The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-08-23
LOVE ON THE WHEEL.
They VIII Hereafter Ride on Bicycle
Built for Two.

loved him. II she had ever questioned
the fact in those hours of solitude when
she subjected her heart To the severe
scrutiny of her reason. new in the cold
moment of parting she did not doubt
He was going at her bidding. but how
could II be otherwise? She. was a
woman of spirit and would not Toe die
tated to, and when he said she must
not ride a bicycle, her womanhood re-
belled- Love will sacrifice much but
not all The duties of a fiancee She
was happy To meet and to perform; the
responsibilities of wifehOod. soon to be
assumed, she was ready to assume. but
how long can love last when 1t yields
itself up slave To tyranny? Not long
in very truth.
You must not ride a bicycle, he
had said.
Must not!" she cried, springing from
his arms in which she had for the mo-
ment nestled.
That's " hat l said" said he. petu-
lantiy. 1t will make You round
shouldered." ="
She eyed him angrily for a moment
'Round-shoulderedr' she cried. oh.
you men, YOU men! Had l married You
and grown round-shouldered making
'
murmured. Had we gone hand in hand
into poverty. and my shoulders grown
round from bending over a laundry
stove. you would have permitted it:
but because ! choose to acquire a
hump-back riding wheel for pleasure.
you use that word-that wicked word
must to me-who have loved You, de
cllned to dance and drive with others
for you-oh, George, George, George
We'll. | mean it" said he. calmly.
Choose between us-me or the bicycIe
which is it to be?''
She made no answer. but walking to
the porch, rang the bell of her wheel.
1t was his answer, and he realized it
Il do not care for bicycling" she
sand, but can have no must nots in
my life. Leave me"
lie walked out into the night. and
Parthenia, throwing herself Imply
upon her wheel. pedaled weepingly IN
the other direction, forgetting To light
her lamp.
George Washhurne walked moodiIv
down the road, which one short hour
before he traversed with SO light a
heart.
"Heigho!' said he "An my life shat
tered in moment. If she knew but
how | loved her-if she could only have
guessed my motive in speaking as / did
that | wished always to be at her
side, and that. if she rode. | could not.
since, try as l will, cannot myself
ride wheel 1t Is beyond me. and vet
have not dared To confess to her that
have tried To learn and cannot. In
his wife's eyes a man should be hero
capable of all things. SuppoSing had
told her of the lessons | have ta ken In
secret at the academy. of the dents my
head has made in the hardwood floor
OF the attendants 1 have run over and
crippled, and the wheels / have shat
tered, until the manager OF the place
has told me-even as she has-never to
return. 1t would have lowered me in
her esteem. l cannot, cannot tell her.
and shatter her respect for her former
fiance."
As he spoke he reached his own front
door, and was about TO enter when his
heart grew too full. Il cannot 90 in
yet he said II will at least walk
back and gaze upon the light in her
window"
Prey to melancholy, the unhappy
man fulfilled his destiny. Back ne
walked, gloomiIy ruminating over the
future, now so black. Deep in his
thoughts he did not notice where he
was going; he did not notice that he
was passing Parthenia's house; he did
not observe that he was ascending
Coasters hill half mile beyond; he
did not even hear a rumbling noise IN
the distance which should have taught
him caution. Alas! thoughtless mortal;
and yet how happily all tran spir ed
There came a crash, a thud, and a
moan.
George WashDurne lay unconscious
in the road.
Parthenia Hicksworthy stood, having
landed on her feet ten yards distant.
Pressing the PROSTATE man to the
earth were the shattered remains of
her wheel, its cyclometer resting on
his vest pocket and its left pedal
grasped firmly in the unconscious vic
TINS hand.
1t was spring. George Washburne,
who had lain for three weeks delirious,
opened his eyes Reason had returned
and his arm had knit.
AT last" sobbed a fair girl, who,
with his sister, sat at the sick mans
side
Where am -" he gasped-
Here George said Parthenia for
II was she Here III never ride
again"
Sweetheart. was it you?' he muir
INJURED.
1T was, George" she answered, with
a sob. 81 had not lit my lamp-and 1
was coasting-and then-then it hap
pened- But never mind, my darling, l
shall never bike again"
'Oh, my love" he said, grasping her
hand and lifting it to his lips. do not
say that. Bike as much as you will;
the wheel that 1 maligned brought us
together again. We owe it much.
will tell you why objected" ="
And then he told her all; how he
had tried to learn, and could not; and
how the desire to be with her always
had led him to speak as he had. And
she, imprinting a kiss upon his fore
head, comforted him.
"You are right, darling" she said.
1--WE will get bicycle built for two,
and l will work the pedals, while you
can sit on the hind seat and whisper
words of love in my ear"
His answer was a smile and happi-
ness once more dawned for George
Washburne and Parthenia Hicks
worthy. They were wed last week,
and the groom's gift 20 the bride was a
nicllel-plated safety for two. with a
Fusset leather tool chest and gold wire
| guards To keep her skirts free from the
wheeL-Harper's Bazaar.
Difference IN Voices.
! Ones surprise in the fact that no two
! -.,,,,-s voices RI. perfectly alike ceases