The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-18


soon composed myself.
1 must confess 1 was little startled
when tho mnchino, just as I closed tho
book, gave u sudden plunge, and lurching
heavily toward mo fell over OH it's SIDE
could have sworn that it reared before
plunging, but 1 instantly realized that
that was impossible. l had not placed 1t
properly against the wall. Lifting 1t up,
l bracod 1t with chair.
Thore WAS chorus of laughter outside,
for tho crash had aroused tho whole house.
Whom turned back, 1 distinctly SAW
that bicycle struggling to got away from
the chnir. 1t had moved several inches, SO
1 got two moro chairs and jnmmcd it upon
throo sides. Now" exclaimed angrily,
Jump the chairs II you con, and it aotu-
ally twisted itself MS let go tho last chair
However,, that WINS tho last movement I
perceived, md, as said, went to bed and
dreamed about 1t.
Noxt morning was littlo lnto for
breakfast, and WINS somewhat surprised
to find that none of tho young people was
ut tho table.
"Thoy NIL go out ut sunrise for on appo-
tito spin, rs they call it" explained John,
and shuddorod little. hate curly ris-
ing.
Presently they oil camo IN, laughing
and chattcring like flock of sparrows,
and tho programme for tho day was IN
nounccd.
'Wc aro oil going over to tho beach,"
said Belinda. Its only ton miles over
thoro, but tho sand Is hard and smooth,
and we can wheel up and down tho shore
till lunchtime, and wo aro going to havo
clam bake and ride bnck in tho after
noon"
That suited mo exactly, excepting tho
Iny, CT. ft<, l.
fast and asked him to get Belinda to wait
littlo for mo after tho others had started.
l would make u littlo delay about getting
my wheel out. Ho laughed and winkod
and said ho would, and 1 won't up to my
room.
When 1 looked out Of tho window,
though, I used strong language to myself
for L saw tho party start, and Belinda was
riding with young Hazard ahead of all tho
rost. Evidently j Ohm had not been quick
enough to toll her, but thoro would DO
plenty of chances later, and if she was to
ridc with any ono else but mo it was VOL
that it should DO follow like that, much
too young to think of marrying.
When got my wheel to the front door,
found Miss Uppington waiting for me-
and sho positively blushcd as sho said
They were all in such hurry to start
Mr. Brown, TINT they have COMO ahead, so
Brother John asked mo to wait for you"
Something Ind gone wrong, but what it
was or why Miss Uppington should blush
could not understand. However, had
to DO polite and really she was charming
woman, although no longer young, and L
said tho proper thing rs wo prepared to
mount.
Sho got on oil right, but my wheel
baked badly ut first. 1t not only stood
still when l mounted, but 1t refused to
movo for n momont or two after I WAS in
tho saddle. Then it lay down sideways
made u remark to myself and picked
1t up. Miss Uppington was wheeling
slowly toward. tho carriage gate, and rs
sbo was not looking kicked tho bcastly
thing in tho ribs savngcly.
Tint WAS u mistake.
When mounted again, all tho tompcr
in the steel showed itself Tho machine
started with rush that almost unscatcd
mo. Thon 1t SHE'D ncrvously to tho loft
and rs L brought it around with u quick
turn lost both pedals, and 1t kicked mo
awfully In tho shins rs it boltcd down tho
hill. The saddle twisted, but it never
stopped. Faster and faster it ran, kicking
at every jump. Fortunately Miss Tipping
ton looked around and got out of tho way
before reached her, but the bicycle rushed
directly into the gatcpost, and throwing
me off jumped on me squarcly and struck
mo in the head with both handle bars
Then it squirmcd Il little and lay still
So did l. thought my leg was brokon
but quickly realized that it was only
sprain.
Miss Uppington was kindness itself
"How unfortunate! Let me help you to
the house" was all sho said when told
her that had spraincd my ankle. If she
had implied Il suspicion that l could not
ride, 1 would have hated her, but she
didn't.
eff it's only 4 sprain, can take caro- of
1t, she said, and SO she did after she had
got mo on tho parlor sofa.
There was considerable pain, Of course,
and 1 Was naturally upset, so after sho
had bnthcd and ban dagcd tho ankle fell
into IL dozc. Presently 1 was awakened
by her hastily rising from tho chair beside
mo and stepping to tho door.
"Why, Aunt Belinda, what's the INIT
ter" heard Belinda say. Frank and 1
wheeled bnck to soc what was keeping
you" Frank was Mr.. Hazard, and Miss
Uppington was Belinda also I began to
understand things
'Hush!" whispered tho aunt. "Mr.
Browns wheel struck store on tho road
and no fell and sprained his ankle. It's
nothing serious. and he Is asleep. I'll stay
and look after him, and you and Frank go
back and join the party
"I'm so sorry for poor Mr.. Brown," said
tho younger Belinda, but I'm too happy
to feel bad about anything. Frank has
proposed, and l said yes. Kiss mo, aunty.".
Aunty did it, and the youngsters wheel
cd away. When Miss Uprmgton camo
back into the parlor, sho thought I was
still sleeping, but L was only thinking
with my eyes shut.
That's about all thoro is to TELL I mar
liIaAa nd j; Il