Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-12-20

the front of the machine, well out of the
way, looking the while as though she
were absorbing new ideas at us rapid
rate. When he Strengthened up and
said: "Now I'm ready, Miss Betsey,"
she stood up in turn, and held out her
hand.
Wen, 1t was task that needed care.
This was not romantic, .youngi:cch-
invar" business. The lame foot had to
DO looked out for, also skirts. Tho
wheel was unpleasantly near for safety.
More string came into play rightaround
the limbs below the knees, skirts and
MI tied tightly. A stirrup-like loop
down from it under the feet and up
again to be knotted securely to the
Iandle-bar, thus taking little weight
off the back no inferior
make of wheel could have stood such q
strain!--a quick hop or two, gentle
rising into the saddle, and cautious
feeling of the feet for the pedals as they
rose, then Dicks heart leapt exultantly.
The scheme was a success! and he bad
not been altogether sure of it Mt first
himself. Steadily he began to apply
the pressure; he felt sure of his mount,
he knew we'll it was no "crock," and that
every nut and bolt was present ready
for duty. Day by day his own careful
oversight had seen 10 that. Hence all
that could be fairly demanded of it
would be fairly done. Slowly he moved
ut first to get accustomed to his burden.
1t changed the customary balance of
things. Even the shift of saddle was q
thing to adjust himself to at the first
l;ut presently he settled down to that
perfect feeling of satisfaction in tho
wings beneath him, as though they were
part of his own body, endowed with
nerves like the rest.of his ganglia--the
state so familiar to the practiced wheel
man.
Swifter grew the motion, and
swifter; six, eight, ten miles an hour
began to be the ratio as the great moon
swung into space above the tree tops
on the horizon and flooded the hard
road with light, with lacework, here
and there, of woven shadow. Over
head the night hawks were calling.
Now hare started up as the rubber
tires swept noiselessly upon him, al
most swifter in approach than the low
whistlng Of the well-oiled chain
around the sprockets, like the whisper
ing twitter of wild birds migrating
by night. With both her hands resting
on the bar Miss Betsey gazed, and once
she laughed aloud like a girl at the
sudden prodigious leap of scared
rabbit" as it sprang from shadow
and fled away along the road before
them. Once she said, in low voice.
as If to herself: This is glorious"
They topped gentle rise ut last,
and before them lay the village lights.
"Shall we go straight home, Miss
Betsey, or would you like team from
hcre?' asked Dick, diffidently. Boy
like, he hated ridicule, and he did dread
somewhat threading the streets of that
gossipy town in this bizarre fashion.
But Miss lIetsey had no such fears.
Straight home, please" she said, and
on they went. But they went like the
wind, for all that, over those last few
furlongs. Past teams, pass foot pas
sengers, past stores, from end to end
of the village; and so swiftly that not
one eye identified the flyers, though
dozens of eyes were struck with a sense
of something out of the common about
that "tandem"-if it was tandem! =
and strove too late for another look
IL; was lost opportunity.
'I'm very much obliged to you, Dick
Jones" said Miss Betsey, serenely, as
red in the face with exertion. and coz.
cred with pcrspiration, he lifted her of
her seat in his strong young arms and
carried her right in through her door
Every much, indeed. Come and see
me next week. want to look at you
by daylight. Good night"
Dick did call next week. Perhaps
you think that, after the manner OF
stories that are fiction, she gave him
a brandnew bicycle; but she didn't
What she did do was to take him Out
into her garden, where no boy had been
beforehand ii was huge garden, too
"Dick, she said, do you see that
tree? It's cherry. See that? 1t,
an apple tree. See that? It's chest
nut. There's red string round each
When one is out of season, it's picking
time for the next. You can have wha,
grows on them to eat, to give away
to sell. But come alone, and don't tel
anyone"
No. she did not give him wheel
But what she did do next was to get
her foot WE'LL disappear from the vii
lage for month-"gone to the city
to the wonderment of the village, unt
, ieappear, to the paralyzment of thu
+ village, clad in the most up-to-datt
| cycling costume and mounted on ;
shiny wheel! She had been away t
, school" was all the explanation that shs
vouchsafed.
As matter of course, she finds hel
horizon much extended by her acquisi
; ton, and she is rs ndepe Adent as ever
Her latest exploit has set the Who'll,
| town laughing. The roadmaster wal
/ lazily leaning over his front fence
chatting with the town clerk and tn,
postmaster, when up rode Miss Betsey
with her favorite basket full of stones
: which same she carefully spilled OF
his front walk.
! 81 know you must value these, Mr.
, Stiles, or you wouldn't leave them OF
our roads with such care, so Nv,
brought you basketful. I'll bring som,
more next time come this way, for
/ lnow where there are lots" And sh,
did, too!