The Forrest City times., 1895-07-12
MAI. GWYNNE'S SISTER.

1ts quite useless waiting for me,
Fred. 1t will take at least an hour to
overhaul my machine and adjust those
confounded bearings. You'd better
run on TO St Albans and order a rat
tling good dinner for two at the
George. BY the time it's ready shall
be with you again"
ut will be better than hanging
about here when I can do nc good" l
agreed. 1T was a nasty spill, aud you
may think yourself lucky to have got
OFF with nothing worse than few
bruises and a little delay pom nv
word, l was afraid our tour was al
ready at an end. Trust me, Harry, old
fellow, to have all ready for the inner
man"
Ave, I'll trust you for that" retort-
ed my cyclist chum, Harry Holmes, as
/ gripped the handle-bar of my ma
chine and vaulted into the saddle.
And not having to listen to your edi-
flying remarks concerning my appear
ance, / shan't, perhaps, be so long re-
pairing damages as you think"
With this friendly piece of parting
banter TO spur me on, pressed the
pedals in earnest, and the next moment
was speeding along the high road to
st. Albans, some six miles.
1t was bright. bracing morning,
and sharp spin at my own pace was
undoubtedly preferable to sitting
smoking on a bank watching my un-
unlucky friend tinkertng with span
ner, and listening to alternate growls
at treacherous roads and all such mis-
fortunes as side slips.
l had traversed half the distance,
when rounding curve in the road l
observed lady cyclist a short dis
tance ahead. Apparently something
had gone wrong with her mount, for
she was standing with it propped up
by the side of the road, and was view
ing surrounding objects with an air of
evident detection.
True to the spirit which prompts
every cyclist to help another in dis
tress, l slackened speed, and as | drew
nearer noticed that the lady was both
young and pretty-a discovery which
at once made my impressionable heart
hope that she might be glad to avail
herself of my services in some way or
other.
My wishes in this respect were speed
lily gratified, for as l dismounted and
politely inquired if anything had gone
wrong with her machine, the young
lady's face became suf used with the
most winning of smiles.
'Oh, thank you, so very much, sir.
was the response, spoken without the
slightest trace of frigidity. Il must
confess that I'm in a wretched fix.
The handle-bar of my machine has be-
come loose, and haven't a tool of any
description that will tighten up the
nut. And to make matters worse, my
brother. Maj Gwynne, has lost me-or,
l suppose, l have lost him; and I'm
afraid he hasn't the least idea that my
plight is such bad oue."
''Oh. Well very soon set things
right" said, reassuringly, and the
look of gratitude bestowed upon me
made me think that had never before
met with SO charming or so handsome
a girl as this Miss Gwynne.
Whipping out my spanner, ad
justed it and proceeded to tighten up
the loose nut of the steering bar.
noticed that the young lady's machine
was an. thing but good one. In fact.
was quietly telling myself what an
inferic- and old-fashionede mount it
was for so winsome and apparently
well-to-do rider, when, to my dis
may, the screw broke short off and the
nut attached to il rolled in the road.
Now, here's a pretty gop' blurted
out, reddening with mingled confusion