The Portland daily press., 1895-09-14
THE MAJORS SISTER.

"It's quite useless waiting for me, Fred.
1t will take at least an hour to overhaul
my machine and adjust these confounded
bearings. You'd better run on to St. Al
bans and order a rattling good dinner for
two at the George. BY the time it's ready
shall be With you again.
"It will be better than hanging about
here when 1 can do no good, l agreed.
sit was nasty SPILL and you may think
yourself lucky to have got off with nothing
worse than few bruises and little de-
lay. Pom my word, was afraid our tour
was already at an end. Trust to me, Har-
ry, old fellow, to have all ready for the in
ner man."
faye, I'll trust you for that" retorted
my cyclist chum, Harry Holmes, as grip
ped the handle bar of my machine and
vaulted into the saddle. "And, not hav-
| ing to listen TO your edfying remarks con-
corning my appearance, shan't perhaps
be so long repairing damages as you
think"
With this friendly piece Of parting ban
| ter to spur me on, pressed the pedals in
earnest, and the next moment was speed
ing along the high road to St. Adams, dis
tant some six miles
1t was bright, bracing morning, and a
sharp spin at my own pace was undoubt-
eddy preferable to sitting smoking on Q
bank, watching my unlucky friend tinker
ing with wrench and listening to alter
nate growls at treacherous roads and all
such misfortunes as side slips.
had traversed half the distance when,
rounding curve in the road, observed q
lady cyclist short distance ahead. APP
parently something had gone wrong with
her mount, for she was standing with it
propped up by the side of the road and was
viewing surrounding objects with an air
Of evident detection.
True to the spirit which prompts every
cyclist to help another in distress, I slack
ened speed and as drew nearer noticed
that the lady was both young and pretty,
discovery which at once made my i'm
questionable heart hope that she might be
glad to avail herself of my services in
some way or other.
My wishes In this respect were speedily
gratified, for as dismounted and politely
inquired If anything had zone wrong with
her machine the young lady's face became
suffused with the most winning Of smiles.
ooh, thank you SO very much, sir, :"
was the response, Spoken without the
slightest trace of frigidity II must con-
fess that I'm in a wretched fix. The han
die bar Of my machine has become loose,
and haven't Q tool Of any description that
will tighten up the nut. And to make
matters worse my brother, Major Gwynne,
has lost 1ne--or, suppose, have lost
him-and I'm afraid he hasn't the least
idea that my plight is such a bad one"
"Oh, wen very soon set things right, !"
I said reassuringly, ah the look OF graft
tude bestowed upon me made me think
that 1 had never before met with SO charm-
ing or SO handsome girl as this Miss
Gwynpe.
whipping out my wrench, adjusted it
and proceeded to tighten up the loose nut
Of the steering bar. I noticed that the
young lady's machine was anything but o
good one. In fact, was quietly telling
myself what an inferior and old fashioned
mount 1t wns for SO winsome and appar-
emily well to do rider, when, to my dis
NAV, the screw broke short off, and the
nut attached to it rolled in the road.
sNow, here's q pretty gor' blurted
out, reddening with mingled confusion
and vexation Whatever shall we do
now, Miss Gwynne9"
ooh, I'm sure don't know" was the
reply, uttered in tones of CONSERVATION
which almost overwhelmed me and made
me call myself everything the reverse Of
complimentary. "'And must be at least
30 miles from home too and my brother
will, / am quite certain, never trouble
himself to turn back to look for me. He'll
simply keep on driving ahead. But, there,
I suppose he is just like other brothers.
quite useless as escorts. -
For my own part felt decidedly pleased
at the prospect Of the brothers continued
absence
"Well, I've landed you in this scrape,
and you must allow me to see you out Of
it, that's ALL"
Secretly began to feel rather glad as /
perceived what a very pleasant duty had
suddenly devolved upon me, and for the
time, at all events my chum Holmes was
quite forgotten.
"But what can either of us dor You
can't pick me up and give me ride.
Yours isn't bicycle built for two, you
kn1" ANU lne young lauy .aIs sa,a VIII
suo,. po..ooO sooo Aui''oi '''0 = io'O 4oA''
a0 n Ivy . 9,so an 18th - e., o,oo