Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-08-07

are many years youn-that Is, th2t IN
doing very well | need to be helped
into the saddle"
$50 do l." admitted the tailor, hon
estly.
but once in, have absolutely no
trouble, provided the road is smooth
and level and Mr.. Spoketire just keeps
his hands on the machine to kind of
steady me, you know"
II still find it rather difficult task
to without letting the wheel
fall, that is, Miss Bennett"
"why, do you? The last time Mr..
Spoketirc helped me out he said was
as graceful as n young girl Mr.. Spoke
tire is so nice"
Miss Bennett we must go out to-
gether next week, and as soon as possi-
blei Or rather-aboat Saturday, eh?
Well both be in better trim by then,
you know"
without Mr.. Spoketire, Mr. Sim
mons?"
''Of course. What do we want with
that contemplate little dandy?"
b. C. smiled happily at the tailor's
manifest jealousy, yet smiled rather
uneasily and fearfully. However, she
agreed, with many misgiving, and the
next Saturday afternoon was fixed for
the adventure.
Many time during the following
week Old Hundred and 3. c. regretted
their precipitancy. But B. c. was clear
grit, if she was approaching that awful
fortieth birthday, and the little tailor
had been reused by the Spoketirc hints
to somewhat of the ardor lover should
have.
A careful observer might have noticed
that the daily walks from the post
office were far more deliberate and
loverlike than usual but only Spoketire
and the arnica bottle guessing the true
cause. Oh, how they both wished that
their machines would break before the
fateful afternoonl But they were none
of your cast iron "best-in-the-world
and Spoketire was only too jealous in
his watchfulness, so that the bicycles
really received less damage than their
awkward riders.
Saturday dawned perversely fair,
with roads outrageously perfect, and
the afternoon saw our hero and heroine
trundling their wheels through the
village out to the Middleton road
"We'll not ride through town." each
eagerly agreed, because people might
laugh" which was very true.
The Middleton road was an excellent
stretch for the purpose, in prime con-
dition, and little frequented Old
Hundred and Il. c. walked out of sight
of the village, chatting gayly, avoiding
all mention of the wheel At length it
became impossible to deny that the
right spot had been reached, and with
set faces they placed their bicycles in
position.
''You must help me on, you know"
said b. G.. with rather pale face, but
brave withal; "Mr Spoketire thinks it
is still necessary"
''Oh, yes! Why to be r. slut
tered the little tailor, looking awlx-
wardly around for something to lean
his bicycle against, and at last laying
it down clumsily in the middle of the
road.
b. C. sprang into the saddle with an
elephantine feint of girlish spright-
liness, and the poor tailor's weak
muscles were unable to prevent most
portentous swaying of the wheel.
Mercy on usl'' shrieked B. c.,
Don't let me take n header before /
startl and oh, Mr.. Simmons, | shall be
SO grateful, if you will only hold on to
the machine for few steps, just until
get startedt"
Certainly" grunted Old Hundred,
whose every muscle was taxed to hold
the wheel upright
B. C. started, the perspiring tailor
trotting after, both hands clutching
the saddle spring contributing so ma
terially in his awkwardness to the diff
Guilty of the steering that the agonized
maid in front soon cried back to him:
THAT will do. Thanks. Now mount
and catch up!" and away sailed b c.,
staggering all over the road
Old Hundred trotted back to his
wheel, picked it up and glanced de-
spairingly after the retreating safety.
How could he ever catch up? But that
query was merged in greater one
Could he ever mount?
He made three attempts, each failure
being hidden in thicker cloud OF 6ust,
and inscribed in deeper rent some
where. But what were clothes to a
tailor? There was Miss Benefits un-
steady form just disappearing over the
first little hill He must catch up with
ber. or be her laughing stock forever
Luckily, small boy just then came
sauntering by, to whom he gave ten
cents, with full directions, and was as
sisted off in much better shape than
poor b. c. had been
"Oh! that | were safe In my shop. sit
ting cross-legged on the tableI'' thought
Old Hundred THAT bicycles had
never been inventedi That Miss Ben
nett were not SO fond of theml How
smart she Isl Who would have thought
il at her ager'
But just here rut upset the train of
his thoughts, and all but upset himself
The small boy, left behind, was chuck
ling with delighted amusement How
close the bitches seemed, and how fear
fully deepl The machine. to the tail
or's crazed apprehension. seemed in
sanely bent on plunging over the brink.
His arms were pulled almost out Of
their sockets. Perspiration blinded his
eyes. More and more wildly with each
rut swayed the crazy bicycle, and
whirled Old Hundreds dizzy brain He
came to the brow of the little hill,
which seemed fearful declivity Old
Hundred clinched his teeth and pushed
back hard on the pedals, throwing on
the brake with all his might Just
hkVI ,JS