The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1895-09-11

He rose to his knees and gazed down
the road just in time to see his rival
swing round turn into the lane that
led to Wheeling's place. Aching in
every joint, in heart and in mind.
cursing himself and Sprockett and his
venerable uncle, he, aclambered once
more onto his machine and rode away
toward home.
YEARLY he worked up the hill on the
brow of which stood the Tires house.
A groom was just leading away his
uncle's bicycle as he reached the door
| way. He threw himself from his ma
chine, turned it over to the man and
went in search Of his patron. He
found him seated in cool corner of
the porch putting vigorously and fam
| ming himself. Ast
Reuben Tires was a handsome old
man, apparently about eighty years.
A long white beard and hair that fell
thick on his broad shoulders gave him
a venerable appearance, which seemed
| rather out of keeping with the brown
golf suit in which he was attired. For
forty years he had been widower and
childless. George Van Spoke, his only
age, and to him he intended to leave
the vast fortune which he had made
on the stock market. The world knew
| this, and many wise mothers had
| looked on Van Spoke as not only suita-
bic but as most desirab BILE pdrti for
their manageable daughters.
AS George approached his uncle the
old man greeted him kindly. well"
he. cried, $50 you have been out for a
spin. too. have just got back from a
run over to Springer's-a good twelve
cold plunge"
Van Spoke threw himself into a
| chair and for some moments vouch-
safed no reply. Then he laid one hand
gently on his uncle's knee and said:
Uncle, you have been almost father
to me, and l want you to know how
deeply 1 appre-"
"Come, come, George, don't get senti-
mental now" interrupted Mr.. Tires
''I'm not feeling that way by any
means. Old Springer and have ar
rang GU d ACCCIhS dU 1dSC' 1OoC ONO1
there to-day with our neighbor, Miss
Fellows. Now. don't look concerned.
It's nothing serious, assure you. She
and were children together, and SIM
ply went out for little spin. But as
was saying"
Uncle Reuben, I have something
concerning which wish to-"
''Just wait until l tell you about
this affair. We went to Springer's and
succeeded in arranging meeting for
tomorrow. You know have been
trying to fix it for years, and we had
trouble over the handicap We settled
all that. Road race-two miles-to-
morrow-one hundred dollars side.
give him minutes start on me, as he
is five years older than I. Pray what
do you think of your old uncle now?"
Mr.. Tires clapped his nephew gayly
on the shoulder and then threw him
self back in his chair and laughed long
and loud.
"Uncle," began George, II want to
marry Ethel Wheeling, as l have told
you before. I have come again to ask
your consent"
Reuben Tires at once became seri-
GUS He leaned forward and replied
earnestly:
"My boy, you know what have al
ready told you. l can have no
nephew of mine tying himself for life
to light-headed creature who rides a
Whizzer. l can have no heir Of mine
daily risking his life and limb for the
sake of woman. What does she say?
Has she consented to give up her
folly?"
Van Spoke sadly shook his head and
replied: mo, she has not: she says
that she will not marry, to live in
constant fear of being widowed. She
will not have husband who, as she
puts it, is so lacking in mind as to ride
Buster. Uncle Reuben, love you
like father, but Ethel is all the
Al os WIN ~,\