The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-08-13

fall il he hadn't caught her in time.
AS i say. he was wonderfully pa
tient, for Bessie, to tell the truth, was
very stupid and had silly little way
of grabbing one of my handle bars
tightly and throwing all her weight
on that same side, which was enough
to make any self-respecting wheel turn
her over in the gutter. l must con.
fess did this numberless times, and
also played few other little tricks on
her, one of which-turning into the
pavement when the rider Is trying to
mount and turn you OUTS n great
favorito among the ladies' wheels.
Later on, however, got to like
Bessie, who was MS clever off wheel
as she was stupid on, and Bob, as they
called the young man, was my friend
from tho first.
So IN alb out week we began 60
make most harmonious trio, and
then Bob would bring his own wheel
around, and that made pleasant COM
pany for me.
One thing l objected to from the
first, and Bob agreed with me think,
was n friend of Bessie's who came to
the house almost every night and sat
with her parents calmly slipping some
cool drink, and encouraging us by
calling out from time to time how
such an such o thing might be avoid
ed. or how to act under certain cir
cumstances. Then he would add to
the comfort of the parents by low
remark to the effect that "Bob Rich
ards didn't know thing about n
Wheel" and sometimes he would keep
Bessie's courage up by promising to
take her for some long rides as soon as
she had mastered the wary bicycle.
/ didn't like him and Bob didn't,
and Bessie-well, we couldn't tell
about her. ! only know after we had
put in an hours exhausting labor she
would get of to rest, and, leaving Bob
to see to me, would run up the steps
to ask il Mr.. Meredith didn't think
she was doing better, and wasn't it en-.
tirely Bob's fault that she fell over
that last time; she thought he had
ho'd ottba wheel, ard when she found
/ ne hadn't, of course she fell off. and 1t
was mean trick to play her And
then the whole party berated poor
Bob, whose sole offence seemed to be
o desire to hasten her progress.
Bob never would say word in his
own behalf, but / used to even up
matters by going very carefully when
felt him let go, until Bessie woul 1
cry out in delight. "Oh, look at me
l am riding beautifully" and Mr..
Meredith would say languidly,
"Bravol Now remember what told
you about the pedals" And then 1
would lose my temper and stop sud-
denly in a bit of mud, and off would
go Bessie before you could say Jack
Robinson.
She didn't know thing about max
ing herself mistress of n wheel. All
she wanted was to sit on and ride.
She was one of those girls who will
never manage anything unless, may
be, husband.
"All things come to him who waits ~
Aad 80 at length Mr.. Meredith, who
had been doing the waiting to perfec-
tion, had Bessie come to him with the
glad news that she could ride splendid.
ly now. and couldn't they make up
some parties and go out on the road.
Then we had several very pleasant
rides. Occasionally there would be
quite q crowd, but very often We went
only four, Bessie with Mr.. Meredith
aud Bob relegated to her chum, Miss
Grey. who really was beautiful rider.
did not like this arrangement, as
Mr.. Meredith rode one of those gaudy,
conspicuous affairs that no really nice
wheel would wish to be seen with in
the street, but Bessie and we're quite
friendly about that time, and 1 was
trying to please her by giving as little
trouble as possible.
Before long Bessie became con-
vinced OF the idea that she was fam.
GUS rider, and suggested that we all
take n trip TO Cabin John Bridge. ]
heard Bob advise her to try shorter
run first, but then Mr.. Meredith came
up and said it would be delightful,
and of course Miss Bessie could do il
easily; there wasn't better rider in
the city, and he fixed on the next day
for the trip.
The next day dawned clear and
warm, and we Sc: out about 4.30 o'clock
must admit that Bessie looked al
pretty as picture in her dainty suit
with its many buttons and jaunty cap
Before we started Bob came up to me
as he always did, to see that all my
parts were secure and firm, and that
no pebbles or bits OF dirt were scratch
ing against my chain. He did not lool
particularly pleased over the trip. ant
indeed fully agreed with him that il
was far too long for Bessie to attempt
At length We were spinning merrily
along. l was determined to act my
best, 80 took the lead, with that circu,
wheel OF Mr., Meredith's, leaving Bot
and Miss Grey to follow. All went
we'll for about four miles, and ther
Bessie began to weaken. She was tired
very tired, as could easily tell by
! the feeble way she pushed on my ped
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