Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-12-24

riding"
nAnd I'd give worlds, Ted, to see you
riding again." responded Hal, sorrow
fully. 49,,
"Ah, that'll never be. But it's little
comfort to sit and picture to myself how
YOU look, SO strong and graceful, and to
think what pleasure riding Is to you.
Do try and win the race, Hail.
When he left Mr.. Amdon followed him
to the gate, and sorrowfully told him
they must let Ted's organ go.
He was deeply grieved at the prospect
Of telling his afflicted son Of it, and Hal,
seeing how well this accorded with Ted's
plans told him he would relieve him OF
the sad task. The old man, with tears
running down his face, earnestly thanked
him and hurried into the house.
The question arose the very next day
In Ted's school as to when they should
have their annual picnic, and Hal argued
30 strongly in favor of the following Fri
day that it was settled.
This picnic was great affair In the
village, both old and young being invited,
| and there was always royal time
| II may seem strange that Hal should
want iS on the day of the bicycle race,
unless one might think that, as the route
of the race lay through the picnic woods,
he desired to show off to the crowd, as
he would go spinning by far in advance
Of his competitors; but we will not be-
lieve that of Hal, for, indeed, he had a
far nobler motive. He thoughtfully saw
| - NJ b..f .lx tn hn nj
on Friday no would be spared the pain
of being at home when the organ was
taken away.
When he went to 1ed's house the next
morning Ted was so absorbed in music
that Halls entrance WAS unnoticed, and
he sat down quietly 80 as not to inter-
rupt him. He was playing his farewell
piece, and 1t was so mournful and mani.
tested so clearly the unspeakable pain OF
parting with the instrument, that he
could scarcely restrain the impulse to
exclaim. Ted 1t must not be; must
spare you this loss" But presently the
blind lad stopped--ran his fingers low
lngly across tho keys without sounding
them, then softly, sadly and resolutely,
he closed the lid, and with sigh arose
to leave the room.
Hal sprang up. grasping his hand and
exclaimed:
"Ted, I'm SO sorry; but maybe we can
save it yet. I'll try"
"No, no, Hail." responded Ted, "you
: must not Let it go now. Twelve
made up my mind to part from it,"
! just then Lucy entered, saying it was
time to go to the station, and they ten
derby led Ted from the room. Hal was
to accompany them to the train that was
to take them to the picnic.
, "I'l sit all the afternoon by the road
! sshere the race is to be, and Lucy viii
: tell mo how far you are ahead of the
.shcrs, Hal" said Ted, his face lighting
ufNyln pleasant anticipations. II wan
~" win so mnch."
II teaiog eysa 81 Gg4te(t & Say "You are Sc
kind TO provide this pleasure;" ther
Q banking he might jot understand her
. said with blush2 "Don't fail in the
race; TED has set heart so on your win
ning."
And Hal, with troubled look on hi
] face, merely replied, "Tll do my best,
] anu hurried away.
o That afternoon Lucy found pleas
! ant, shady seat under IL large tree By
g the road in the woods, and there sht
= and Ted waited for the bicycle race
Many others had come there also Or
one side of the road were Halls admir-
ers; on the other those of his rival
+ many biting words and satirical expires
I sions shot back and forth, and mucl
h feyerish expectancy was apparent.
a At length the cry, Here they GOMEZ
, arose, and sure enough, away down or
the white road, glimmering in the sun
a light, was seen a cloud of dust, from
t which darted twinkling CLEANS of POL
n ished steel. Nearer it came, and tn,
dust obscured the advance rider from
b the eagerly peering eyes. Nearer still i
came, and, like IA flash, the first competi
o tor wheeled by, his bright wheel glitter
ing like shower of meteors.
The expected cheer, the signal of vic
. tory, did not arise. There was SURPRISED
/ silence, for the rider wore the uniform
Of the city club.
I But here came another cloud of dust
a surely gaining on the first.
"This must be Goodwin" murmuret
4 Halls followers.
/ ''fhis must be Banks" muttered thu
others.
But the glittering steel flew quietly
$ but swiftly by, and it was neither.
/ Then they waited in breathless dreaC
! and shame for Hal. Could he be so ia
I behind2 What was wrong? But tn,
I yellow dust soon slowly settled down OIL
, the sultry road and he did no. come.
| "Where's your great champion now?
4 sneered Banks friends.
/ Hes tiunked; the baby" was the sui
b len reply.
| "He's fallen and hurt himself" sale
l Ted, apprehensively.
Il hope not, said Lucy, and she fel
! that she was pale, and was half glad TO
; once that Ted could not see.
! keenly disappointed at Halls failure
p Ted returned from t." picnic, to take vi
the burden of his loss, and he felt, some
/ how, that ne could have borne it bette
had Hal only won tn race. Lucy trie,
. to cheer him, but wi little success, TO
her own heart ached too sorely for him
Their mother met 'hem at the door
and, ut her greeting the poor lad
brave struggle to appear cheerful ant
resigned to his own loss was touchingl,
: apparent.
Lucy, instinctively, threw her arm
lovingly around him, and started to say
A. -