Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-08-12
MADE FOR TWO.

hand and foot to her chariot wheel, or
perhaps it would be better to say now
that she had taken to cycling, that he
was bound to her bicycle wheel. She
had flouted him and scorned him for
upward of two years, and in despair
Jack set himself at undoing his bonds.
Jack had heard that Cissie had taken
to the bicycle, but he had never seen the
young lady on machine. For the past
week or two Jack had avoided Cissie,
and he had taken out his bicycle and
had gone for long wheel into the
peaceful country.
As he cycled along narrow country
thoroughfare he heard behind him the
sharp ring of bicycle bell. Something
in its imperative ring, or else the fact
that he was on lonely road, caused
him to look over his shoulder, and he
nearly tumbled off his machine with
amazement and surprise.
There was Cissie on the top Of silver
plated machine, with the very newest
and natty cut Of an advanced woman's
bicycle costume, clipping over the dis
lance at tremendous rate Of speed.
She passed him with a whir, giving
him saucy nod and salutation as
she went by.
"Stop a minute, Cissie. Iwant to tell
you something.
But the young woman never paid the
slightest attention. She bent over the
handle bars and raced down that lane in
a way to make pedestrians head swim.
Cissie disappeared round a corner,
and when Jack came to it she was not
to be seen down the long avenue.
Jack went on leisurely for mile or
two, then he jumped lightly off his ma
chine and trundled it along beside him.
The road had suddenly become very bad
and Jack thought it safer to wheel the
bicycle along by hand rather than risk
puncture on the sharp flint stones scat
tered with such profusion along the way.
Near a little rustic bridge over q
clear stream at the bottom Of dell he
found what he expected to find-a very
pretty girl, with most woebegone,
disconsolate look on her face, sitting on
the grassy bank, looking forlornly at
bicycle that lay on the road with the
tire Of the hind wheel collapsed.
Hello, Cissie!" said Jack breezily.
"Had tumble?"
"No," snapped Cissie. II am not in
the habit Of tumbling."
"Ah" said Jack. II see what is the
matter. The tire is punctured. I knew
that would happen. I shouted after you
to tell you Of this bit Of road, but you
would not listen"
IT did not hear you," said Cissie, at
which assertion Jack raised his eye
brows with incredulity, which made
Cissie all the more angry, especially as
she knew she was telling thing which
was not true.
"Well. I don't want any help from
you, she said CURLY.
"Why, Of course not" returned
Jack, sitting down on the opposite bank
and leaning his bicycle against the
hedge. IA person who comes out on a
wheel and doesn't know how to mend
anything that goes wrong is simply a
silly fool One can see you understand
all about cycling, because you have left
your machine lying on the ground and
the oil is running out Of your lamp"
"It isn't your lamp, and ! can surely
do what I like with my own. I don't
see what right you have to interfere"
"Bless you, Cissie,'' said Jack, ~
am not interfering. I am not even Of
fering advice. Ihave never yet had the
pleasure Of seeing woman take of a
pneumatic tire and mend the inner
tube. This, Of course, you have to do be-
| fore you can move on. for you are miles
away from any place. and even II you
left your machine, here you would not
dare to walk home in that idiotic COS
tune"
Cissie blushed deeply, and the tears
came into her usually bright eyes. She
rugged nervously at the skirts Of her
coat, and then, seeing what she was do
ing and finding that they but scantily
covered her knees, she looked for mo-
ment as If she were going to burst out
crying, for it had taken some bravery
to come out for the first time in knick-
| erbOckers
"What business is it Of yours" abe
cried, chow ! am dressed? You are
nothing to me, and am sure / don't
care a penny for your opinion one way
or another"
II don't suppose you do" said Jack,
striking q match and lighting his pipe.
II used to be under the impression that
you knew how to dress ] am not any