Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-10-11
MANS BICYCLE.

"No, sir! Never, with my consent!
If you want to keep peace with your
old father, don't mention the subject
to me again, Fred Dunbar! The very
thought makes my blood run cold!
That you-niy son-descendant of one
of the first the very first, families in
all Roxbury-should fall in love with
and wish to marry girl, female,
should say, who rides a bicycle! In
my time, no self-respecting young man
would look at braZen creature like
that! Fred, you are my only son; don't
bring my gray hairs in sorrow to the
grave"
Old Warren Dunbar paused to take
breath. He was a handsome, distin-
guished-looking old gentleman, and his
son, handsome Fred Dunbar, was his
counterpart, barring the difference be-
tween twenty-eight and seventy-five.
Fred stood gnawing his silky dark mus
tache uneasily, his thoughts running
something like this: ...
How provoking! Nan would insist
upOA ILulLS past luc uOlAoc Alol CNcA-
ing. 1 warned her, that should my IA
Their chance to see us, it would be all
up between us! / know fathers alb
certain groove, no power on earth can
move him. But Nan, bless her dear
heart! has just mastered the cycle,
and her new one had just arrived, and
she was wild for a spin out on the
I oiy c,n0ofh 1n1
And then. of course, we had to meet
the old gentleman, out for his con-
stitutional, and the moment looked at
his face prepared for storm! Well,
/ cannot help it! I love Nan Henford,
and am going to make her my wife"
With which mental declaration Of
independence, our hero turned to leave
the shady veranda, where the CONVEX
sation had taken place.
Mr.. Dunbar glanced after him.
"Fred!'
Eyes, STRIP pausing to glance back.
"Where are you going!"
cover to Mrs. Henford's."
Don't! See here, son! What am
saying Is for your good! I am sure
am ready and willing-and your mother
also-for you to bring home a wife to
the big lonesome house; but let her
be a lady, Fred-a real, true, refined
lady"
do you mean to insinuate that Nan
Henford is not lady?"
II always considered her so before
this episode" responded the old gentle
man, gravely, Thought she was little
wild, and never conventional. In my
days. Fred"
Father, in your young days the bicy-
Gle was not invented! Had it been,
the women Of that period would have
taken to it as kindly as they do now!
Believe me, there is no harm in it.
How can there be? Such a pleasant
exercise, too!'
But there are other ways of exercis-
ing. which are more modest and re-
fined! There's no use in arguing the
subject, Fred; could never approve Of
such a thing! And no son of mine
shall wed woman so bold and brazen
as to parade upon a bicycle, up and
down the public roads, even of small
town like Roxbury. So, that settles
it!'
Does it?" muttered Fred, unduti-
fully. well, we shall see!'
Il can never hope to change your
opinion, father" he said, aloud; "but,
really, must reserve the right to select
my own wife. And I have chosen
Nan Henford! I shall marry her, or
nobody"
Mr.. Dunbar looked aghast. He had
long known that his son was deter
mined young man, but this-this savor-
ed of anarchy. He started up with
an angry expression, but Fred had dis
appeared Down the long Schillingcr
walk he strobe hastily, the gatc-latch
clicked behind him, he was gone.
Right straight to Henford So groan-
ed the .fathcr-his eyes following the
tall. WSl-set figure Of his son in gray
summer suit, and broad-brimmed straw
hat, going down the long road in the
direction Of the handsome brown house
where his divinity resided.
''Ah, Well!' commented Mr.. Dunbal,
philanthropically, what cannot be
cured. must be enduredr Only, that
girl shall never enter my house with
my consent, as my daughter-in-law!"
But alas! The best laid schemes of
mice and men," etc, and Warren Dun
bar was destined to find that out ere
long.
Fred's face had cleared little by
the time he had entered the rustic gate
of the Henfords' handsome grounds.
Just as he expected, there was Nan
seated upon her bicycle, flying over the
asphalt walk, like a winged Mercury,
her pretty sailor hat only half shading
the fair, sweet face, with its dimples
and dancing blue eyes. She wore a
pale blue "cycling suit" and looked,
as she always did In Fred's eyes, simply
bewitching.
"Why, what's the matter?' was her
characteristic greeting. "You look as