The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-09-22

the man and complain, md was he
sure there was no danger. The last
time Bessie had run into I'll tree box
1T looked from where they sat ms
though she might have had serious
fall If he hadn't caught her in time.
As | say, he was wonderfully pa.
tient, for Bessie, to tell the truth, was
very stupid and had silly little way
OF grabbing one OF my handle bnrs
tightly and throwing all her weight
on that same side, which was enough
to make any self-respect;ng wheel turn
her over in the gutter. / must con-
Tess did this numberless times, and
also played o few other little tricks on
her, ono of which turning into the
pavement when the rider Is trying to
mount and turn you OUTS n great
favorte among the ladies' wheels.
Later on. however, 1 got to like
Bessie, who was as clever off q 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 most harmonious trio, and
then Bob would bring his own wheel
around, and that made pleasant com.
pauy for me.
One thing I objected to from the
first, and Bob agreed with me think,
was friend of Bcssie'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 AMI such n thing might be avoid
ed, or how to act under certain cir
cumstauces. Then he would add to
the comfort of the parents by low
remark to the effect that "Bob Rich
ards didn't know a thing about n
wheel" and sometimes he would keep
Bessle's courage mp 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,
and Bessie-well, we couldn't tell
about her. l only know after we had
| put IN an hours eXhausting labor she
woul get off to rest, aud, leaving Bob
to see to me, would run up the steps
to ask if Mr.. Meredith didn't think
sho was doing better, AMI wasn't it en-.
tlrely Bob's fault that she fell over
that last time; she thought he had
hold of the wheel, aud when she found
he hadn't, of course sine fell off. an it
was mean trick to play her And
tfen the whole party berated poor
Bob, whose sole offence seemed to he
q desire to hasten her progress.
Bob never would say word IN his
own behalf, but l used to even up
matters by going very carefully when
l felt him let go, uutil Bessie woul
cry out in delight. cob, look at me
am riding beautifully !" and Mr..
! Mere It'll would say languidly,
bravo Now remember what L told
| you about the pedals" And then |
would lose my temper and stop sui
denly in bit-of mud, and off would
go Bessie before you could say Jack
! Robinson.
She didn't know thing about max
| ing herself mistress OF wheel. All
she wanted was to sit on aud ride.
She was one of those girls who will
never manage anything unless, may
/ be, n husband.
"Allthings come to him who waits !"
And so ut 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 splendid.
| ly now, and couldn't they make up
/ some parties and go out on the road.
Then we had several very pleasant
| ride9. Occasionally there would be
/ quite crowd, but very often we went
/ only four, Bessie with Mr.. Meredith
and Bob rele2ated to her chum, n Miss
/ Grey, who really was a beautiful rider.
! | did not like this arrangement, ms
| Mr.. Meredith rode one of those pnudv.
conspicuous AFFAIRS that no really nice
wheel would wish TO be seen with in
tho street, but Bessie and we're quito
| friendly about that time, and / was
trying to please ner by giving rs little
| trouble rs possible.
Before long Bessie became con
vincod OF the idea that she was fam
GUS rider, and suggested that We all
take q trip to Cabin John Bridge.
hearl Bob advise her to try shorter
run first, but then Mr. Meredith came
mp and said it. you'd bo delightful.
and OF course Miss Bessie could do il
easily; there wasn't n better rider i'm
the city, and he fixed on the next day
| for the trip
The next day dawnol clear and
warm, and we sc. out nbOdt 4. o'clock.
! must admit that Bessie looked ms
pretty ms picture i'm her dainty suit.
with its many buttons aud Jauutv CAP
| Before we started Bob camc up 10 me,
as ho always did, 90 sec that All NV
parts were secure and firm, aud that
mo- pebbles or bits OF dirt were scratch.
ing against my chain. 10 did NOS look
particularly pleased over tho trip. and
indeed fully agreed with him that il
wus FIR too long FOR Bessie o. attempt
st length VIC were spinning mcrrily
along. I was determined 10 act nv
best, go took tho lead, with that circus
wheel of Mr., Meredith, leaving Bob
aud Miss Grey TO follow. AN went
well for about four miles, and then
Bessie began 90 weaken She wastire3.
very tired, ~ I could easily tell by
the feeble way she pushed on my ped.
ais, but she was determined not 10 give