Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-09-13

AC1 lCoAo. =.
81 have got to give it up, guess,
she said
"What do you mean-your bi-
cycle?"
She nodded, her lips quivering
little. She was scarcely more than
child herself.
"What for?" he asked. 81 thought
they had been badgering you about
it. 1t is shame"
Then she told him of the call she
nad received, and that it was practi-
calIy question of losing her position
if she persisted in riding.
lie stood angrily beside her, knit
ting his brows AMI drumming impa-
tiently on tho desk.
Everybody is riding North, men,
women and little children, and If some
one else would only do it here they
would not notice me.
The big fellow stood lost in thought,
seeming not to have heard her words,
but in reality they had gwen him an
idea. Suddenly he burst out laugh
ing.
"Miss Jessie, if You will give me
that wheel for month, in exchange
for my horse, Butterfly, aud his keep,
I will promise to let you have 1t back
at the end of that time, to ride undls-
turbed for the rest OF your life, and II
| fail to keen nv promise you cAn
keep Butterfly"
"Oh, Gary, how good of you'll But
what are You going to do?' she said.
"Never mind is it bargain" He
put out his hand, and they shook
hands on it, and Cary carried the
wheel off, promising to senl Butterfly
around that night and that one of his
men should take care of him for her.
Cary was riding the bicycle we'll by
the next day, and the report had got
ten about, without any one seeming to
have started it, that he had taken it
from Miss Jessie in exchange for his
horse, Butterfly, which most people
thought very foolish, though high So
ciety in Harmon slept once more In
conscious satisfaction that the dignity
of its educational institution had been
preserved.
1t was early one evening, day or
two after Cary had had the wheel that
he suggested to his sister aud several
girl cousins, who were taking tea there,
that they should try it, as no one
would see them at that hour. VI
course, they were ready to do so, and
they had so much amusement ont OF 1t
and the girls were so enthusiastic
about it that the next night they came
over to try it again, aud the next and
then every night, taking turns at the
condemned wheel and constantly grow
ing more charmed with it,
Cary had sent to New York for a
mans bicycle, and as one by one the
girls became expert riders, the fever
grew, even the Preston twins catching
it; and Mrs. Preston, having been per-
suadel one evening to go over and see
them ride, anxiously watched, not to
see if they should appear with unruf-
fed dignity, but that they were as
clever about it as the others. So
clever were they, in fact, that before
the evening was over she had promised
that they should each have one OF their
own if Cary would attend to the get
ting of them.
In this manner did Cary's plan
prosper, and he would report progress
to Miss Jessie every afternoon.
81 shall never be satisfied till L have
the colonels lady herself on wheel, "
he said, roaring with laughter, for the
lady was very portly.
Three weeks had passed, when one
afternoon the twins bicycles appeared.
At once they sent over for Cary to
come and inspect them, and when he
arrived he found the family all out II
front of the house trying them AM
discussing their merits.
The twins raced around the circle
of hard road that surrounded the
lawn. and then insisted upon Cary
tryiug the wheels and racing will
them.
"Now, Mrs. Preston" said Gary, n
he dismounted, "you must try one
Don't be afraid. "
"No one has ever dared to say that
n Preston was afraid of anything,
she answered proudly; "but am too
stout"
'It would make you thin, if yor
, would stick to it" he answered.
"Do you really think SOP" said tn
lady. Bicycling was developing neS
interest for her.
, 81 have not any doubt of it oil
> Just try it once around the circle
Come, now. I promise you on my
honor not to let you fall"
r And with the twins urging, too, the
colonePs lady finally yielded.
} There was the clatter of q horse
hoofs up the road, and between th'
two long rows OF trees that led to th
house came q chestnut horse, with tn
little trim figure seated on 1t sharpl,
outlined against the glow OF the SET
| ting sun.
The colonel's lady, intent upo
keeping her balance, though Gary
| strong arm was about her, heard moth
, inc of it until the rider drew up /
front of the door and sat immovabl
in amazement as the lady came putin
around the other side of the circle
{ Cary cast one triumphant look at th
rider. aud Jessie, who had come t