The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-08-27

and said:
well, it seems to be a good strong
one. | do hope you won't have any ac-
cidents."
That very afternoon I was sent to my
new home, magnificent brown stone
an Connecticut avenue, and in a few
days l knew all about the family, for
gossip is rife in the servants hall, in a
little room adjoining which l was kept.
My young mistress was named Bessie
cambridge, she was the only-and need
less to say overindulged-child of
wealthy parents, and just now, of
course, she was suffering from bad
case of bicycle fever.
Almost every evening after dark the
devoted father and mother would sit
out on the porch and watch Bessie and
ME struggle up and down the street. A
young friend of hers was teaching her
to ride, and of all patient and devoted
instructors that handsome man took
the lead. He was nice fellow, too, and
never seemed too hot or tired to invent
suitable answers to the parents endless
questions as to why Bessie couldn't ride
along like the other girls did, and what
made the wheel wobble so, wasn't some
thing the matter, and hadn't they bet
ter go back to the man and complain,
and was he sure there was no danger.
| The last time Bessie had run into the
tree box it looked from where they sat
as though she might have had serious
fall if he hadn't caught her in time.
As l say, he was wonderfully patient,
for Bessie, to tell the truth, was very
stupid and had a 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 confess l lid 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 a great favorite among the la
dies wheels.
Later on, however, I got to like Bes-
sic, who was as clever off a wheel as
she was stupid on, and Bob, as they
called the young man, was my friend
from the first.
SO in about week we began TO make
a most harmonious trio, and then Bob
would bring his own wheel around,
and that made pleasant company for
me.
One thing [ objected to from the first.
and Bob agreed with me, | think, was
a 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 and
such a thing might be avoided, or how
to act under certain circumstances.
| Then he would add to the comfort of
the parents by a low remark TO the
effect that Bob Richards didn't know
a thing about a 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, ard
Bessie--well, we couldn't tell about her.
| only know after we had put in an
hours eXhausting labor she would go
off to rest, and, leaving Bob to see to
Inc, would run up the steps to ask if
Mr.. Meredith didn't think she was do
ing better, and wasn't it entirely Bob's
fault that she fell over that last time;
she thought he had hold of the wheel,
and when she found he hadn't, of course
g
play her! And then the whole party
berated poor Bob, whose sole olfens-,
seemed to be a desire to hasten her
progress.
Bob never would say word in his
own behalf, but | used to even up mat
ters by going very carefully when felt
him let go, until Bessie would cry out
in delight: 'Oh, look at mel | am rid.
ing beautifully" and Mr.. Meredith
would say, languidly: bravo! Now
remember what L told you about the
pedals" And then | would lose my tenn
per and stop suddenly in a bit Of mud,
and off would go Bessie before yor
could say Jack Robinson.
She didn't know a thing about MAX
ing herself mistress of 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!"
And so, at length, Mr.. Meredith. who
had been doing the waiting to perfec-
ton, had Bessie come to him with the
glad news that she could ride splendidly
now, and couldn't they make up some
parties and go out on the road? Then
we had several very pleasant rides. Oc-
casionally there would be quite crowd,
but very often we went only four, Bes-
sic with Mr. Meredith and Bob rele-
gated to her chum, Miss Grey, who
really was a beautiful rider.
l 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 | were quite
friendly about that time, and was try
ing to please her by giving as little
trouble as possible.
Before long Bessie became convinced
of the idea that she was famous rider.
and suggested that we all take a trip