The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-05-13

1t was pleasant spot. There was
still enough of sunlight to simmer
down in golden light among the tender
green leaves, and lie in yellow bars
across the curling tips of the young
ferns. Mrs. Thornapple stopped to
pick some violets, growing large aud
purple in the moist shade. Twenty
years before this, on just such sweet
May evening, she and Jedediah had
walked here. What a happy time it
wasl
Il wore my pink dimity gown with
short waist and leg-o'-mutton sleeves"
said Mrs. Thornapple, mentally; "and
Jedediah looked so handsome; and /
felt that l could trust him forever. Oh,
dear me! seems though"
"Alviry Alviryl Come herel" in
terrupted Miss Thankful, who was
playing the part of Sister Annie in
watching the road. "There's black
speck way up to the turnpikel"
1 don't hear no Wheels" said Mrs.
Thornapple, sitting down in sudden ag-
itation.
"The roads so sandy wheels don't
make much noise; an, besides the
creek sounds so loud. But-therel I'm
sure l heard some one talkin' or
coughin'. Scrouge back under the
hemlock, Alviry; we don't want 'em
to see us until Simultaneous all at oncel"
Miss Thankful had love for the dra-
matte. Her round cheeks and even the
tip of her nose were flushed with ex-
element. Tanning her half-fainting
companion, alternately scolding and
striving to cheer her, she kept her eyes
on the yellow streak of highway.
She found her boosted sharp-sighted-
ness of little avail now, for the twilight
was deepening rapidly. But several rods
away, dimly outlined against the UNI
Der shadows, there presently appeared
the moving outlines of something,
man, beast or vehicle; it was difficult
TO determine what. AT times it seemed
to blot out the whole width of the high
way; then it dwindled down to dark
skeleton-like circle, surmounted by a
swaying silhouette.
Pshaw!" Miss Thankful exclaimed,
in disappointed tones. st amt no
horse m bugeyl It's only man an a
bicyclel One of them college fellers, l
guess. Must be drunk, too, for he's
teeterin' around as though he didn't
know what he was about"
" Perhaps we had better keep little
out of sight" Mrs. Thornapple sug-
gested. off he's in liquor, he may be
inclined to be sassy"
But Just then Miss Thankful sprang
to her feet, saying with shrill, excited
whisper:
"Look at the road, Alviry Don't
you seeP Look! That Teller on the BIZ
cycle is-sure's preachin'-it really is
the deaconl"
1t was Deacon Thornapple. He was
practicing bicycle riding, and if honest
and energetic efforts deserve praise, the
deacon was certainly to be commended.
Truth, however, compels me to say
that he was not graceful rider. Just
then it was difficult to determine
the bicycle or whether the bicycle was
trying to ride the deacon. That bit of
sandy road was veritable Jordan
for travelling, and it was filled with peb-
bles washed down by recent freshet.
AS the first rays of the moon shone
down, they revealed the deacon's face,
red as full-blown peony and reeking
with perspiration. For minute he
paused, with one pudgy foot pressed
firmly in the sand to stay himself and
his recreant steed, while he removed
his hat and mopped his broad expanse
of bald head; then he united his neck
tie and limp collar, and tucked them
into his breeches' pocket, after which,
with grunt of determination, he seized
the handles of his wheels again,
mounted clumsily, and started on with
renewed vigor. But when just oppo-
site his unseen observers, his machine
struck hidden stump, tilted up and
toppled over, depositing its rider among
the brambles by the roadside.
Mrs. Thornapple uttered scream
she couldn't help it-and rushed for
ward to help her husband, whose aston
ishment at seeing her so unexpectedly
was equaled by his surprise at the un-
wonted tenderness with which she
helped him to rise, and flung herself
upon his breast
"There! Therel Alviry!" he ex-
claimed, making double effort to keep
both wife and bicycle in their normal
position. "There, don't cry! l amt
hurt. But, Great Scott! how came
you and Cousin Thankful here? Is that
old Whitenose or spook over among
the trees? Ben takin' ride, eh? Har-
ness bust?"
ooh we're all right" said Miss
Thankful, who was the first to have her
wits return. "We was out for leetle
drive. Alviry an me seen you comm.
1t was so dark, though, we didn't know
but what it was some drunken Teller"
Well, dunno but what the bicycle
is leetle drunk! said the deacon,
sheepishly, "You see," with ner-
vous hitch at his suspenders, 81 was
out fur bit of practice. DIR, Jollaper
advised me to exercise-said l was get
ting too fleshy. So l come where did
think nobody'd see me-"
SIS the bicycle yourn?" his wife
asked, meekly.
"No, not yet. That is, I've hired
it o. Dick Higbee. He's agent for a
concern in Boston,"
The two women looked at each other
Miss Thankful's ewes began to twinkle.