Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-09-12
A BICYCLE CHASE.


girl is clalrVoyant where aHalrs OF tHe
heart are concerned.
They were talking about their birth
days, and the pleasant custom of giving
presents at such time.
Let me see," said Milo, thoughtful-
ly, did you say your birthday came in
September, Miss Nellie?"
Il didn't say" remarked Miss Nellie,
demurely.
Then it was December, wasn't 1t?
Some lucky fellow will be giving you a
diamond, perhaps!'
"Or a souvenir spoon" laughed Mel
lie; you know they made jewel-spoons
for birthday gifts, but all the girls
changed their birthdays to December,
and the young men could not stand the
expense, and they sent a petition to
the manufacturers, asking them to dis
continue the custom, so no more spoons
are in the market"
T-I-I-really wish you would tell
me when your natal day arrives. ]
might at least send you a bunch Of
roses, in remembrance of all the-the
happy days we have spent together
Is 1t this month, Miss Nellie?'
You remind me of the parlor game:
is it this? Is it that?'" said Miss
Nellie, and then fearing that the
young man was becoming sentimental
she turned the conversation to other
subjects.
But the next day Milo Warren
dropped casually into the store where
Miss Nellie Newton's best brother was
engaged as bookkeeper, and inquired
solemnly at the grated window, which
permitted segment of his countenance
to appear, if that young man would
take lunch with him.
Certainly" was the brusque reply
from a mouth full of pens; 'I'll meet
thee at Philippi-I mean at Hunger &
Co.'s-in an hour"
He was there, and at the pleasant
spread of good things provided Milo
Warren propounded this conundrum:
IF you like girl awfully, but
haven't told her SO, and you think she
maybe likes you awfully-no, don't
day, and you want to make her pres
ent, and she won't tell you when 1t Is
the birthday, you know-oh, hang it
all, I'm everlastingly mixed up. Can't
you help a fellow out?"
Lyman Newton laid aside his knife
and fork, and looking Milo In the face
asked, seriously:
"Any'insanity in your family, MiloP'
None that ever heard of outside OF
my .own case" was the depressed an
swer.
Reducing your heroics to n plain
statement, then, you want to give a
girl of your acquaintance birthday
present"
Exactly"
"Is she an Old Woman?"
What do you mean?" roared War
rem, turning red. III thank you to
speak with respect of my freinds-be-
sides L"
"Oh, no harm done; don't get riled SC
easily. l wanted to know if she be-
longed to the past age or the present.
I take it, then, tina she's a New
Woman"
II understand now. Yes, l believe
she has advanced opinions, but she
isn't o2e of those dreadful creatures
that advocate the wearing OF bloomers.
Nellie is the soul of womanly modesty,
and"
Nellie? Do know this bright par
ticular starr"
"Why, of course you dol quite for
got-she's your own sister!"
"Well, I like that And you want to
make her a birthday present and don't
know the day. Sorry, old fellow, but
II. NalI Ita Il
take my head off If told"
That ended the lunch, but IN unfore-
seen thing happened. Just as Milo
Warren left his company at the corner
he saw an urchin he knew. 1t was the
infiction known as Nellie's youngest
brother, age seven, capacity for mis-
chief seven times seven, precoclty un
limited by any period OF time.
Milo, with malice prepense, engaged
the dear child in a surfeit of sweets
and then asked, rs IL the idea was not
Of the least consequence and had just
occurred TO him:
when does Sister Nellie have q
birthday"
The dear child looked at him for q
moment, drew his mouth round under
his ear, elevated both eyebrows, and
said, in a conffding, infantile voice:
"Whatll yer give ter know"
Advantageous terms being made, the
boy puckered his mouth for whistle,
thought better OF it and gave the fol
lowing Saturday as his sisters birth
day.
AN II yer want to make yourself
solid-see--just send her a real sumner
of bike"
What A bicycle? Does she rider
"How kin she? | reckon she kin
learn, mister. You just send that bike
there amt nothin' Nell wants wus'
nor that"
With this advice, and being sworn &c
secrecy, the small terror bowled him
self off.
1t gave Milo Warren something TO dc
TO purchase that bicycle and have il
delivered to Miss Nellie on her birth
day in an anonymous manner. He ex
pected it back every hour for about {
week, but it did not come, and he fell
safe The small brother had not be
trayed him after all.
But after little he began TO wisl
he had, for Miss Nellie had evidently
mounted that bicycle and ridden GU
! of his life. lie called, but she was ou
on her bicycle, no matter what thu
! hour was noon or night, and he go
himself run over on the street ant
| knocked down daily by dashing on
from sidewalk corners TO see who tn
rider was, and getting hurt for hi
pains When he could stand IL N
| longer he came to a sudden resolve-h
! would buy bicycle for himself, ant
! perhaps be able TO find Nellie.
! And now began an exciting chase 70
/ life and liberty for at one moment tn
amateur bicyclist was under the fee
of trampling horse, the next he wa
/ running over a wrathy pedestrian, an
/ he usually ended his experiences b,
J picking mp his frislY steed and carry