The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-02

as well did, for Just as we met he gave
another luroh and came 40 me. / escaped
him. and he went bang into the wall,
showed himself off with one hand, shot
across 10 the other side OF the road and
tuinbled straight down the embankment.
Then from motives OF humanity got of
my machine. called down the embank-
ment. "Are you hurti"
After moment "a voice came from the
middle of branble bush:
mot much. The bike's--er-r rather en-
tangled, but can manage. Don't stop
for me"
However, leaned my machine against
the wall, took off tho lamp and climbed
down tho embankment with II In my hand.
Against the bramblo bush was tho rider,
STOPPING down and rubbing his shins.
Beside him was lump OF mixed muchin-
cry TINT had once been bicycle. He
looked up as l approached, and tho light
OF my lamp fell full on his face.
"Barkinstone" exclaimed. "Barkin-
stone of the Enderdown road, by oil that's
miraoulousw
"No, no." he said, "my name is--er-
Brown"
mot bit of it," I replied. "You
taught mo To ride and know you. You're
Barkinstone."
~ knew this would happen one of these
days" he said to himself mournfully.
"Yes, sir, it's no good TO say otherwise.
I'm Barkinstone"
"And the amazing part of 10 Is you
don't talk In the least as IL you were
drunk"
"Im not drunk. know my business
we'll enough see-loolx at this" He took
a couple Of tools from his pocket. Then
hn Mo -a1 Ia -
scraps Of tire, a handle bar and what was
left of the saddle, and in very few min
utes had made a bicycle out of them.
"There, does that look ms II were drunks"
"No," | said, sit doesn't. And, drunk
or sober, nobody but you could have done
It. But why did you ride like thaty"
Because i can't ride any better. In
fact that ride tonight was the best I've
ever done I've never been so far before
without falling of"
"S,ill don't understand. You taught
me to ride. You have taught hundreds to
ride"
"Yes, but can: teach myself"
"You have n theory of riding that Is alb
solutely correct. IL has been tested"
"Yes, the theory Is correct In nine hun
dred and ninety cases out Of thou
sand. I'm the thousandth. Was riding
properly when you saw mef"
"You were pedalipg very unevenly and
badly. You clung hard TO the handles.
You kept looking at the front wheel
You
"Oh, you needn't go onl I was doing
everything I oughtn't to do. know IL.
The theory fails with me because ! am
the thousandth case. DO you think IL
takes any courage to learn to ride the BIZ
cycle?"
"None whateyer-not in the least"
"I'll put it In different way. Can you
conceive Of want Of nerve so terrible, a
physical cowardioe so great, that 1t might
absolutely prevent man from learning
10 bike, or at any rate cause him to take
years over 1t, where other men would only
take dayss"
mo, i can't"
"Very likely not, sir. But suffer from
Just that want OF nerve, just that physical
cowardice. j stand beside the machine
and my nerves all right, and / know all
there Is 10 know about riding. I've only
got TO put my foot on the step and my
nerves gone, and I'm n moment I've for
gotten everything Then / founder about
and come OF and hurt myself and break
things"
Hc lmped mp the embankment TO tho
road, carrying his machine and refusing
any assistance.
Going 10 get on againi" / asked
"Oh, yes! I've got perseverance, and
moral courage If ! haven't got physical
courage and nerve
He placed his left foot on tho step, pro-
PEELED tho machine in slow curve wgh
three convulsive kicks with his right foot,
rose slowly in:o the mir. then slipped off
the step and caao down In the road with
the machine on top OF him. He was ap-
pGrontly quite used TO this Sind Of thing,
for he observed in an upmoyod voice from
undc. the machine, There was one thing
l forgot to mention, sir"
well, what was ity'
"You would do ne a great favor" he
said, rising slowly, III you would for the
present Keep this incident u secret. You
know what tho public Is, sir If the pub
lie know that | could not ride It would
never believe that | could teach other pco.
pic 10 ride. rla about 10 retire. In an
other six months shall be able 70 give up
tho business and live In comfort IN fine
house in the country for the rest Of my
days Alter that it DOESN'T much matter
what yen say for no pupil has ever been
dissatisfied with me- But until then 1t
ght spoil business"
But why give up your bginessY
Non 70 far too young man TO retire.
What interest have you got in tho countryy
What would you Go with yourselfY"
Learn the bicycle. ] shah he my own
pupil. 1t will take me all my life. Good
night sir. Well, thanks-if you'd just
give me hand"
He relit his lamp. held the machine
while he mounted and then showed him off.
He vanished like diamond pointed cork
screw, moro or less in the direction Of the
village.
Ho has retired now. The grounds Of bis
country house are secluded ty high walls.
nm told that inside nm asphalt track has
been constructed IL hurts TO fall on as
fhalt. Woman at Home