Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-09-13

RNKyN SyMk.~ back perch, and
NrrS%lG~-2TTE> turned her head
~Nl,<NIN10 at an approaching
1SSN AxSD step, dropped her
han3s Imply,
while look Of amazemeAt bordering
on horror stole over her placid black
features.
Certainly am, Peggy. Why not?
I cannot ride comfortably in anything
else"
Peggy shook her head gloomily.
81 dunno, Miss JESSIE" she said,
81 dunno muffin OF de styles Norf, but
I'd feel mighty bad if Colonel Pres
toms Mis- Imogen or Mis- Payson-
Smith meets yo' on de road lookin'
like dat.
Nonsense, Peggy! am perfectly
willing to meet the whole county at
once; and it is not a question OF style
but question of comfort? you must
remember that. "
Size spoke indifferently, but she was
conscious of slight inward shiver at
the thought of the general dlsapproval
her innovation of riding to the school
house on bicycle might meet with,
in view of the fact that it had begun
at her very door.
She was trim, sweet-looking girl,
with pretty brown eyes, fresh color
and soft, brown hair of q sunniness
that was reflected in her eyes, and she
wore q modest dark-blue frock that
fitted her slight figure we'll, reaching
just to her shoe tops, tan leggings and
shoes, that would not show the dust
of the road, and blue sailor hat to
shield her face from the warm Sep
tember sun.
She wheeled the new bicycle, the
first, the only one in Harmon, out In
to the yard, and mounting it easily,
she was off like q bird down the cOun-
try road, with tho sunlight catching
the shining wheel, and Peggy watch
ing her anxiously and muttering re-
newed hopes that she would not meet,
above all, the colonels family.
Jessie Tuthill was Northern girl,
who for the year past had been en-
ployed by q dozen of the old families
of Harmon, Virginia, to conduct {
small school for their children. Be
fore the war Harmon had been gay
spot, noted for its beautiful places an(
hospitality, but since then it seemed
to have fallen alseep, awaiting some
royal touch to awaken it again. Jessie
was distantIy connected with the Pay
son Smiths, one of these old families
and so with that recommendation ant
letters from several distinguished
Northerners, vouching for her capa
bility as teacher, she had secured
the position which the dozen familie
had found some difficulty i'll agreeinc
upon filling, and she had soon wor
the confidence and love Of the children
and the gratitude of their parent
for her gentle influence upon then
and for their progress. Her morning.
were devoted to the younger scholars
and the afternoons to tutoring clas
of half a dozen boys preparing TO.
college. She had been home NOrtt
for July and August and she had JUS
returned. How she had enjoyed thos
two months Of freedom among her oil
friends in the dear little home she hat
grown up in on the Hudson, which,
it were small, had such a big view O
river and misty hills. and which sh
was so loath 10 leave but that sh
would not stay and be q burden wher
there was not always enough, and th
position South was very good one
While she had been gone she ha
tried one day to ride girl cousin
bicycle, and learned so quickly an
enioyed it go thoroughly that he
uncle, who would have done more f0
her if the girls independence woul
have let him, presented her with on
for her own as parting gift; and nO'
this morning she was riding it for tn
first time to the littlo school house
three miles away from where she lived
finding it great relief from hurryin
along on foot rs she had been oblige
to do all the year before. and vet
with all the exhilaratiOn of the exer
else in the fresh morning air, still
dreading little the criticism this in
rovatiou might meet with. For a
Harmon was less wealthy than i'll th
old time, it was proportiOnately NOR
formal, and woe betide the individual
and especially an outsider, who dare
to do anything for which he or sh
could find no former shining exam
pie.
The country road was hard nm
smooth, and in spite Of her fears, sh
was beginning to be quite happy
when she heard the sound of carriag
co,ning behind her She G,ance
hurriedly back. leggy's worst fear
were realized. 1t was the colonel