The Van Buren press., 1896-04-04


for bicycling purposes, and an unusual,
determined light came into her eyes.
Now. Sarah sad she, I've put On
INST the kind Of things I want to wear
and I'm going to wear them. Seems %
rlo when I'm most 30 years old ! ought
ta know how 70 dress
Sarah stared at her with wide@open
eyes.
well. Of all independenesIH she
SAID
"Bat don,t you think T ought TO be
independent If I'm ever going 70 be? ?"
Sarah took up her sewing and tarneA
away. Belinda took a little step for
ward.
II amt never considered the ques-
ton. she sand. grimlY.
Then BeiiHda did an unheard-of and
unexpected thing; she went over to her
sister and kissed bcr, and then vent
aaiekly out of the front door. Sarah
looked after her to ,e sure il was TO-
linda
We'll, never she declared, P.f'aRs
7 have been too domineering
Belinda started on her ride along a
quiet road away from Use village. It
was not quite 50 hard 10 ASSERT herself
rs she had supposed; she almost wished
she had told Sarah about her bicycling
then and there.
I'll tell her tonight, Belinda said,
a. she rode on, and she sighed as she
Thought of her long-leferred deeiara-
Jion Of Independence year age it
might have made much more difference
IN two lives.
Tt vas a beautiful day. but Belinda
did not once lock- at the clear SKI ma
autumn woods as she rode along for
she was not a sufficiently expert RIDER
to view the scenery and Kept in her
straight course; so she did not Sc he
bare blue black trees that east 6 gen
tie, dark haze over the later autumn
eolors of russet-brown and duil-fed.
She did not even dare To steal a glance
at tile long plebald lne Of leaves that
lay euried by the fepces. She kept her
eye on the wheel and her hand On the
brake, and a pretty picture she herself
made-prettier than any wooded slope,
this bit Of dainty womanhood, whose
fashion Of bygone days seemed to har-
monte with the autumn time. Sha had
On the little tlght-ftting black Tx
basque with the erocheted buttons
down the front. and there was a brig 1T
hlue bow at the throat. a little over
Swallowed by the black velvet bonnet
strings, fer Belinda mad worn bonnet
ever since she was p
She was gong on well, and feeling
happier and more confident every mo-
rnent, when she came to a sand nil,
down when the wheel began TO 3e-
seend a little more rapidly but she bad
her little black -mftted hand on the
brake, and all would have been we'll If
the barge had not just turned into The
road. Now a barge. being a large two
horse conveyance, was a very formula
bic thing for this inexperienced bfcY-
elist 10 pass, and Belinda's breath came
fast and her checks grew very red in her
determination not to lose her self-eon-
troll She had almost passed the dread
fal threatener, when she CHANGED to
glance up at the vehicle. There was Dut
one passenger n the barge, and fnab
passenger was-John Baker. Belinda
saw his face looking down on her in
genuine surprise, and then she felt her
wheel turn and slip, and a pain ran
through her wrist.
The driver stopped his horses and
climbed down from his perch, but oe-
fore he could reach Belinda, John was
holding her up and tenderly wipinQ the
dust from her face, while Belinda
moved not at all, only looked at hm
through tears of mingled Joy and pain.
''The bicycle amt broke" said The
driver, but neither Belinda nor Jc m
heard him.
"Wby, your wrist is bleeding" Jrhn
said, and ne tried to fasten his hand
kerchief about il, bnt, either because
Belinda looked at hun so hard OF be-
cause he wished to prolong so pleasant
task, 1T took him many minutes.
Better git in, Miss Belindy," invited
the driver, lifting the bicycle TO the
front seat, you can't ride home If
you've hurt your wrist"
"Oh, IT 'tmuch," Belinda protested.
But John helped her into the barge, and,
perhaps because of an almost imper
ceptible motion OF hers, perhaps be-
cause Of the LOOK he had seen in Ter
eyes, he sat down Just beside her.
perhaps III better not sit down
here" he ventured.
"Oh, yesl" Belinda said.
I'm glad we ran into each other. -
he whispered, adding, CALAMITY, but
Id rather we'd been the ones 10 be
hurt"
ooh, mol" Belinda cried, lifting
frightened eyes TO his; and John moved
q little nearer.
II didn't know you was ridin' BIZ
cycle, Miss Belindy," said the driver
from the front seat
1--WE got one, too" John said.
Belinda turned 10 him with a sudden
radiant smile. then her face elouded a
little.
Sarah doesn't know about my rid
ing" she whispered.
John looked at her in amazement.
you're Drawer than you used TO be,
felindy."
There was a sad significance in his
voice, and Belinda looked down.
yes" she answered. TREMENDOUSLY,
then added, brightly: 1--WE grown
good deal Drawer since learned 70
ride. IL was going to tell her about
IL f,,.r,;r,b4 - slp tepturcd after a Ifttle