The morning call., 1892-09-10
A BICYCLE ELOPEMENT.


plan.
OF course we were engaged" and look
ing forward to a honeymoon of all wheel
and no whoa, and in the meantime enjoying
almost daily bicycle trips through the love-
ly country about our rural town.
No earthly sweetness could surpass those
blissful rides.
The fragrant flowers nodded, the tall
trees bowed, the breezes whispered and the
wild birds sang their most glorious sere-
nades to US as we two turtle doves on wheels
passed before them.
Dame Nature in her gayest dress smiled
every time she saw us. ana so did good
many other folks, no doubt, but as we were
too much engaged" to heed their leVlty,
they smiled in vain.
II was nc wonder that Ethel and became
romantic and sentimental when TO the
purest Joy of counting was added the next
best delight Of cycling Sueh com olha-
ton was indeed calcu ated to MAKE loves
young dream too bright to last.
There seemed no obstacle between US and
perfect happiness except the consent OF
EthePs parents 10 our union. naturally
felt timid about asking for 1t and wanted
Ethel, who was much better acquainted
with them. TO speak first But she insisted
that il was my place to make the opening
advance, and utterly refused TO do anything
in the matter beyond vigorously secondlng
the motion.
"My dear Ethel" said during one Of our
bicycling trips, you might al least tell me
the surest way OF making your father like
me before ] come TO the point How would
il do to start a little political discussion TO
begin wth-takng his side, OF course. and
after gradually drawing him into an excite
ment-then, while he's mad at the other
fellows offer to become bis son-ln-law and
Ia
IL hardly think that would work, said
Ethel, soberly, "f0r no one knows how pa
is at present He has been Republican
and 2 Democrat and PrOhlbltionlst and
Mugwump. l heard lately be was on a
fence-whatever that means. Ii you dldn
strike him just right, you KNOW, we Woolu
be totally ruined"
Suppose | talk bicycles to him-don't
you think that would arouse an enthusiasm
and make him want me TO be his companion
in the glorious spoTt?"
"Ob. not for the world" Ethel cried.
PA once took header and the scar is on
his nose yet He utterly detests that superb
"Then, Ethel" said, sadly, "Pn have TO
come out fatfooted and ask him to bless US.
Ii he wont"
"He shall" bravely answered Ethel, "Only
don't mention politics nor cycling.
Assuming bOldness that / did not feel,
view with my fale's father in the parlor OF
his home.
AS lie entered the room I. nerved for the
awful ordeal, rose. and. with my best bow,
wished him ''good-evening.
'GOOd-evening! Take seat, sir, he said
in a rather too dignifed tone for my comfort.
II understand you want to see me on very
Important business"
Eyes, sir, L. trembling, replied. 81 am
here TO ask you for, for"
FOR what, young man?" He spoke pre-.
tending not to notice my bushes.
"For your daughters hand"
The old gentleman gazed at me In evident
surprise at my temeTty.
My daughters hand" he slowly re-
peased. Which hand, might ask, do you
WantP"
why. both, sir" stammered 81 love
her TO distraction, and-and-"
The stern parent eyed me from to head to
foot and then solemnly shook his head.
Young manw be sagely remarked, have
you given this matter due consideration?
Are you able with your salary to support
a wife? Do you know that nv daughters
dresses alone cost last year SCOOP
The old gentleman thought he had me
there, but he did not.
"Yes. sir y l answered meekly, Il ad-
vised her TO get them"
IAN, hal l see. That accounts for the
young lady's extravaganza. In time of
prosperity you were preparing for adyer-
sity-at my expense. Thought the old man
a good goose TO pluck, did you? Well, my
noble youth, while l admire your foresight
and business capabilities l must confess
YOU are altogether too smart to be my SON.
in-law. l distinctly and decidedly have the
pleasure Of informing you that intend to
Keep my daughters hand But if mine can
be of any assistance in helping you down
the steps-here they are"
That ended the UDf0Ttunate intarviau
1t was long, long week before l saw
Ethel and her w0eful lace was picture of
distress. Mine was more so. Ethel" 1
grOaned as we deiectedly rode along on
our wheels, how can we live without each
other?"
I'VE can't and we won't" she bravely ex-
claimed. 'Pa is jus. too horrid for anything.
I'm mad enough TO el0pe."
"Hurrah! l shouted. 'Pm with you
rain or shine. Let's elope on our bicycles.
Never was done before. Strictly original.
Patent applied for Wen be famous the
world over, and your pa will be proud OF
u.s."
"Yes-but," thoughtfully spoke Ethel
when she recovered from the shock, ''how
can we manage TO take my five-year stock
of dresses. You won't be able To buy me
any TIL you're in the firm you say"
Easy" l answered. You eau smuggle
them 10 the barn, wearing one at time
under your everyday dress. and place them
in trunk I'll have hidden in the hay.
Then I'll put wheels On the trunk and
we'll tow It behind when we elope. What
q team We'll make"
"And what a capital rontriver you ere, i"
cried the dear, innocent girl: "but you'll
have to pull the hardest though"
Never fear" laughed. "only name the
happy night"
AT the appointed time I stood in the
shadow made by the full moon under EthePs
window. As the clock struck midnight
Ethel poked her sweet face out and WINS
tied softly. Quickly l raised ladder to
her easement, and with a Romeo's ardor
helped my fair Juliet to the ground where
our gltterlng, iron steeds stood waiting i'm
patiently to be off. The loaded trunk on
well-greased wheels was down by the gate
ready to hitch on behind US, and the minis
ter in the next town was waiting according
to arrangement to tie the $40 knot when we
arrived.
Although Ethel said that both her pa and
ma wore soundly snoring when she left her
room l knew il wasn't safe to linger. so
wasting no time in saying 'igood-bys" to
the old homestead. up we leaped on our
gallant steeds and away we few down the
carriage drive to the front gate almost for
getting the invaluable trunk in our mad
haste TO escape. Stopping and slipping its
rope harness about my waist and working
IKE steam engine to haul ii over the
SsHSNhbs h-oCdddiEfLcu IOdu, We u6u IN Tue
direction of my friend, the parson.
Our brave cycles needed no whip and
spur 70 make them go. They seemed to
ieei the awful responsibility thrust upon
them and did their level best.
Stlil the trunk handicapped mine to sueh
an extent that soon | wished hadn't urged
Ethel 10 secure SO many new dresses, but il
was too late to repent
On We went with long ten miles between
US auo Victory, and short one mile be.
tween US and Etheps pa. who might wake
mp at any moment to pursue and CAPTURE
the trunk and-horrorsl clatter OF adj.
ysnelng boots from behind told us the
threatened danger had arrived. On the
straight, moonlighted road, not half mile
on. man on horsebaek-EthePs furious o,
without doubt-was in full chase.
Fly, love. fyP' / cried to my frightened
sweetheart, as / leaped from my wheel and
pushed the heavy trunk into roadsid,
thicket. Fly for your lifep' | shriekeC
when gained her side again. I'VE must ge