Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-08-16
THAT BICYCLE SUIT.

NDIhGIS, lllOlSSl! llOU ulllllilpu 10 IllclnDtr-
ship. Miss Vance, one of the most dcvot-
ed members of his little flock had brought
her and introduced her as her friend and
the young people had speedily taken her
| up.
The young minister had welcomed her
gladly. He was anxious to make converts
and secure new members and had been
hoping to induce Miss Alice haywood to
unite with the church and thus identify
her charming personality still moro closely
with the work, when something happened
which cooled his ardor in this direction
and indeed left him puzzled as to what
course to adopt with regard to this pccul-
lar young lady.
One bright spring morning rs the min
lister walked slowly along one Of the streets
on the outskirts of tho town, drinking in
the fragrance Of opening leaf and flower
he bchcld an appsrition Coming rapidly
toward him, pCrchcd airily on the scat Of a
new bicycle, was Alice Haywood, her gold
en- head shining in tho sunlight under her
jaunty cap, her checks glowing. The min
lister gaspcd us the dirl saw him and
bowed, returned the sautation, too dazcd
to raise his hat. For the navy blue cos
tune size wore, With its prcttily fashioned
Elton jacket, was certainly made with "a
| sllirt-nO, it wasn't Il skirt at all; it was
| bloOmCrsl
1t was an outrage the minister thought
getting more indignant as he went on,
and She had seemed 50 different, so quiet
modest and refined Some one ought to
talk to her. What could her mother be
! thinking Of? He couldn' say word. The
! young man blushcd at the idea "NOw,
| Gertrude would ncycr-of course mott" He
! grew uncomfurtably warm about the cars
at the mere suggestion that Gertrude
would do such Il thing Then the object
Of lis diSapproyal gIidcd out of his mind
as quickly as she had come in. The stern
| lines Of his face softcncd and lie took W
| his day dream where he had left it,
Next fall when the new church was
done he would 80 east and bring Gertrude,
and what good couldn't he accomplish
with such Il woman for an inspiration and
hclpm@tc? And his thoughts dwclt loving
ly upon the PROJECTIONS Of the sweet, gem
| tie young woman who was going to give
up her friends, her high social station and
many advantages in the cast and come
| with him to the wild west, as he called it,
| to aid him with her culture with her
wealth, with herself.
So during the long summer he worked
| hard and earnestly, upbornc by the thought
of SUCCESS and Gertrude, and in the great
| struggle all minor difficulties Slipped out
| of sight. Alice haywood still gave her
services freely and fully to the little
church, still taught the little ones and
! spoke kindly and smilingly to Young and
old, rich and poor alike, md still took her
daily bicycle ride, clad in her nntty bloom
er suit seeming to gain added strength
and health thereby. But the minister
fairly dislikcd her when he saw her skim
ming gayly by in her novel attire, cspc-
cially as some of her acquaintance had
| followed her example.
| If any disappearing mGtron or maid
spoke to her about her costume, she inva-
riably replied that she and her family con-
sidcrcd it the only safe and sensible COS
| tune to wear on wheel and that she in
tended to wear it.
Only to Molly Vance did she unbosom
herself furthc,. Poor Molly lay fiat on her
back, "laid up for repairs" she expressed
it, and Alice had stepped in to bring her
| some sunshine and news from the world
outside. She had como in from a long ride
on her wheel and Molly said she looked
like Il relic Of the Midway.
so you and the minister don't like my
suit, Molly, dear" she said. Il am sur
priscd ut him. for thought he was an up
to date young man."
"Oh, no, Molly answered. "He is old
fashioned in his notions. You mustn't
mind him."
81 don't" said Alice chccrfully. Then
she said earnestly:
"Molly, the customs of the world have
always been hard on women. The natives
of Ccylon hang heavy rings in tho noses;
the Turks shut them up in cages; the Chi
nese dwarf their feet, and the modern
Americans and Europeans compress their
waists and hang heavy skirts on their hips.
But let any of them step out, be it ever
so little, from the beaten track of custom
and point to II better path, where comfort
and freedom from disease may be had, and
promise you they will suffer"
After this long and somewhat serious
speech for the young lady she tossed up
her cap caught it on her head and said
farewell, and this was the only sign she
gave that the criticism passed by a few of
her acquaintance hurt her.
The days sped rapidly by, and the new
church was completed. The minister went
back to the east for his bride, returning in
few weeks for the dedication, feeling
seemed pleased with all she saw and en-
tered with enthusiasm into all his plans,
and he perceived with pleasure that his
people received her warmly and took her
at once into their hearts.
One day shortly after their arrival as
they were preparing for church Gertrude
said, "John, what a charming girl Miss
Haywood is
Eyes" said John absently Then a
cloud crossed his brow. He would tell
Gertrude. Perhaps she could think of
something to do. So he said;
Gertrude, that girl rides bicycle and
wears boomers when she rides"
docs she?" said his wife. "Wcll, 1
think it must be amuch more comfortable
suit to ride in than a skirt"
John stared.
"Do you know" continued bhe uncon-
sciously, i've always been dying to ride
wheel. You ride, don't you, dearg"