The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-03-26

"what fun it must be?" she mur.
INJURED.
Margaret caught the sadness in her
| voice.
"Oh, BelindaI" 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.
"Oh, couldn'tl really couldn't"
"Oh, yes, you couldp Margaret
cried, turning the wheel out into the
garden path. "Come quick !"
Belinda rose from her seat on the
| steps and came over TO where Margaret
stood.
"Got on" Margaret said, T'll hold
you"
Belinda gave n little cry.
ooh, Margaret I'm afraid ] could
Mt"
''Yes, you can, too" Margaret said,
determinedly; "get right ont"
Belinda was so used to obeying that
she put one foot on the pedal; then
she withdrew it quickly and looked
about.
''Whnt if any one should see me?"
she whispered, but an excited girlish
light was in her eyes.
'There isn't soul anywhere
around" Margaret answered, prompt
ly. "There, that's oil right; there
you are-hold on"
There was little need to give Belinda
this caution; she held on like wise,
with pale. frightened face.
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
if she was tired, but kept on so per-
severIngly that Margaret herself had
TO suggest it was long enough first
! lesson.
81 never tried to learn anything in
my life before" she said, breathless
with delight. "Do you really think
I'll ever be able to ride?"
"Of course" Margaret said, en-.
couragingly. She was not going to
tell Belinda what hard work she found
in holding her straight in her erratic
movements.
But Belinda's face fell.
"Of course couldn't ride, even If
! learned how" she said, confusedly.
"Why not?" asked Margaret.
1t would scarcely be polite to Mar.
, garet To say that Sarah did not think
it ladylike, so Belinda invented the
first excuse she could think OF.
81 haven't got any bicycle.
Margaret looked up with sudden in.
terest.
"Do you know what I've been think.
ing, Belinda? I'm going to Europe
this fall, aud would be perfectly de-
lighted to let you have my wheel while
I'm gone. I'll teach you how to ride
and you'll get no end of pleasure out
of il.
Belinda looked both frightened and
ie'alighted.
wetafy"rnIots OF ITwenty Sh wonld
,Jaia an cay
Margaret meditated. She well knew
Mrs. Bascom was an important factor
and Jealous opponent of all innova.
tions.
''she wouldn't care" she said reck
lcssly. And then more gravely: "Why
do you say anything about it until you
have learned? Then, when sho tinds
you ride beautifully and are enjoying
It, she won't object"
"But | don't think ! ouqht to take
your Wheel Belinda protested, re-
turning to the lesser but more polite
objection.
"Now, Belinda, it would be n real
comfort if you would take care of 1t
for me. You can keep it right here
Mt uncle's, and come and practice un-
I'll you want your sister to know about
it. If don't leave it with you, shall
have to lend it TO some of my frier DIS
in the city, who won't take half such
good care OF II"
COB, but | might smash 1t up be.
cause l don't know how to ride" Be.
linda sad anXiously, torn between de.
sire and doubt.
Margaret laughed outright. She
might as well tell the truth. If she
could only bring some sweetness and
light into this dear little woman's life,
she did not care If her wheel were left
IL fragments.
"Weil, Belinda, you're Just going to
make me say II" with tender culver
IN her voice. al want you to have IA
good time, and want you to have my
wheel, and | don't care If you do
smash it all to pieces"
What else could Belinda do, be-
twixt long habit Of yielding aud new
desire for Wheeling, but give way to
Margaret's kindness?
How good You arel" she cried.
at would bo beautiful If could ride.
| should like it better than anything
l ever did"
But on the way home another
thought came to her. What would
John Baker think If he should see her
on bicycle. TO ho sure, she had
given him up because of her sisters
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