The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-08-22
TOLD BY A BICYCLE.

am as Somfortable as my keepers can
make mo, but / am not decked in ribbons
and nurtured in commodious quarters and
ridden only by the aristocracy over smooth
pavements and for short distances.
never even had such luck when I first
came from the factory. thought I was
going to fall into that good fortune, but
man took me on trial-that is to say he
took me on the installment plan and tried
to pay for mo but couldn't, and was
forced to return me at the end Of q month,
and then was only good enough to go
among the hirelings, and there / have
staid ever since. Goodness me, how long
it seems since got the first wrench to my
steel ribs and had my frame skinned
against tree boxi
was born a combination wheel-that
is you can take out my spinal column,
and then can be ridden by a lady not in
bloomers, and thank my stars no bloomers
have ever yet enveloped me In their folds.
That time the man had me on trial, 1
think was my most uncomfortable expert
ence, for he was green at the business, and
so was I, and the result was that both Of
us got bumps innumerable and, though
he came out of it with twisted knee, and
sprained ankle, and a barked nose, and a
lame arm, and a hurt back, and black
eye, with a few other incidental casuali-
ties, was nothing to brag of myself.
That's why when he had to give me up
they put me on the hireling list.
But l was experienced, and that was
something.
A bicycle has good deal to learn when
1t first leaves the factory.
People who came to hire wheels looked q
little shy at me as stood quietly in my
rack and then passed me by, but not for
long My keepers put new coat Of en-
amel on me and otherwise put me in shape,
and thereafter I became quite popular.
Riders who had me out for spin when
they returned would say they didn't know
why It was, but seemed to be more in
telligent than other wheels they Ind tried
and was not half as liable to make a
sudden swerye and bang into a wagon in
the street or into a gatepost or over q
bank or to do any of tho 40 dozen other
things bicycle is likely to do when tho
rider is least expecting It,
OF course l knew this myself and was
constantly trying to please, just as any
other public servant is, for hadn't had
enough Of bang and batter with that in
stallment plan party' guess yes, and
am sure properly regulated bicycle knows
when 1t has had enough.
Sometimes, though, couldn't help be-
ing little frisky. Once remember an
athletic sort of fellow took me out, and
for six mortal hours he pedaled me all over
every road in the suburbs, rough and
smooth, aud almost drove every bit of
breath out of my tires. I submitted be-
cause couldn't well do otherwise, but the
time of my revenge was at hand. He was
pumping me along a bit of pleasant coun-
try road where the shade would have been
very grateful to me II he had only run
along slowly, when no caught up with a
pretty girl on an awfully ornamental
wheel.
could hear him laugh with q chuckle
at his luck, and he sailed alongside of her
and began talking. OF course he had no
business to, but bioyclists that way are
not so extremely formal, and she talked
back at him, and it wasn't long until he
was entirely absorbed In the girl and was
leaving all the rest of the matter to me.
Then pricked up my ears and got ready,
and all at once, when we came TO n good
place. l took header into ditch. The girl
screamed, the man swore, and / lay over
on my side helpless, but happy. He and
rode home in a passing pie wagon, the girl
| disappeared, and 1t cost him 81 for repairs
/ don't know why 1t is; but, after some
\ years of experience, am prepared to as
sert that fat woman weighing 200
pounds is just twice as heavy as fat man
OF the same weight. II some scientist will
explain this, he will do all of us bicycles a
great favor. However, 1 don't care very
much about 1t, because I made it con-
venient to dump the fat lady one evening
into pond Of water, and she came SO near
drowning that she has organized crusade
against the wheel and has bought an inter
est in q patent antifat remedy.
But there was another woman--ah, me,
what delight 1t was to go flying with
heri She was a dainty little creature,
light as a fairy and strong ms wire, and
she knew where all the prettiest places
WERE and there we went together, and she
drew pictures Of sylvan scenes while
leaned up against tree and watched her
by tho hour. One day a handsome young
fellow wheeled by, and they nodded pleas
antly she blushing bit and he smiling
Several days after that they came to my
place together, and she took me away with
her for three days. That was delight tc
me, for we went far of by easy stages, and
tho young man on his own Wheel
beauty 1t was, too-went with u.s.
There were others in the party, but my
interest was in these two, and paid nc
heed to what tho others did or where they
went. The third day as we were bowling
homeward my lady appeared to be Ill al
ease and there were times when, II had
| not Dilu Ill my WIS aDOub We WuulO
surely have gone off the road and over the
bank into whatever may have been below
to have received us. The young man was
newer far off, but he was not as he hat
been, and after wondering nearly all da,
what could have happened / remembered
to have seen them the night before on TIL,
piazza, where leaned up against the wall
l was feeling the need OF rest and die
not pay much attention to them, but re
membered that they were quarreling ION,
of those lovers quarrels, you know, ant
she was an independent little body, quit,
equal to cope with any man. knew this
and SO let 1t pass and took my rest quit,
oblivious of my surroundings or theirs
What really happened don't know, but Il
must have been more serious than I sus
peeted, for our homeward trip was any
thing but pleasant
Then didn't see him any more, though
she and took many little afternoon spin
together. say did not sec him any NOR
| Il moan for some time. That was seyera
weeks later. We had gone into quite re
mote section, where there was excellen
sketohing ground, and sho had left me b.
fence and clambered across a stony flel
| among the crags oyerhanging stream.
suppose she had been gone an hour, whel
heard her scream and a minute or tw
later mans voice shouting No answe
came to 1t, and presently his head shove
above tho rocks, and he came tearing m
way. He looked dreadfully frightened
and when he saw me he said, "Than
God" with sincerity that seemed like
prayer, and swinging me out into the roa
he sent me along with speed though
was not in ms. By degrees I began {
understand that my lady was hurtin som
| WAY and he was going for heln for n
was the young man my young lady ad
mired most, and 1t was His face that ha
seen in her sketches even more of ther
than before we had gone on that thre
days trip and had come home In a quarrel
Il OF cnnrse yhnnI knew what WINS annnntn