The Worthington advance., 1896-03-19

A RIDE TO INDEPENDENCE
BY FRANCES Il. DILLINaHAM

Belinda came softly down the stairs
and looked in at the front room where
1,er sisterosat sewing. >... 49,.
I'm going out for u little walk" " she
said, in her gentle, half apologetic
voice. NV. ~.
Her sister looked up sharply. swell,
don't be gone long, and you'd better put
on your jacket; it's gettin' real kinder
chilly"
+. 'Oh, I don't believe I need anything
extra; shan't be cold, Belinda remon-
stratcd. 49,. 81.
Eyes, you will, too,' Mrs. Bascom
said, decidedly. "You go right up
stairs and get your sack" :. ;
> And Belinda turned and went obedi.
emily back to her room.
: s"It's dreadfully silly for me to have
to put it on she muttered, nodding
to herself in the glass. "Seems as
though I: was old enough to know"
and she sighed, noting the shadow Of
coming lines in her forehead and the
sharper curve of her cheek. But she
drew on the little jacket over her tight
fitting black silk basque and smoothed
it down carefully over the bright blue
bow at her throat.
Sarah, at the window, watched her
go down the street.
"She's just as happy as ever" she
said to herself. 'It's a good deal bet
ter I didn't Let John Baker hang round!
here. She's one of those softhearted
creatures that'd marry any man that
asked her, I do believe. But she wasn't
goin' to marry John Baker if I could
help it. I've had experience with men
and know them through and
through" Mrs. Bascom's married life
had been brief and unhappy. ''Why,
they say that John Baker smokes, and
he don't attend no church regular, 50
far's can make out. That's just like
Silas exactly" Silas was Mrs. Bas
CONS deceased husband. In her mind
all smoking, non-church members be-
songed to the same clpss, character was
not considered, and, alter all, what man
could have character under such cir
cumstances? "She'll be mighty thank
full some day that I saved her from ~
life of misery" and Mrs. Bascom sighed
:eelingly. 1T 8 been more'n a yea:
,,ow, and she seems TO be gettin' over
It nicely, though must say I'm thank
7ul he don't live in this town." And
Mrs. Bascom's eyes returned to the vii
lage street down which Belinda had
disappeared. II wonder where Belinda
was goir-' To call Ola Margaret Brown,
T s'pose. It's strange Belinda should
take to Margaret so, such lively young
thing-though, as far's that goes. she
amt much younger than Belinda,' she
added, hastily, with sisterly pride; "bur
she's q. up and comm. It's lucky she
only visits her week or SO, she might
make Belinda just like her. Miss Ware
told me yesterday she rides bicycle
And Mrs. Bascom's thoughts stopped
in frightened contemplation of such
arrant boldness.
Meantime Belinda had gone, as her
sister predicted, to call on Margaret,
who was visiting fond, old-fashioned
relatives for a few weeks in this seques-
tered little village. Her friend was in
the back yard with the bicycle, and
caught sight of Belinda walking primly
up the path to the front door.
"Heigho!" she called, merrily; and
Belinda came around the corner Of the
house and sat on the steps while Mar
garet rubbed up her wheel.
"Qh, I have had the most delightful
ride!" Margaret cried, rubbing vigor-
ously at the handle bar of her machine.
Belinda sighed wistfully.
''What fun it must be-" she muir
INJURED
Margaret caught the sadness in her
voice.
"Oh, Belinda!'' she cried, dropping
the rag with which she was polishing,
get on and try lido! I'll hold it
steady"
Belinda shook her head in fright.
"Get on" Margaret said. "I'll hold
YOU"
"Oh, Margaret! I'm afraid I couldn't
"Yes, you can, too," Margaret said,
determinedly; "get right on!"
Belinda was so used to obeying that
she put one foot on the pedal; then
she withdrew it quickly and looked
about.
"What if anyone should see?" she
whispered, but an excited girlish light
vas in her eyes. 4
"Thee isn't a soul anywhere around"
Margaret answered, promptly. "There,
that's ell right; there you are-hold
on "'". T.>
This was Belinda's first experience
with athletics in any form, and she
grew so interested and excited that two
little red spots came out on either cheek
and she forgot to ask Margaret if she
was tired, but kept on so persevering-
ly that Margaret herself had to suggest
twas long enough first lesson.
~s'I never tried to learn anything in
my life BEFORE she said, breathless
with delight. ''Do you think I'll ever
he able to ride?' =.
: s....Of course" Margaret said, encourag-
irgly..s She was not going to tell Be
linda what hard work she found in
holding her straight in her crratic
movements. Al Il