The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-12

say nothing Of my fibula and my plans for
the day. you could scarcely do less"
I'VE gods. She accuses me OF smashing
things in general. when anybody with half
an eye could see I've been hard hit my
please hand me the Prussian blue" she
said, hastily; land tell me where you were
bound when / stopped your triumphant
81 was going to pay my unwilling re-
spects to tiresome young paragon whom
my misguided aunt desires me TO marry.
held of as long as she decsnty
mind the pose. I know exactly how you
feel. Isn't it simply disgusting to have
ones relatives dispose OF one like that?
Now my uncle wants me to marry a young
man he considers perfection. ] have met
his aunt, and must confess she Is charm
ing, but know the youth Is perfect hob
II sayr' he cried, with dawning intelli-
gence in his eyes; II have accumulated an
"Impart it at once" commanded she.
You are my aunt's paragon"
Her Look OF dismay gave place to laugh
Esterbrook?' she demanded.
Very much so. at your service"
the peerless one as / have long called
you. was In the country somewhere. but 1
never dreamed he was here, though 1 believe
knew it perfectly well. Never mind: wen
| show them whether we are TO be thrust
upon each other in spite Of ourselves
plished. And you can't deny that you met
me more than half way. in spite Of your
ay .sns n, to the peerless one, 49,
you without a glance II you hadn't wobbled
directly across my path"
Oh, l didn't allude TO the manner in
which you rode rough-shod over me, Mag
the fact that my aunt's SYLVAN retreat IS
only only "a dozen rods or 50 down the road, be-
she looked at him in amazemeat. do you
mean to say" she cried. that you have
house right at hand?"
do you call 1t keeping" said he coolly.
less, indeed, 1 had played the s role e'e Of the
| kind-hearted market gardener and taken you
up bodily and carried your"
You said you didn't pass house on the
Neither did I This is as far as / had
managed to get when you rode me down."
the place. and I know Mrs. EsterbrOOk
..tertainiy: but they're out at pasture
II wonder why you tell me at ALL" she
cried. Why don't you keep me here
Like the classical duffer you mentioned
once before?' finished he. simply because
1 heard the musical kerchunk Of that
springless wagon which is to bring our
| fresh bicycles approaching: and there IL
comes over the crest of the hill down which
you rode to such widespread devastation"
He went out into the road and held q
short conversation with the man on the
wagon. from which he lifted two new
wheels. A slender steel rod followed. some
| silver changed hands and the wagon clat-
tered on its way.
Nov, IL you will permit me-" said he.
Il Will lift you on to this bicycle and take
you to my aunt. She will be charmed 10
see you. and we shall be just in time for
| dinner. This bicycle coupler, which causes
the two wheels to support each other In
an upright position. though motIonless.
| WILL you perceive. prove of mutual benefit:
1t will relieve you of the necessity OF
/ pedaling with your injured ankle and me
| Of keeping my own balance. In other
words, 1 shall propel you and you will keep
| me steadily In the path. from which I
might otherwise deviate. Shall put II on
why so serious about it?' she asked.
| lightly. "A bicycle coupler. however
blessed by circumstances. isn't a tie that
binds irrevocably."
Suppose it were?" he cried. with sud-
den ardor. And suppose ] managed 70
| screw up courage to say 10 you still. May
| ! put IL orr What would you answer
| dear?',
Even in that case don't see how we
could-either-of Observation-Disclosures
| without-it-"
Elizabeth b. walling. in Harpers Bazar