The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-05-05

Margaret caught the sadness in her
voice.
sob, Belindal" 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, L Couldn't ] really couldn't. "
"Oh, yes, you couldw Margaret
cried, turning the wheel out into the
garden path. Come quickl'
Belinda rose from her seat on the
steps and came over to where Margaret
stood.
"Get on" Margaret said, 'TIl hold
you"
Belinda gave q little cry.
"Oh, Margaret I'm afraid could
MT"
Eyes, you can, too" Margaret said,
determinedly; 'get right onl'
Belinda was so used to obeying that
she put one foot on the pedal; then
she withdrew it quickly and looked
about.
"What if any one should see me?''
she whispered, but an excited girlish
AS IL Nho III uGE Gy CS.
''There isn't soul anywhere
around" Margaret answered, prompt
ly. ''There, that's all right; there
you are-hold on"
There was little need to give Belinda
this caution; she held on like wise,
with pale, frightened fnce.
This was BelindG's first experience
with athletics in any form, and she
grew so interested and excited that
two little red spots came out on either
check, and she forgot to ask Margaret
if she was tired, but kept on SO per-
severlngly that Margaret herself had
to suggest it was long enough first
lesson.
81 never tried to learn anything in
my life before" she said, breathiess
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 cratic
movements.
But Belinda's face fell.
"Of course couldn't ride, even If
1 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, and 1 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 it."
Belinda looked both frightened and
delighted.
"ohl" she gaspod, "what would
Sarah say?"
Margaret meditated. She we'll knew
Mrs. Bascom was an important factor
and Jealous opponent of all innova-
tions.
"She wouldn't care" she said reck.
lessly. And then more gravely: "Whv
do you say anything 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 I ought to take
your Wheel" Belinda protested re-
turning to the lesser but more polite
objection.
"Now, Belinda, it would be real
comfort if you would take care of 1t
for me. You can keep it right here
at uncle's, and come and practice un-
til you want your sister to know about
it. If don't leave it with you, shall
have to lend it to some of my frierds
IN the city, who won't take half such
good care of it.
COB, but 1 might smash 1T up be-
cause l don't know how to ride" Be-
linda said anXiously, torn between de-
sire and doubt.
Margaret laughed outright. She
might as well tell the truth. Ifshe
could only bring some sweetness and
light into this dear little womnn's life,
she did not care if her wheel we're left
IL fragments
"Well, Belinda, you're lust GOING to
make me say 1T" with a tender culver
IN her voice. 81 want you to have n
good time, and want you to have nv
wheel, and 1 don't care if you do
smash it al TO pieces"
What else could Belinda do, be-
twist long habit of yielding and new
desire for wheeling, but give way to
Margaret's kindness?
"dow good you nrel" she cried.
cit would be beautiful if could ride.
] should like IL better than ANYTHING
ever did"
But ON the way homo another
thought came to her. What would
John Baker think If no should see her
ON q bicycle. To be sure, she had
given him up because Of her sister.
lusinuetions and determined opposI-
ton, and he might be marrioduow for
oil belinda knew; yet somehow in ell
OF her decisions she thought of him
aud what his opinion would bo. This
seemed the most important step she
had ever taken, and, since che could
not turn to her sister, she longed with
q great longing for his advice on th,
matter.
If it had not been for Margareg.
| determination that Belinda should
learn TO ride and her constant cncour.
ogouent as n teacher, it is TO be feared
that Boliula'a hot desire Tor Wheeling
might have cooled. It is hard Co be
D 40 a H