Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-09-02

| with her parents calmly slppluS soue
cool drink, and encouraging US by
calling out from time to time how
such AMI such thing might be avoid
ed. or how to act under certain cir
cumstsnces. Then he would add to
the comfort OF the parents by low
remark to the effect that "Bob Rich
ards didn't know 3 thing about o
Wheel" and sometimes he would keep
Bessie's courage up by promising to
take her for some.long rides as soon as
she had mastered theiwary bicycle.
I didn't like him and Bob didn't,
and Bessie-well, we couldn't tell
about her. / only know after We had
put in an hour's ezhausting labor she
would get off TO rest, and, leaving Bob
to see to me, would run up the steps
10 ask if Mr.. Meredith didn't think
she was doing better, and wasn't it en-
tirely Bob's fault that she fell over
that last time; she thought ne had
hold of the wheel, and when she found
he hadn't, of course she fell off. and it
was mean trick to play her! And
then the whole party berated poor
Bob, whose sole offence seemed to be
desire to hasten her progress.
Bob never would say word in his
own behalf, but I used to even up
matters by going very carefully when
l felt him let 60, until Bessie woul |
cry out in delight. cob, look at me
1 am riding beautifully" and MIR.
Meredith would say languidly,
"Brayol Now remember what l told
you about the pedals" And then l
would lose my temper and stop su I.
denly in bit of mud, and off would
60 Bessie before you could say Jack
Robinson.
She didn't know thing about max.
ing herself mistress of wheel. All
she wanted was to sit on and ride.
She was one of those girls who will
never manage anything unless, may
be, husband.
"Allthings come to him who waits ]!
And 30 at length Mr.. Meredith, who
had been doing the waiting to perfec-
ton, had Bessie come to him with the
GLAD news that she could ride splendid
Iy now, and couldn't they make up
some parties and 60 out on the road.
Then we had several very pleasant
rides. Occasionally there would be
quite crowd, but very often we went
only four, Bessie with Mr.. Meredith
and Bob relegated to her chum, Miss
Grey. who really was a beautiful rider.
I did not like this arrangement, as
Mr.. Meredith rode one of those gaudy,
conspicuous affairs that no really nice
wheel would wish to be seen with in
the street, but Bessie and were quite
friendly about that time, and | was
trying to please her by giving as little
trouble as possible.
Before long Bessie became cons
vinced OF the idea that she was fam.
GUS rider, and suggested that we all
take trip to Cabin John Bridge. 1
heard Bob advise her to try shorter
run first, but then Mr.. Meredith came
up and said it would be delightful,
and of course Miss Bessie could do it
easily; there wasn't better rider in
the city, and he fixed on the next day
for the trip.
The next day dawned clear and
warm, and 1ese: out about 4. 30 o'clock.
1 must admit that Bessie looked as
pretty as picture in her dainty suit,
with its many buttons and iaunty cap.
Before we started Bob came up to me,
as he always did, to see that all my
parts we're secure and firm, and that
no pebbles or bits of dirt scratch
ing against my chain. He did not look
particularly pleased over the trip, and
indeed I fully agreed with him that it
was far too long for Bessie to attempt.
At length we were spinning merrily
along. l was determined to act my
best, so took the lead, with that circus
wheel of Mr.. Meredith's, leaving Bob
and Miss Grey to follow. All went
we'll for about four miles, and then
Bessie began to weaken. She was tired,
very tired, as I could easily tell by
the feeble way she pushed on my ped.
ais, but she was determined MOTTO give
up before Mr.. Meredith, and own Bob
right, oh, no.
Suddenly she gave cry, something
between gasp and scream. "Oh,
look-in front of us-see that drove
of cows!"
"They won't hurt you" said Mr..
Meredith, in superior way. "Come
on"
'.But my wheel 1T always-always
shies at cows" gasped poor Bessie.
Mr.. Meredith'slip curled. II real
ly can't face those cows" said Bessie
again, between gasps. 'Ielia come
ard ride in front-then you and Mr..
| Meredith can run into them first !"
gladly slowed up in pursuance ol
this idea, for Bessie was too tired to
have the slightest control over me,
and dropped behind with Bob.
"Bessie, you are tired to DEATH, he
exclaimed iDjudiciously.
"Pm not" replied Bessie, fryir as
ut once. "But Pm afraid OF Unose
COWS; wait till you see how this wheel
shiesr'
"Keep i. pointed straight and be-
lieve it will go by ali right" seid BOZ
soothingly. "Let us get off and rest,
I am as tired as"
"No. I won't get off; I'm no.: bit
tired"
"Take the centre of the road then, y
said Bob, as we neared the meek
looking COVE. "They can't hurt you,
I'm on their side; don't go up on that
path or you'll get pnncture sure"
Thet gave me an idea. Bessie was
tired out and too proud to own it.
She would certainly fall of if she die
not get down in u few minutes. A
puncture would be an excellent excuse
for resting. Then, again, she had
said twice that I SHE'D at COWS well,
would make her words true.
Without further hesitation ] raI
down little incline in the road and
made for the by path Bob had warned
US of.
| 1- ..,.o, b;Ht o1;ror,