The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-07-24

/ agreed. at was nasty spill, and
you may think yourself lucky to have
got off with nothing worse than few
bruises and II little delay. 'Pon my
word, was afraid our tour was al
ready ut an end. Trust to me, Harry,
old fellow, to have oil ready for the
inner man."
"Aye, I'll trust you for that" re-
torted my cyclist chum, Harry Holmes,
rs l gripped the handle-bar of my ma
chine. "And not having to listen to
your edifying remarks concerning my
appearance, shan't, perhaps, be so
long repairing damages as you
think.
With this friendly piece of parting
banter to spur me on, pressed the
pedals IN earnest, and the next mo-
ment was speeding along the high
road to st. Albans, distant some six
miles.
1t was a bright, bracing morning,
and n sharp spin ut my own pace was
undoubtedly preferable to sitting
smoking on n bank, watching my un-
lucky friend tinkering with spNnner,
and listening to alternate gIowls at
treacherous roads and all such misfor-
tunes as side slips.
| had traversed half the distance,
when rounding curve in the road l
observed lady cyclist a short dis
tance 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 10 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 we're
speedily gratified, for as dismounted
and politely inquired If anything had
gone wrong with her machine, the
young lady's face became sufiused with
the most winning of smiles.
ooh, thank you, 80 very much, sir, -
was the response, spoken without the
slightest trace of frigidity. 81 must
confess that I'm IN wretched fix.
Tho handle-bar of my machine has
become loose, aud / haven't a tool of
any description that will tighten up
the nut. And to make matters worse,
my brother, Major 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" said, reassuringly, and the
look of gratitude bestowed upon me
made me think had never before met
with so charming or so handsome a
girl as this Miss Gwynne.
Whipping out my spanner, 1 ad-
justed 1t, and proceeded TO tighten up
the loose nut of the steering bar. ]
noticed that the young lady's machine
was anything but a good one. In fact,
l was quietly telling myself what an
inferior and old-fashioned mount It
was for so winsome and apparently
well-to-do a rider, when, to my dis,
may, the screw broke short off, an
the nut attached to it rolled in the
road
"Now, here's pretty go !" bluried
out, reddening with mingled confu
sion and vexatior. "Whatever shall
we do now, Miss Gwynne?"
"Oh, I'm sure l don't know" wa,
the reply, uttered in tones of conster
nation, which almost overwhelmed me,
and made me call myself everything
the reverse of complimentary. "Ant
it must be at least twenty miles from
home. too and my brother will, an