Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-10-04

into another road, and she was alone
once more in the sweet Virginia
\ wooded country, feeling tho soft air
grateful to her burning cheeks.
A number of tho children were
gathered about tho door of tho school
house. waiting for her rs usual, and
they greeted her approach rapturously.
1t comforted her little, and the
morning passed by pleasantly, though
thore was n suppressed excitement
noticeable among the children. Still,
that was to be expected; twenty
two-pound safety was an unheard-of
event in Harmon.
At recess they all dclightedly ex-
amined it. The boys, in the after
noon, were equally enthusiastic, and
before nightfall there was not man,
woman or child in Harmon that
| had not heard of the school teacher's
wheel.
Late the next afternoon, when she
] had returned quito tired from her
work, she was sitting out on the YER
anda of tho little house where she
made her home, talking with Mrs.
Hadyn, with whom she lived, when
carriage drove into the yard.
"It's Mrs. Preston." said Mrs.
Hayden, hastily rising. 'I'll just slip
in and see if Peggy has that cake done;
[ will be back in moment" So
Jessie was left alone to meet tho
formidable censor of Harmon's social
laws.
She assisted the lady carefully from
her carriage.
sis ii not lovely day?" she said.
"AIrs. Hayden will be here in mo-
ment. Will you come indoors, or do
you prefer the vernnla? The mir is so
lovely"
"rhnnk YOU said the lady. "I
will not go in. 1 just stopped by for
n moment"
They seated themselves in the rock
ers on tho porch, and IN the silence
that followed Jessie longcd for Mrs.
Hadyn's arrival.
81 suppose may rs we'll tell you
what / stopped about" said Mis-
lmogcn. as most Of the country called
her, though she had been married for
thirty years.
"Yes, indeed murmured Jessie.
"Can do anything for you? 1
should SO like to-"
mo, but have been talking with
several of our friends about your rid
ing that that"
"My bicycle, " supplied Miss Jessie.
ms Mrs. Preston did not seem able to
bring herself even to pronounce the
Objectionable word.
"Yes," Mrs. Preston answered, in
relieved voice, 'and We think it is
hardly dignitied, hardly ladylike, so
to speak, my dear Miss Jessie, for you
to use ii going to your school duties,
or anywhere else, i'll fact, holding the
position that you do"
81 would not do it for the world if
thought it undignified, Mrs. Pres
ton, Jessie answered, strengthening
her little figure and ccasing to rock.
"Now if it were horse" snid the
lady, sit would he different. The
women of the Prcstons, the Phillips
and the Payson-Smiths have always
ridden, but not one of them has ever
been seen on IA bicycle"
"But, you see, l cannot afford
horse or to keep one if had it, and
my uncle gave me this wheel particu-
larly TO use i'll going to school, for the
walk is very long for me twice day"
"Of course, OF course, but one must
think of appearance. 4 woman must
always consider them, and sc decided
that some Que had better speak to you
and advise you TO give it up, if you
wish to continue to hold your present
position in our school"
Is 81 do not think l shall give it up"
said the girl, slowly, "until can see
the harm in it,"
The lady rose, and just then Mrs
Hadyn appeared, swith Peggy hover
ing in the background, bearing tray
OF tea and cakes; but for once the
colonel's lady did not wait to partake,
though she thanked Mrs. Hadyn efru-
sively, and she left, not altogether
satisfied with the impression she had
made. The little school-teacher was
SO gentle that sitting on her did not
seem to allect her Mt all she was as
placid and sweet afterward rs before.
But it did affect her, although she
rode to school again the next day, and
when the lessons were all over, and
she had dismissed the class she was
tutoring, she laid her sunny brown
head on the desk before her and cried
softly. She WAS afraid she would have
to give it up, after ALL She could not
afford to throw away the position she
held, and she did not see any chance
of convincing the social leader OF
Harmon that riding a bicycle was en-
tirely compatible with her school du-
ties and the dignity OF her position.
1t was one of her greatest pleasures,
and it seemed hard that from simple
prejudice she should be deprived of
it. OF course, it was foolish to CRY,
but she was very tired.
AS she sat there alone some one
came into the room, and seeing the
little teachers distress, went softly
up To her.
1t vas Cary Phillips, ono of the
boys getting ready for college, tall,
sturdy fellow of seventeen, afraid of
nothing, always in some scrape, but
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