Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-10-09


amined it. The boys, in the after
| noon, we're equally enthusiastic, and
before nightfall there was not a. man,
woman or child in Harmon that
had not heard of the school-teacher's g
wheel.
Late the next afternoon, when she
had returned quite 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 HON she lived, when q
carriage drove into the yard.
"It's Mrs. Preston" said Mrs.
Hayden. hastily rising. "I'll just slip
in and see if Peggy has that cf'ke' done
I will be back in moment. f" 80
Jessie was left alone to meet the
! formidable censor OF Harmon's social
laws.
She assisted the lady carefully from
her carriage.
sIs it not lovely daY?" she said.
''Mrs. Hayden will be here in mo-
ment. Will you come indoors, or do
you prefer the veranda? The air is 80
lovely" 80
sfhank you," said the lady. 81
will not 60 in. I just stopped by fol-
a moment" T"
They seated themselves in the rock
ers on the porch, and in the silence
that followed Jessie longed for Mrs.
Hadyn's arrival.
"i suppose I may as we'll tell you
what I stopped about" said Mis-
Imogen, as most of the country called
her, though she had been married for
thirty yesrs.
"Yes, indeed" murmured Jessie.
"Can 1 do anything for you? ]
should 80 like to.
..No, but 1 have been talking with
several of our>friends about your rid
ing that that"
"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 a
relieved voice, "and we think it is
hardly digniGed, hardly ladylike, SO
to speak, my dear Miss Jessie, for 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 If
I thought it undigniGed, Mrs. Pres
ton," jessie answered, Strengthening
her little figure and ceasing to rock.
"Now il It were horse" said the
lady, SIT would be different. The
women of the Prestons, the Phillips
and the Payson-Smiths have always
ridden, but not one of them has ever
been seen on "a bicycle. "
"rBut, you see, I cannot afford o
horse or to keep one if had it, and
my uncle gave me this wheel particu-
larly 10 use in going to school, for the
walk is very long for me twice day.
"Of course, of course, but one must
think of appearance. A woman must
always consider them, and re decided
that some one had better speak to you
and advise you to give it up, if you
wish to continue to hold your present
position in our school.
'T do not think 1 shall give it up, y
said the girl, slowly, "until 1 can see
the harm in it.
The lady rose, and inst then Mrs
Hadyn appeared, with Peggy hover
ing in the background, bearing tray
of tea and cakes; but for once the
coloneps lady did not wait to partake,
though she thanked Mrs. Hadyn effu
sively, and she left, not altogether
satisfied with the impression she had
made. The little school-teacher was
so gentle that sitting on her did not
seem to affect her at all; she was as
placid and sweet afterward as before.
But it did affect her, although she
rode to school again the next day, ano
when the lessons were all over, and
she had dismissed the class she was
tutoring, she laid her sunny brown
head on the desk before her and CRIED
softly. She was afraid she would have
to give it up, after all. She could moi
afford to throw away the position she
held, and she did not see any chance
of convincing the social leader o.
Harmon that riding bicycle was en-
tirely compatible with her school du
ties and the dignity of her position.
1t was one of her greatest pleasures,
and it seemed hard that from simple
prejudice she should be deprived o
it. Of course, it was foolish to cry
but she was very tired.
As she sat there alone some ont
came into the room, and seeing th'
little teachers distress, went softly
up to her.
It vas Cary Phillips, one of tn
boys getting ready for college, tall
sturdy fellow of seventeen, afraid o
nothing, always in some scrape, bu
with big, generous heart, and un
able to see any one in trouble with
out Offering his help and sympathy.
"Come, Miss Jessie, ," he said, stand
ing bit awkwardly beside her
"won't you tell a fellow what is tn
matter?"
j She looked up smiling, ashamed o
her tears.
'I have got to give it up, guess,
she said.
"What do you mean-your bi
cycle?"
She nodded, her lips quivering
little. She was scarcely more than
child herself.
"What for?" he asked. 'sI though
they had been badgering you abou
il. 1t is shame"
Then she told him of the call sh
j had received, and that it was practi
, cally question of losing her position
, if she persisted in riding.
He stood angrily beside her, knit
ting his brows and drumming impa
, tiently on the desk.
Everybody is riding North, men
women and little children, and if som
| oao oJ,o ,ro,,1d on1n do ~ bara tho