Passaic City record., 1893-04-08

bors.
Wheelmen rolled along toward
the city, tinkling their bells as
they came, compelling the pc
destrians, among them father
and daughter, to step out OF the
way again and again. Once or twice
he turned his face, looking after the
rllers with fine contempt. He spoke
to the lady and she nodded her head.
Evidently they commented upon the
unmannerly men. Hitherto the old
gentleman and the courteous wheeler
had never met, and the mirror, look
ing down the avenue, wondered where
| the young man was lettering away his
opportunity this fine morning.
Away down the road. pedaling furi-
ously (for he was late), he hove III
sight at last. Father and daughter,
walking toward him briskly, also saw
him coming. They were soon close
together. Then, with a graceful
sweep the machine curved out of the
way, leaped the curb, the rider lifted
his hat, bowed low over the handle
bars and sped on. He was the
modern knight, riding the steel built
wheel instead of the steel-clad war
horse.
UnconsciousIy the old gentleman also
lifted his hat, acknowledging the cour-
tesy which he had not expected, while
The daughter nodded and smiled a
pleased ssGood morning." This smile
made the cyclist very happy-so happy
that he nearly ran over neWspoy
right under the mirrors eye, and
when the boy made some resentfM re-
mark the young man dismounted'
pulled out his pocketbook, andln the
fullness of his heart bought every
paper the boy had.
What took place between father ana
daughter on their walk, how she ex-
planned her recognition OF the young
man (for of course there must have
been an explanatory, the mirror does
not know, since it can only look down
the street; but few days later the
old gentleman stood at the cottage
cate as the wheelman rode home from
his days work and both lifted their
hats. The acquaintancesnip was grow
ing.
After that the wheel was always In
great hurry before and after pass
ing the cottage, but wonderfully slow
in passing that domicile, and the mir
ror began to suspect the young man
of strategy.
Little by little the pleasant comedy
grew, slower and slower the wheel
moved in finding its way past, until
one fine day it stopped altogether and
the rider dismounted to tighten some
part of his machine. AS 1t happened,
father and daughter were outside, and
he stepped to the gate and out of 1t to
have look at the contriyance. She
timidly followed. Then they talked
and laughed, became confidential over
tangent spokes and ball bearings, just
as people will whenever they begin to
talk bicycle.
The leaves of the linden trees fut-
tered with astonishment, the catbird
lost bar in his song, the well-bred
windows opposite seemed TO lift their
eyebrows higher, and the lawn-sprink-
,ler squlrmed all over the lawn with
excitement over this unconventional
occurrence. But it was not the last
time they saw it. 1t even happened
that the young man entered the gate
and was shown the wonderful roses
that grew on the place. Then the art
full youth developed the same taste for
flowers, had read the same authors,
and held the same catholic tastes as
the elder man. They found they knew
reople in common. What could be
more agreeable !? So from the garden
the young man was brought into the
parlor.
Many an evening after that the
wheel leaned against the fence out
side, waiting for its owner, and when
he appeared, father and daughter
often came with him as far as the
| gate, she to look at the patient steel
horse, and wish that she could ride
one. Bicycles are so fascinating!
| Midsummer came and with it a
lady's wheel. For week at least,
| every NIGHT there was subdued lauph.