Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-07-25
THAT BICYCLE SUIT.

Epng but was already one Of the active
workers, though not admitted to member
ship. Miss Vance, one of the most dcyot-
ed members Of his little flock, had brought
her and introduced her as her friend and
the young people had speedily taken her
up.
The young minister had welcomed her
gladly. He was anxious to make converts
and secure new members and had been
hoping to induce Miss Alice Haywood to
unite with the church and thus identity
her charming personality still more closely
with the work. when something happened
which cooled his ardor in this direction
and indeed left him puzzled as to what
course to adopt with regard To this pecul
tar young lady.
One bright spring morning ~ the MN
lister walked slowly along ono of the streets
on the outskirts Of the town, drinking In
the fragrance Of opening lcnf and Hover,
he behcld an appnrition Coming rapidly
toward him, pGrChcd nirlly on the sent OF u
new bicycle, was Alice Haywood, her gold
en- head shining in the sunlight under her
jaunty cap, her checks glowing. Tho min
lister Raspod W. tho girl saw him ana
bowed, returned the salutatlon, too dhZrd
to raise his hat. For the navy blue cos.
tume she w0rc with itS prettily fashioned
Elton jnckct, was certainly made with u
skrt--no, IL wasn't u skirt Mt ALL II was
bloomcrsl
IL was an rage, the minister thought,
getting moro indignant ~ he went ON,
and she had seemed so different, SO quiet,
modest and refined. Some ono ought to
talk to her. Whnt could her mother DC
thinking OFF He couldn't say II word. The
young man blushcd ut the idea. Now,
Gertrude would ncvor--of course not" He
grew uncomfortnbly warm about the cnrs
at tho nero suggestion TINT Gertrude
would do such u thing, Then tho object
Of his disapproynl Rldcd out of his MIND
rs quickly ns slo had como In. Tho stern
lines of his faco softcncd and hn took up
his day dream where he had loft it.
Next fall when tho new church WINS
donc he would 20 Gust and bring Gertrude,
and whit good couldn't ho accomplish
with such u woman for I'M inspiration and
holpmntcY And his thoughts dwolt loving
" upon the porfcctiOns Of tho sweet, gcn
Ito young woman who was going To give
up her friends, her high socnl station and
many advantages In tho east and como
with him to tho wild west, M he called IT,
to aid him with her culture with her
wealth, with herself
So during tho long summer he worked
hard and earnestly upborno by tho Thought
Of success and Gertrude, md In tho grcnt
struggle NIL minor difficulties Slipped ont
Of sight. Alicn Haywood still gave her
services freely and fully To tho little
church, still taught the little ones and
spoke kindly and smillngly to young and
old rich and poor alike, and still took her
daily bicycle ride, clad In her natty bloom
er suit seeming to gain added strength
and health thereby But the minister
fairly dslihcd her when he SAW her skim
ming gayly by In her novel attire, cspc
cihlly ns some If her acquaintance had
followed her example.
II any disappearing mntron or mnd
spoke To her about her costume. she invn.
rinhly replied that she and her family con.
sidcrcd II tho only safe and sensible cUs-
tune to wear on wheel and that she In.
tended To wear II.
Only to Molly Vance did she unbosom
herself further Poor Molly lay fiat ON her
back 'lnid NJ for repairs, y she expressed
II, and Alice Ind stepped in To bring her
some sunshine and nows from tho world
outside. Sho had como in from II long rido
On hor wheel and Molly said she looked
like relic of tho Midway
$50 you and tho minister don't like nay
suit, Molly, DEAR sho said. II am SUI
prlscd at him, for thought he was IN up
to date young man.
"Oh no." Molly answered "lIc Is old
fashioned In his notions, You mustn't
mind him"
II don't" sald Alice chcorluly. Then
sho said earnestly:
MOLLY, the customs of the world have
always been hard on women. The natives
Of Coylun hang heavy rings In tho noses;
tho Turks shut them up In cagos; the CHI
noso dwarf their foot, and tho modern
Americans and Europeans compress their
wrists and hang heavy skirts ON their hips
But let any Of them stop out, ho II over
so little, from tho beaten track of custom
and point To u better path, whore comfort
and freedom from dlscnso mny ho had, and
promise You they will suffer"
After this long and somewhat serious
speech for tho young lady shn tossed up
hor emp, caught II ON her head and said
farewell, and this was the only sign sho
gavo that tho criticism passed by u few OF
hnr acqunintnnCcs hurt hor
Tho days sped rapidly by, and tho now
church WINS completed Tho minister won't
bnck 10 tho east for his bride, returning In
fow weeks for the dedication, frcling
himself the hnppicst Of mon. His wifr
seemed pleased with MI she saw and on
tered with enthusiasm into all his plans,
and no perceived with pleasure that his
people received hor warmly and took her
nj oncu into thcir hearts
Ono day shortly after their arrival as
they were preparing for church Gertrude
snid, John, what charming girl Miss
haywood is y
"lcs, snid John abScntly Then u
cloud crossed his brow lilo would tell
Gertrude Perhaps she could think of
something to do. SO hn said:
"Gcrtrude, that girl rides u bicycle and
wears hloomcrS when she rides "
Does shcY" snid his wife. well |
think 1t must hc nmuch moro comfortable
suit to ride In than u skirt.
John stared
"Do you know, continued shc uncon-
sciously, "lvo always hccn dying to ride u
wheel You ride, don't YOU dear"
Yes, said John slowly.
And next year III gut one, too, and
we'll scour tho country together II will
be good exercise for both OF us,