The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-08-29

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of bike"
What A bicyclei Docs she
ride?"
"How kin she2 1 reckon she kin
learn, mister. You Just send that
bike there amt nothin' Nell wants
wuss nor that"
With this advice, and being sworn
to secrecy, the small terror bowled
himself Off
1t gave Milo Warren something to
do to pur chase that bicycle aud have
1t delivered to Miss Nellie on her
birthday in an anonymous manner.
He expected il back every hour tor
about n week, but it did not come, and
he felt safe. The small brother had
not betrayed him after all.
But after a little he began to wish
he had, for Miss Nellie had evidently
mounted that bicycle and ridden out
OF his life. He called, but she was out
on her bicycle, no matter what the
hour was, noon or night, and he got
himself run over on the street and
knocked down daily by dashing out
from sidewalk corners to see who the
rider was, and getting hurt for his
pains. When he could stand it no
longer, he came TO sudden resolve
he would buy bicycle for himself,
and perhaps he able to find Nellie.
And now began an exciting chase
for life and liberty, for Mt one moment
the amateur bicyclist was under the
feet of trampling horse, the next he
was running over wrathy pedestrian,
and he usually ended his experiences
by picking up his frisky steed and
carrying it TO the shop for repairs.
Aud all this time he never caught
glimpse OF Nellie, but he was inclined
to think he OWNED the cause. Judg.
ing from his own experience in learn.
ing to ride bicycle, Nellie might be
exercising her own fractions acquisi-
tion on some remote roadway outside
the city limits-or, dreadful thought,
might even be laid up herself for re.
pairs. He called on the bookkeeper
brother, but found him busy and nom
committal. So he waited and tried to
possess his soul with patience, and
learn to ride bicycle without the
zig-zag motion that had endangered
the lives of the populace and nearly
caused lis arrest by the police.
Then he made the discovery that If
he gave his wheel its head, it would
behave much better than when he
guided it carefully, to the end that ii
trayersed both sides of the street at
once. After acting like thing pos
sessel it learned to behave, and he
found himself skimming along like a
bird on the wing, with an exultant
sense of freedom and delight, and ho
longed to see Nellie ard tell her what
he had been trying to say for months
that he loved her
And at that moment there whizzed
past him vision in bloomers, one of
those dreadful New Women of whom
b" = hoard, and now was. o .s6e. He
auAos, seltthas-H was disloyalty to
gentle little Nellie to even look at
such an apparition; but somehow she
looked so quaint in her saucy jacket
and baggy trousers, her neatly-gait-
cred feet were so pert and Independent,
that Milo looked and looked again,
and then he gave great whoop, and
took after the flying wheel like
streak of lightning.
His confidence stood him in steal
of skill. He went spinning along in
fine style until he reached a parallel
with the girl in bloomers, then he
leaned over to speak to her, topplei,
and fell in a heap, but not before he
had gasped "Nellie"
That young lady skillfully eluded
the wreck, made "A fancy run anl turn,
and as Milo gathered himself up, said
pleasantly:
"Why, Mr.. Warren, didn't know
that you rode wheel.
81 don't" said the young man rue
fully, feeling OF his elbow to determ.
inc whether it was dislocated or
merely abraded, "but you, Miss Mel
lie, are quite an expert.
Miss Nellie murmured something
about the wheel being present from
her brother, and that she had not
cared to ride, but did just to please
him.
"But You ought to see my little
brother ride" she said, with enthusi-
asm she rides the wheel when | am
not using it, and he makes it spin.
Why he rides standing up, and I'in so
afraid something will happen to him. "
Milo was walking along, leading his
wheel. as il he preferred that way,
and Miss Nellie gave him several ex.
hibitions of her skill, and each moment
made stronger and more lasting i'm.
preston on the poor fellows heart.
But even bicycle courtship comes to M
end, and they were at Nellie's home,
and he must leave her, nless-he
asked FOR glass of water, aud before
it was brought he sat down with the
wheel on the sidewalk.
1t was sudden and most effective
stroke of art. Nellie cried, aud asked
if he was killed anywhere; Mrs. New
ton brought camphor; they got him
into the house, and then he was able