The Worthington advance., 1896-03-19

lighted to let you have my wheel while
I'm gone. Ill teach you how to ride,
and you'll get no end of pleasure out of
it," y 1 #EG," ..@y 51'.-
Belinda looked both frightened and
delighted. D..
'Oh!" she gasped, "what would Sarah
say?' 49, t-.'
Margaret Facilitated. She we'll knew
Mrs. Bascom was an important factor
and q jealous opponent Of all innova-
tions.
''She wouldn't care" she said, reck-
lessly. And then more gravely: "Why
do you say any thing about it until you
have learned? Then, when she finds
you ride beautifully and are enjoying it,
she won't object"
"But + don't think ought to take
your wheel, Belinda protested, return
ing to the lesser but more polite objec-
ton.
"Now, Belinda, it would be a real COM
fort if you would take care of it for me:
You can keep it right here at uncle's
and come and practice until you want
your sister to know about it. If don't
leave it with you, Il shall have to lend 1t
to some of my friends in the city, who
won't take half such care Ut it."
"Oh, but I might smash it up, be-
cause I do not know how to ride, -
Belinda SAID, anxiously, torn between
desire 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
in fragments.
"Well, Beli:,da, you're just going to
make make me say it," with tender
quiver in her voice. "Iwant you to have
good time, and want you to have my
wheel, and don't care if you smash it
all to pieces"
If it had not been for Margaret's de-
termination that Belinda should learn
to ride, and her constant encourage
ment as teacher, it is to be feared that
Belinda's hot desire for wheeling might
have cooled. It is hard to be persistent
when you must struggle into an uncer-
tain saddle after repeated and painful
efforts, only 70 find your steed career
ing directly into prickly blackberry
vines or against a hard board fence,
and this day after day behind the back
of an opposition which Is sure soon to
be heaped upon your aching head. But
there was strata of perseverance un.
derlying Belinda's gentle nature and Il
quickness in her slender frame that at
length brought her to a safe, slow ride
around the yard. When she dismounted
in a sudden and rather astonishing man
ner, and sail to Margaret, with un-
usual enthusiasm: II can ride now,
can't I? Oh, I'm so glad you taught me
I'm so glad!" Margaret rejoiced, and
felt that her project for Belinda's hap
piness was firmly established.
But it was long before Belinda could
be tempted outside the garden gate.
She was very much afraid that some
body might see her, and, what is much
more common fear to novice, declared
she should run. into team. But at
length she was persuaded into a lonely
road behind the house, and there she
practiced, riding back and forth, with
Margaret trotting obligingly by her
side, until she declared she would 20
all alone, and Off she went, and back she
came in triumph.
ut is really too long for you," Mar
garet said. 1T was too long for me,
e.ad am taller than you. Why, some
women wear skirts almost up to their
knees, and some wear trousers, Just a
little full, you know"
Belinda looked horror-stricken. Mar
garet had overreached herself this
time.
I'll don't know as I'll better ride
the bicycle if that kind of women do, -
she murmured, fearfully.
''Oh, we'll, the very incest ladies ride
Wheels" Margaret said, hastily. as sh.
carried the Objectionable skirt away.
When she returned, tears were in Be
linda's eyes.
II hope you will excuse me-" she said,
tremulously. II didn't mean to be
silly"
ooh, that's all right" Margaret re-.
piled.
After all, it made little difference.
There was no one to tell Belinda how
cld-fashioned and quantity sweet she
locked bestride this modern invention.
When it was time for Margaret to
leave the little village, a perceptible
change was coming over Belinda. Her
cheeks had more color. Her figure was
more erect. She no longer asked her
sister what she should wear and where
she might]go each time she went out;
and Mrs. Bascom actually saw her go
down the street ono day in her black
silk waist when she had expressly told
hcr to put on her green poplin. Itgave
Belinda a strange feeling of authority
to have gained control over so unruly
a stecd, and new spirit of independ-
ente to have made aud persevered in a
decision without her sisters peremp-
tory assistance.
One day, soon after Margaret had
left, Belinda was going down the gar
den path on her way to her second alb
solutely independent ride, when Mrs.