Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-04-15

Il
saThere isn't soul anywhere
around, Margaret answered, prompt
ly. ssThere, that's all right; there
yon are-hold on"
There was little need to give Belinda
this caution; she held on like vlse,
with pale, frightened face.
This was Belinda's first experience
with athletics in any form, and she
grew SO interested and excited that
two little red spots came out on either
cheek, and she forgot to ask Margaret
if she was tired, but kept on 80 per-
seyerlngly that Margaret herself had
to suggest it was q long enough first
lesson.
"I never tried to learn anything in
my life before" she said, breathless
with delight. 'sDo you really think
I'll ever be able to ride ?"
"oi course" MargareS said, en-.
couragingly. She was noi going to
tell Belinda what hard work che found
in holding her straight in er erratic
movements.
| But BelInda'6 race Iell.
sOf course couldn't ride, even il
I learned how" she said, confusedly.
/ "Why not?" asked Margaret.
Itwould scarcely be polite to Mar
garet to say that Sarah did not think.
it ladyIike, SO Belinda invented the
first excuse she could think of.
s1 haven't got any bicycle"
Margaret looked up with sudden in
terest.
edo you know what I've been think
ing, Belinda? I'm going to Europe
this fall, and I would be perfectly de-
lighted to let you have my wheel while
I'm gone. Til teach you how to ride
and you'll get no end Of pleasure out
of it"
Belinda looked both frightened and
delighted.
"ohl" she gasped, "what would
Sarah say?"
Margaret meditated. She well knew
Mrs. Bascom was m important factor
and a jealous opponent of all innovs-
tions.
s'She wouldn't care" she said reck-
lessly. And then more gravely: "Wby
do you say anything about it until you
have learned? Then, when she finds
you ride beautifully and ore enjoying
it, she won't object.
'But I don't think I ought to take
your Wheel" Belinda protested, re-
turning to the lesser but more polite
objection.
'.Now, Belinda, it would ba real
comfort if you would take care of 1t
for me. You can keep it right here
at uncle's, and come and practice un-
til you want your sister to know about
| it. If don't leave it with you, I shsll
have to lend it to some of my frierds
in the city, who won't take half such
good care of il"
"Oh, but I might smash it up be-
cause don't know how to ride" Be-
linda said anxiously, torn between de-
sire and doubt.
Margaret laughed outright. She
might as we'll tell the truth. If she
could only bring some sweetness and
light into this dear little woman's life,
she did not care if her wheel were left
il fragments.
"Well, Belinda, you're just going to
make me say it," with tender quiver
in her voice. 81 want you to have
good time, and / want you to have my
wheel, and I don't care if you do
smash it all to pieces"
What else could Belinda do, be-
twixt long habit of yielding and new
desire for wheeling, but give way to
Margaret's kindness?
"How good you arel" she. cried.
SIT would be beautiful if l could ride.
| ! should like it better than anything
| i ever did.
But on the way home another
thought came to her. What would
John Baker think if he should see her
on a bicycle. To be sure, she had
given him up because Of her sisters
insinuations and determined opposl-
tion, and he might be married now for
all Belinda knew; yet somehow in all
of her decisions she thought OF him
and what his opinion would be. This
seemed the most important step she
had ever taken, and, since she could
| not turn to her sister, she longed with
o great longing for his advice on the
matter.
If it had not been for Margaret's
determination that Belinda should
learn to ride and her constant encour-
agement as teacher, it is to befeared
that Belinda's hot desire for wheeling
might have cooled. It is hard to be
persistent when you must struggle in
to an uncertain saddle after repeated
and painful efforts, only to find your
steed careering directly into prickly
blackberry vines or against hard
board fence, and this day after day
behind the back of On opposition
which is sure soon to be heaped upon
your aching head. But there was a
strata of perseverance underlying
Belinda's gentle nature and a quick
ness in her slender frame that at
length brought her to safe. slow
ride around the yard. When she dis
mounted in sudden and rather as
tonishing manner, and said to Merga-
ret with unusual enthusiasm, "I can
ride low, can't 1? Oh, I'm SO glad
you taught me-Tm go glad!" Marga.
ret reioiced and felt that her project
for Belinda's happiness was firmly es-
tablished.
But it 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 a
much more common fear to novice,
declared she would run into team.
But at length she was persuaded into
q lonely road behind the house, and
there she practiced, riding back and