The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-29


They were proud of me at the shops
indeed think thero was something about
my graceful frame and polished enamel
finish that made me stand Out as one apart
from tho thousands Of other wheels around
me. The first journey 1 took was when
left my native city and was shipped, with
many companions, Co Washington. liked
this beautiful Capital City and longed for
q spin on the smooth asphalt pavements,
but it seemed for time that was DOOM
cd to disappointment.
was taken TO the bicycle school, where
] spent most Of my days watching the
strange antics of beginners, the earnest
efforts Of those who had taken several les
sons and the lofty, though sometimes un-
certain, airs of the ones almost ready to
ride in the street
In all OF this / had no part Twas new
wheel and must wait quietly until pur-
chased Sometimes my indignation would
DO aroused by the rough treatment be-
slowed upon tho poor machines on which
the beginners were taught by their mex
perionced riders How they slammed
those wheels aroundl
til / was weary of 1t all, and beyond max
ing a firm resolution to throw myself down
precipice before descending TO such work
did nothing for several weeks. At last,
one beautiful morning. remember well,
It was May l9-the manager of the place
came In the park accompanied by very
pretty girl and an older lady, whom took
to be the girls mother.
They came over to the rack In which
stood, and, drawing me out, he said: Here
Is exactly what you want, miss. There Is
not n finer wheel in the city. Look at that
frame, good and strong beautifully fin
ishcd; light weight; just lift it, not 20
pounds, all the bearings turned from tool
steel"-- The girls pretty face was n
study as she looked me up and down in an
anxious effort TO find the different parts
to which the manager referred SO glibly.
II like 1t, she said at length. Don't
you, mother? You see, " turning to the man,
81 have been about month trying 10 buy q
wheel. thought it would be quite easy,
but we have had dreadful time. Besides
having gone to about 20 places ourselves,
we have had at least 80 agents, who heard
We wanted wheel, come after us, and the
most pnzzling part of 1t all Is that each
one says all the others arc perfectly worth
less. So mother and made up our minds
to give them all the slip, and that is why
we camo here this morning. Let us take
this wheel, mother"
The mother approached me, tried TO look
critical, gave me gentle shake, and said:
''Well, it seems 20 be n good strong one.
i do hope you won't have any accidents. "
That very afternoon / was sent TO my
new home, magnificent brownstone on
&t..,.k H. h.. n
knew all about the family, for gossip Is
rife In the servants hall, In little room
adjoining which was kept.
My young mistress was named Bessie
Bainbridge. 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 do
voted father and mother would sit out on
the porch and watch Bessie and me strug-
Cling 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 follow, 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 mado the wheel wabble so,
wasn't something tho matter, and hadn't
they botter go back 70 the man and COM
plain, and was he sure there was no dam
ger The last timo Bessie had run into
the tree box it looked from where they sat
as though sho might have had a serious
fall IL he hadn't caught her In time.
AS sny, 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
AL her weight on that same side, which
was enough to make any self respecting
wheel turn her over in the gutter must
confess did this numbcrlcss times and al
so played a few other little tricks on her,
one Of which, turning into the pavement
when the rider is trying TO mount and
turn you out, is q great favorite among
the ladies' wheels.
La.er on, however, got to like Bessie,
who was as clever off wheel as she was
stupid on, and Bob as they called the young
man. was my friond from the first.
so In about n week we began TO make
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
iFtcuu VI DlSSlc ?, WHO came 10 tDe mousse
almost every night and sat with her par
ents calmly dipping some cool drink and
encouraging us by calling out from time
30 time how such and such thing might
be avoided or how to act under certain
rircumstanccS Then he would add 20 the
comfort of tho parents by low remark 20
the effect that Bob Richards didn't know
thing about a wheel, and sometimes he
would keep Bessie's courage up by promis-
Ing TO take her for some long rides as soon
~ she had Uastcrcd the wary bicycle.
i didn't Ike 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 10 see To me, would run
mp the steps 70 ask IL Mr. Meredith didn't
think she was doing bottor 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 sho found he hadn't, OF
coursc-she foil of. and II was mean trick
70 play her And then the whole party
berated poor Bob whose sole ofiense seem