The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-07-18
MAI. GWYNNE'S SISTER.

COMPOUNDED bearings. You'd better
run on to st. Adams and order a rat
Ting good dinner for two at the
George. BY the time it's ready shall
be with you again"
st will be better than hanging
about here when | can do no good"
agreed. 1T was nasty spill, and you
may think yourself lucky to have got
off with nothing worse than few
bruises and little delay. Pom my
word, was afraid our tour was al
ready at All end. Trust me, Harry, old
fellow, to have all ready for the inner
man"
"Aye, I'll trust you for that" retort-
ed my cyclist chum, Harry Holmes, as
l gripped the handle-bar of my ma
chine and vaulted into the saddle.
land not having to listen to your edi-
flying remarks concerning my appear
ance, shan't, perhaps, be so long re-
pairing damages as you think"
With this friendly piece of parting
banter to spur me on, pressed the
pedals in earnest, and the next moment
was speeding along the high road to
st. Adams, some six miles.
1t was a bright, bracing morning,
and sharp spin at my own pace was
undoubtedly preferable to sitting
smoking on bank, watching my I'M
unlucky friend tinkering with a span
ner, and listening to alternate growls
at treacherous roads and all such mis-
fortunes as side slips
| had traversed half the distance,
when rounding curve in the road
observed a lady cyelist short dis
lance ahead. Apparently something
had gone wrong with her mount, for
she was standing with it propped up
by the side of the road, and was view
ing surrounding objects with an air of
evident detection.
True to the spirit which prompts
every cyclist to help another in dis
tress, slackened speed, and as drew
nearer noticed that the lady was both
young and pretty-a discovery which
at once made my impressionable heart
hope that she might be glad to avail
herself of my services in some way or
other.
My wishes in this respect were speed
lily gratifed, for as l dismounted and
politely inquired if anything had gone
wrong with her machine, the young
lady's face became suff used with the
most winning of smiles.
"Oh, thank you, SO very much, sir,
was the response, spoken without the
slightest trace of frigidity. Il must
confess that Pm in a wretched fix.
The handle-bar of my machine has be-
come loose, and haven't tool of any
description that will tighten up the
nut. And to make matters worse, my
brother, Maj. Gwynne, has lost me-or,
suppose, have lost him; and I'm
afraid he hasn't the least idea that my
plight is such bad one"
''Oh, we'll very soon set things
right" l said, reassuringIy, and the
look of gratitude bestowed upon me
made me think that had never before
met with So charming or so handsome
girl as this Miss Gwynne.
Whipping out my spanner, I ad-
justed it and proceeded to tighten up
the loose nut of the steering bar. l
noticed that the young ladys machine
was anything but good one. In fact,
] was quietly telling myself what an
inferior and old-faohioned mount it
was for so winsome and apparently
well-to-do a rider, when, to my dis
may, the screw broke short off and the
nut attached to it rolled in the road.
Now, here's pretty go!" blurted
out, reddening with mingled confusion
and vexation. Whatever shall we do
now, Miss Gwynne?"
'Oh, I'm sure l don't know" was the
reply, uttered in tones of consterna-
ton which almost overwhelmed me
and made me call myself everything
the reverse of complimentary. "And
it must be at least twenty miles from
home, too; and my brother will, am
quite certain, never trouble himself to
turn back to look for me. He'll simply
keep on driving ahead. But, there, l
suppose he is just like other brothers
quite useless as escorts"
For my own part 1 felt decidedly
pleased at the prospect of the brothers
continued absence.
"Well, I've landed you in this scrape,
and you must allow rne to see you out
of it, that's all"
Secretly began to feel rather glad,
as l perceived what a very pleasant
duty had suddenly devolved upon me,
and for the time, at all events, my
chu>n Holmes was forgotten.
81 can only suggest" added, "that
as you are SO far from home, you will
allow me to see you to some hotel
while L try to get new bolt and nut
Possibly you can tell me of likely
place to put up at for an hour or two,
as l am a stranger about here. l can
easily manage to wheel your machine
and my own along"
Somewhat to my surprise, however.
Miss Gwynne was visibly embarrassed
by my proposition.
There's one great objection to such
thing" she said, after pause. 1.-The
fact is, Dick-I mean my brother, Maj.
Gwynne-has left me without penny
in my pocket" She colored up charm
ingly at the confession, and went on:
"Of course he doesn't know that, and
it's my own fault. often go out with
out bringing my purse, but 1 declare 1
never will again"
She gave little laugh, as if to con-
oaaI bar yaxa+ioo and ad6ad. .EAp5 or,