St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-23

frequently displayed his bicycleship be-
fore the eyes of the admiring noun
taineerS. He was kind enough to allow
number of the young men to try his
'velOcipede." as it was called in Al
bany. but their bruised faces and sore
joints soon made them very shy OF the
machine.
Courts fell in love with young Ellen
Rnst. He pressed his eourtship, and
was accepted. Farmer Rust was
opposed. Heobjeeted to Courts because
as far as the farmers knowledge went
he did not have what is technically
known as any visible means of subSist-
ence. or. as Mr.. Rust termed it, she was
a lazy gOOd-for-nOthin'. who had moth
ing to do but 90 gallopin' around the hills
on two wheels" Courts assured him
that he had good business and fine
prospects in Ohio, and it has since tran
spired that his statement was true, but
the farmer did not believe him.
Henry and Ellen waited. Ellen was
OF legal age. and they could have easily
el0ped- but they did not wish to do
that. They wanted the old mans con-
sent to the wedding. The bicycle ap-
peared TO be Mr.. Rust's chief objection.
He did not believe in it.
My gal. !" said he. ashanti marry any
fellow who fools away his time on such
derned thing as that. Why, he might
break his neck any dav. and then I'd
have his wilder to take care of. Idon't
want for S0n-in-laW any man who
rides on veloeipede. IF he had horse
or blackboard it would be alright.
Henry would not put away his beloved
machine. He loved that next to Ellen,
and he meant TO have both. On Mon
day Ellen was visiting in town at the
home of a relative, and Henry went to
see her. They were getting angry at
the old mans obduracy. Il will ride
right out now, see him and ask him
again for your hand" said Henry. land
II he doesn't consent I'll come back and
We'll get married anyway. You are of
legal age. and we can have the cere-
mony performed here in town.
Ellen agreed. Henry mounted his
bicycle and started for Mr.. RuSt's place.
The old man had just come from
short journey. and his horse and buck
board we're at the yard gate. The
young made known his errand.
Il told you once before that YOU could
not marry her," said Mr.. Rust.
swell. l am going to marry her any
now. [ am going back there. and IN less
than an hour she will be my wife"
Then you will have to beat me to
town." said Mr.. Rust, land l don't
think any veloeipede can get ahead of
my old mare and the blackboard. If
you get there ahead OF me l guess you
can have the girl"
Henry mounted the machine, the old
man jumped into his blackboard. and
the start was made. On turnpike or
level load Courts could have easily
distance the old mare, who was not as
swift as she once was; but it was an
altogether different matter over the
hills. But his recent experiences with
such difficulties stood him in good ser
vice, and in spite of his rough path. he
soon had the satisfaction of passing
ahead of the humping blackboard. He
waved his hand gleefully at his pros
pective father-in-law, who was swear
ing at his old mare and endeayoring to
whip her into faster gait. He got two
falls, but he soon righted himself and
his wheel without harm to either. and
passed into town quarter of mile
ahead of Mr.. Rust. He then stopped
for the latter to come up. The farmer
looked at the machine a moment
calculated, ''Well, I'll be derned!' and
said nothing more. They went to the
Baptist preachers house. took the min
lister across to the place where Ellen
was stopping, and there she and Courts
were married.