The Van Buren press., 1896-04-04

"U1 course. Margaret san, eneDarag-
inglg. She was not going To Jeli Be
linda what hard work she found in
holding her straight in her srratie
movements,
But Belinda's faca fell.
sof course, 7 eouldn't ride, even II I
learned how she said, eonfusedly.
why not2" asked Margaret.
II would scarcely be polite in Mar
garet 10 say that Sarah did not think It
laayiiAe, so Belinda Invented the first
excuse she could think Of
II haven't got any bicycle"
Margaret looked up with sudden in
tenest.
@Do You know what I've been think
ing, Belinda2 Tn going to Europe
this fall, and would be perfectly de
lighted 70 let you have my wheel while
I'm gone. n teach you how TO ride,
and you'll get no end Of pleasure out Of
if.s
Belinda looked both frightened and
delighted
aOht' she 9asped. s'Nhat would Sarah
say?"
Margaret Facilitated. She well knew
Mrs. Baseom was an important factor
aud jealous opponent o. all innova@
tions.
"she wouldn't care she said, rseie-
lesslg And then more 9rapelys why
do you say anything about it until you
have learned Then, when she finds
you~ide beautifully and are enjoying il,
she won't object
"Bat I don't think 7 ought to take
your Wheel Belinda protested, return
ing to the lesser but more polite objee=
ton.
eNow, Belindas it would be a real com
fort If you would talSe care Of it for me.
You can keep it right here at uneie's
and come and practice until you want
your sister 10 know about it. r. don t
leave it with you, shall have to lend it
To some Of my friends n tie city, who
won take half such care Of it,
"0h, but I might smash it up. be-
cause ] do NOT know how to ride. +"
Belinda sad. snxiously, torn between
desire and doubt
Margaret laughed outright She
might as well tell the truth IF she
could only BRING some sweetness and
Light into this dear little woman 5 fife
She did not care If her wheel were left
"a fragments.
well, Beliida, you're just going to
make make me say II. with a tender
CULVER in her voice. = want you to have
good time, and want you to have my
wheel. and T don't care if Won smash it
all to pieces"
r. it had not been for Maryaret's de-
termination that Belinda should learn
TO ride, and her constant encourage
ment as a teacher, il is to be feared that
}elinda's hot desire for wheeling might
have cooled. It Is hard 10 be persistent
when you must struggle into an uncer-
tain saddle after repeated and painful
efforts, only 70 find Yoar steed career
ing directly into pricfly blackberry
vines or against a hard board fence.
and this day after day behind the back
n an opposition which Il sure soon to
De heaped upon your aching head. But
there was a strata of perseverance, nm
defiying Ieiinda's gentle nature and "a
qaieSHess in her slender frame that at
length brought her to a safe. slow ride
around the yard. When she dismounted
/ in sudden and rather astonishing man
ner, and SAID 10 Margaret, with IN
usual enthusiasm: 81 can ride now,
can't /? Oh, I'm so glad you taught me
I'm so gIad!" Margaret rejoiced, and
felt that her project for BeIinda's hap
piness was firmly established
Bat IL was long before Belinda could
be tempted outside the garden gate.
She was very much afraid that some
body might see her, and, what is much
more common fear to novice, declared
she should run into team. But at
length she was persuaded into lonely
road behind the house. and there she
practiced, riding back and forth. with
Margaret trotting obligingly by her
side, until shs declared she would 90
all alone, and Off she went, and back she
came IN triumph.
Margaret would have gladly be-
queathed to her her short riding skirt
and Belinda once tried it on with much
trepidation.
Don't you think it's dreadfu1Iy
short? IL shows my ankles" she pro-
tested
1T is really too long for you" Mar
zaret said. 1T was too long for me
and am taller than you. Why. some
Women wear skirts almost up to their
Knees, and some wear trousers, just n
httle full, you know"
helinda looked horror-stgicken. Mar
g&ret had overreaehed herself this
time.
IL don't know as I'd better ride
The bicycle II that kind of women do
she murmured, fearfully.
'Oh, we'll, the very incest ladies ride
wheels" Margaret said, hastily. as she
carried The Objectionable skirt away.
When she returned, tears we're in BE
linda's eyes.
II hope you will excuse me, she said.
TREMENDOUSLY. Il didn't mean to be
silly"
ooh, that's all right" Margaret re-
piled
After all, 1t nude little difference.
There was no one 10 tell Belinda how
eldfashioned and quantity sweet she
looked bestride this modern invention.
When il was time for Margaret 70
leave the little village, n perceptible
fshaptrc tstoe oor,,ty.f, e.,-,,- gl..1t..f. IL