Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-09-07
LOVE on THE WHEEL.
A hiking Romance. by Anne War
ringtOn Wfthrup.
!

Then you wish me never to re-
turn"
Never" she answered, with an ef-
fort that cost her much There was
now no doubt in her mind that she
loved him. If she had ever question:
ed the fact in those hours of solitude
when she subjected her heart to the
severe scrutiny of her reason, now in
the cold moment of parting she did
not doubt. He was going to leave her
forever. True, he was going at her
bidding, but how could it be other
wise? She was woman of spirit and
would not be dictated to, and when
he said she must not ride a bicycle,
her womanhood rebelled. Love win
sacrifice much, but not ALL The du-
ties of a fiancee she was happy to
meet and to perform; the responsible
tiles of wifehood, soon to be assumed,
she was ready to assume; but how
long can love last when it yields itself
up q slave to tyranny? Not long, in
very truth.
You must not ride bicycle, he
had said.
Must pot"' she cried springing from
his arms, in which she had for the
moment nestled.
That's what l said, said he. petu-
lantly. 1T will make you round-shoul-
\ dered."
She eyed him angrily for moment.
'ROund-ShOulderedr' she cried. ''Oh,
you men, you men! Had l married You
and grown round-shouldered making
my own dresses. you would not have
murmured. Had we gone hand in
hand into poverty and nv shoulders
grown round from bending over
| laundry stove, you would have permit
ted it; but because / choose to acquire
a humpback riding a wheel for pleas
ure. You use that word-that wicked
word must to me, who have loved Won.
declined to dance and drive with 9th
ers for you-oh, George, George.
Georcer'
Well. | mean it," said he. calmly.
"Choose between us-me or the hcyc-
le-which is it to be?"
She made no answer but walking to
the porch. rang the bell of her wheel.
III,
Il do not care for bicycling" she
said, but | can have no nots in my
life. Leave me-"
He walked out into the night. and
Parthenia, throwing herself Imply
upon her wheel, pedaled weeDinglv in
the other direction, forgetting to light
her lamp.
George Washburne walked moodily
down the road which one short 1sur
before he had travelled with so light
a heart.
"ieigho!" he said. "All my life
shattered in moment IF she but
knew how | loved her-if she could
only have guessed my motive in speak
ing as / did-that / wished aIwavs
TO be at her side, and that if She rode
| could not, since, try as / will. | can
not myself ride a wheel. it is beyond
me. and vet | have not dared confess
TO her that l have tried to learn and
can not. In his wife's ewes man
should he hero capable Of all things.
Surprising l had told her of the les.
sons ! have taken in secret at the
academy. of the dents my head has
made in the hardwood floor, of the At
tendants / have run over and crippled
and the wheels | have shattered. until
the manager of the place has told me
even ms has she-never TO return
1t would have lowered me in her es-
TEEN. can not, can not tell her. and
shatter her respect for her former
fiancee."
AS he spoke. he reached his own
front door and was about TO enter
when his heart grew too full. 81 can
not go in yet" he said. 81 will at
least walk back and gaze upon the
Hght in her window"
Prey 10 melancholy the unhappy
man fulfilled his destiny. Back he
walked, gloomily Illuminating over the
future, now so black. Deep i'm his
thoughts, he did not notice where he
was going; he did not notice that be
had passed Parthenia's house; be did
not observe that he was ascondino
Coasters HILL n half-mile beyond. he
did not even her a rumbling noise in
the distance which would have TAUGHT
MN caution. Alas! thoughtless NOR
tai; ard yet how happily all transpiredr
1here came crash, a thud, a moan
George Washburne lay unconscious
In the road. -
Parthenia Hicksworthy stood. bav-
Ing landed on her feet, ten wards dc
tant. ''''"' US
Pressing the PROSTATE man into tbo
earth were the shattered remains of