The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-12-24
ON A BICYCLE.
4 CHRISTMAS STORY.

ms Is the sort oil Christmas ]
like" said Fred to his sister, as she
held the hall door open, while he, at
ired in brown velveteen with cordu.
10Y leggins to match, wheeled his ma
'iiihe down the steps. She smiled
thinking Of his boyish days, when
christmas without snow cast a gloom
aver his merry littli heart. She said
nothing but CHEEKY goodbye" how
however, as he went through the gate
and watched him with proud eyes
leap into the saddle and roll graceful
" down the avenue The pure, crisI
air blew the brown ringlets in wave,
across her forehead as she stopped
and broke from a holly-bush a buncl
Of the shining, scarlet berries.
Fred felt inexpressibly happy as h,
tarted on that brisk morning ride
ne had the feeling of independence
hat belonged to him as university
nphomore; he bestrode a glitterine
new machine of which he was not {
little proud; and more than all, h.
was going to call on young lady
whose laughing eyes and rosy lips has
haunted him through three long
months of term work. Perhaps Mis-
Ethel would be out; the though
made him quicken his pace. Tn tha
case" thought Master Fred, II viii
chase her pony all over the country
He turned off the avenue, down {
cross street, smooth and hard, and
lined on either side by great elms
On one side Of these Fred heard a Ire
mendous racket, and soon discovered
colony of rocks, cawing and chatter
ing in the bare branches. As he rod
under them, the flock rose with
whirr; Fred turned his head to watcI
them at that instant his wheel strucl
something very solid, and its c.lreles
rider, describing the quarter Of Gil
Gle over the obstacle, landed fiat upo
his back in front of it. For few me
nents the multitude or stars, moon
| and plannets that danced before hi
eyes prevented his seeing anythin
else but burst OF agitated laughtt
brought him simultaneously to b
feet and senses. In front OF him W,
a dainty little tricycle.. On one ha
Of the cushioned seat sal a young lad
her tiny boots on the bedals, OF
gloved hand on the steering handl
the other hidden in little muff upc
! her lap. Her brown eyes were turne
upon our hero with a mixture
amusement, anxiety and vexatio
! Fred doffed his cap.
81 really beg pardon. Did do al
damage? 1t was awfully careless, b
] didn't see you at all"
$50 imagined when your bicyc
ran me down." she answered with d
4 mure mischief,
IS Are you quite sure that you a
not at all hurt?" he asked again, an
: iously.
t. "Not in the least but my carria
may have suffered" and she glanc
over it with a solicitous air. Fr
: made careful inspection and fina
reported all right, then, then co
), menced again his apologies. t
: truth is, this susceptible young m
had evidently forgotten his intend
d call. and had literally taken heaC
in love on the spot. Perhaps
young lady knew it, for she thank
him with winning frankness and
glance that he remembered long aft
: ward. However nothing remained
be done but to tip his cap and resc
mis- machine from the gutter, VIII
he did, regardless OF bent han
bar. The tricycle. was still motionl
as he turned again into the road, .
its charming rider looked at him "
perplexity.
Il am very sorry, but think
axle must be bent,p she said, as
hastened to her; 4 can hardly m
it." A hasty examination showed |