The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-07-24

HhltC CeTUulns never tTOuB1e himself 10
turn back 10 look for me. He'll sim
ply keep on driving ahead. But,
there, 1 suppose he is just like other
brothers-quite useless as escorts"
For my own part felt decidedly
pleased ot the prospect of the broth
er's continued absence.
'Well, I've landed you in this
scrape, and you must allow me to see
you out of it, that's all"
Secretly l began to feel rather glad,
as 1 perceived what very pleasant
duty had suddenly devolved upon me,
and Tor the time, ut all events, my
chum Holmes was. quite forgotten.
'But what can either of us do? You
can't pick me up and give me ride.
Yours isn't n bicycle built for two,
you'know, and the young lady laughed
with such perfect good humor that 1
felt quite at my ease again.
81 sincerely wish it was, for once,
/ returned, boldly, and then, as she
turned pair of bright, laughing eyes
upon me, 1 blushed at my unusual
temerity, the while / was growing
positively eager to become the slave
Of this fair cyclist
81 can only suggest l added,
'that as you are far from home, you
will allow me to see you TO some hotel
while / try to get new bolt and nut.
Possibly you can tell me of likely
place to put up for an hour or two, as
| am u stranger about here. can
easily manage to wheel your machine
and my own along"
Somewhat to my surprise, however,
Miss Gwynne was visibly embarrassed
by my proposition.
"There's one great objection to such
q thing" she said, after pause. The
fact is, Dick-I mean my brother,
Major Gwynne-has left me without q
penny in my pocket" She colored
up charmingly at the confession, and
went on; "Of course, he doesn't know
that, and it's my own fault. often
go out without bringing my purse,
! but l declare ] never will again.
She gave little laugh, rs if to con-
ceal her vexatian, and added: "And
50 l can't accept your kind sugges-
tion.
con the contrary" l returned, more
eagerly still, cit is the greater reason
why l shouldn't desert you, especially
as your predicament is entirely due
to my carelessness. You don't know
how annoyed am at having rendered
your machine useless, and, under the
circumstances, feel in honor bound
to repair the mischief, and if you will
afford me the happiness of seeing you
made comfortable, l can, no doubt,
very soon get your mount put right. "
Miss Gwynue hesitated, and / fiat
tered myself that she seemed in no
way averse to my company. Ger
tainly | was making very favorable
impression upon her.
'Uh, but if allow you to spend
anything upon me it must only be as
a loan. No, please don't interrupt
that must be distinctly understood.
My brother must, and will, be only
too happy to settle with you. Be-
Sides" the girl continued, with a
smile, "whatever would he say to me
if allowed a perfect stranger to spend
money upon me?"
"He'd say it served me right for my
carelessness. But you will allow me,
then, to see you made comfortable
somewhere while 1 try TO repair
damages?"
'Really, don't see what else can
do, under the circumstance, was the
answer, with little sigh, as of regret.
Then, with IL light laugh and in Il
mock-menacing tone, she added: ooh,
but won't ] make it warm for brother
Dick when we meet A deal he cares
about me. You see, he hasn't even
troubled to run back to find out
whether I've broken my neck or not
and, between you and me, he hates
the idea of lost ground. But let us be
moving. Mr.-Mr.-"
A little hesitation, some apparent
embarrassment, one half.shy glance at
me, and my heart was no longer my
own. l knew was, even already,
madly in love with pretty Miss
Gwynne.
Erred Brandon-quite at your SER
vice. "
"Well, Mr.. Brandon, there's turn
ing half a mile down the road which
will take US to just the place we want.
Then you will be able to run on to st.
Adams to get what you need for my
machine. There's no place nearer,
and I'm afraid you will be very glad
when You have done with such very
troublesome companion Us l am prov
ing"
''On the contrary, quite pleasant
interruption to my journey" l
gallantly ventured, aud l really
thought that Miss Gwynne was the
most charming and unconventional
girl had ever met. In fact, We
presently reached the inn she had
spoken of all too soon to suit my newly
awakened emotions.
found, on inquiry, that 1 could
reach st. Albans quicker by taking
some short cuts across the fields than
by riding round the road, and so l de-
termined to leave my machine at the
inn. As for poor Harry, l was by
this time utterly oblivIous of his ex.
istence.
Looking in upon Miss Gwynne be-
fore leaving the house, l found her
already enjoying an appetizing repast
a sight which momentarily gave me
some qualms of conscience concerning
the dinner had promised my chum
should be ready for him by the time
l,a raaolaJ tba Ganrua