Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-07-24

! catch up" and away sailed B. c., stag.
gering all over the road.
Old Hundred trotted back to his
wheel, picked it up, and glanced despair
lngly after the retreating safety. How
could ne ever catch up2 But that query
was merged in a greater one. Could he
ever mount2
He made three attempts, each failure
being hidden in q thicker cloud of dust,
and inscribed in deeper rent. But
what were clothes TO tailorG There
was Miss Benefits unsteady form Just
disappearing over the edge of the first
little hill. He must catch up with her,
or be her laughing-stock forever. Luck
lily, small boy just came saunter;ng by,
to whom he gave ten cents, with full d.
rections, and was assisted off in much
better shape than poor B. G. had been.
"Oh, that were safe in my shop, sit
ting cross-legged on the table," thought
Old Hundred. "That bicycles had never
been invented That Miss Bennett were
not SIS fond of them! How smart she is?
Who would have thought it at her agel"
But just here aCut upset the train of
his thoughts, and all but upset himself.
The small boy, left behind, was chuck
ling with amusement. How close the
bitches seemed, and how fearfully deep?
The machine, to the tailor's apprehen-
sion, seemed insanely bent on plunging
over the brink. His arms were pulled
almost out Of their sockets. Perspira-
ton blinded his eyes. More and more
wildly with each rut swayed the crazy
bicycle, and whirled Old Hundred dizzy
brain. He came to the brow of the little
hill, which seemed a fearful declivity.
Old Hundred clinched his teeth and
pushed back hard on the pedals, throw
ing on the brake with all his might.
Just then he struck a loose stone, lost
control of the wheel, and with closed
eyes rau directly toward the side, and
upset. The little tailor rolled over and
over down the hillside gully, and lay on
top of his wheel at the bottom.
Slowly Old Hundred rose, and found
to his intense relief that he had broken
no bones. To his equally great relief he
discovered that he had broken the bicy.
Gle. One pedal projected from the
crank at most astonishing angle.
A gay laugh rang out few yards
0AASA
its bowldery side sat the stout-hearted B.
c.; at her feet her tricky wheel!
A happy light shone in her eyes.
"My wheel is broken!" said she, point
ing to handle bar bent back some forty
degrees.
''And mine, too,'' said the smiling
tailor, showing the disaffected pedal.
"Isn't it too bad! I'm afraid We'll have
to go home"
With some toll they hoisted their BIZ
cyles to the road again, and set out for
the town, trundling them happily.
And then it was that the tailor spoke
these memorable words:
''Susy," said he, and Miss Benefits
brave old heart knew what was APP
preaching. "Susy, you see how very
unsteady these bicycles are, separated"
Every" said B. c., tremblingly.
''But suppose, Susy, one were to take
two bicycle. like yours and mine, and
put ouple of axles across, and box
on top, with two seats and cover, what
would that be, Susy2"
ga family carriage" said B. c., look
ing downward with a smile
''Yes, Susy, and it wouldn't tip over,
but would run smoothly and safely, and
wouldn't it be nice, Susy2" and Old Hun
dred tried to trundle with one hand, that
he might use the right arm for another
purpose, but it wouldn't work.
"Wouldn't it be much nicer, Susy2"
Yes, SusY thought it would.
And so B. G. and Old Hundred walked
happily back to town along that Middle
ton Road henceforth blessed to them
both, trundling the Hateful bicycles,
which alone had been equal to the ending
OF that long courtship.
Near town, Spoketire whirled smartly
up, and dismounte at sight of them.
''Had accidents, I see. Too bad.
However, 1 can soon straighten that
out"
eve have decided, susy and I, Mr.
Spoketlre," said the bold tailor proudly,
''to sell our wheels, and we want you to
act as agent. Well leave them at your
shop. You see, Mr.. Spoketire, we have
decided, Susy and I, to set up family
carriage. - Yankee Blade