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

ness in her slender frame that nj
length brought her to n safe. slow
ride around the yard. When she dis.
mounted in sudden and rather as
toDishlng manner, and said to Marga-
ret with unusual enthusiasm. az can
ride how, can't I? Oh, Pm so clad
you taught me-Pm so glad !" Marga-
ret rejoiced and felt that her project
Tor Belinda's happiness was firmly es-
tablished.
But 1t was long before Belinda could
be tempted outside the garden gate.
She was very much afraid that some
body might see her, aud, what is a
much more common fear to novice,
declared she would run into a team.
But Mt length she was persuaded into
lonely road behind the house, and
there she practiced, riding back and
forth, with Margaret trotting oblig,
lngly by her side, until she declared
che would go all alone, and off she
went, and back she came in triumph.
When 1t was time for Margaret to
leave the little village perceptible
change was coming over Belinda. Her
cheeks had more 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 a strange
feeling of authority to have gained
control over so unruly steed, and II
new spirit of independence to have
made and persevered in a decision
without her sisters peremptory assis-
lance
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 l de-
clare you amt going out lookin' that
way, are you?"
Belinda turned and walked toward
the house, partly from force of
obedient habit, partly because she
knew her sister would shout after her
until she did. She came into the
front room with a sudden pink color
in her cheeks.
81 declare to goodness" Mrs. Bas.
com exclaimed, ''you amt a-goin' out
this raw day with that thin waist and
old skirt on, [ hope"
Belinda had dressed in Just this wav
for bicycling purposes, and an un.
usual, determined light came into her
eyeg.
'Now, Sarah" she said, I've pub
on just the kind of things L want to
wear, and I'm going to wear them.
Seems to me when I'm most thirty
years old l ought to know how to
dress"
Sarah stared at her with widc.open
eyes.
"Well, of all independence !" she
said.
'But don't you think ought TO be
Independent if I'm ever going to 10? g"
Sarah took mp her sewing and
turned away. Belinda took "a little
step forward.
81 amt never considered the dues
tion," she said, gr1mly.
uuueAlU-Ol
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, I never" she declared.
"P'r'Nps 1 have been too domineer-
ing"
Belinda started on her ride-alone n
quiet road away from the village. 1t
was not quite so hard to assert herself
as she had supposed; she almost
wished she had told Sarah about her
bicycling then and there"
"I'll tell her tonight, " Belinda said,
as she rode on, and she sighed rs she
thought of her long deferred declara-
ton of independence; Il year ago it
might have made much moro difference
in two lives.
1t was 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 so she did not see the
bare blue back trees that cast GENTLE.
N'tNA - AA''AaS - FIA JlAG lhltI autumn NOtOES
OF russell brown and dull red. She did
not even dare TO steal glance mt the
long piebald line of leaves that Law
curled by the fences. She kept her
eye on the wheel and her hand on the
brake, and n pretty picture she herself
made prettier than any wooded
slope, this bit OF dainty womanhood,
whose fashion of by-gono days seemed
to harmonize with tho autumn time.
She had on the little tight fitting
black silk basque with the crocheted
buttons down the front, and there was
q bright blue bow Mt tho throat, lit.
tie ovorshadowed by the black velvet
bonnet strings, for Belinda had worn
q bonnet ever since she was twenty.
one.
She was going on well, and leclina
happier and more confident every mo-
ment, when she came to % slight hill.
down which tho wheel began TO de.
scend q little more rapidly; on. She
had ner little blaclmittsl hand ON
the brake, and oil would have been
well If the barge had not turned into
the road. Now barge, being LARGE
| two-horse conveyance, was very for.
midabIe thing for this inexpetiencol
bicyclist TO pass, and Bcliudas breath
came fast and her checks grow very