Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-08-19
LOVE ON A BICYCLE.

| LIZ IA \'4N "A D1O L OlL1Is
A bicycle stood leaning heavily against
Its stand as If worn out from long, tedious
waiting for its mistress. A rustic, as of
silk lined haircloth, was heard on tho Gel
lar stairs. 1t was she, its dauntloss rider.
A loud olang, clang of the doorbell
startled these tears away. She knew that
ring. All disheveled and dusty, she rushed
into the drawing room. She met her lover
like moody cherub. He looked at her for
a moment, standing with his legs wide
apart, his hands in his pockets and for
gotten hat on the back of his head, heaved
sigh Of resignation and said disgustedly:
II see, my poor little girl, that this con-
founded bicycle question is on top again.
Do you know, Eleanor, that I know a
fine fellow who wants bicycle just like
yours SO everlastingly bad that he would
be willing to give 81 200 cash for it If he
could have it within an hour"
"Georgel You shall not have my dear
wheel to smash into splinters. If you your
self had ever ridden, you would advocate
1t for everybody. It is stubborn and mar
row that You will not learn. Your preju-
dice is making heartless fellow Of you.
1t shall be crushed at once. am deter
mined. Can't you see that am deter
mined?"
Her hands were clasped tightly She
shivered slightly and her voice was tense
as she continued with white teeth set: ~
shall ride tomorrow to Chevy Chase inn.
start at noon exactly You may start on
wheel at II. If you reach the inn before
I do, we will be married soon. If not
never!"
The last word WAS called from the hall.
The speaker was gone. The man turned
pale. He was not a student of women's
whims, and he was deeply In love- He put
a hand to his head and was dimly conscious
Of wondering whether it was his hand or
some other fellows.
He sat down on the corner of card ia
BILE because it happened to DO behind him
and said out loud, II will think" Three
minutes later he arose and said, II will
think"
He walked through tho hall and out into
the air, forgetting his cane, his overcoat
and the violets no had brought Eleanor.
As the front door closed behind him with
bang 1t startled him as 1t might sleep
walker.
Soon his eyes, which had not distin-
guished the passersby were riveted on o
sign which seemed to scream at him, "Bi-
cycling aoademy!'
1t drew him to the spot as If by magnet
ism. He entered the door and looked
blankly Mt the man at the desk and laid
down bill which made the fellow stare,
refused the change and asked to be taught
at once.
An attendant brought him wheel.
The cold glitter Of its nickel plating filled
his whole being with determination. He
waved the teacher aside and mounted with
the spring Of kangaroo. The wheel
headed straight as die for the brick par
tition. When within yard oft, he lifted
long limbs above the handle bar and met
the wall with the bottoms of two substan-
tial feet He was shot back some distance
and then off.
The instructor asked him sweetly If he
thought he was riding battering ram or
boomerang. The lover did not smile.
The instructor then asked him for the nd
dress Of his doctor. He gave number on
Sixteenth street. That was Eleanor's
home. Before he left the school the shad-
ows had heightened into darkness, and he
was riding beautifully around the circle
with his handkerchief bound tightly
around his head and the teachers arm
about his waist If Eleanor could have
seen himl He felt himself victor over a
fend.
The next morning at 1850 he left his
door, The day was perfect. He felt the
exhilaration Of success and resistless
force of resolution. He leaned over the
handle bar and sped rapidly over the
asphalt He painted and pushed up the
hills and coasted down over the bridges
and past the zoo. His one thought was to
make the wheels go round, to cover space.
Slowly the idea began to force itself
upon him that something was wrong with
the wheel. He thought 1t must need oil
ing, such terrible pain and weakness did
attack his limbs when he tried to force the
pedals around, and his head grew light
and dizzy. He thought to dismount, but
rolled off instead. He tried to take a step
to straighten his limbs. They refused to
be Strengthened. They gave way beneath
him and he foil Oh his knees as If in sup
plication to Cupid to cease from his tor.
ture.
He lay on the ground for moment In
order that the dizziness might pass away.
He must have lost consciousness for mo-
ment, for suddenly he felt hand on his
head, and the gruff voice of motorman
asked: care you all broke up, old man9
Don't you want a lift9"
These accents were as sweet to his ears
as the murmuring of siren. He was sore
ly tempted and yielded. He allowed his
wheel to be lifted OH the car and himself
to be assisted to seat which was not
saddle, while he constantly whispered to
his conscience, "All is fair In love and
war;
He closed his eyes and half dreamed,
half thought that he was waited along on
feecy clouds. Suddenly thought struck
him like a lightning bolt. "Eleanor!"
Might she not see him alighting from the
car? Was he to be branded In her eyes AZ a
cowardly oheatp
He snatched at his watch and dragged
himself to the end of the car and tried
with his eyes to pierce the solid hills In
order to gain the first dreaded glimpse OF
his darling, who rode like the wind on her
metal steed.
He saw for ten minutes only blank
road, and then, with nervous start, dis
cerned spot Of blue. He knew that 1t was
blue serge and that 1t tapped about bicycle
wheels.
"Was it, oh, was 1t EleanorP'
He thought he saw a tam and strained
his eyes to see II there was feather on 1t.
From the handle bar waved streamers. 1t
must be Eleanor.
The car stopped for moment. He was
frantic. The bicyclist dlsmounted.
"Thank heaven!" she wore boomers.
It was not Eleanor.
The lover sank Frustrated with sudden
relief
In a short time the inn was reached.
He was assisted from the car, and the