listener at the head of the stairs, straightening up 
 her slender figure with a quick suspicion. " Mrs. F. W. 
 Mather, what does that mean ? Can Julie so demean her- 
 self as to turn one of these detestable married flirts ? New 
 York men are terribly fast, I understand, under all their
 
 214 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 polish. Heigh " but she held her breath, stopping the 
 sigh in the middle, for he was speaking again. 
 
 " I had a spicy little interview with Miss St. John, who 
 was sketching at the bridge as I came by. She is certainly 
 a most entertaining and attractive lady, with her love for 
 art and her strong common-sense and quick retorts." He 
 laughed enjoyably. " She called me a vandal and told me 
 she was disappointed in me, in less than five minutes after 
 my arrival." 
 
 " Good gracious ! Has Aunt Dude begun it, too ? " 
 gasped Mahala, as a flush rose to her face. " Auntie is 
 very attractive, and not more than five years older than he ; 
 but I will never call him uncle ! " she exclaimed decisively, 
 and then as the idea struck her more forcibly, she sped on 
 tip-toe into the chamber and laughed in smothered cachin- 
 nations until the tears stood in her eyes and the changeful 
 face became rueful. But how fast they were talking down 
 there in the sitting-room. She stepped noiselessly to the 
 balustrade again. 
 
 " I hardly understood what she meant by saying you had 
 sent telegrams and were expecting replies this morning, 
 and was about to ask, fearing that something might have 
 occurred to prevent your coming to our house to-night, to 
 call you home perhaps, when she dismissed me by becom- 
 ing absorbed in her work; and now I recall it, said you ex- 
 pected to attend the party." 
 
 "Oh, dear," said Mrs. Mather, who was laughing heart- 
 ily, " how like Dude that is ! She has so little regard for 
 the concealment of the harmless subterfuges by which we 
 women strive to be appropriately dressed without apparent
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 2I c 
 
 effort at all times. But in this instance, as no one who 
 gave us credit for good sense would imagine that we 
 should come on a jaunt of this kind prepared for a party, 
 I do not mind admitting that Margery and Mahala have 
 sent to Hartford for some evening dresses. Miss St. John 
 and I will do very well in spare dresses which we brought 
 along, but you could not expect the girls to place them- 
 selves in juxtaposition to the resident belles without an 
 appropriate costume. No young lady who respected her- 
 self would do it. But for goodness sake don't say I told 
 you ! " 
 
 " Certainly not," answered the gallant visitor. " I have 
 a great respect for ladies' judgment on anything pertain- 
 ing to matters of this kind, and should not have presumed 
 to inquire into this secret had I known it to be such." 
 
 " Well, that is rather nice of you, at all events," said the 
 dishonorable listener at the head of the stairs. " I will 
 not go down unless he asks for me. I am determined in 
 that ! " she said to herself. 
 
 " Miss " 
 
 Hark Mahala ! 
 
 " Miss Prescott is not in this morning, Miss St. John 
 told me. I am sorry not to see her. Is her sprained ankle 
 getting strong once more ? " 
 
 " Entirely well, I think," answered Mrs. Mather. " A 
 few days' rest was all that was needed to set it right." 
 
 " I am very glad," said the manly voice again. " I 
 judge she must be a very graceful dancer, and I have prom- 
 ised myself the pleasure of a waltz with her this evening 
 and "
 
 2 i6 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 Mahala choked. 
 
 " I won't go to that detestable old party ! Yes I will,, 
 for fear they will think strange. But how stupid it will 
 be ! I I have dreaded it all the time ! I wish I had 
 never come on this rowdyish trip, anyway. Ah ! " 
 
 " Miss Wright is well, I trust, this morning ? Is she 
 in ? " 
 
 " She is," responded Julie. " She was very busy when 
 you came, but I think her sewing must be nearly finished 
 by this time." She stepped to the stairs. " Mahala ! " 
 
 No answer. 
 
 " Excuse me, I will speak to her," and the demure 
 matron looked a little out of patience as she mounted the 
 stairs, but this gave way to amusement when she found 
 the chamber-door tightly closed. 
 
 " Come, dear," she said, in loving tones, intended to be 
 heard down stairs, as she opened it, " Mr. Farnham is get- 
 ting tired of my conversation ; can you not leave your 
 work and come down now ? " In a whisper : ' Really, 
 Mike, your caprices are almost too much for my good 
 temper ! You should never allow yourself to be rude to 
 any one." 
 
 " Yes, Julie," answered Mahala, with a preoccupied 
 tone. " I was going right away. I am taking the last 
 stitch now," and she grinned composedly at the look of 
 wrath with which Mrs. Mather regarded her empty hands, 
 and ejaculated in low but stern tones, "Oh, you con- 
 summate fraud ! " and they both went down stairs. 
 
 " I was so surprised to see you this morning, Mr. Farn- 
 ham. I did not know, until just now, that Mrs. Mather
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 21 / 
 
 knew you were coming, or I might have done my mending 
 earlier." 
 
 Here Julie started visibly, and gave her a look showing 
 that she had betrayed the fact of her listening at the 
 stairs ; but, confident of the tact of her chaperone, she 
 looked collectedly into Philip's face as she greeted 
 him, and glancing out of the window as she took a seat by 
 it, she remarked that it was a beautiful day to ride. 
 
 Her nonchalance completely disarmed her friend, who 
 was justly vexed at this new whim, but as usual ended by 
 being greatly amused at the assurance of the young offen- 
 der, in taking it for granted that her friend would not be- 
 tray her double-dealing. 
 
 " If you are surprised, I hope you are not displeased, to 
 find so recent an acquaintance calling so soon again." 
 
 Mahala vouchsafed no reply, except that her cheeks 
 grew a little pinker. 
 
 "It is a boon to me, no less than to others here," said 
 Philip, addressing both, " to be allowed to meet you ladies, 
 when we expected nothing more than the usual monotony 
 of country living this season." 
 
 " Oh, how can you consider the country monotonous ? " 
 airily rejoined Miss Wright, having waived the first depre- 
 cating remark. " There is such endless variety in na- 
 ture's moods. The trees, and flowers, and ferns, and mosses 
 are an ever-fascinating study ; and sweet-singing birds, and 
 jolly little squirrels, innocent little deer-eyed calves, and 
 timid sheep are so much better company than most human 
 beings. Even an occasional snake prevents one from get- 
 ting dull," she added, thoughtfully.
 
 -2J 3 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Not every one is given an eye to see the beauties of 
 nature as you seem to, Miss Wright," Philip answered. 
 "It is indeed an enviable faculty," he said, regarding her 
 with admiring eyes, "and must fill many a lonely hour 
 with exquisite pleasure. I confess to have my enthusiasm 
 for a country home somewhat dulled by a busy life which 
 I so much enjoy in the city. Of course, nothing can 
 shake my attachment for the old house, but it seems that 
 nearly all the interesting people round about the town are 
 gone with my childhood." And so they fell to discussing 
 matters in general, which have no particular bearing upon 
 this story. 
 
 At last Philip turned to Mahala : " Since you are so fond 
 of beautiful scenes in the open air, Miss Wright, I regret 
 that I did not harness Prince to a buggy and ask' you to 
 ride to Red Hill. The vista down the river is something 
 to be remembered. I think you would enjoy a view of it, 
 and if Mrs. Mather will go, I will go home and return with 
 the carriage in half an hour." He had suddenly recol- 
 lected himself and included the chaperone in the invita- 
 tion. 
 
 "Oh, please, do nothing of the kind," said Mahala, with 
 much animation, " you see I so much prefer my wheels, 
 and I intended to get away somewhere this morning. 
 Shall we go, Julie ? " 
 
 " Certainly, dear. You will doubtless enjoy it im- 
 mensely," answered the inefficient chaperone, leaving her- 
 self out of the question with culpable disregard of her 
 bounden duty. 
 
 " But you will go, too ? " quickly asked Mahala.
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 2 !0 
 
 " Willingly, rather than hinder a pleasant ride. But if 
 you would be kind enough to excuse me," said the lady, 
 looking from Mahala to Philip pleadingly, "I could take 
 this quiet time to write to my husband. I should consider 
 it as a favor, still if you insist " 
 
 " Why, surely not, if you really prefer to remain here," 
 said Philip, courteously, " although we should be glad of 
 your company." (Julie knew it was a fib.) " I trust to Miss 
 Wright's appreciation of the lovely ride to compensate her 
 for a dull companion. She likes calves and squirrels better 
 than people, anyway, so that one does not feel that much 
 is required of him, which is a consolation." 
 
 Mahala forgot herself and flashed him a pouting, merry 
 glance, as she bounded up the stairs after her hat and 
 gloves. 
 
 Philip looked gratefully at the faithless Julie. " Mrs. 
 Mather, would there be anything to offend your chaperon- 
 ish sense of propriety if we should not return in time for 
 lunch ? It is now nearly eleven o'clock," he said, consult- 
 ing his watch, " and the middle of the day is the pleasant- 
 est, out of doors, at this season and " 
 
 Mrs. Mather smiled. " Mahala needs no chaperone, 
 Mr. Farnham," she replied. " Her pure heart and native 
 sense of propriety are always a sufficient guide togher in 
 gentlemen's society." 
 
 " I am proud to hear you vindicate the reliability of a 
 representative American girl," answered the young man, 
 warmly. 
 
 " I had a real time, oiling my tricycle this morning," 
 said the young lady, as she came pushing her machine out
 
 22O WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 of the driveway at the side gate. " So it will run well, I 
 hope.'" Philip sprang to meet her, but she said, " Please 
 allow me to manage it. You might break it, you know, or 
 something." She showed her white teeth while she pre- 
 tended to frown. 
 
 " Is it not a greasy business to care for a tricycle 
 properly ? " asked the fastidious cavalier. " Should you 
 not leave that to " 
 
 " To whom ? " she said, saucily elevating her chin and 
 gazing at him through her dark lashes. 
 
 " To to a servant, or to some one who has already black 
 and oily hands," Philip answered desperately. 
 
 " No," Mahala answered, shaking her head, " it is no 
 worse to clean than a sewing-machine, or only a little, and 
 I could not trust to strangers, certainly. Well, sir," she 
 continued, as she quickly rose to her saddle, " I am ready. 
 Perhaps you had better mount your steed, if you are com- 
 ing," and the saucy minx started off a 5 t a great pace. 
 
 Now, Prince, being an experienced New York horse, 
 possessed such an imperturbability to new and unfamiliar 
 objects as is only gained through much worldly knowl- 
 edge and many and various vicissitudes on the road. He 
 was stylish, self-possessed, and elegant from the tips of his 
 small %lack ears to the end of his banged tail. He was 
 cool in the close vicinity of steam-cars, whether crashing 
 along at grade before his high-bred nose, or flying above 
 his intelligent head with a deep roar and terrific speed 
 upon the elevated railways. He had stood patient and 
 philosophical in a Fulton street pack for an hour, and had 
 been inured to the sight of every known vehicle, from the
 
 PHILIP'S DATf. 221 
 
 immense mail-wagons and steam fire-engines that wait for 
 nothing, to the tiny jerking dog-cart carrying a dude. He 
 had locked wheels with the landau of Madame Millione, 
 and grazed a swill-cart by the way. He had been entan- 
 gled in the inconsequential and exasperating toils of an 
 undisciplined goat -team in the park, and had a bicycler 
 take "a header" into his very face, while the machine fell 
 clattering against his sinewy legs. He rose superior to all 
 such accidents (which the carelessness and unskilled driving 
 of other teams inevitably bring upon the horse who most 
 thoroughly understands himself), realizing that to lose his 
 temper or betray fear or surprise, were inexcusable in an 
 animal of his breeding. His business was to shine-, to 
 arch his neck at telling moments, to curvet gracefully 
 about the carriages of his master's acquaintances, to amble 
 easily, to trot gently or to run like mad, as his rider indi- 
 cated, and he meant to do it, undisttfrbed or distracted by 
 little episodes along the way. Therefore he looked know- 
 ingly towards Mahala as she mounted her saddle and heard 
 her sweet voice as she spun away, and fell at. once into a 
 quick trot as his master sprang to his back. 
 
 "Do not go so fast, I beg of you, Miss Wright ! You 
 will certainly be fatigued before we return, if you use your 
 strength so at first," Philip remonstrated, reining close be- 
 side the delicate machine which Mahala sent so swiftly 
 along. The street was shaded by elms and ran in single 
 and now double roads through the wide space between the 
 straight and massive trees. She instinctively chose her 
 way, now in the drive and now to one side or the other on 
 the firm, smooth sward. Her lissome girlish form sat
 
 222 
 
 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 easily between the wheels, her gauntleted hands resting- 
 lightly on the handles at her side, and her heavy, gray 
 skirts fell in clinging folds about her energetic feet, which 
 showed just a heel or toe below the graceful draperies. A 
 brilliant color was in her cheeks as she turned her ani- 
 mated face towards Philip, who rode in a little anxiety by 
 her side. 
 
 How jauntily she wore her hat! No one else wore a 
 hat like that ! How prettily it sat upon her small head. 
 And what a turn to the plump shoulders and round arm ! 
 (Fie, man ! The dressmaker does all that.) " Really, Miss 
 Mahala," (there ! So much for allowing yourself to call 
 her so to yourself!) "Miss Wright," he interjected, 
 quickly, " you must know that it is five miles or more to 
 Red Hill and back. I very much fear you will be too 
 tired." 
 
 Mahala slowed up to a walking pace, to which Prince 
 immediately accommodated himself, as she said, " Thank 
 you, Mr. Farnham, but I am not likely to get fatigued with 
 a five-mile- run in this exhilarating atmosphere ; but per- 
 haps it may be as well to go slow until we are beyond the 
 center of the village a little. I have caught a glance of 
 several shocked faces at the windows as we came along. 
 Is the spectacle of a lady riding a tricycle shocking? We 
 are so used to it that we forget that strangers may not 
 approve." 
 
 "Shocking!" said Philip, in earnest admiration, "far 
 from it. It is charming. It is thoroughly ladylike, and 
 at the same time has a flavor of independence and life and 
 healthful pleasure about it, that could but be captivating 
 to all who possess health and good spirits."
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 223. 
 
 " But I thought the lady we just met, with the thin 
 light hair and the puppy on a string, looked displeased. 
 She bowed to you, but stared at me in maidenly horror." 
 
 "Ah, ha, ha!" laughed Philip, in deep enjoyment of 
 Mahala's quickness to catch the disapproval in the lady's 
 eye. " That was my cousin," he said. 
 
 " Oh ! " exclaimed Mahala, a little frightened. 
 
 " Yes," he continued, " she spends her time in watching 
 her neighbors ; making slippers, and other things he 
 doesn't want, for the minister; has compiled a book of 
 hymns, browbeats her dressmaker, and looks after the 
 morals of the town. She thinks it rude in a young lady 
 to laugh aloud, detests children and men, and loves no one 
 but herself and that dog, who is never out of her sight. 
 She will be at our house to-night." 
 
 "Dear me," said Mahala, doubtfully, "is she is she 
 nice to know?" she stammered, at a loss what to say. 
 How could his cousin be so disagreeable ! Must resemble 
 some ancestor of a remote branch of the family, she men- 
 tally decided. " I think I never met just such a person; 
 you must exaggerate her peculiarities." 
 
 "Perhaps,"- smilingly assented Philip. "You would 
 scarcely meet just such a type in town. It is remarkable 
 as a product of country places. An old maid, city born 
 and bred, is not such a formidable creature. She has 
 opportunities to see the world as it is, can but feel the 
 beneficial effects of an enlarged mental horizon, and has a 
 chance for culture and an enforced self-discipline which 
 rounds the corners and dulls the edges of selfishness. 
 Lizzie might be a person of influence and worth in society,
 
 224 
 
 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 in a city where outer influences would dispel her egotism 
 and positive assurance of her own infallibility. But here 
 her active mind, otherwise unemployed, turns upon small 
 gossip and an utter condemnation of any luckless wight 
 who dares to differ from her fixed ideas of religion or so- 
 cial proprieties. I am acquainted with my cousin. She 
 has followed me with a sharp criticism since my boyhood. 
 I do not love her, I fear, as a cousin should." 
 
 Mahala laughed merrily at the serio-comic air with 
 which his last sentences were delivered. 
 
 " Excuse me one instant," suddenly exclaimed Philip, as 
 they rode along the street, " I would like to stop a moment 
 at the store." 
 
 " Certainly ; I will ride on slowly," nodded Mahala. 
 
 As she quietly ran along the road near the sidewalk, a 
 jolly old man, of rosy face and rotund form, came trudging 
 to the post-office. When he caught sight of the sweet 
 young lady riding the unheard-of vehicle, clad so daintily 
 and in quiet style, looking up at the graceful trees and 
 gazing about at the comfortable homes that ranged on 
 either side, he stopped. He planted his stout stick firmly 
 upon the ground, and said audibly, " Kevins an' airth ! " 
 
 Mahala turned quickly, and looked into the jocund vis- 
 age, now sobered with surprise. His whole appearance 
 was at once so droll, friendly, yet with a consuming curi- 
 osity in his wide-open eyes, that Mahala smiled in spite of 
 herself. Whereupon the old fellow's face expanded into a 
 pleased look, and he said : " Now, Miss, really, if you 
 won't take it unkindly, will you tell me what that thing is 
 that you are a-ridin' on ? "
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 
 
 225 
 
 "Yes, I will," said 
 Mahala, good-humor- 
 edly. " It is a tricy- 
 cle. Did you never 
 see one before?" 
 
 "No, I never did," an- 
 swered the old man. " I've 
 seen the bicycles, of course ; but 
 it beats me! Where did you 
 come from ? I know you don't 
 belong around here ; that is, I 
 judge you don't," he added as 
 Mahala quizzically said " Why ? " 
 " Oh, I don't know, unless by 
 the general cut of your jib. 
 Where be you from ? I would 
 like to know, if it don't make 
 no odds to you." 
 
 w. & w. 15
 
 226 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "I am from Hartford, sir," politely responded Mahala, 
 who rightly inferred that this was a kindly old soul unre- 
 strained by polite reticence in his questions. 
 
 " Hevins an' airth!" he ejaculated again. "But you 
 haven't ridden from there, to-day ? " he pursued, evidently 
 attributing marvelous possibilities to the machine. 
 
 " Not to-day." answered Mahala, as she heard Prince's 
 quick steps behind her. 
 
 "Ah, how do you* do this morning, Captain Amos ? " said 
 the genial voice of Philip as he rode up. " I am glad your 
 rheumatism lets you out once more. I am coming in to 
 settle with you for that boat very soon." 
 
 "All right there ain't no hurry any time," answered 
 the old man, to whom the arrival of Philip, as escort to 
 this charming girl and her wonderful machine, was an 
 added shock of surprise and wonderment, and subsequently- 
 furnished a topic for gossip at the store for an hour. 
 
 As Mahala, bowing pleasantly, said " Good morning, 
 Captain Amos," and started her wheels, he stood and 
 watched them far down the street, and as he trudged on- 
 ward he remarked " Hevins an' airth ! " He turned once 
 more, but they were out of sight. " And now," he said, 
 with a curious shake of the head, "how did she know my 
 name ? That's what I want to know ! " 
 
 On they rode, now slowly, enjoying the pure air, the 
 blue sky, and the glimpses of homes, and trees, and river, 
 chatting freely upon all they saw and thought, living in the 
 passing hour, which was so full of a nameless charm and 
 golden light. 
 
 Philip was only solicitous, fearing that she would be-
 
 PHILIPS DAY. 227 
 
 come fatigued. "I am ashamed," he said, "to sit here on 
 Prince's back and see you propelling your own vehicle." 
 
 Mahala instantly assured him that she enjoyed the ex- 
 ercise above all things. " It is merely a walk for me/' she 
 explained, "'with no more exertion, except when by trans- 
 mitting more force to these wheels they lend me far 
 greater speed. I think these cycles must be a realization 
 of the seven-league boots," she added, with animation, and 
 shot ahead, so that Prince, pointing his small ears forward 
 in surprise at this unexpected action of the queer machine 
 which he was escorting, struck instantly into a quick can- 
 ter and was soon by Mahala' s side. 
 
 " Oh ! here we are at the top of a little hill ! " exclaimed 
 the bright-eyed girl. " Now you shall see where I have 
 the advantage of you, Mr. Farnham," and resting her feet 
 on the bars in front, she laid her hand on the brake and 
 went flying down the hill in what seemed to Philip a 
 most reckless manner. 
 
 " Beware the water bar ! You may get upset ! " he 
 cried, hastening after her. She was waiting for him at 
 the foot of the hill. 
 
 "Well," he said, in some dismay, "you certainly were 
 the victor that time, but " 
 
 " Beg pardon," she said, bowing, " not I, but my ma- 
 chine, is ' The Victor.' You see, I can slow up instantly," 
 she said, touching the brake, and glowing with enthusias- 
 tic pleasure in the sport. 
 
 " It is coasting, you know, without winter frost and 
 snow." 
 
 " It certainly seems very exhilarating," assented the
 
 22 8 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 gentleman, looking at her bright red cheeks. " I have 
 never tried a wheel, Prince supplying all the exercise I 
 have time to take. Still, you feel when riding horseback 
 that you are, after all, doing a sort of lazy thing. But you 
 are perfectly independent of any volition but your own 
 muscles on a wheel. One has a sense of pride in a vigor- 
 ous tramp. Riding a tricycle must give something of this 
 inspiriting feeling." 
 
 " Exactly ! " answered Mahala. " There is an unac- 
 countable fascination about it. I think you have ex- 
 plained it. Still," she continued, glancing up at him with 
 a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "it is not ati fait for 
 women to be independent in New York, is it ? I think 
 the wheels may be more generally used in Massachusetts." 
 
 " Independent ? Yes. We want them to be indepen- 
 dent in health and joyous love of life, in stanch principles 
 and a high culture, as well as in a practical education, by 
 which they could care for themselves if no stronger arm 
 were near to fight the world for them. But we would each 
 like to have some lovely woman dependent on him for love 
 and protection, giving him in return the advantage of her 
 quick intuition and pure counsels. There need be no 
 question " 
 
 " So I think ! " quickly interposed Mahala. "Wouldn't 
 you like to try the wheels for a little while, Mr/ Farn- 
 ham ? " 
 
 Philip came down from his pedestal so suddenly, that 
 for an instant he scarcely realized his position. But 
 casting a searching glance at Mahala's innocent face he 
 said, with a short laugh, which was a curious mixture of
 
 PHILIPS DAY. 22 Q 
 
 surprise, chagrin, and amusement in one exclamation, " I 
 don't mind. Probably you will like to see me tip over ! " 
 
 " Oh ! no indeed ! It is impossible to do so ! " protested 
 Miss Wright, as she took out her little wrench and busily 
 proceeded to raise the saddle. 
 
 Philip had also dismounted. 
 
 "There ! " she said, with a business face, " I think that 
 will be about right for you. I will lead Prince. You will 
 need both hands." 
 
 So he followed her directions, and starting off with 
 some success he became bolder and put on more speed, 
 and at once turned right about and ran promptly into a 
 fence. 
 
 " I told you the least turn of the handle would change 
 your course," said Mahala, coming up with Prince's nose 
 near her shoulder. " Whoa, Prince ! I " 
 
 She was shaking with laughter to see the comical ex- 
 pression of doubt with which he was regarding the 
 machine, showing at th same time a. determination to 
 conquer next time or perish in the attempt. " Oh, I give 
 you leave to laugh," he said lugubriously, and they both 
 laughed loud and long at his expense. " But I am going 
 to try it again, just the same," he declared, as he pulled 
 the wheels back into the road. 
 
 The next trial was eminently successful, and at the 
 young lady's request he gave her his hand, and, placing her 
 foot in it, she sprang to Prince's back. 
 
 " I shall hardly try fast riding on this saddle," she said, 
 as they proceeded at a walk, "but I think that Prince 
 knows that I am at a disadvantage without a pommel, and
 
 230 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 will be good. I can keep up with you on the wheels, I 
 think.'.' 
 
 So they rode for a mile. 
 
 " You are not a novice on horseback, I see," said Philip, 
 who, while earnestly engaged in managing the tricycle, 
 still kept a close watch on Prince's behavior until he saw 
 that Mahala was used to managing a horse. 
 
 "Not exactly," she smilingly answered, "but since I 
 have had my wheels I have not cared so much for riding 
 as formerly." 
 
 " Do you then prefer the tricycle ? " asked Philip, as he 
 assisted her to dismount. 
 
 "Yes, very much," Mahala answered, as, after lowering 
 the saddle, she took her seat once more. 
 
 They met a farmer and his wife, driving to town. A 
 large basket of eggs, a covered wooden pail, evidently con- 
 taining butter, and several bags of potatoes, were in the 
 wagon. 
 
 The friends tried not to smile or look conscious as this 
 team met them; and they saw the astonishment depicted 
 upon the countenance of its occupants. As they passed, 
 the man turned in his seat and was heard to exclaim, 
 " Wai, I vum ! " but the woman never looked behind. 
 
 Soon, a clattering grocery wagon overtook them, and 
 went rattling by at such a pace that pails, baskets, boxes, 
 and small parcels, with which it was loaded, knocked about 
 in great hazard. And as the impudent young blade who 
 drove went by, with a pencil stuck under his hat, he gave 
 Philip a very knowing grin, and lowered one eyelid in an 
 intensely mysterious manner.
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 231 
 
 Mahala caught the look, and glancing quickly to Philip, 
 was surprised to see him biting his lips, with amusement 
 in his eyes ; but she wisely made no comment. 
 
 " Here we are at the foot of Red Hill," said Philip. 
 "' Now, you' cannot ride your wheels up so steep an in- 
 cline." 
 
 " I can put it up quite a steep hill," responded Mahala, 
 "but it is often pleasanter to walk for a little distance." 
 
 " This is quite a long hill," said Philip. " Now, shall I 
 walk with you, or will you ride Prince again ? Here ! " 
 he exclaimed, without waiting for an answer, " why cannot 
 I hitch this strap to one of your cross-bars and draw you 
 up the hill? " And with an access of buoyant spirit which 
 sat not illy upon the whilom dignified young man, he 
 hastily unrolled a long leather thong which was coiled at 
 his saddle, and with much laughing and exclaiming, with 
 alternate confidence and dismay in contemplation of the 
 novel scheme, from Mahala, he fastened the strap back of 
 her small wheel, sprang again to his saddle and started 
 Prince with caution. 
 
 That sagacious animal, perceiving that this was an 
 unique excursion in all its features, slowly felt for the 
 additional weight behind him, and soon gauging it, walked 
 soberly up the hill, just as if he had not a young gentle- 
 man on his back who, half turned in the saddle, was laugh- 
 ing and slapping his knees in high glee, as he regarded the 
 joyous and sweetly dimpling face of the young lady who 
 sat littering little exclamations of triumph and clapping 
 her hands on the curious vehicle in the rear. 
 
 Undignified ? Very. Hoydenish, perhaps. But, ladies
 
 232 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 of uncharitable hearts and vinegarish remarks, it was pure 
 and unadulterated fun. Would there were more of it in 
 this sober, prosaic world ! 
 
 " Dear me," said Mahala, looking at her watch as they 
 stood together on the brow of the hill, "how the morning 
 has flown ! It is after twelve. I shall be late to lunch. 
 What will Julie think ? " 
 
 " I told her that we might not be able to return by 
 twelve, so she will not be wondering at all about us," said 
 Philip, who was tying Prince to a sapling. " You know it 
 was nearly eleven when we started," he added. 
 
 "Just half-past ten, I believe, Mr. Farnham," said 
 Mahala, looking at him with a wicked smile. " But as 
 Julie does not expect me I do not mind. It has been such a 
 delightful ride, and I am not hungry; that is, not very 
 hungry." Then, apologetically, " Isn't it dreadful to have 
 such an appetite ? " 
 
 " Yes, it is awful ! " said Philip, with an upward glance 
 of the eye and an exaggerated sigh. " However," he con- 
 tinued, " I don't mind telling you in confidence, that I am 
 ravenously hungry famished. My craving for food is 
 something alarming. I believe I could eat a raw turnip if 
 I had one." He looked around. 
 
 " A turnip is pretty good," said Mahala. " Is there no 
 field near, I wonder ? " 
 
 "Are you really hungry?" inquired Philip, rising from 
 the stump of a tree on which he had rested. 
 
 " Awfully ! " replied Mahala. 
 
 " Good ! " said Philip. "I see a basket behind that rock. 
 I will investigate its contents."
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 2^ 
 
 And to Mahala's surprise he brought up a covered basket 
 and proceeded to open it. 
 
 "But, Mr. Farnham," she remonstrated, objecting to 
 such a confiscation of the find, " it is not ours. We must 
 not take " 
 
 " It is no one else's," replied Philip, stoutly, as he drew 
 forth a large bottle of milk with a glass on the head of it. 
 Next came a paper of butter crackers. Then came a box 
 of guava jelly, two lemons and a box of sardines, and at 
 last some rosy-cheeked apples. 
 
 Mahala was astounded. 4" I will not touch one morsel," 
 she declared, "until you tell me where this all came from. 
 Are you a fairy to summon such a feast with your wand ? 
 No, these things are too material. How did they come 
 here ? Please tell me, so I can eat something." 
 
 Philip had opened the box of sardines, and, carefully 
 wiping his knife upon a fresh green leaf, which he plucked 
 from a bough overhead, he dexterously placed one of the 
 small fish upon a cracker. Then cutting a lemon in half, 
 he tore a small bit of paper for a plate, and placing the 
 viands upon it he extended them to her with great cere- 
 mony. Without seeming to hear her entreaty, he un- 
 corked the bottle and poured out a glassful of rich foaming 
 milk. 
 
 " Please tell me where these goodies came from," pleaded 
 Mahala, again. " I am nearly starved I " 
 
 "You should not have questioned my honesty, Miss 
 Wright," said Philip, with great dignity. 
 
 " Well, I never will, again," said she, penitently ; " I did 
 not mean to, only I was so surprised."
 
 236 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "Well then, eat, fair maid! Did you not see the gro- 
 cery boy, who passed us at the foot of the hill, and the im- 
 pudent wink he gave me as he went by ? " said Philip, in- 
 tent upon fishing out another sardine. 
 
 " Yes, I did," answered Mahala, " and thought him ex- 
 ceedingly facetious, not to say familiar. But what of that ? 
 I am very obtuse." 
 
 " What of that ? Why, I ordered these things when I 
 went into the store. I often order a sausage and a loaf of 
 brown bread left here when I am out gunning. There's 
 nothing like that to tramp upon. I mean, to stand by a 
 man. But on account of the expected presence of a lady 
 at the feast, I ordered a more delicate menu. Now, what 
 have you to say ? " cried Philip, as he squeezed the lemon 
 over his fish. 
 
 " I say, this is one of the most delightful surprises of 
 my life," answered Mahala, looking at him in undisguised 
 enjoyment. " Nothing could be more appropriate and 
 thoughtful. I should have been a little unhappy in half an 
 hour more." " But," she stopped drinking her milk, " How 
 shockingly prosaic ! " She took another sip, and looked 
 askance over the edge of the glass. Then, as she looked 
 around, " In full view, too, of this perfect landscape ! With 
 the lovely river and the green fields beyond, the deepening 
 tinge of the dying foliage, through the whole gamut of color, 
 from bright crimson to the brown, sere leaf. The blue 
 water to the south, the sunlight on the winding roads by 
 forest, and stream, and " 
 
 "If you don't need that tumbler to gesticulate with,
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 237 
 
 Miss Wright," said Philip, with an injured air, "I would 
 like some milk. I have not had a drop !" 
 
 " Why, that is too bad. You shall have some at once," 
 and Mahala, discontinuing her eloquence, poured out a 
 brimming glass. 
 
 "This guava jelly is delicious for dessert," she said, 
 opening the paper box. " No, that knife will taste fishy." 
 She shook her head as he gave it an additional rub, and 
 extended it to her. , 
 
 " You may wipe, you may polish the knife if you will, 
 but the scent of the sardines will hang 'round it still. 
 My fruit-knife is clean," and she took a small silver knife 
 from her pocket, looking demurely at Mr. Farnham, who 
 leaned faintly against a tree, but failed to excite remorse 
 for her shocking parody, as his mouth was full, and his 
 facial expression consequently not a success. 
 
 And so they chatted, and laughed, and gibed, for half an 
 hour. The only shocking thing about this picnic, to us 
 veracious chroniclers, is the fact that they had known each 
 other less than a week. But the truth must be told at all 
 hazards. 
 
 " Poor old Prince must have some lunch," said Mahala 
 (when they had eaten an amount which would not be speci- 
 fied here for anything), dividing some apples into small 
 pieces with her knife. 
 
 Philip sat idly watching her as she fed his horse with 
 the fruit. How deftly she used her hands. It was one of 
 Philip's theories that the use and action of the hands was 
 a clear index to one's capabilities, mental as well as me- 
 chanical. How Prince enjoyed the touch of the caressing
 
 238 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 fingers, as they gently smoothed over his eyes, and picked 
 out his forelock. 
 
 "There, old boy," she said, patting his neck hard, under 
 his mane. " They're all gone ! Aren't you much obliged, 
 eh ?" And she took his soft nose into both hands as she 
 looked into his handsome face. " All right ! I know you 
 are ! " and she returned to the flat rock and began to pick 
 up things. 
 
 Crumpling up the paper wrappers, she said, " It is one 
 of the beauties of dining like this, that washing dishes is 
 so very easy." 
 
 "Yes," answered Philip, "I will help you clear off the 
 table ;" saying which he seized the empty tin, and threw it 
 far away into the woods. "The silver, I see, you have 
 taken care of. The cut-glass I will return to the basket " 
 Putting the empty bottle into the basket, he placed it in 
 its niche in the rock. " Sykes will take it on his return,"' 
 he said, wiping his hands on his handkerchief. " And 
 now, as I don't see but our housework is all done up, we 
 can enjoy the scenery before we return. I want you to 
 notice that line of elms," said he, standing by her side,, 
 and pointing up the river. " See how their interlacing 
 branches form a perfect gothic arch over the street they 
 border. Nothing more beautiful than natural forms has 
 ever been introduced into architecture. Every effort of 
 man, in this as in every other branch of art, is but an imi- 
 tation of, or design formed upon, nature's original plan." 
 
 "Yes, I remember," said Mahala, "that the capital of 
 the Corinthian column is only the working out of an idea 
 drawn by a monk from a large flower-pot, with a square
 
 PHILIPS DAY. 2 3D 
 
 board lying on top. It had been set upon a plant whose 
 leaves, struggling out from under its almost crushing 
 weight, grew up against its side, much as we see them in 
 the conventionalized form." 
 
 " Some one has compared architecture to petrified mu- 
 sic. I never could quite see the force of the comparison. 
 Can you ? " said Philip, anxious to bring out her girlish 
 thoughts upon any subject. 
 
 " Oh, yes, I see what he meant," Mahala replied, (" if it 
 was a ' he.' I never spoil a bright idea by looking up its 
 author.) I have seen churches that were as grand an- 
 thems with the theme ever repeated, coming again and 
 again, in modified or more ornate form, rising from the 
 heavy chords of the massive pillars at the base, to the 
 lighter and sweeter thoughts as the creation progressed. 
 These solemn old-fashioned dwelling-houses, with a row of 
 columns across the front, look to me like a poor attempt 
 at a funeral march, by an incompetent composer. An 
 imposing idea, thinly carried out. Don't you think so ? " 
 she asked, turning to him with a smile. 
 
 " Oh, if you say so," cried Philip ; " I have seen cosy 
 houses which in their very air were a perfect embodiment 
 of ' Home, Sweet Home.' But in that one thinks more of 
 the words than the music." 
 
 "Yes," said Mahala, drawing up her forehead, in a little 
 thoughtful frown, " but I think that was hardly the idea we 
 commenced upon. It is form, rather than sentiment, that 
 makes architecture and music comparable." 
 
 "Oh, I see it now/' said Philip, who had seen it all the 
 time; "you would consider that little three-pointed house 
 over there as the first bar of a waltz."
 
 2 AQ WHEELS' ANJ> WHIMS, 
 
 " Perhaps," she answered, laughing, " and some of those 
 modern houses which are a confusion of dormers and steep 
 roofs, inexplicable windows and inexcusable juts, like one 
 of Chopin's intensest emotions, or a jig played out of 
 time." Then, with one of her swiftly-changing expres- 
 sions which were such a fascination to him, " Is not all 
 purely aesthetic architectural construction symbolical of 
 moods based on nature's forms ? " said Mahala, with intro- 
 spective vision, as her dilated eye rested on the ether of 
 distant hills. " Now, surely we have exhausted this sub- 
 ject ; had we not better start for home ? " said Miss 
 Wright, as she drew on her gloves, and, taking out a 
 little hook, proceeded to button them. 
 
 " A sensible suggestion," said Philip, " but one I have 
 no particular sympathy with. Oh, if these pleasant hours 
 would not pass ! Can't we make the sun stand still, yet a 
 few hours I " 
 
 "I am afraid not," Mahala rejoined, practically; "there 
 is but one instance on record, I believe, where it has stop- 
 ped its course at the command of a mortal. And, although 
 Joshua flattered himself that he had done it, I hear that 
 skeptical scientists now question the fact, deciding that 
 his quadrant may have been at fault." 
 
 " It has been such a happy day, to me, though," said 
 Philip, as he started for his horse and Mahala took her 
 seat on the tricycle. " I almost dislike to return to com- 
 mon living. I begin to have a strange reluctance, too, to 
 go to New York next week," admitted the young man, as 
 they rode slowly down the hill. 
 
 " Of course you will dread the parting with your parents
 
 WV \ill\lfi MHilUti
 
 FILLIP'S DAY. , 243 
 
 more each year as they grow older, and your father not 
 strong, too," said Mahala, in sympathetic tones. 
 
 " Yes, that must be it," said Philip. " Of course that is 
 it, though I never thought of it before." 
 
 The October sun grew almost unpleasantly warm for 
 Mahala, as they rode along the homeward way. They 
 were nearing the town, when Philip said, almost with a 
 sigh : " But my rooms in New York will seem so lonely 
 now. I have rather a nice place, too. But to eat at a club 
 with a dozen fellows you may like or not; to return to 
 lonely rooms at night, and sit reading or cogitating, still 
 alone, unless some acquaintance drops in, or I go out to a 
 fashionable, joyless' crush, called a reception ; or perchance 
 to the theatre, then to return, still alone you see I don't 
 smoke; somehow, I never could adopt the 'filthy weed/ 
 however consoling it may be. Still, I have always been 
 content with my bachelor way of living, until now." 
 
 Mahala, who had listened so attentively as to encourage 
 his confidences, now looked up with an idea for his relief. 
 " Why don't you buy a dog ? " she said. " We have a friend 
 who has a beautiful Gordon setter, that is a perfect treas- 
 ure to him. He calls her ' Lady.' She " 
 
 Philip recoiled, as from a blow in the face, uttered a 
 quick word, which surely the recording angel mercifully 
 feigned not to hear. He gave Prince a stinging cut and 
 dashed ahead so fiercely, as to frighten Mahala out of her 
 further remarks. The incomprehensible girl looked con- 
 fused, entreating, as she came up to where he waited in 
 cold politeness for her. 
 
 No more laughing now. No merry gibes or innocent 
 mirth.
 
 244 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 They were not far from home when Mahala made her 
 unfortunate remark, and Mr. Farnham, dismounting with 
 severe courtesy, stood hat in hand, to assist her from her 
 wheels at the gate. But now, burning with mortification 
 and unhappiness, knowing that he was angry, and she had 
 made him so, she commanded her face with difficulty, and 
 saying, " Good day," she pedalled swiftly in at the double 
 gate, and he rode away, without a word or a look at the 
 house. 
 
 How changed was the face of all nature ! Where all 
 had been bright and joyous, with the clearness and spark- 
 ling stimulus of delicious champagne, it was now cold, 
 drear, in spite of the sunshine. He was benumbed, 
 wounded to the heart. He felt a dull indignation that she 
 should be so unkind, yes, frivolous. It was hard and in- 
 sulting ! No woman worthy of a thought would so dis- 
 regard respectful sentiment ! Gad ! He had been sold 
 out, margin gone, investment a failure ! And at his age ! 
 A fine birthday, this ! 
 
 To confess to a girl that he was lonely, in his privileged 
 situation in the world, to expose the throbbings of his 
 proud heart, when just on the point of craving her dear 
 love, with reasonable confidence of success in winning it, 
 then, then, at this supreme moment of a wildly joyous day, 
 to be advised to buy a d Hell and furies ! He would 
 not, he could not think of it ! He was never so in- 
 sulted ! 
 
 He gave Prince a cut with his cane, and tore along the 
 way in a frantic desire to get away from it from himself. 
 Scowling, with grinding teeth and a dark flush which
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 24$ 
 
 mounted to his hair and extended to his neck, he rode up 
 hill and down. 
 
 Philip Farnham was in a passion. Who can blame 
 him ? 
 
 At last, finding himself some miles from home, up the 
 river, he drew the rein and slowly turned about. How 
 could she have done it ! she, so loving and merciful, even 
 to beasts and insects. Could she have intended to treat 
 him so badly ? There was no provocation for a deliberate 
 insult. Was it merely a girlish misapprehension of his 
 feelings ? Perhaps a feminine defense against what she felt 
 might follow ! Or perhaps she, so fancy free, so artless in 
 her frank friendship, had not dreamed of such possibilities 
 for herself. She was such a child, no thought of love had 
 come over her innocent heart. It was ; yes, he knew it 
 was merely a piquant retort ! Or she was so fond of ani- 
 mals, she might have been sincere in suggesting a canine 
 companion for his lonely hours. Here he laughed aloud. 
 What a farce ! Then, how rude he must have seemed. 
 Why, what a hot-headed fool he was to leave her so ! She 
 must be puzzled, perhaps hurt, by his hasty actions. He 
 could judge of that at the party, at any rate. Only three 
 o'clock, Five hours to wait ! 
 
 Prince was walking quietly along. Philip took his 
 handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his perspiring 
 forehead. 
 
 "Too, toot." 
 
 He turned quickly around. 
 
 " Hullo ! Kupfer, old boy, how are you ? Don't you 
 know me, Kupfer?"
 
 2 4 g WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Und Gold ! M Philip cried, with pleasure and astonish- 
 ment in his face. 
 
 The young man on the bicycle which had overtaken 
 him jumped nimbly to the ground, and came wheeling his 
 machine with hand extended to Philip, who sprang from 
 his horse's back to meet him. 
 
 "Where did you come from ? Did you drop from the 
 skies ? " exclaimed Philip, in wonderment, as they clasped 
 hands, with great heartiness and unalloyed pleasure at the 
 meeting. 
 
 " Well," answered the other, " I did not exactly drop, 
 though I got it on you, as I knew your back. The fact 
 is," he said, looking down and kicking a stone out of the 
 road, " I got a little down in the mouth, and the doctor 
 sent me away from the bank for a few weeks. As he in- 
 sisted upon out-of-door exercise, I decided I would take a 
 run on my wheel. I thought of you, when I was up the 
 river a ways, and was going to inquire for your place, 
 thinking you might possibly be home for the shooting. 
 And so, here we are." 
 
 "And I am delighted to see you, chum," said Philip. 
 "Now, you will come right home with me, and stay over 
 Sunday." 
 
 " All right, if it is convenient for you. I must warn 
 you I am getting to be a tremendous feeder since I quit 
 home and live out of doors. Nothing like it, is there ? " 
 
 So, taking to horse and wheel, they rode along the se- 
 questered roads. 
 
 Pretty soon Philip remarked, " Plummer, have n't you 
 grown thin ? Not in love, -I hope. By the way, I met one
 
 PHILIP'S DAY. 2A7 
 
 of those Weaver girls who used to be so fond of us at 
 New Haven, in at the Windsor, the other day. Lord, how 
 old she looked! I knew they had taken several classes 
 along, before we came upon the stage, but I had no 
 idea they were so antiquated. Great business, is n't it, 
 these girls petting the students ? Fun for the boys, but 
 death to them, socially." 
 
 " Phil, do you know, I feel old ! Out of college seven 
 years, and tired of germans, yet without a wife, and living 
 in rooms. Heigh-ho ! Well, what 's the news ? " 
 
 " I heard you were engaged to a beautiful girl, Felix. 
 Your prospects, then, are promising." 
 
 " Y-yes, I am, or rather, I was. Kupfer, old chap, I am 
 in trouble." He then told his tried friend of the circum- 
 stances which opened this narrative, but did not mention 
 the name of his fiancee. " And so, she disappeared from 
 town, leaving no clue. Knowing her pride as I do, I fear 
 I shall never regain my old place in her affections. I 
 flew around several days, making such inquiries as I could 
 without giving my own desertion away to a set of curious 
 friends. After a week of misery and unavailing search, 
 I met a boy, Harry Dwinell, who told me he saw a party 
 of ladies on tricycles " 
 
 "The devil !" 
 
 " What 's the matter ? " 
 
 " Nothing, go on." 
 
 " Who were on the road to the colleges. I blessed him 
 and continued inquiries, out in that section. No one had 
 seen them. Harry came to me the next day, and told me 
 they had gone down the river, on a sketching tour, chape-
 
 2^8 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 roned by Mrs. F. W. Mather. I rushed for Mather, to see 
 if she was among them, but he was off hunting. So I 
 have followed them, sometimes losing the trail and going 
 miles out of the way (they don't seem to keep to the main 
 road), and at Haddam I lost them. I cannot get the slight- 
 est trace of the party anywhere. And if I should it is 
 doubtful if she is one of them, anyway. I am about dis- 
 couraged." He looked mournful, and pulled his blonde 
 mustache in despair. 
 
 Philip drew a long breath. 
 
 " Felix," he said, " they are here." 
 
 " Here ? Where ? " The warm blood rushed over the 
 lover's face. 
 
 " In Essex. I have met them." 
 
 " You have met them," echoed Felix, looking at his 
 friend with a queer expression in his face. " How should 
 you meet them ? Was orfe of them," he asked eagerly, 
 " a lovely girl with dark hair and beautiful eyes ? " 
 
 " Yes," said Philip Farnham, with a sinking heart. 
 
 " Has she a slender, graceful figure ? " 
 
 "Yes," said Philip, again. 
 
 "Has she the most refined face, the most delicate hands, 
 the most queenly carriage and the sweetest voice in the 
 world ? " 
 
 "Yes." Philip forgot Mahala's irregular nose, which 
 would be better termed cunning than elegant. 
 
 " Then I have found her, at last ! " exclaimed Felix, in 
 boundless joy. 
 
 Philip was overpowered with a jealousy which he tried 
 manfully to smother, but failed. He almost hated his.
 
 PHILIPS DAY. 249 
 
 friend. Plummer had won a prize away from him at 
 Yale, and now 
 
 " Can you tell me where to find her ?" the impetuous 
 lover exclaimed. " If I can once get a look into Margery's 
 eyes " he began to say. 
 
 " Margery ! Miss Prescott ? " 
 
 " Why, certainly. Who else ? " demanded Felix, regard- 
 ing his friend with surprise. 
 
 Philip reached over and seized his hand, shaking it 
 warmly, to the imminent danger of throwing the bicyclist 
 off his balance. 
 
 " Why, yes, indeed, who else ? I congratulate you, old 
 chum ! I am delighted to hear you say so ! I am sure 
 you will be able to make it up with her. She is a beauti- 
 ful girl, and every way worthy of you ! " 
 
 Felix looked at Philip in some wonderment at his sud- 
 den access of enthusiasm, but, blinded by his own eager- 
 ness to see his lost love, soon forgot a glimmering suspicion 
 that Farnham might be in love with her himself, and was 
 feigning this effusive gladness. He thought at first that 
 Kupfer was probably smitten with Margery and trying to- 
 supplant him in her affections. 
 
 Then Philip told him who the party were ; how he had 
 happened to meet them ; that his mother had called upon 
 them, and that they were coming to the Farnham house 
 that evening to a small party. 
 
 It was with difficulty that Philip could restrain Felix 
 from immediately turning about then and there and flying 
 to Mr. Stearns's house. But his friend reminded him that 
 he was not sure of a cordial reception, and that a surprise
 
 250 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 which he would manage for him would throw Miss Prescott 
 off her proud reserve, and prove at once to her lover 
 whether she had forgiven him in her heart. 
 
 She might take a whim to uphold her outraged dignity 
 before the others, he was warned, so Felix held his panting 
 impatience in check and was kindly welcomed to dinner 
 by Mrs. Farnham. 
 
 As for Philip, a complete revulsion of feeling had come 
 over him and he wished the time away until the guests 
 should arrive, and he have an opportunity to tell her 
 should he tell it all ? If he could only find her in one of 
 her less mischievous moods ! One might as well try to 
 force a kitten to pose for a picture, as to make her listen to 
 love when she was in one of her merry trains.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 TVJOT coming !" repeated Philip, as with bare head he 
 -i- ^i 
 
 Jo 
 
 ** 
 
 stepped down to the carriage to hand out the ladies 
 who had just arrived from Mr. Stearns' s. "Not coming !" 
 again said he, as Miss St. John assured him it was no mis- 
 take, and that her niece was not feeling well. 
 
 His heart fell within him. He had come forth with 
 such abounding joy at the thought of touching her 
 hand again, that the disappointment was all the more in- 
 tense. He saw Miss St. John did not think it of much 
 importance, and had already passed within, greeting the 
 old gentleman, his father. 
 
 Margery was gathering up her flowing skirts and mount- 
 ing to receive the warm welcome 
 
 Seeing a look of sympathy in Mrs. Mather's sweet face, 
 " What is it ? " he asked, in under breath, as she gave him 
 her hand and they went together up the stone steps to the 
 door. 
 
 " Well, if it is not the capriciousness of feminine in- 
 stinct in general, in this instance it is, that she is quite 
 ashamed of herself and mortified at the effect of her con- 
 
 (25O
 
 2 52 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 duct this morning. She gave me an account of your ride, 
 said you left her offended, but professed she did not un- 
 derstand why. I never inquire closely into another's 
 affairs, and therefore fail to understand why she would 
 listen to no reason about it. She determined from the 
 outset not to be present here this evening, nor to appear 
 again to you. At this moment, I dare say, she is packing 
 the trunk with her things, so there may be no excuse for 
 detention as soon as the hour for departure arrives." 
 
 " Departure ! Oh, don't speak of it, Mrs. Mather. How 
 can I bear this ! " As he detained her and hurried off his 
 words, he passed his hand nervously across his face. 
 
 " Is it so ? " she said gently, with a comprehensive look, 
 which brought a low exclamation from him. 
 
 " I must, I shall see her again ! Pardon me, I will go 
 for her ! I shall not be missed. Say not a word. I will 
 make an excuse, and " Mrs. Mather passed on to the 
 dressing-room, glad to find her detention had not been 
 noticed. 
 
 Margery was putting the little finishing touches to her 
 incomparable toilet. Miss St. John was giving her ener- 
 gies to a pair of lovely, tinted kids, which were all but too 
 snug. 
 
 Philip strode to his mother's side, who was smiling 
 sweetly as their minister, who had arrived among the first 
 (a clergyman of some years' residence among the people of 
 Essex), was presenting his young half-sister, who had come 
 to pass the winter at the parsonage, and whom he now 
 introduced for the first time to the society of the place. 
 He was assuring his hostess that he was rejoiced to accept
 
 COMING TO THE PARTY. 2 $$ 
 
 so pleasant an opportunity to present his young relative to 
 his friends. 
 
 " We are happy indeed, Mr. Butterfield, in this acquisi- 
 tion to our company. You are truly welcome, my dear," 
 she said, turning to the young stranger, whose sparkling 
 eye gave double value to the quiet " Thank you." 
 
 Then turning to the clergyman, Mrs. Farnham said, 
 cordially, " I am more than glad to see you here to-night, 
 sir, because " 
 
 " You thought, being Saturday, that a minister might 
 not care to be out, but," he said, smiling genially, "birth- 
 days must be attended to, and we shall close our festivities 
 at an early hour. I would not miss welcoming in Philip's 
 next year, for a great deal." 
 
 " I must present my son to you, Miss Butterfield ; and 
 father, where is he ? " she added, casting her eyes about 
 the rooms. 
 
 " I spoke with him, in the hall, just now," answered the 
 minister. " He said he would return here in a moment." 
 
 Philip entered with such rapid movement, and his hasty 
 words were so quickly spoken that his mother found no 
 time to detain him for an introduction to the stranger. 
 
 " I shall be back in a moment, mother. Something 
 requires my attention outside." He whirled away and 
 was at the stable before his mother could arrange her sen- 
 tence of inquiry. It was so. seldom that her son was dis- 
 turbed from his deliberate composure, and so rarely excited 
 to any hasty action, that she presumed some stupidity on 
 the part of those preparing the entertainment had come to 
 his knowledge and he was of necessity called to correct it.
 
 254 HEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 Philip was shortly at the gate of Mr. Stearns's house. 
 He dropped the lines, and sprang from the buggy. " How 
 fortunate Tom's team was there ready ! I shall make it 
 right with him," said he, as he fastened the horse. 
 
 After the friends had gone from the house, and left 
 Mahala alone, the house-keeper concluded to visit a sick 
 neighbor, whom she frequently waited upon. She asked 
 Miss Wright to excuse her for half an hour. The front 
 door she left unlocked, for as she stepped out she said, " I 
 will be back in a few minutes, Miss Wright. You need 
 not fear anyone's coming. No one is apt to come in of an 
 evening here, unless to borrow the paper or to see Mr. 
 Stearns on business, and it is too late for that now." 
 
 As Mahala sat by the open fireplace, where a bright 
 burning log lay, now smoking, now blazing, for want of 
 something to do she had turned it over two or three times. 
 She felt such perfect wretchedness at being^ left alone, and 
 an utter despair of bettering the situation by going over 
 and over it in her mind. As she sat, bending towards the 
 fire, with the old-fashioned brass-headed tongs in her hand, 
 half admiring their glitter, half watching the blaze, but un- 
 der all, depressed and miserable, she heard the quick roll 
 of the carriage, the step of the horse. She dropped the 
 tongs. She started to her feet. She felt unprotected. 
 She clasped her hands together tightly. Standing midway 
 between the fire and door, she listened. She could hear 
 her own heart-beats. Steps she heard quick steps. 
 What should she do? Turn out the lights? Oh, that 
 those shades were down ! How foolish ! perhaps the 
 man had returned for something the girls had forgotten.
 
 COMING TO THE PARTY. 255 
 
 Yes, what a silly thing she was! Goodness, how her 
 heart beat ! Since that horrid Irishman attacked them in 
 the woods she trembled at every sound. 
 
 There was a knock. She must go, then. She had sat 
 there regardless of the undrawn curtain. Philip had seen 
 her as he stepped quickly along the piazza.. He saw she 
 was alone. Before she had reached the door, his hand was 
 on the knob. Without thinking he might alarm her, he 
 opened the door. She started back in fear. Then, as he 
 came apologetically forward, she gave a little nervous 
 laugh. " O-ho," she said, and burying her face in her 
 hands, she turned half around and dropped into a chair by 
 the door. 
 
 He saw he had frightened her. Full of deep feeling 
 himself, he stopped a moment, to gain self-possession. He 
 laid off his great coat, and came forward rubbing his 
 hands, for, with the cool of the evening, and the burning 
 of his brain and heart, they were chilled. He walked into 
 the parlor, closed the door, stood a moment in silence be- 
 fore the fire, acting mechanically, thinking only of her. 
 
 This had given time for Mahala to collect herself. 
 Leaving her place she came forward and settled negli- 
 gently into the easy rocker, where she had previously 
 been sitting. 
 
 Each felt they had a part to play. Each meant to play 
 it well. Philip turned a glowing face to her. "I have 
 come for you," he said, in deep undertone. 
 
 Mahala forgot the party, forgot her friends, forgot the 
 whole world. 
 
 Philip stood before her. He had come for her!
 
 2 c6 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 She gave a little gasp. " Come for me ? " she repeated, 
 and then it burst upon her. Why, he means to the party ! 
 
 " Oh, but I am not ready," she said. 
 
 " No ? But you will get ready, will you not ? " 
 
 What pleading in the voice and eye ! Could she resist ? 
 It was not authoritative either; if it had been, she would 
 have said "No " at once. "It is impossible." 
 
 He quietly stepped towards her. She arose looking full 
 into his magnetic eye. He reached out his hand. Hers 
 met it. For a second they stood. There was no premedi- 
 tation, it was all spontaneous, involuntary. The peace was 
 made. 
 
 He laid his other hand on hers. 
 
 "Miss Wright, we all want you there. Will you not 
 return with me ? I will wait as long as is necessary, but 
 I am sure you will come." 
 
 Mahala dropped her eyes under his burning gaze. He 
 seemed to be reading her through and through. 
 
 What what did this manner mean ? 
 
 " I will," she said, with a new submissiveness. 
 
 A wave of triumphant feeling rushed over Philip's 
 senses. He threw it off as ungenerous. Deep love was 
 yearning in his breast. 
 
 "Then, get ready," he said, quietly. "You are beauti- 
 ful, now. You cannot array yourself more, in my eyes ; 
 but for others, perhaps yes, for others, perhaps," he mur- 
 mured as he bit his nether lip. Still holding her little 
 hand, he touched his lips to it, and put her from him. 
 Then, opening the door to let her pass out : " Go, now. I 
 will wait."
 
 COMING TO THE PARTY 2 $? 
 
 " I will not be long," she sang out joyously, as she 
 tripped up the stairs, her face all dimpled with smiles. 
 * "So the pink silk is not all for naught," she said in girl- 
 ish ecstacy, as she drew forth the lovely dress and shook 
 out its sheeny folds and tossed it on the bed. " And all I 
 planned has come to naught. Mais dieu dispose, is it not 
 always so? I meant to be so cold and indifferent. I 
 meant oh, my hair will do ! " and she turned about and 
 looked in the glass. 
 
 "I won't have a flower, even. I will just button up 
 this," she said, as she put on her waist. " I won't stop to 
 dress my feet ; I'll slip these under my cloak. I can put 
 them on when I get there." She went to the closet and 
 took down her aunt's warm sketching-cloak. 
 
 " Heavens, what will they think of me ! How could he 
 leave? I will not keep him waiting a minute longer! 
 Gloves ! Oh, dear ! where's my fan, and handkerchief ? " 
 
 Her eyes fell on them the next instant, and she caught at 
 some violet perfume, gave the bottle a little shake over 
 her handkerchief, and touched it to her eyes and lips 
 before hastily gathering up her voluminous draperies under 
 the friendly cloak. 
 
 Philip still stood, his elbow resting on the mantel, star- 
 ing into the smouldering fire, the sputtering log every 
 now and then giving a turn to his vision. How differently 
 it had come out ! 
 
 " I thought to appeal, to humble myself, to meet her 
 irony her banter, to contend, to be baffled, perhaps, and 
 return discomfited. No, I did not intend to allow myself 
 to be overcome. I came to conquer." 
 w. & w. 17
 
 2 ^3 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 A crowd of thoughts like these rushed through his 
 brain. He seemed to have lived more in this day than in 
 all his life before. Further he mused. " It has seemed a. 
 thing incredible to me, that in love a man will humiliate 
 himself so before the woman he admires. But I could be 
 content to sit at her feet all the day. How sweet she is \. 
 what music in her very step ! 
 
 " ' She is coming, my own, my sweet. 
 
 Were it ever so airy a tread, 
 My heart would hear her and beat ' " 
 
 Mahala tripped down the stairway. The door opened, 
 and, .all muffled in cloak, not a vestige of the pink silk 
 showing, she was there ! 
 
 " Did I keep you long ? Were you getting all tired out 
 worrying lest they should miss you from the house ? " 
 
 " Oh, no ; I was not thinking of them. I was recalling 
 something from Tennyson." 
 
 " Do you like Tennyson ? " she asked, as he opened and 
 closed after her the street door. His reply did not reach 
 her as she ran ahead in her excitement to jump into the 
 buggy. She almost stumbled over the quiet house-keeper, 
 who was feeling for the gate-latch. 
 
 " Oh, " she said, " I have concluded to go to the party, 
 Mrs. Bronson. Good-night." 
 
 " Did you say you liked Tennyson ? " said she, as they 
 were fairly tucked under the blanket, and the horse going 
 at a rapid pace along the dim road. " He is the tonic that 
 I take in regular doses at stated periods for the health of 
 my soul," and she laughed, low and sweet. 
 
 " In the same way that I go to ' Sartor Resartus,' I pre-
 
 COMING TO THE PARTY. 359 
 
 sume, in moments of mental debility, and spasmodic dis- 
 taste for lighter food," answered Philip. " Yes, I am fond 
 of Tennyson, too. At one period of my callow youth, his 
 poems were my almost daily recreation, and I was particu- 
 larly prone to reading them aloud to lady friends during 
 college vacations, under shady trees or by the seashore, 
 you know. Although now I am past those boyish enthusi- 
 asms, I still retain a sincere admiration for the poet, and 
 I find that many charming bits of his inimitable descrip- 
 tions and sentiments remain in my memory." 
 
 They were nearing Farnham House, when Philip said, 
 " By the way, Miss Wright, do you know Felix Plummer 
 of Hartford ? " 
 
 "Know Felix? Well, I should say I did! Felix, why 
 he is Margie's betrothed. One of the noblest fellows in 
 the world ! " 
 
 " You may then, perhaps, be surprised to know that he 
 is here." 
 
 " Here ? " 
 
 "Yes, in Essex ; at my house." 
 
 " Why, how came he there ? Do you know him ? How 
 delighted Margie will be to see him. I did not know that 
 she expected him." 
 
 Philip, perceiving that she had no knowledge of the 
 breach between the lovers, which Felix had cqnfided to 
 him, merely spoke of their former friendship at college, 
 and told her that the meeting of the afternoon was totally 
 unexpected to both of them. 
 
 Mahala had an idea in her wise little head that Margie
 
 2 5o WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 would be also surprised to see Mr. Plummer, but kept her 
 own counsel on the matter. 
 
 " Here we are. I will lead you by a side-way up stairs, 
 so that no one will notice that we are late." 
 
 Robert stepped to the carriage to take the lines as it 
 drew up to the house, and Philip led her in at the side- 
 gate. To a maid who stood in the hall he said, " Conduct 
 Miss Wright to the dressing-room."
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 r I ^O return to Margery. A tremor had passed through 
 i- her proud heart (now doubly wounded by the ap- 
 parent indifference of her lover to her conciliating let- 
 ter, which she had written to him with such reluctance 
 to abase her pride, yet unwilling to do injustice to him) 
 and had taken the nerve from her grasp as she opened the 
 box containing her white pongee silk. A tide of recollec- 
 tions flooded her soul and caused her for an instant to be- 
 come ghastly pale. 
 
 " Oh, if I had not sent for this one," she said, in pain ; 
 " I could have gone through- it, with almost resignation, in 
 any other. But another party, and wearing this ! " 
 
 She leaned on the foot of the bedstead and covered her 
 face with her hands. " It will be the third time I have 
 worn it. Oh, so happy the first evening. So wretchedly 
 miserable the second ! How can I put it on again ! " 
 
 She dashed a tear from her eye, hearing the gay voice 
 of Mrs. Mather, who ascended the stairs at that moment 
 to robe herself for the evening. She turned from the 
 dress on the bed, which seemed a ghost of dead hopes, and 
 
 (26l)
 
 2 62 WHEELS AND WHIMS 
 
 was in the act of loosening her heavy hair before the mir- 
 ror, when her friend entered. Her averted face was not 
 noticed, or at least not remarked on, as she uncoiled her 
 long tresses. Proceeding with her toilet, she said, " Do 
 help me, Julie ! This maze of drapery, somehow, I cannot 
 manage." 
 
 " Well, I don't wonder, my love," said Julie, taking the 
 dress in hand. " You have it all twisted. The right 
 side of the overskirt on the wrong of the underskirt." 
 
 " Nothing is really easy to get into except our wheel- 
 suits and our wrappers," said Margery, trying to extricate 
 herself from the confusion. " I know this is to be fastened 
 up somewhere. Miss Fordyce said my maid would know, 
 but I am sure I do not. I always turn it the wrong way, 
 I think," she said, not sure of the fact, but trying to get 
 some idea into her mind except the one that would insist 
 on obtruding itself. 
 
 Once in the dressing-room at the Farnhams' she had 
 no time to think of herself. The straggling groups which 
 they met as they threaded their way there foretold them 
 of an interesting evening. Merry girls were already 
 giggling on one side, while young men were holding them- 
 selves aloof in doorways and along the hall. 
 
 Some audible whispers made the friends smile, as an ex- 
 cited curiosity could not be withheld. 
 
 " Tricyclers," said one little fellow, who had been asked 
 only as companion to his older sister. 
 
 Mrs. Mather smiled and nodded to him as she passed 
 along, recognizing the little fellow who had one day in 
 mischief tried to run a race with them on their wheels,
 
 THE PARTY, 2 ^ 
 
 and who ended his burst of speed with a tumble in the 
 dust. 
 
 Margery and Miss St. John were at the dressing-room 
 door ready to descend to the reception below, loitering an 
 instant for their companion, when a maid stepped quickly 
 to Margery and laid in her hand a loosely-folded white 
 package. She said : " A friend asks if you will wear 
 these, miss," and was gone before Margery could ask a 
 question. . 
 
 She turned to Mrs. Mather, asking, " What shall I do ? 
 Would you wear these ?" 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " Why, these," displaying some choice hot-house roses. 
 
 " Oh, how lovely ! Wear them ? Of course. Just 
 what you need to brighten up your dress, and your cheek, 
 too, my love," said Mrs. Mather, a little anxiously. " Where 
 did they come from ? ' ' 
 
 "Oh, I do not know. Mrs. Farnham, perhaps, sent 
 them. How very kind, was it not ? Do help me put 
 them somewhere. Where shall it be ? Bouquet de cor- 
 sage ? " said Margery, laying them against her waist. 
 
 " No, they get so broken there." Here, let me," and 
 Julie shook them loosely in her hold. Catching at some 
 of the flowing lace around Margery's neck, and, entwining 
 a cluster, she fastened them with bewitching grace on the 
 left side. 
 
 " Just above your heart, my dear. How lovely and fra- 
 grant they are ! Now your dress is perfect, and your- 
 self " 
 
 " Do let 's go, Julie. Others want to come here," broke 
 in Margery, quickly, and turned away.
 
 264 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Well, take these in your hand," said Mrs. Mather,, 
 gathering up the remaining roses. " Enfold the stems in 
 your handkerchief." 
 
 Mr. Stearns awaited the trio at the hall-door and de- 
 scended, leading Miss St. John, whose bright, happy face 
 showed how much she was enjoying. 
 
 " Was it not too provoking in Mike," whispered Mar- 
 gery, "not to come?" 
 
 Mrs. Mather smiled with inward satisfaction. . 
 
 They soon made their way to the hostess, and were so 
 kindly greeted with warm reception and introduction upon 
 all sides, that each was soon lost to the other, engrossed 
 by the interest of new acquaintance. Margery alone fell 
 into the background, and soon wandered listlessly into a 
 little recessed flower-room, which adjoined the library. 
 There she sat, alone and sad, in a low chair, with the flow- 
 ing train of her creamy dress lying upon the floor at her 
 side. She slowly opened and shut her fan, as she looked 
 with dreaming eyes before her. She let her hands drop 
 into her lap. It was too much. She could not bear it. 
 If she could but get away. Somewhere. She looked 
 around despairingly, and " Felix !" 
 
 The color which had flickered in her pale cheeks on her 
 first arrival, but which had faded and died out as she sat 
 alone, thinking, always thinking, of him, now blazed in 
 her radiant face as she held out her arms to him with this 
 low cry, and half arose to her trembling feet. 
 
 " Margie ! Darling ! Oh, my love, why did you leave 
 me without a word ? How could you leave me so ? I am 
 not so bad as you thought. You have almost broken my
 
 THE PARTY. 2 fy 
 
 "heart ! " and Felix came and seized her gloved hands, 
 covering them with kisses and kneeling before her, bowed 
 his blonde head upon them. 
 
 " Felix ! " she said, in a low voice. He looked up. " I 
 -am to blame ; I was jealous, wounded," she said, very 
 gently. " I am sure I have wronged you. Can you for- 
 give me ? Did you receive my letter ? Were you too angry 
 to answer it ? " 
 
 Glance now a moment at that pink figure standing ex- 
 pectant, almost on tip-toe, at the door of the dressing- 
 room. She had stepped out from her wraps, her cheek 
 nigh matching the color of the silk she wore, which was 
 of soft rose. The dainty little foot encased in black silk 
 stocking and kid slipper, the black, undressed glove reach- 
 ing above the rounded elbow, the vivacious turn of the 
 jauntily set head with never a curl quite in place and not 
 one out of place, tilting first on one side, then on the 
 other, displaying to advantage the full, white throat, set 
 off by a broad band of black velvet, she stood waiting for 
 Philip. 
 
 Meanwhile the young host walked along the upper hall, 
 looking for the little gray figure which had stood with him 
 in the light of the fire but a space ago in Mr. Stearns's 
 parlor. Where was she ? He peered among the company 
 below. He had ventured but a moment before as far as 
 the door of the ladies' dressing-room, but, seeing only the 
 back of^ a pink silk dress, had as cautiously retired as he 
 had incautiously advanced, thinking to find only his sweet, 
 gray girl. " Can she have gone down without me ? " he 
 murmured. "Perhaps mother met her, or the little chap-' 
 rone. But no, surely she would wait for me."
 
 2 68 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 The black fan was now raised in the air, and shut to- 
 gether with a little "crack" at him. The pink figure now 
 took on a look natural to another garb." 
 
 " Why, what a dolt ! That I should fail to know her 
 under this guise," said Philip, as he hastened to meet her. 
 
 "Here I am," she laughed. "Don't you know me?" 
 perceiving his bewildered state. Her pearly teeth glistened 
 between her laughing lips. She placed her hand on his 
 arm, and he, half-dazed, regarded her with delight. He led 
 her to his mother. 
 
 " I persuaded Miss Wright to come," he said to her,, 
 quietly, " you see, mother." 
 
 Miss St. John had scarcely recovered from the stunning 
 surprise of Felix Plummer in loving attendance upon Mar- 
 gery, attired in his bicycle costume, when her eyes fell 
 upon her niece in all her bravery of evening toilet talking 
 animatedly with young Peterson, who was looking an un- 
 told admiration. He was a young cousin of the Farn- 
 ham's, and while not exactly Philip's prototype, was quite 
 of the family bearing, being a son of the sister of Philip's 
 mother. 
 
 Miss St. John advanced upon the unconventional girl, 
 with indignation in her eye, just in time to see her grace- 
 fully accept the arm of Tom Peterson and go to join the 
 frolicsome games in the other room. 
 
 As she passed her astonished relative, tossing her head 
 a little, one side and looking back over Peterson's shoulder, 
 she said with smiling complacency, " Aren't we having a 
 lovely time, this evening, auntie ? " 
 
 As Philip and Mahala stood together awaiting their turn.
 
 THE PARTY. 2 6Q 
 
 in the dance later in the evening, she said, archly, " What 
 would your conservative English cousin of the ' Lindsay 
 branch ' say to such an escapade as ours this morning ? " 
 referring to a lady Philip had spoken of, as having given 
 him the lovely intaglio which he wore. 
 
 " Oh, as to that talk of conservatism," replied Philip, 
 smilingly, "it is held but a tame, light amusement, 
 this gliding swiftly, quietly, modestly along on those 
 wheels, compared with the exciting, wild delight of spurring 
 a blooded steed over a six-foot rail ; an amusement which 
 has been a sport of English dames for centuries. But, 
 perhaps," continued he, as together they glided across the 
 floor, " that has helped to make the fine English physique." 
 
 With songs and dancing, with laughter and chatter, and 
 flirting beyond conjecture, with piano-playing, with artis- 
 tic and literary conversations in the library, quiet words in 
 the flower-room between lovers, looking at pictures, prom- 
 enading and sipping ices, the evening passed away. 
 
 The guests departed. Ladies in shawls and fleecy rigo- 
 lets came muffled to the door, congratulations and best 
 wishes were exchanged, carriages rolled up to and away 
 from the porch, and the party was ended. Then, when the 
 lights in the rest of the house were out, and everything so 
 quiet after the pleasant din, Plummer and Farnham sat an 
 hour in the library, before the open fire. As the old clock 
 in the hall struck the hour of twelve, they bade "good 
 night " in subdued tones, and went to rest.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 DURING the Sunday. that immediately followed the 
 events of the last chapter, it was decided by the 
 older tricycle tourists not to prolong their trip beyond the 
 place which had proved so hospitable and interesting a. 
 resting-place. 
 
 It was evident, Miss St. John said, as she sat with Mrs.. 
 Mather in their chamber after church, and looked over and 
 arranged a collection of sketches, that Margery now had 
 no thought but of her regained happiness. 
 
 Mrs. Mather, who was jotting down some amusing notes. 
 for the delectation of her husband on her return, arrested 
 her busy pen, and raising her face with pleasure shining 
 in it, said with sympathetic warmth, how glad she was that 
 the dear girl was reconciled to her lover again. She con- 
 fessed that the sight of her ill-concealed sadness, during, 
 all their pleasant journey, had been a weight upon her mind. 
 It was so delightful to see them happy together once more.' 
 
 " Yes," Miss St. John had answered, slowly, with her 
 eyebrows raised, as she carelessly scratched the outline of 
 a cat's head on the margin of Saturday's Courant which 
 
 (270)
 
 THE FINISH. 2 - r 
 
 lay upon the table, " but it made her rather indifferent to 
 the continuance of the journey. Margery was living now 
 in a supreme content, which showed in every action, was 
 heard in her musical voice and shone in her soulful eyes. 
 It was beautiful as a study ; she would like to paint her 
 face with that expression, as Hero, immediately after 
 Leander crept ashore on the termination of one of his long 
 swims, but her associates were for the nonce forgotten." 
 
 Mrs. Mather said she was sure, for her part, she was 
 willing to be forgotten for a time in view of Margery's joy 
 in the presence of her lover. A little red spot came into 
 her cheeks, and she looked reproachfully at the artist. 
 
 Miss St. John said she believed that was not the point 
 She could also survive without Margery's constant com- 
 panionship. The question was of the advisability of con- 
 tinuing a trip when at least one of the party had lost in- 
 terest in it. It was not likely that Margery would be 
 separated from Mr. Plummer, now. He had called to take 
 her to church, was riding with her then, and probably 
 would again make his appearance in the parlor in the 
 evening. 
 
 " Why, Dude," said Mrs. Mather, opening her blue eyes, 
 " surely you cannot begrudge Margie " 
 
 <f I do not begrudge anything to any one," Miss St. 
 John replied, with emphasis upon the objectionable word, 
 and making a shower of dots on the paper. " I merely say 
 that we may as well end the trip here, because we cannot 
 have Felix Plummer accompany us and enjoy the absolute 
 freedom and unconventional pleasures which have distin- 
 guished this outing until we came to Essex."
 
 2^2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 Mrs. Mather saw that something more than was appar- 
 ent upon the surface of her friend's remarks occasioned 
 this acidity in the general tone of Miss St. John's de- 
 meanor. She felt guilty about something, and as if Dude 
 was only waiting for a chance to make unpleasant accusa- 
 tions upon her. Much to her relief, Mahala here came 
 into the room, with not a shadow of anything unusual in 
 her merry face, and said she thought it was high time 
 some one came and waked up Uncle Stearns, who had 
 been snoring frightfully under his paper ever since dinner. 
 
 So they went down stairs, and the day passed away. 
 
 Mahala listened with a surging of blood at her ears, 
 when the door-bell rang at evening. A great pang of dis- 
 appointment smote her heart when, peeping over the bal- 
 ustrade, she saw Mr. Felix Plummer enter alone. But 
 she had seen kirn at church, and the few casual words he 
 had said to her, as they came down the steps, contained 
 such a world of meaning, in his voice, with his eyes look- 
 ing down at her so ! Philip was doubtless bound by filial 
 affection to remain with his parents this evening. He 
 always did right and was so thoughtful and kind ! 
 
 She stilled a faint sigh, and suddenly brightening as a 
 mischievous idea came into her head, she ran down stairs 
 in haste. She knew Margery was staying to add some 
 imaginary adornments to her beautiful person before the 
 mirror, so to meet with greater favor in her lover's eyes, 
 and she flew noiselessly down, scarcely touching the steps 
 with her slippered feet, with her blue gown floating be- 
 hind, and entered the dim parlor where sat Felix before 
 the fire, waiting. Stealing up behind him, the merry elf
 
 THE FINISH. 273 
 
 placed her hands upon his shoulder and chanted with a 
 sob in her voice, into his ear : 
 
 " Would you come back to me, Margie, Margie, 
 
 In the old kindness that I knew, 
 I would be so faithful, so loving, Margie, 
 
 Margie, Margie, tender and true " 
 
 " Mahala Wright ! You little witch ! " exclaimed Felix 
 with a joyous laugh, as he seized her hands and brought 
 her around to the front. " What are you talking about ? " 
 Then he said, in a low tone, as a wave of tenderness swept 
 over his mobile features, " Tell me, Mike, did she confide 
 to you that she was unhappy before I came ? " and he 
 looked up to the kittenish person before him, all eagerness 
 to hear of her his love. 
 
 "Tell me? Not a word!" was the answer. "Girls, I 
 wish you to understand, sir, do not go about telling every- 
 thing they know," and she gave her head a little toss as 
 she stood back and regarded him with considerable superi- 
 ority. " I'll guarantee, now," she said, " that you went 
 about confessing your bad feelings to half a dozen people." 
 
 He could not deny it. 
 
 "Poor dear Margie suffered in silence. Now, Felix 
 Plummer, I have been smothering my indignation ever 
 since I began to see that something was wrong with her," 
 pursued Miss Wright, with a savage expression which was 
 scarcely imposing upon her dimpled face, " and now I 
 must say, that whether it was you or anyone else that has 
 made her sad for an hour, he deserves " 
 
 " But tell me, Mahala," pleaded Felix, paying no heed 
 to her, only waiting to hear the assurance again that his 
 w. & w. 18
 
 274 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 beloved had sighed for him. " Was she sad ? Did the 
 others suspect, too ? Was she lovely and unselfish as' 
 ever ? Did you perceive that it was I that she was sor- 
 rowing for ? " 
 
 His blue eyes were moist with earnestness and loving 
 regret, as he held a fold of her skirt when she would have 
 turned away. 
 
 "Well, yes," said the girl, as she looked kindly at him, 
 remembering that Margie was happy once more. " I did 
 suspect it was you, Felix, who had grieved her, as she 
 never mentioned your name, and seemed so distrait some- 
 times, in spite of her effort to be like herself." 
 
 "Ah, poor girl ! " said the lover, bending his head for an 
 instant and breathing hard. " But, Mahala," he said, look- 
 ing up quickly again and reddening, "don't you really 
 know what it what our slight misunderstanding was 
 about ? " He watched her face closely. 
 
 "Not a word, I tell you, Felix," she answered, meeting 
 his gaze fully. " But it does not need a very deep mind 
 to guess," she thought, "when any one has seen you being 
 led around by that Bangtry creature." 
 
 Felix rose to his feet and expanded his chest deeply. 
 "Well," he said, looking towards the door, "then you 
 never will." 
 
 " Well," mimicked Mahala, making him a sweeping 
 courtesy, " I don't want to, Sir Orpheus." Then she came 
 and gave him her hand with a friendly grasp. " I am only 
 glad you have found your Eurydice. Good-bye ! I'll skip 
 now ; Margery is coming," and with a bound she dashed 
 out of the parlor and ran with considerable violence into
 
 THE FINISH. 2 ye 
 
 the arms of Philip Farnham, who had just entered the 
 hall. 
 
 " Oh ! I beg pardon ! I did not know that you did I 
 hurt you much ?" said Mahala, blushing and breathless, as 
 she made an effort to regain her composure. 
 
 " Well, not seriously, I think," said Philip, as he held 
 the sweet confusion of curly hair, blue ribbons, white 
 hands and fluttering form for an instant to his breast. 
 " Did you not know I was coming ? " he asked, as he let 
 her go. 
 
 She stood by the newel in the hall, tracing the scroll- 
 work with her forefinger as she looked down and smiled 
 in trembling happiness. While he drew off his gloves and 
 hung his overcoat upon the rack he said he had brought 
 Plumrner over, and had tried to be considerate and con- 
 sume as much time as possible in tying and blanketing his 
 horse. 
 
 " One should never intrude upon lovers' meetings. Do 
 you not think so ? " he said, in a low voice, as he returned 
 to her. 
 
 Mahala did not speak. 
 
 " Solely on their account, Miss Wright," he said, as he 
 stood so close beside her that her head was almost against 
 his breast again, and looked down at her with a humorous 
 expression around his mouth, which changed in the eyes to 
 a deep tenderness, " so as not to disturb them, Mahala, 
 don't you think we had better go into the sitting-room ? " 
 He laid his hand protectingly under her elbow as he 
 spoke. 
 
 Yes that is, perhaps they would like it better," an-
 
 2^6 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 swered Mahala, raising her eyes bashfully, but ending the 
 sentence with a low laugh. 
 
 Mr. Stearns looked up> benignantly over his glasses as 
 they entered the room, and, after making the caller wel- 
 come and asking a few polite questions concerning himself 
 and parents, he took the Independent and retired to the 
 kitchen, professing that he had a very profound article to 
 read, and could not think in such a chatter. 
 
 Hearing subdued conversation below, Miss St. John had 
 come out to the head of the stairs, just at the moment 
 when Philip and Mahala were passing into the sitting- 
 room. She took in the confiding attitude of the young 
 girl, the blushing, artless look of trustfulness up into the 
 warm, brown eyes of the tall man who bent so gracefully 
 his fine head near to hers, at a glance. The air of guard- 
 ianship with which Philip Farnham clasped Mahala's arm 
 as they passed from view was a revelation, indeed ! 
 
 Miss St. John stood a picture of despair. What she 
 had vaguely feared had come to pass. She clasped her 
 hands in distress. Then she walked into the chamber and 
 said, as she sat down with a hopeless sigh, " Well, I sup- 
 pose the only thing to be done now, is to go home and 
 give an account of ourselves." 
 
 " I am ready to turn about at any time, Dude, that you 
 think best," said Mrs. Mather, who had been terribly 
 homesick, if the truth must be known. 
 
 "Although we have not reached the salt water, where I 
 expected to get some lovely marines," pursued the lady, 
 as if not hearing Mrs. Mather's cautious answer, " it
 
 THE FINISH. 27? 
 
 seems to me we had better return at once; I mean, 
 to-morrow." 
 
 She sat making imaginary cross-hatching in a despond- 
 ent manner, on the arm of the rocking-chair, with the end 
 of her linger. 
 
 " Oh, how glad I am to hear you say that," said Julie, 
 with a joyous light in her face. "I have a letter here tell- 
 ing me that Fred is home, and the poor fellow asks if we 
 are not almost ready to come back." She would have 
 taken the missive from her pocket if she had received the 
 least encouragement from the other, but she did not. " I 
 was going to be brave, and not speak of it," she continued, 
 resting her hand upon the letter in her pocket. " I did 
 not intend to be the one to beg off ; but I am ready to go 
 at any minute now." She arose with alacrity and began 
 to pack up some stationery. 
 
 " Then, suppos^e we take the boat to-morrow night. You 
 see as well as I do that Mr. Plummer will be an attach^ ol 
 the party henceforth." 
 
 " Yes, undoubtedly," answered Mrs. Mather. 
 
 " Dude," she said, after a pause, faltering a little, " how 
 about Mahala?" 
 
 " What about Mahala ? " said the aunt, dryly. 
 
 " Why why, don't you think Philip Farnham is very 
 much attracted to her?" 
 
 "lam no judge in these things," the artist replie.d, 
 shortly. She looked sharply at the little woman who sat 
 folding and creasing the newspaper in an embarrassed 
 manner upon her lap. "What do you think? You seem 
 gifted with an understanding in these matters that sur- 
 passes "
 
 278 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " What do you mean, Dude ? " demanded Mrs. Mather, 
 flushing hotly. " If you intend to insinuate " 
 
 " I insinuate nothing," returned Miss St. John, smiling 
 faintly. " There seems to be no call for an insinuation 
 from me, as you seem already to defend yourself from 
 something I should never have dared to suspect." 
 
 "Dude," said Mrs. Mather, piteously, wincing under the 
 gaze of the sterner woman, "you cannot be sorry that 
 Philip Farnham evidently loves your niece. He is one of 
 a thousand. Of most desirable family connections, irre- 
 proachable in character and personal appearance, unques- 
 tionably generous and kind. What more would you 
 have ? " 
 
 " Really, you make out an attractive list of advantages 
 in your" she was about to say protege, but perhaps 
 recollecting her own predilection in his favor, and perhaps 
 warned by an ominous look in Mrs. Mather's eye that it 
 were prudent not to push her too far, she thought better 
 of it, and said, " friend. Oh, Mr. Farnham is well enough, 
 but I am so worried to have it happen to Mahala." 
 
 She spoke as if the girl had contracted scarlet fever or 
 caught whooping-cough, and picked nervously at the bit 
 of fine lace on her dress. 
 
 Seeing her so truly troubled about an affair which 
 seemed in every way beautiful and interesting to her, Mrs. 
 Mather recovered her composure somewhat, and asked : 
 " Do you want her to remain unmarried ? " 
 
 " I do not know that I wish to decide for her in any 
 way. But, she is only nineteen ! I want her to have her 
 frolic out. The hard realities of life come all too soon.
 
 THE FINISH. 27 Q 
 
 She has only begun to live. With character and tastes 
 unformed, it seems a pity to have her absorbed into the 
 personality of a man." 
 
 Now, although Miss St. John seemed usually not to have 
 acquired the fastidious objection to the male sex in gen- 
 eral which most maiden ladies come to feel, it cropped out 
 a little now that she was touched with the idea that her 
 niece was giving her affections to " a man." She got 
 along so very well without one, and saw so many things 
 in other women's husbands that she knew she never could 
 put up with. 
 
 " Well, Dude," said Julia, with a little softening in her 
 tones, and a look of sincere pity for the joys unsealed to 
 her, which scarcely put the spinster more at her ease, 
 "from your stand-point I can see how you feel. But I was 
 married at eighteen and have never for one moment in the 
 ten years regretted it. Instead of the absorption, it was 
 the rounding out of girlish character." 
 
 "Yes, yes. I suppose I am talking against human 
 nature," said Miss St. John, sighing. "Listen, Julie: 
 while I would not raise a finger to encourage, or prevent, 
 this thing, I must say I regret exceedingly that this rapid 
 fancy has sprung up while the girl is under my care." 
 
 She shook her head and sighed again. " I have wished 
 a thousand times since the day of the encounter in Farn- 
 ham's woods that there might be some excuse to go home ; 
 tut I have not been able to find or invent a plausible one. 
 Well, perhaps it is fate ! But I shall not know how to face 
 my sister when I tell her." She arose and walked around 
 the room in a sort of desperation.
 
 2 So WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 " Tell her nothing," Mrs. Mather quickly said. " There 
 may be nothing to tell. If there is, let Mahala tell it. 
 Perhaps Philip may. But, Dude," she said again, " I wish 
 I knew you did not blame me in any way. I did not 
 make them fall in love. I only " 
 
 " You only smoothed the way. Do not imagine I have 
 not seen your truly feminine maneuvers to make occasion 
 for the two persons whom you admire to fall in love with 
 each other. Well, Julie, I do not blame you. It was doubt- 
 less inevitable, without your gentle assistance. I know 
 every happy wife will do all she can to help others into the 
 same condition." 
 
 " Well, why not, Dude ? " 
 
 The artist shook her head. " It is a grave responsibil- 
 ity to assume." 
 
 Mrs. Mather was miserable. How she wanted to get 
 home and tell Fred ! Dude almost made her feel as if she 
 did not want to live. Would the Wrights blame her for 
 anything ? No, she would stand by her best judgment, 
 which told her that Philip Farnham was a desirable con- 
 nection for any family. 
 
 Miss St. John went on to say that if she 'should speak 
 from her own feelings she would be glad to have Mahala 
 forego the happiness, the companionship of married life, 
 and so escape its wearing trials. She felt that the joys of 
 maternity were ever overshadowed by a haunting care and 
 recurring vicissitudes. The wifely love was often tinged 
 with anxiety lest the other half of herself should fall short 
 of noble manhood. But she supposed it was the intention 
 of an inscrutable Providence for women to marry.
 
 THE FINISH. 281 
 
 Mrs. Mather thanked heaven for the limitless joys of a 
 natural, dual existence. 
 
 It was evident the next morning that the respectful at- 
 tentions of a refined young gentleman to her niece did not 
 seem such an irremediable calamity as when she first re- 
 ceived the shock of conviction that Mahala had a lover. 
 She was bright and good-natured as usual at breakfast, 
 and chatted agreeably of the trip while they talked of go- 
 ing home. As they finished, she said, impressively, but 
 with an ominous twinkle in her eye as she pulled a paper 
 from her pocket, "Mr. Stearns and friends: I have here 
 a document which I wish to read and comment upon 
 as showing conclusively the mutability of human plans 
 in general and the unreliability of young femininity in 
 particular." 
 
 "What is it, Dude?" said Mrs. Mather, folding her nap- 
 kin. 
 
 " Read it, Miss St. John," said Mr. Stearns, moving his 
 chair back from the table and taking a new position, with 
 anticipation in his face. 
 
 " It will not reflect too severely upon me, I hope," said 
 Margery, blushing in some perturbation. 
 
 " Oh, auntie ! " screamed Mahala, as the lady unrolled it 
 in another way and spread it out before her. "It is my 
 list of Rules and Regulations ! Where did you get it ? 
 Give it to me ! " and she made a rush around the table for 
 her aunt. 
 
 As she seized her arm, Miss St. John quickly transferred 
 the folio to the other hand, and said : "Mr. Stearns, will 
 you undertake to keep this young woman in order while 1 
 read?"
 
 2 g2 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 Mr. Stearns arose with mock solemnity, and taking 
 Mahala by the arms held them behind her as he sat in his 
 chair and bade Miss St. John to go on. 
 
 "Before proceeding, I wish to tell you, Mr. Stearns, and 
 to remind these ladies," she said, looking severely upon 
 them, "that these Rules and Regulations, intended to guide 
 the conduct of these excursionists, were drafted by Miss 
 Mahala Wright and sworn to by these other persons." 
 
 " So did you swear to them, Aunt Dude," interrupted 
 Mahala, who was now sitting contentedly on the arm of 
 Mr. Stearns's chair, while his broad hand rested affection- 
 ately on her shapely shoulder. 
 
 "I did," answered the artist, calmly, "and I defy any 
 one to find an occasion where I have broken the faith. 
 Listen, Mr. Stearns," and amid much laughter from the 
 old gentleman, whose generous bulk shook with amuse- 
 ment, she read the "cast-iron rules," as she chose to term 
 them. 
 
 "Now," laying down the paper, she looked fixedly in 
 turn at her three companions, who already began to laugh 
 confusedly with uneasy color in their faces in anticipation 
 of her speech. 
 
 " I charge Julie Mather, matron and chaperone of this 
 party, with perjury, in that she has shamelessly written to 
 her husband on sundry and divers occasions, once or twice 
 audaciously scribbling love-letters under my very nose, 
 while under the pretense of learning to sketch." 
 
 " Oh, Dude, did you see that ? " exclaimed Julie, with a 
 peal of merry laughter, and the ceremony of the occasion 
 was somewhat disturbed as Miss St. John retorted, " Of
 
 THE FINISH. 23^ 
 
 course I did ! Do you think I am blind ? " and Margery 
 and Mahala joined in the accusations of fraud against 
 their faithful friend. 
 
 Girls are often ungrateful. 
 
 Order was at last restored and Miss St. John continued, 
 " Of course, when such duplicity as this becomes known 
 of a person, little responsibility in the discharge of her 
 duties of gorgon, duenna, chaperone is to be expected." 
 
 Mahala began to grow pink. 
 
 " I therefore make no comment upon the gross neglect 
 of duty apparent to my grieved perceptions, but which has 
 been accepted as a matter of course by these two young 
 women." 
 
 Margery gave Mrs. Mather a little pat on the shoulder 
 and smiled gratefully into her eyes. 
 
 Mahala turned very red in the face, but said intrepidly, 
 " Margie, who was it auntie was worried about, the book 
 agent (it cannot be she was jealous while receiving so 
 large a share of his agreeable smiles herself), or was it 
 Jerry Bodge?" Again her audacity saved her. 
 
 " I further complain, Mr. Stearns," continued Miss St. 
 John, "that the murderous weapon of thirty-two-caliber, 
 carried by Mrs. Mather, has never been of the slightest 
 comfort on trying occasions, having doubtless been left 
 with the toy-pistols in the trunk." 
 
 "Now, Dude!" exclaimed Mrs. Mather, " I protest. It 
 has never been out of reach except one day, when Mar- 
 gery borrowed it for [target practice. I say that I have 
 been in constant readiness to use it in case of any emer- 
 gency. Confine yourself to facts, please."
 
 2 34 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 "The objection is noted; I will. And now, perhaps, 
 you will be interested to know how my toy-pistol saved 
 me from annoyance; to term it nothing more alarming." 
 She told them about her interview with the pack-peddler. 
 
 "Oh, auntie! " 
 
 " Why, Dude ! " 
 
 "You brave creature!" exclaimed her surprised com- 
 panions, while Mr. Stearns said with some vehemence that 
 it was not a safe thing for women to be out around so, 
 alone. 
 
 " Oh, I don't know," the artist said, unconcernedly, " I 
 suppose I was in the same danger that any slight young^ 
 man would have been." 
 
 Mr. Stearns saw that she would not understand any 
 perils which might deter her artistic wanderings afield. 
 
 "Well, to conclude my remarks, Mr. Stearns and young- 
 women, I will say that until women become more disci- 
 plined than this company has proved itself to be, they will 
 scream rather than use whistles ; they will exhibit an indis- 
 creet resentment of the manners of an insulting brute, and 
 then fall back upon the gallantry of a Quixotic young man 
 to deliver them from the direct results of impru " 
 
 " Quixotic ! " 
 
 " Oh, my dear Miss St. John ! " 
 
 "You were very glad to welcome Don Quixote with frantic 
 gesticulations to make haste, I noticed, and first to sing 
 his praises after the rescue, I believe," said Mahala, indig- 
 nantly aroused. 
 
 " Well I will stop, for I perceive I am becoming unpopu- 
 lar, though there is much I could say just here," and Miss
 
 THE FINISH. 285 
 
 St. John seemed in very good humor, now that she had 
 freed her mind. " I claim, however, that I am the only 
 one in this party who has followed the rules agreed to, 
 and kept the main idea of the trip in view throughout all." 
 
 " You certainly, then, ought to be happy, in close har- 
 mony with an approving conscience, Miss St. John," said 
 Mr. Stearns, as they left the table. " Now, suppose you 
 bring your sketches down stairs and let us look them over 
 this morning." 
 
 " With pleasure," was the response. 
 
 At this time, late in the story, when the reader may be 
 half vexed at having followed so simple a tale thus far, it 
 would be imposing upon time and patience to relate how 
 before noon Messrs. Plummer and Farnham came into view 
 down the street on horseback and bicycle, and announced 
 their desire to escort Margery and Mahala to ride. 
 ^ To describe their merry excursion by wheels and horse 
 might seem to us a repetition of a former jaunt. To recite 
 any portion of their absorbing conversations would be 
 tautology to all who have known the sweet intercourse of 
 plighted troth, felt the repressed excitement of growing 
 passion, or imagined them in their hearts. 
 
 No. Let them go through by-ways and hedges, over 
 brambly knolls and along smooth paths, under the almost 
 denuded trees, crackling brown leaves and dried sticks 
 under rubber tires and horse's hoofs; overhead the 
 late October sky which is beginning to pale at the 
 approach of sullen November, on the brink of the beauti- 
 ful river, as it blithely nears the end of its long journey
 
 2 86 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 from the little lake up in the mountains four hundred 
 miles away ; laughing, loving, sighing, hoping, let them 
 go, while Mrs. Mather packs her trunk and Miss St. John 
 has one good final argument with Mr. Stearns upon 
 the equal rights of women to work and never mind! 
 She will talk it. 
 
 It was evening when they left the house which had so 
 kindly sheltered them for a few days. But how replete 
 with experiences had been that brief visit ! 
 
 They stood upon the wharf in their gray dresses, their 
 wheels in careful charge of the baggage-man, their trunk 
 upon a truck, in pleasant desultory chat, as they waited 
 for the boat. 
 
 The weird glare of the lights flaring in a gentle wind 
 which moaned over the dark river, the low tones of the 
 few town stragglers who had hung around to see the boat 
 in, carried an undertone of indefinable sadness to the 
 heart of Uncle Stearns, who shivered a little, and bade 
 them come under the adjoining shed until the boat 
 arrived. 
 
 Felix Plummer was going to Hartford with Margery. 
 His bicycle run had cured his sickness and he returned a 
 well and happy man, looking forward with intense longing 
 to a day (They are married now.) 
 
 Philip Farnham, too, was there. It was his last hour 
 with her unless 
 
 " Mr. Farnham," Mahala said, low, " you will will you 
 not come to Hartford ? It has been such a pleasant 
 thing to know you. I I perhaps you would like to see 
 Joe's aquarium ! "
 
 THE FINISH. 2 3- 
 
 The throbbing of the paddle-wheels*, rush ! rush ! rush ! 
 rush ! came on the breeze from a mile down river. 
 
 " She's a-comin' ! " said the baggage-man as he jumped 
 down from his roost upon one of the large posts, and 
 brushed imperceptible chips from his nether garments. 
 " Don't none of you touch them machines," he said to his 
 assistants. " You can put aboard that grindstun, 'n' them 
 cheeses, and that pile of stuff there. I'll see to the 
 trunk " 
 
 " Mahala ! " said Philip, seizing her hands, as they stood 
 in the shadow, " I love you. You know I will follow you 
 anywhere, everywhere, if you will but let me. But if I do, 
 Mahala you must understand me I shall ask for you. 
 Will you say I may ? Tell me ! Shall I come to see you 
 Wednesday before I return to New York, and tell your 
 parents that you love me ? May I, dear ? " * 
 
 Just then Miss St. John grimly raised her umbrella with 
 a snap, and turning around from where she stood with 
 Mrs. Mather and Mr. Stearns, she took a few quick steps 
 and silently handed it to Philip. He instantly relinquished 
 Mahala's hands, said " Pardon ! " glancing up at the sky ; 
 but then catching a gleam in the artist's gray eye that he 
 began to understand, he took it, accepting it as her bene- 
 diction, and sought Mahala's answer under its friendly 
 umbrage. 
 
 That Mrs. Mather heard something resembling a favora- 
 ble answer, under the silken canopy, there is no doubt, as 
 she immediately became afflicted with a rasping cough and 
 called Uncle Stearns and Miss St. John to the edge of the 
 wharf to see the boat make a landing.
 
 2 88 WHEELS AND WHIMS. 
 
 The line was thrwn, the gangs shoved out and the bag- 
 gage trucks began to race over the plank before it was 
 hardly ashore. Then came a cry of joy from Julie. 
 
 " Oh, Fred ! Here I am ! There's my husband ! " And 
 genial Mr. Mather sprang ashore and into his wife's arms. 
 
 " Ah, Uncle ! You have taken right good care of the 
 girls ! Much obliged, sir ! I went to New York Satur- 
 day and returned by the boat to surprise the little lady. I 
 was going to take her home anyhow." 
 
 He looked fondly at her as she clung to his arm. 
 
 " What in thunder is Plummer doing down here ? Who 
 is that toney fellow with the little Wright? Thought this 
 was to be exclusively a woman party ! " 
 
 The wheels were carefully trundled on board. Uncle 
 Stearns promised to come up and visit them soon, and 
 Philip he would go to Hartford Wednesday morning ! 
 
 And then the party went on board the boat.
 
 A 000 031 353 6