Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1895-11-08
A RUNAWAY WHEEL.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Erred. old man, you are indeed lor-
tunate," said | as leaned back l"
the easy chair before the CRATE fire In
his coy home
YES, fortunate is very word. he
answered, musingly. THE events OF
an hour changed the course of my
life. If that hour had been left out OF
the day. should not be the possessor
of such n home. but would he back IN
the old bachelor quarters. They were
not so bad. and there was only one
woman for whom I would give them
I'M. AT that time she had refused me
was. in fact engaged to another
Il have never before spoken OF thls,
but what have gained has been wen
eorned. | was favored by fortune III
that hour. but il was Selling the oppor-
tunity that made me successful.
"a party of us had gone away on
a wheeling trip. We were young gay
and ioyOus. and the weeks slipped by
until il came time for use to think OF
returning.
"From being in love with Emily
Rrant | became madly infatuated with
her. Though she treated me in the
most distant manner, | still thought.
with the conceit of youth, that she
cared little for me- ! was helped out
1n this idea by little incidents and tri-
vial circumstances which led me to
hope she would accept me.
al had Il riyal-a man who did not
seem to consider my actions OF any
importance. | could not seem 10 make
him jealous i'm the slightest degree.
lie had naturally a very self composed
manner but this alone would not ac-
count for his bearing.
Il came to the conclusion that
must propose to Emily before we re-
turned To the city az | would have Il
much better opportunity of stating my
ease amid favorable surroundings
than i'm the city with its hustle and =
terrIIptonS.
Zone afternoon we were riding
through beautiful valley. and il So
happened Emily and myself were quite
n distance 10 the rear of the party.
ny. road was smooth. the trees arch
I'll .oYerhcad. the sunlight Strcamcu
in golden shafts through them. falling
alternately upon Emily as she rode her
wheel so easily and gracefully. light
ing her beauty with a soft glow. |
could keep silence no longer and rid
ing close beside her. rs we sped on to
Gether. | told her how much ] loved
her and asked her to be my wife.
''rhen came the breaking OF the
dream | had had for so many weeks
and months. In q few words. | learn
ed there was no hope for me: that
though she admired and respected me-
she had never thought Of me in any
other way: that there WAS already an
understanding between Mr.. Fernow
and herself, and that their engagement
was soon to be announced.
AT first l could hardly believe my
ears. We rode the rest Of the way in
silence. For me the glory of the day
had departed. 1t was as if ii haze,
like the melancholy haze Of an In
dian summer, through which | should
see all things for all time. had closed
around me.
"If it had been possible. | should
have left that night for the city. but
circumstances compelled me to ne
company the party on one last ride.
Il never saw Il gaycr set of people
than we were when we started the
next day. Some of them guyed me
little about my lack of gayety. but
answered that / was to leave the next
''Wc were to ride down one valley
then descend mountain into another
valley. | was the only one i'm the
party who had been over the road.
and ii was so long ago I had partial
~ forgotten it, When we began to
descend the mountain I told them we
had better walk, as the road was very
steep. They took nv advice for
time. and we had gone the greater
part of the way, when one of the
party. in spirit of frolic mounted
his wheel and dared the others to do
likewise.
"Thinking we were almost at the
foot of the mountain. we all followed
his example. | was riding in the lead
Earnest FernOw was close beside me.
Suddenly. on turning a bend. we came
upon pitch In the road so steep as
10 greatly alarm MS.
"We had all been riding Il good
speed. This in itself would have mat
tered little had each one of us had our
wheels under perfect control: but tim
idity, carelcssness or fright might
mean great danger.
II saw Earnest Fernow turn white
and jam his brake down hard. while
lie back pedaled with all his might
Suddenly We were startled by a cry of
fear a cry for help. Earnest, save
me" The next instant Emily Brant
sped by us. She had lost control Of
her wheel.
"Fernow paid no heed. He was too
frightened himself. He turned his
bicycle into the bank and jumped
Even at the speed which she was go
Ing / knew she realized he had de-
serted her.
unless you have been similarly
placed you cannot understand the feel
Ing OF horror that comes over YOU as
you know your wheel is beyond your
control on steep mountain. There is
no way to stop but by turning into the
bank and taking a headiODg plunge.
and the chances of injury or death, or
10 keep on, while the speed increased
with each revolution Of the wheels,
lna the chances of escape grow less.