The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-09-24

pretty Dnt OF color IN the landscape, Lne
man thought, as his eyes travelled from
her to the far blue distance.
When his gaze sought the fair cyclist
again he found that she was seated on
the road, her wheel lying beside her.
The man wondered how she had man
aged to fall, for the road was good, and
she had seemed to be perfect mistress
of her bicycle. No one else was in sight,
so he must perforce dismount and go TO
her assistance. 81 hope you are not
much hurt" he said, with grave solicit
tude.
"Oh, hope not" said the girl, with
smile, which she managed to make pa
thetic. II feel very much shaken, and
l think have strained my ankle lit
tie, but if I rest for a few minutes 1
shall be all right"
So with the mans assistance she got
up and seated herself on a tree trunk
lying near.
MAY l." he asked, courteously, Ego
to your home and send you some as
sistance%
"Oh, dear no." in tone Of alarm, cit
would brighten them to death. 1 am
not much hurt. If you could kindly
wait few minutes and then help me
to mount don't think could mount
alone. feel nervous"
81 am at your service" replied her
companion; your wheel, at any rate,
is none the worse"
For, ardent cyclist that he was, if his
first look had been for the rider, his sec
ond had been for the wheel.
$50 much the better, but see how
have torn my skirt. l must mend it, or
perhaps it would catch and throw me
again"
So saying, she drew from her pocket
a dainty little case, from which she pro-
duced thimble, needle and thread, and
then began sewing her torn skirt. The
man watched her nimble fingers with
admiration. She was a graceful little
person and looked very demure as She
sat with bent head, her mischievous
eyes fixed on her work.
81 love cycling" she exclaimed
don't you?"
The man confessed that he did and
she displayed such interest in what he
said that he told her the story of a
cycling trip he had taken last summer,
and from that, encouraged by her gentle
questioning, he spoke of many things,
and the girl listened intently. But az
last she felt that she could remember
no more, and that made her realize
that she was equal to her return trip,
so she prettily explained that she felt
quite recovered from her fall and asked
her companion to be good enough to
help her to mount. He aoquesced al
most reluctantly, for it had been a
pleasant half hour to him.
She paused a minute. 81 don't know
how to thank you for what you have
done for me-" She cast her eyes down.
for they were full of laughter. She
was wondering what the editor would
say.
You make too much of it," he said,
for how could he know what was in her
mind? II am glad I was able to be of
any assistance to you. 1t was a for
tunate thing that happened to be so
close behind"
She did not think it necessary to tell
him that but for that she would not have
fallen.
Il am sorry to say that am leaving
the city this evening"" the man went on,
cor would venture to ask permission %
call on you"
"You are leaving this evening? I am
sorry, too"
But the dimples in her face beled her
words.
y cOurtly bow, a word of adieu an!
she was off like bird. He watched her
out of sight, and as he mounted his own
wheel it vaguely occurred to him that
from a strained ankle, however slight,
she had recovered very completely.
Her little feet did swift work with
the pedals, it is true, but when she
reached home her pen travelled almosi
more swiftly over sheet after sheet of
paper, as she wrote with marvellous cor
rectness the opinions and remarks of
the man who had never been inter
viewed.
After all, he found himself unable to
leave the city that evening, but the first
train next morning carried him away.
The boys were calling the papers on the
station platform, and so a copy of the
Scrutator found its way into his valise
When he looked at it his own name
caught his eye. In lettering so big that
it is usually reserved for presidential
election or for the chances of war with
Great Britain, to his own vast amaze
ment he saw:
INTERVIEWED AT LAST.
Mr.. Chamberton's Opinions on Cycling.
What He Thinks of Our City.
As he read, his look of evaporation
gave place to a smile, for he was one of
those fortunate ones who can enjoy /.
joke at their own expense, till finally he
burst into a laugh so hearty that his
| fellow passengers wished they could en-
JOY the joke with him.
THE little jade" he muttered; 'if
ever l trust woman again, I'll be"
But the expression was so utterly un-
like what one would expect from q
celebrity that it had better remain IN
recorded.-N. o. Times-Democrat
Camels In Spain.