The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-03-26

ride around the yard. When she dis
mounted in sudden and rather as
tonishing manner, and said to Marga-
ret with unusual enthusiasm, al can
ride Low, can't i? Oh, I'm so glad
you taught me--I'm so glad" Marga.
ret rejoiced and felt that her project
for Belinda's happiness was firmly es.
tablished.
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 a
much more common fear to a novice.
declared she would run into q team.
But at length she was persuaded into
lonely road behind the house, and
there she practiced, riding back and
forth, with Margaret trotting oblig-
ingly by her side, until she declared
she would go oil alone, AMI off she
went, and back she came in triumph.
When it was time for Margaret TO
leave the little village perceptible
change was coming over Belinda. Her
cheeks had moro 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 one day in
her black silk waist when she had ex.
pressly told her to put on her green
poplin. 1t gave Belinda q strange
feeling of authority to have gained
control over so niuly steed, and u
new spirit of independence to have
made and persevered in a decision
without her sisters peremptory assis-
tance.
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.
Bascom called from the window.
Belinda" she cried, "come right
back and change your dress! / de-
clare you amt going out lookin' that
way, are you|
Belinda turned and walked toward
the house, partly from force of
obedent habit, partly because che
knew her sister would shout after her
until she did. She came into the
front room with a sudden pink color
in her cheeks.
al declare to goodness" Mrs. Bas-
com exclaimed. "you amt a-goin' out
this raw day with that thin waist and
old skirt on, l hope"
Belinda had dressed in Just this way
for bicycling purposes, and an un.
usual, determined light came into her
eyes.
"Now, Sarah" she said, "I've put
on just the kind of things want to
wear, and I'm going to wear them.
Seems to me when I'm most thirty
years old 1 ought to know how to
dress"
Sarah stared at her with wide.open
eyes.
"Well, of all independence" !" she
said.
"But don't you think ought to be
independent if I'm ever going to be9n
Sarah took mp fer sewipg as.
turned away. Belinda took a little
step forward.
81 amt never considered the ques
tion," she said, 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 looked after her to be sure il
was Belinda.
"Well, ] never" she declared.
"P'r'aps / have been too domineer-
ing"
Belinda started on her ride, ,along q
quiet road away from the village. 1t
was not quite SO hard to assert herself
rs she had SUPPOSED; she almost
wished she had told Sarah about her
bicycling then and there"
"Pll tell her tonight" Belinda said,
as she rode on, and she sighed as she
thought OF her long deferred declara.
tion of independence; a year ago it
might have made much more difference
III two lives.
1t was Il beautiful day, but Belinda
did not once look at the clear sky and
autumn woods as she rode along, for
she was not sufficiently expert rider
to view the scenery and keep to her
straight course; 80 she did not see the
bare blue back trees that cast gentle,
dark haze over the later autumn colors
of russet brown and dull red. She did
not even dare to steal glance at the
long piebald line of leaves that lay
curled by the fences. She kept her
eye on the wheel and her hand on the
brake, and pretty picture she herself
made-prettier than any wooded
slope, this bit of dainty womanhood,
whose fashion OF by-gone days seemed
to harmonize with the autumn time.
She had on the little tight fitting
black silk basque with the crocheted
buttons down the front, and there was
a bright blue bow at the throat, lit.
tie overshadowed by the black velvet
bonnet strings, for Belinda had worn
bonnet ever since she was twenty
one.
She was going on well, and feeling
happier and more confident every mo-