The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-26

slves, the members of the club decided
upon an outing. They were to ride along
the banks Of the beautiful Hudson for
about fifteen miles, take luncheon at a
quiet hostelry and ride lsisurely back in
the cool of the afternoon.
When this plot was divulged to me l
asked if they were not going il a little
strong for beginners. 1 said that if the
club rode thirty miles in one day it would
probably hold lts meetings in some quiet,
son. I suggested that it might be profit
able for them to ride half a mile up the
boulevard to Grants tomb, and then sit
down and realize how it feels to be dead.
My caution Was laughed to
soorn. and Was soon forgotten altogether in
the shadow OF the great question of dress.
For l judge that the club does not intend
to ride from any selfish motive, but rather
to delight the eyes of behoIders and make
every other woman wiah she could dc it. A
broad, charitable intent of that sort undor-
lies almost every feminine endeavor. There
is something noble in the mental attitude
OF q woman who can forget what she will
suffer on a bicycle, and remember only what
profit There may be for the envious specta-
tor. Maude's dress was a marvel of effec-
tlveness; and she wore q pair of shoes a aizs
smaller than usual because it wasn't as If
she were going walkinR-she wouId be sit
ting down all the time.
Maude stabbed her iron steed with the
ianitor, who charged a small fee for this
service. although his children ~seoretly en-
loved the use of the machine. I knew
this, because on several occasions ] have
seen his son Ike In tears. and wearing large
quantities of cement from the cellar floor
mixed with his complexion. This youth,
his face plentifully. decorated with court
plaater' held the bicycle for Maude to
She babe me Roodby in our flat because
she didn't want me to come down to the
sldewalk and show my anxiety for the vel
fare OF her precious neck, in the presence
of all the people. After she had gone, | be-
TOOK me TO my toll, and had committed no
more than two great thoughts to puner
when the door opened and she entered.
NOW isn't this verfectly DREADFUL" she
said. That stupid Ike let 90 the wheel be-
fore l was fairly started; and l just dropped
right over In she maddiest place on the
that spot. The right side Of this dress is
ruined, and I'm lnto already. Oh. please,
EHowdy, brush all this mud off me, and don't
Elet it take you one single minute"
could not carry out the contract in the
time allowed me. but did my level best. |
EIhen she took another start, but in five
|minutes she was back again. md another
member Of the club was with her. Thev
had met at the corner, and each had been
SO busy looking at the others clothes that
both had forgotten all about the response
oii.ties vi " pohitlon On TWO wheels. They
had taken simultaneous tumbles, and il van
the loft side Of Maude's dress that needed
brushing this time. performed that ser
vice to the best of my ability for her and
for the othor victim of unstable eQuilibrium:
1hey shed some natural tears and then made
another start.
This time Maude got TO the place of
meeting, which was two blocks from our
ponse,. without mishnp, but she returned
|apeedily.
1T 10 no use, Howdy," said she, "PIl have
10 give up these shoes. They hnrt me
lreadfully. But isn't it just too bad. shoes
ero 80 conspicuous when one IL riding on u
3ver had"
She took them off, wept a little over
4hsir wasted charm and again set forth for