Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-12

| ACAAON, wv clIu newt SCCuICu SCO llOi
or tired to invent suitable answers tc
the parents endless questiors as tc
| why Bessie couldn't ride along like the
other girls did, and what made the
| wheel wobble so, wasn't something
the matter, and hadn't they better go
back to the man and complain. and was
! he sure there was no danger? The last
| time Bessie had run into the tree box
| it looked from where they sat as
though she might have had a serious
fall if he hadn't caught her in time.
! As say, he was wonderfully patient.
| for Bessie, to tell the truth was very
| stupid and had silly little way of
grabbing one Of my handle bars tightly
and throwing all her weight on that
side, which was enough to make any
self-respecting wheel turn her over in
the gutter. | must confess l did this
| numberless times and, also played a
few other little tricks on her, one of
WITHDRAWING into the pavement
when the rider is trying to mount and
turn you QUITS great favorite
among the ladies' wheels.
Later on, however, l got to like
Bessie, who was as clever off a 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 a most harmonious trio, and
then Bob would bring his own wheel
around, and that made pleasant COM
pany for me.
One thing I objected to from the
first, and Bob agreed with me, I think,
was a friend Of Bessie's who came
to the house aimOsl every night and
sat with her parents slipping some cool
drink, and encouraging US by calling
out from time to time how such and
such thing might be avoided, or how
to act under certain circumstances.
Then he would add to the comfort Of
the parents by a low remark to the
effect that Bob Richards didn't know
a thing about wheel" and sometimes
he would keep Bessies courage up by
promising to take her for some long
long rides as soon as she had mastered
the wary bicycle.
l 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 would
get off to rest, and leaving Bob to see
to me, would run up the steps to ask
doing better, and wasn't it entirely
Bob's fault that she fell over that last
time; she thought he had hold of the
wheel, and when she found he hadn't,
of course she fell off, and it was mean
trick to play her! And then the whole
party berated poor Bob, whose sole
offense seemed to be desire to hasten
her progress.
Bob would never say a word in his
own behalf, but [ used to even up
matters by going very carefully when
[ felt him let go, until Bessie would
cry out in delight. "Oh, look at me,
I am riding beautifullyw and Mr..
Meredith would say languidly: Bravo!
Now remember what I tod you about
the pedals" And then I would lose
my temper and stop suddenly I'M bit
of mud, and off would go Bessie be-
fore you could say Jack Robinson.
She 4ldn't know thing about MAX
ing herself mistress of a wheel. All
she wanted was to sit on and ride. She
was one of those girls who will never
manage anything unless, may be,
husband.
Cali things come to him who waltz
And so at length MIR Meredith, who
had been doing the waiting to perfeC-
ton, had Bessie TO come to him with
the glad news that she could ride
splendidly now, and couldn't they
make up some parties and go out on
the road Then we had several very
pleasant rides. Occasionally there
would be quite a crowd, hut very often
we went only four, Bessie with Mr..
Meredith and Bob delegated to her
chum, a chum, a Miss Grey, who was a
beautiful rider.
I did not like this arrangement, as
Mr. Meredith rode one of those gaudy.
conspicuous affairs that no really nice
wheel would wish to be seen with in
the street, but Bessie and I were quite
friendly about that time, and | was
trying to please her by giving as little
trouble as possible.
Before long Bessie became convinced
of the idea that she was famous rider,
and suggested that we all take a trip
to Cabin John Bridge. I heard Bob
advise her to try q shorter run first,
but them Mr.. Meredith came up and
said it would be delightful, and of
course Miss Bessie could 20 Il easily;
there wasn't better rider in the CITY,
and he fixed on the next day for the
trip.
| The next day dawned clear and
warm, and we set cut about 4:30
O'Clock I must admit that Bessie
looked as pretty as picture in her
dainty suit, with it's many buttons and
! jaunty cap. Before we started Bob
came up to me, as he always did, to
see that ali my parts were secure and
firm, and that no pebbles or bits of
dirt were scratching against my chain.
He did not look particularly pleased
over the trip, and indeed l fully agreed
with him that it was far too long for
Bessie to attempt.
At length we were spinning merrily
along. l was determined to act my
best, so took the lead, with that circus
wheel of Mr.. Mer31ith's, leaving Bob
and Miss Grey to follow. All went
well for about four miles, and then
| Bessie began to weaken. She was
/ oil