The herald., 1895-06-30
That's what 1 saia," said he, petu-
lantly. ut will make you round -shoul-

lantly. 1T will make you round -shoul-
dered.n
She eyed hlm-angrily for moment.
Round shouldered she cried. "Oh,
you men. you men! Had l married you
and grown 1ound-shouldered making my
own dresses you would not have muir
INJURED. Had we gone hand in hand into
poverty, and my shoulders grown round
from bending over laundry s.ove, YOU
would have permitted it; but because /
choose to acquire a humrback riding q
wheel for pleasure, you use that word
that wicked word must to me, who have
loved you. declined to drive and dance
with others for you-oh, George, George
George!"
We'll, I mean it,, said he calmly.
'Choose between us-me or the bicycle
which is it to be?''
She made no answer, but walking to
the porch, rang the bell of her wheel. 1t
was his answer, and he realized it.
II do not care for bicycling,' she said,
'but can have no nots in my life.
Leave me-"
He walked out into the night an6 Par
thenia, throwing herself Imply upon
her wheel pedaled weepingly IN the 9th.
er direction: forgetting to light her lamp.
George Washburne walked moodily
fore he traversed with 80 light heart.
"Heigho!" said he, call my life is
shattered in moment. If she knew but
how l loved her-if she could only have
guessed my motive in speaking as l did
that l wished always to be at her side,
and that, If she rode, l could not, since,
try as l will, l cannot myself ride
wheel. 1t is beyond me, and yet 1 have
not dared to confess to her that l have
tried TO learn and cannot. In is wifes
eyes man should be hero. capable of
all things. Supposing had told her of
the lessons l have taken in secret at the
academy of the dents my head has made
in the hardwood floor. of the attendants
l have run over and crippled, and the
wheels l have shattered. until the mana
ger of the place has told me-even as she
has-never to return, 1t would have low
cred me in her esteem. I cannot, cannot
tell her and shatter her respect for her
former fiance."
As he spoke he reached his own front
door, and was about to enter when his
heart grew too full. 81 cannot go in yet
he said. 81 will at least walk back and
gaze upon the light in her window"
A prey to melancholy. the unhappy
man fulfilled his destiny. Back he walked,
gloomily Illuminating over the future, now
so black. Deep in his thoughts, he did
not notice where he was going; he did
not notice that he had passed Parthenia.s S
house; he did not observe that he was as
cending Coasters hill, half mile beyond
he did not even hear a rumblng noise in
the distance which ahould have taught
him caution. Alas thoughtless mortal;
and yet how happily all transpired
There came crash, q thud and moan.
George Washburne lay unconscious in
the road.
Parthenia Hlcksworthy stood, having
landed on her feet ten yards distant.
Pressing the prostrate man into the
earth were the shattered remains of her
wheel, its cyclometer resting on his vest
pocket and its left pedal grasped firmly in
the unconscious victims hand.
1t was spring. George Washburne, who
had lain three weeks delrious, opened
his eyes. Reason had returned and his
right arm had knit.
''At last" sobbed a fair girl who,
with his sister. sat at the sick man s side.
Where am L" he gasped.
Here. George" said Parthonia, for it
was she. Here. III never ride again."
mered.
'It was, George. she answered with a
sob. II had not lit my lamp-and l was
coasting-and then--then it happened.
But never mind, my darling, I shall nev-
er bike again.
"Oh, my love-" he said grasping her
hand ana lifting it to his lips, do
not say that. Bike as much as you will;
the wheel that inalgned brought MS to-
gether again. We owe it much. 1 will
tell you why objected"
tried to learn and could not: and how
the desire to be with ner always had led
him to speak as he had. And she, inn
printing a kiss upon mis- forehead, COM
forted him.
"You are right, darling" she said.