The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-08-29
A BICYCLING STORY.


enthusiastic wheelmen, and so
NJ was | an enthusiastic wheel
woman; but they would never
allow me to accompany them unless they
were going on some little snippy thre =
mile ride along the asphalt road, and |
knew could ride quite as well as they, if
only l had the chance, and l was just
longing to do so.
1t isn't a bit Of fun, as anyone knows, to
trundle your wheel as if you were going to
funeral, and l was simply possessed to
get out and race over jagged roads at a
break-neck pace, and climb hills that W ere
straight up and down, and do all sorts Of
blood-curdling things.
did them all on that memorable night,
and, somehow, it wasn't half the fun l ex-
pected.
Dear me! how perfectly remember every
detail!
1t was beautiful moonlight night, and
we had been at our country place about
three weeks.
1t had been an intensely warm day, so
we all stayed up very late, sitting on the
veranda and enjoying the little breeze that
had sprung up.
A neighbor of ours, Ronald Bates, very
nice fellow, but who would be ever so
much nicer if the boys didn't tease me so
numerically about him, had come over to
see mel mean Rob-and we sat there
talking until the Town Hall clock struck
eleven Then Roland lit his lantern, and
jumped on his wheel and rode away.
We fingered little while after this;
then, there being absolutely nothing else
TO do all of us babe each other good night
and went up to bed
| was just about to undress when a
thought struck me-a thought which, for
an innocent one, had about the most hoi
rible consequences that could be imagined.
On chair by the window lay Rob's
bicycle suit, upon which he had asked me
to sew some buttons My eye fell upon it,
and then looked out of the window.
1t was tile most heavenly night. The
leaves were like lace work, and hung per
fectly motionless in the brilliant moonlight.
The crickets and other insects were chirp
ing Justify, and the grass and al the green
things smelled delightfully."- sweet and frag,
rant in the night air. Away in front OF
me, as far as the eye could reach, swept the
smooth macadamized road, looking like a
fairy path in whiteness and evenness.
They say to look at the moon too long
deranges people, and that is the only way
can account for what did
I slipped off my pretty organdie gown as
quietly and quickly as l could, and step
ped out of my buckled slippers, and in an
other minute was getting into that bicycle
suit. Of course Rob is taller than ], bu
l buttoned the cuffs of the knickerbocker.
around under my knees, and as the thing
were about like gun cases any way, i
didn't make so much difference that they
were baggier still. The coat was such
dreadful misfit that l really couldn't stant
it, even at midnight, so | slipped out int
the hall-closet where the boys keep thei
things and brought in worsted carmen
known as sweater" but which word
object to, so call it a ''perspirator."
This pulled over my head, managing il
the act to leave few handfulls of hair in
tact To my delight it filled out the Goa
sufficiently. Next proceeded to my feet
| tried Rob's shoes, but they were entirel,
too ungainly, and was afraid could no
pedal with such clumsy objects so hunted
up an old pair OF tennis shoes of my own
They were the biggest and the least lady
like of any of what the French would cal
my chaussure.
After this there was only my hair to b,
considered; but managed that very well
l just brushed it all up as tightly as
could at the back and sides, and pinned i
securely and fatty on top; then l drew OF
Rob's Glengarry cap, and although phre
nolo.ist might have thought there va
something queer about the formation o
MY skull, | don't believe anybody els
would have noticed it.
was entirely ready now, and took
sly peep in the mirrow.
Really, don't make a-well, a half BAT
sort of boy.
But looked very young and so small!
AS girl, looked every month Of M.
twenty-one years, and am not considered
especially petite; but as boy, was on
of those shallow things Of about fifteen
and l looked as il my growth had beel
stunted.
was not altogether displeased with III.
appearance-but oh! thought, wouldn'
for the world have Ronald see me! N
doubt there are some straight-laced peopl
who will be utterly shocked to think of