Connecticut western news., 1895-10-10

man and a young woman, strolling along together with their arms about each others waists. oTheir backs were toward me, and the lamp did not shine far enough ahead to let them know was coming. Of course, if l had had presence of mind, I could have steered around them and passed on, but they had become so suddenly silhouetted against the darkness, just as a magic lantern picture is thrown upon screen, that the unexpected sight drove what little sense had clear away from me, and gave one terrific yell fit to rouse any recently dead man and flung myself from the machine. The girl complicated matters by wildly throwing her arms around the young mans neck and call ing upon him to protect her, which he had no chance to do, because the next instant the machine climbed his back. We three were in a heap in that silent lane before any of us knew what had happened, and of course the lamp went out. By way of excusing myself and saying something conciliatory I shouted out:
 "What in the name of the prince of darkness are you two dawdling along this lane in the middle of the night for?"
 The young man intimated to mo in rather harsh language that if would be good enough to wait there until he found his stick he would show mo what he was doing. However, found my ma chino first, and being in an utterly reck- less mood sprang upon it without ex- amining it to see if anything were bro- ken or not, though I knew that no or dinary fall would injure that machine, and away went and left them there. l did not see that any explanation on my part would help matters, so I thought it best to leave well enough alone, which did. Little use as the lamp was I lane turned a short distance ahead. In fact, it was always turning, even in the daylight, although I had never noticed that particularly before, and this time I ran square into the hedge on the side opposite the ditch. extricated the ma chine and once more lit the lamp. l thought perhaps it was safer not to at tempt to ride any more, and so walked along, trund1ing the wheel, for I knew there was bridge some distance ahead that had no parapets and did not want to enter into an encounter with it. As Twalked along beside the bicycle I saw something move on the side of the road and within the circle of light. A stall wart, unkempt tramp, who had been making the roadside his bedroom, rose up on his elbow and said menacingly:
 ''Say, marster, can you oblige me with match?'
 "Yes, can,' said climbing upon my machine and putting the wheels in motion. "Get on your bicycle and we'll have match. Come along!" He mere ly stood up and cursed me in loud and forcible language
 I thought. my troubles we'll over on coming to the street lamps Twas bowl ing along within half mile of my own house when suddenly policeman step- ped out into the middle of the road.
 "Stop!" he cried, and having a re- spect for the law stopped and got off the machine. "What are you doing, !" he demanded, "traveling with your lamp out?"
 "Good gracious, said, "my lamp isn't outP' but on looking around found, alas, it was, and I had not mo- ticed the fact, so we'll was the street lighted. I assured him that it had been lighted moment before, and that it must have logged out.
 "If you will sput your hand on the lamp" said, "you will find it is quite hot''
 He did so and shook his head. I touched the lamp myself, for it, when lighted, becomes uncomfortably hot Git smokes worse than I do), and, would you believe it, it was as cold as rich relation from whom you want to borrow money.
 "You will have to come with me, ? he said
 Won't cash payment down save me the trouble of appearing before magis. trate?"
 "No, it won n't," said the policeman. II must do my duty"
 I detest policeman who has to dc his duty, so l said:
 "Oh, very well joggled some mon ey out of my pocket as I dropped off. You took me so by surprise. I'm going to light my lamp and look for it. lit the lamp and backed the machine up bit. The policeman kindly helped me to look for the coins, but when his back was bent l pushed my machine forward a bit and sprang on it. My | lamp was lit. He blew his whistle, but I managed to turn down side street then down another, and so managed tC | get safely home. But, much as like the bicycle, have made up my mint that night rides are too exciting for mt I until get a lamp that, like that police man, will do its duty.-New York Ad yertiser.