The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-12-25

ner he stood with his sisters hand
drawn through his arm, looking off
upon the gray Christmas evening.
Star after star gimmered out, and fl
nally the huge iron disk of the moon
rose over the larches. "Beth, do you
know May Ashley7" he asked, abrupt
ly: "Who, no, Fred; that is, have
met her twice this season, but have
only bowing acquaintance with her.
Why = she asked, looking at him Gu
riously, "Oh. nothing, only thought l
remembered hearing you speak Of her,
and merely asked for the sake
of saying something" hastily re-
Joined this very naughty fellow.
"She is said to be little odd, but
she is certainly very charming" said
Beth.
"By Jove! yes" muttered Fred, un-
der his breath; and then, gently re-
leasing himself, he donned his cap and
strolled out to the lawn, where his bi.
cycle, resting against post, glim
mered in the moonlight. He regarded
it a minute, and then wheeled it sud
denly into the drive, sprang into the
saddle and flew down the road. As he
bowed out upon the Avon pike, the
moonlight cast a grotesque shadow
in front of him, as it an ape, perched
upon stick, were making frantic eff.
forts to get off.
Fred rode vigorously, as if the ex-
ercse was great relief to his feelings,
and then suddenly pulled up as the
great gates of Ashcroft came in sight.
He hesitated moment, almost mo-
tionless, then turned up the drive.
There was great deal of shrubbery
around the house; he would not 90 in,
but would quietly ride around, and
perhaps, catch glimpse of the fair
tricyclist, unobserved. A drawing
room curtain was drawn; Fred dis
mounted and drew back in the shadow,
waiting. At the same moment a step
was heard on the gravel, and young
cycler came briskly along the path
He was rather short and slight, was
tastefully dressed in dark-blue knicks
and a polo cap upon which a badge
sparkled, and he wheeled a "forty
eight" semi racer, full nickel, of beau
tiful design and finish. "By Joye
here's a young Ashley" thought our
love sick 'cycler; Il must get out of
this" He came out upon the drive
and walked slowly up to meet the boy.
A glimpse of his face in the moonlight
showed Fred that he was not over if
teen.
"Beg pardon; but l must have
struck private drive, have not
said Fred, shameIessly.
"Yes, sir; this is Ashcroft" answered
the youth, pleasantly.
Sand you, my boy, are young
Ashley, just out for moonlight spin p
said Fred, with true sophomore con-
descension." "My name is Campbell;
suppose we take our ride together"
"Thank you, that would be jolly;
shall we start ?" Fred gazed admirlngly
at the little fellow as be vaulted lightly
by the pedal into the pigskin, and said,
soto coce. ''Ie's got the family &C.
cent. Wonder if | could pump him
about his sister, Fred mounted and
rode up alongside of his companion,
who was pedaling along with that care
less ease so natural to young riders.
"You ride a great deal, don't you 2
asked Fred.
"Oh, yes, sir!' answered the boy
heartily.
"And enjoy it, too, see," quoth oul
hero; "what do you think of tri
cycling?"
81 don't think it is quite safe, al
ways" answered young Ashley, cast
ing a mischievous glance at Fred
which he, however, did not see.
"Your sister, Miss May, rides out oc
casionally, doesn't she ?"
"Yes, sir."
"And does she like it, toos" asked
Fred indifferently.
"Yes. she used to; but | believe sh,
thinks it isn't safe on the highway
now" Fred cast quick glance at III,
speaker, hut he was regarding tn,
moon with such innocence of expires
sion, that Fred concluded that if h
had heard of the mornings accident
he did not know that the guilty persol
was riding beside him. They rode o.
IN silence for awhile, then turned dow
Brentham pike. Two miles ahead la
the famous Brentham hill, the terror O
tlmid 'cyclers, and the scene of man,
accidents until the Union "boarded'
conspicuously. Fred felt very muc
drawn to this quiet, gentle boy ridin
with him, and decided that he woul
prove true friend in promoting his &C
quaintance with his sister,
"1-I met your sister not long age
, and she asked me to call. Do yo
think she would really care to sc
met"
, 81 am sure she would, very, yer
much" said young Ashley, SO ferventl
that Fred, overjoyed, would hav
, hugged him on the spot had that bee
, practicable feat. AS it was, he e.
pressed his qualification as modestly +;
- possible. The 'cyclers had now reache
. the top of the long and steep bill
Fred prepared to dismount, and W;
surprised to notice his companio
t straighten up and take a firm grip
the brake handle.
F, "Why, are you going to ride it 7" |
E calculated.
"Oh, yes, always do, my brake
r perfect safety"
"l'm with you, then," said Ere
" determined not to be outridden by
D mere boy. They started down IL
A steep grade, Ashley leading slight
e Fred was admiring his perfect oontr
$ over the delicate semi-racer, when
heard sharp snap, instantly follow,
. by short girlish cry from tn boy
lips. As the machine shot forwar
e Fred saw the shining Tablespoon {
o the road, and realized what had ha
]. pened. At the bottom a mile dow
| lay the ford, now swollen and fill,
r. with broken ice. In second his braI
was released, and with strong spul
4 he dashed after the unwsry machin
q In few moments the speed was tC
, great for pedalling, so with legs ov
4 handles he flew after the now helple
boy-yes, and gained upon him rapi