Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-04-03
"But don't YOU think ought to b

|
Sarah took up her sewing and turned
away. Belinda took little step for
ward.
.I amt never considered the ques-
tion," she sand, grimly.
Then Belinda did an unheard-Of and
! unexpected thing; she went over to her
sister and kissed her, and then went
quickly out of the front door. Sarah
locked after her 10 DE sure it was BE"
linda.
"Well, never" she declared. P'r'aps
| have been too domineering."
Belinda started on her ride along \
quiet road away from the village. 1t
was not quite SO harsi to assert herself
AS she had supposed; she almost wished
she had told Sarah about her bicycling
then and there.
III tell her tonight Belinda said,
as she rode on, and she sighed as she
thought of her long-deferred declara-
ton of independence; year ago it
might have made much more difference
in two lives.
1t vas beautiful day, but Belinda
did not once look at the clear sky ond
autumn woods as she rode along, for
she was not a sufficiently expert rider
to view :hc scenery and kept in her
straight course; so she did not see the
bare blue black trees that cast Il gen.
tie, dark maze over the later autumn
colors of russct-brown and dull-red.
She did not even dare to steal a glance
at the long plCbald Inc OF leaves that
lay curled by the ferces. She kept her
eye on the wheel and hcl band on the
brake, and pretty picture she herself
made--prettier than any wooded slope.
this bit OF dainty womanhood, whose
fashion of bygonc days seemed to har-
monte with the autumn time. She had
on the little tlght-tltting black silk
basque with the crochctcd buttons
down the front, and there was a bright
blue bow at the throat, Il little over
Swallowed by the black velvet bonnet
strings, for Belinda mad worn u bonnet
| ever since she was q.
She was gong on well. and feeling
happier and more confident every mo-
ment, when she came to sand hill,
down which the wheel began to &C.
scend a little more rapidly; but she had
her little black-mitted hand on the
brake, and all would have been well il
the barge had not just turned into the
road. Now Il barge, being Il large two
horse conveyance, was very furmiCla-
BILE thing for this inexperienced b,cy-
clist to pass. and Belinda's breath came
fast and her checks grew very rcd in her
determination not to lose her sclf-con.
troll. She had almost passed the dread
full threatener, when she CHANGED to
glance up at the vehicle. There was but
one passenger in the barge, and that
passenger was-John Baker. Belinda
saw his face looking down on her in
genuine surprise, ana 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 ce.
fore lie could reach Belinda. John was
holding htr up and tenderly wiping the
dust from her face. while Belinda
moved not at all, only looked at HIM
through tears of mingled JOY and pain.
1.-The bicycle amt broke" said the
driver, but neither Belinda nor jean
heard him.
''Why, Your wrist is bleeding" John
said, and nc tried to fasten his hand
kerchief about it. bnt, either because
Belinda looked at him so hard or be-
cause lie wished to prolorg so pleasan:
a task. 1T took him many minutes.
Dotf ii ~,
the driver, lifting the bicycle to the
front seat. you can't ride home if
you've hurt your wrist
"Oh, 1t isn't much" Belinda protested.
But John helped her into the barge, and,
perhaps because of an almost imptr
ceptible motion Of hers, perhaps be.
cause of the look he had seen in ier
eyes, lie sat down just beside her.
''Perhaps II better not sit down
here" he ventured.
ooh. yes!" Belinda said.
I'm glad we ran into each other"
he whispered, adding, CALAMITY, but
Id rather we'd been the ones to be
hurt"
"Oh, no. Belinda cried, lifting
frightened eyes to his; and John moved
d little nearer.
II didn't know you was ridin' BIZ
cycle, Miss Beindy," said the driver,
! from the front seat.
i've got one, toe" John said.
| Belinda turned to him with A sudden
radiant smile, then her face clouded
little.
Sarah doesn't know about nv rid
ing," she whispered.
John looked at her in amazement.
You're drawer than you used to be.
Relindy."
There was sad significance in his
voice, and Belinda looked down,
eyes, she answered, TREMENDOUSLY.
then added, brightly: Eve grown
good deal drawer since I learned tn
ride. II was going to tell her about
it tonight" she ventured, after little
pause.
| 1t was impossible for John to move
any closer, but instead he bent over to
Wh;epor.