Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-09-13

drawing IT., DuC SlS COnSluCAoN
moment was not favorable for the dis"
play of her racing powers, and she
smiled CHEEKY good-mornlng' trying
to appear as unconcerned as possible
though her wheel was wo0blln9
horribly from her nervousness, and II
detracted from her sense Of dignity.
In the brief moment of passing,
Mrs. Preston regarded her with as
tonishment aud favored her with
bow that was blood-curdling in Its
fr1gidity. The whirling dust from
the horses feet choked her for an
| instant, ~ i then the carriage turned
into another road, and she was alone
once more in the sweet Virginia
wooded country, feeling the soft air
grateful to her burning cheeks.
A number of the children were
gathered abont the door of the school
house, waiting for her as usual, and
they greeted her approach rapturously.
1t comforted her little, and the
morning passed by pleasantly, though
there was q suppressed excitement
noticeable among the children. Still,
that was to be expected; twenty
two-pound safety was an unheard-of
event in Harmon.
At recess they oil delightedly ex-
amined it. The boys, in the after
noon, were equally enthusiastic, and
before nightfall there was not a man,
woman or child in Harmon that
had not heard of the school-teacher s
wheel.
Late the next afternoon, when she
had returned quito tired from her
work, she was sitting out on the YER
anda of the little house where she
made her home, talking with Mrs.
Hadyn, with whom she lived, when a
carriage drove into the yard.
"It's Mrs. Preston" said Mrs.
Hayden, hastily rising. CPL jnst slip
in and see if Peggy has that cake done
will be back in a moment" D." So
Jessie was left alone to meet the
formidable censor of Ha~Aon's social
laws.
She assisted the lady carefully from
her carriage.
els it not lovely daY?" she said.
"Mrs. Hayden will be here in a mo-
ment Will you come indoors, or dc
you prefer the veranda? The air is so
lovely"
"Thank you," said the lady. 81
will not 90 in. I just stopped by for
moment.
They seated themselves in the rock
ers on the porch, and in the silence
that followed Jessie longed for Mrs.
Hadyn's arrival.
81 suppose l may as well tell you
what 1 stopped about" said Mis-
Imogen, as most of the country called
her, though she had been married fol
thirty years.
eyes, indeed" murmured Jessie.
'Cau 1 do anything for you? l
should so like to-"
''No, but l have been talking with
several of our friends about your rid
| Ing Gudb - GudO-
"My bicycle" supplied Miss Jessie,
as Mrs. Preston did not seem able to
bring herself even to pronounce the
Objectionable word.
eyes," Mrs. Preston answered, in
relieved voice, "and we think it is
hardly dignifed, hardly ladylike, SO
to speak, my dear Miss Jessie, Tor you
to use il going to your school duties,
or anywhere else, in fact, holding the
position that you do"
"I would not do it for the world il
1 thought it undignifed, Mrs. Pres
ton," Jessie answered, Strengthening
her little figure and ceasing to rock.
"Now if it were horse" said the
lady, "it would be different. The
women of the Prestons, the Phillips
and the Payson-Smiths have Away
ridden, but not one of them has eve
been seen on IA bicycle.
"But, you see, cannot afford
horse or to keep one if / had it, an.
my uncle gave me this wheel particu
larly TO use in going to school, for tn
walk is very long for me twice day.
"Of course, of course, but one mus
think of appearance. A woman mus
always consider them, and we decide
that some one had better speak to yo
and advise you TO give it up, if yo1
wish to continue to hold your presen
, nosition in our school"
, 81 do not think I shall give it up,
said the girl, slowly, "until can Sc
the harm in it.
, The lady rose, and just then Mrs
Hadyn appeared, with Peggy hover
ing in the background, bearins-a ira
f of tea and cakes; but for once tn
coloners lady did not wait to partakC
. though she thaukel Mrs. Hadyn effu
. sively, and she left, not altogethe
} satisfied with the impression she ha
e made. The little school-teacher wa
so gentle that sitting on her did no
l seem to affect her at all she was a
S placid ana sweet aiterwarl rs before
/ But it did affect her, although SD
r rode to school again the next day, an
r when the lessons were all over, an
/ she had dismissed tho class she wa
e tutoring, she laid her sammy brow
Y head on the desk before her aud erie
e softly. She was afraid she would hnv
, to give it up, after all. She could no
afford to throw away the position sh
: held, aud she did not see any chanc
/ OF convincing the social leader c
lTorn,o,, 4no+ riJinr q hinvclp vvuS or