Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-08-31
A BICYCLE CHASE.

\ HlC4CLE CHASE.
 Milo Warren was making a call on :: girl to whom he was fondly attached, although he had never told her so. But this was case where actions speak louder than words, and-lc2ve a girl alone for finding out if a young man regards her with favor. Every girl is clairvoyant where affairs of the heart are concerned.
 They wore talking about their birth days and the pleasant custom of giving presents at such time.
 Let mo Src,' said Milo thought fully, did you say your birthday came ill September, Miss Nellic?'
 II did not say," remarked Miss Nel- lie demurely.
 "Thcn it was December, wasn't it? Some lucky fellow will be giving you diamond, perhaps. "
 ''Or souvenir spoon, laughed Mel lie. "You know they made jewel spoons for birthday gifts, but all the girls changed their birthdays to December, and the young men could not stand the expense, and they sent a petition to the manufacturers, asking them to discOn- tinuo tho custom; so no more spoons are in the market.
 "I-I-I-rcally wish you would tell mo when your natal day arrives. I might at least send you bunch of roses, ill remembrance of all the-the-happy days WIG have spent together. Is it this month, Miss Ncllie:'
 You remind mo of tho parlor game, Is it this? Is it that?' said Miss Nellie, and then fearing that the young man was becoming sentimental she turned the conversation to other subjects.
 But tho ncxt day Milo Warren dropped casually into the store where Miss Nellie Newton $ best brother was engaged as hookl,cepcr and inquired solemnly at tho grated window which permitted segment of his countonanco to appear if that young man would take lunch with him.
 "Ccrtuiniy, Was tho brusque reply from a mouth full of pens. I'll meet thco at Pm lippi-I mean at Hunger 6 Co. sin An hour. v
 He was there, and at tho pleasant spread of good things provided Milo Warren prupOundcd this cOnundrum:
 If you like girl awfully, but haven't t,ld her sn, and you think she mayl,c likes you aWfully-nO, don't mruu that--hut if that girl has birth day and you want to mako her a pres cnt, and she wun t tell you when it is- thr birthday. yuu lluow-oh, hang it all, I'm rverlastingly mixed up. Can't you help fellow out:"
 Lyman Newton laid aside his knife and fork and looking Milo in the face, asked seriously:
 "Any insanity i'll your family, Milo?"
 "Nunr that ever heard of outside of my own ease, was the depressed an swrr
 Reducing your heroics to q plain statement, then, you want to givo a girl of your acquaintance q birthday pres cnt:"
 Exactly"
 'Is she an old woman:'
 "What do you mcan?" roared War rcn, turning red "I'll thank you to speak with respect of my friends-be- sides r.
 "Oh, no harm done; don't get riled so easily I wanted to know if she be- lungcd to the past age or the present. I take it t,thcn. that she s a new woman?' 7"
 II understand now. YCS, I believe shc has advanced opinions, but she isn t one uf those dreadful creatures that ad- vocatr the wearing of boomers. Nellie k the soul of womanly mOdosty and
 Nellie? Do I know this bright par ticular starr"
 "Why, of course you dol quite for got-shr'S your own sister,"
 "Well, liko that! And you want to mako her a birthday present and don't know tho day. Sorrg, old fellow, | hut I can't help you out. Nellie would taEo my head off if told. "
 That ended tho lunch, but an unforc- seen thing happened. Just as Milo War rcn left his company at the corner he saw an urchin he knew, It Was the in fictiun known HS Ncllie's youngest brother, aged :, capacity for mischief seven times seven, prrcocity unlimited by any period of time.
 Milo, with malice prcpensc, engaged the dear child iii a surfeit of sweets, and then asked d. if the idea was not | uf the least consequence and had just occurred to him:
 '"Whpn does sister Nellie have birth day."
 The dear child looked at him for 6 moment, drew his mouth round under his ear, elevated both eyebrows ant said ill confding, infantile voice:
 "What'N you give ter know?"
 Advantageous terms being made, thC boy puckcred his mouth for a whistle thought better of it and gave the fol lowing Saturday as his sisters birth day.
 An if yer want to make yersel sold-sce, just scnd her real stunne of bike"
 What! A bicycle? Does she ride?'
 ''How kin she: I reckon she kin learn mister. Yer just send that blke-ther ain't nothin Nell wants wuss nor that.
 With this advice and being sworn t secrecy, the small terror bOwled himsel off.
 It gave Milo Warren something to d to purchase that bicycle and have it dc , livered to Miss Nellie on her birthda in an anonymous manner He expecte 1t back every hour for about week
 but it did not come, and he felt saft The small brother had not betrayed hil , after all
 But after a little he began to wish |
 had, for Miss Nellie had evidentl mounted that bicycle and ridden out (
 his life. He called, but she was out c
 her bicycle, no matter what the hot
 was, noon or night, and he got himse
 run over on the street and knocke 0 down daily by flashing out from sid
 walk corners to see who the rider w; n and getting hurt for his pains, When !. could stand it no longer, he came to |. sudden resolve-ho would buy bicyc