New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-16
PERFECT GENTLEMAN.
A BICYCLING ADVENTURE AND WHAT
CAME OF 1T.

her, and he struggled against her In vain she
was franky-antipathetic. You might have
called her anything before you would nave
called her chic: at times he had to admit that
she waste tell the dreadful truth-"robust
Moreover, the most exquisite epigrams, the pref
test turns Of wit. would often as not simply
make her stare and laugh-only too evidently az
him. And yet when the healthy Philistine
schoolgirl asked him. do you ever venture De-
yond the Park Mr. Crampton?' 1t sufiiced' lie
told his mother plainly his honor was involved
And an irreverent porter saw him, ALREADY
heated, wheeling his machine upstairs from the
Sutton platform and there are few things less
adapted to go upstairs with any pretence TO
grace on his way to Brighton-and her.
His machine. like himself. was little over
dressed-we are far from sound criticism or
Observation-Disclosures enamelled it was. with trans
lucent mudguards and the daintiest white nan
dies and the gear case was OF hmy ceiiuioio
with a sort Of metal dab like medal upon IL.
He wore a cooked hat-or at least one OF those
brown felt hats that ought to be called cocKeo
hats whatever the proper name for them may
be-and to distinguish himself from the common
cycling cad, among other reasons, ne wore
trousers The brown Of his clothing was apt 10
his machine. and his tie white ard pretty. And
when the vulgar cabman outside Sutton Station
called New Woman" after him he pretended
NOT 10 hear and went on mounting his machine
all across the road. He was quite sight 10
see riding up the road toward Belmont ana the
sun was so struck by his spick-and-span appear
ance that he picked out every line OF enamel
and metal on him and dazzled the passeroy
Herewith Something like thing TO SHINE
on said the Just look at thls' anu
did you ever?' in the excess OF MS aofhira'ioi
He had begun his ride from London 10
Brighton at Sutton-which was generous treat
nent for London in the geographical sense f'is
rnother-he was her only son-had gone 10
Brighton by train. The Fentons were there aiso
and the tuxtapostion had Its quality OF design
Hts mother had devoted her life to him. she held
that he was delicate, and knowing the dreao-
fitness of public schools. almost as wei aS
Oscar Browning had kept him by her uhuer d
progressive series Of amenable UNDERSTANDABLE
a perfect gentleman Of him according 10 hei
lights And Madge Fenton. with her haif snare
in Fenton's Safe Cure, was just the nj mate ioi
the sole proprietor Of Champions meat JUICE
It was quite a mothers plan. to MARI! her sun
and vet keep him in the family Ana certainty
no annrec,ated Madge. though her attitude was
q little doubtful. Yet the steady pressure Oh
her elders was bound to win in the long rum
md
The road from Sutton to Burgh Heath looks
VIZ .,v o,ber road on a map. But unlike the
generality Of roads known 10 Mr. Champion II
consistently went up hill. 1t was already gong
n h,u at Sutton Station and II went on pretty
...n,v FOR a space but with air of its being
. ,as+ effort Then round bend came view or
huge industrial home. and another last
.ror, Then a clear interval, even DOWN
hin N Belmont Station, and then 1t started OH
again fresh as a daisy 1t went up nil Vlsloiy
Cor a mile to Banstead Station, and tnen hasheu
nv trees it continued to go up hill. MT tramp
TON was surprised but the day was young anu
his man had oiled and adjusted his machine "
a nicely. So he stuck 10 it-riding STEADY, anu
swinging a cigarette in the disengaged manu-
Until recently Bounder, with machlne 'hd'
went clank. became audible behind him.
To Mr. CHAMPION the idea of being overhauieo
nv a member Of the lower classes was ois.a''e
ful. and relying on the clank ana the eAee"e"U1
NJ his machine he threw away the cis"i0''0
and oujckened his pace. Thereupon the pouhuei
,,,s bic hell-it was a beast OF a cheap bell
ia .ha clanking grew more frequent and louder,
untu n was close behind Mr. Champion. After
q sharp squirt Mr.. Champion decided that ne
would not race after all. and the Bounder are"
alongside He was quite the most dread1ui type
Of Bounder. with a machine with loose mud
euard and a speckled bell; he had very oir''
suit of c. T. c. gray, and perspiring req race
with a strip Of damp hair across his foreheao'
And he had the cheek to speak to Mr. CramP'oh'
pretty Jigger." said the Bounder.
Mr.. Champion was so startled ne "oooieu
and almost collided. Il beg your pardon he
said, in a repressive tone.
"Nice-looking machine you've got
1nco
But he was determined to shut the fellow up
promptly. I'm afraid can't say the same vi
yours" he said at length.
"No !. lent I'm 10 much" said the Bounder,
cheerfully. Are you going far? Because If
So
Two Girls possibly Nice Girls) appeared riding
down toward them. They might think that he
and the Bounder were travelling together! It's
no business Of yours said Mr.. Champion,
"where I'm going" And something indistinct
about damned impertinence"
at ord,' said the Bounder. mo onence II
took him a minute 10 digest. Then he said
something over his shoulder TO Mr.. Champion
that was lost and putting his head down below
his shoulders, went clanking off at great pace,
his shoulders moving with his feet in manner
entirely despicabe.
Mr. Champion rode quite erect, and with only
one hand on the handle. 20 show that he was
not racing, until the girls were we'll past him.
and then he dismounted. This eternal hill was
tiresome, and he did not want TO overtake the
Bounder Walking, one could notice the fine
growth Of green with which the hedges were
speckled, and the gum-exuding chestnut buds
and the dead nettlcs were all in flower In fact'
IL wes a pleasant change from the saddle for a
man who was not a scorcher.
And at last he came TO Burgh Heath. AS this
seemed 10 be a sort OF village green he mounted
again. Some way along was little sweetstufl
shop. and outside was the Boundcr's machine
The Bounder was in the doorway with his hands
in his pockets eating He looked round at Mr.
Champion and Immediately looked away again
with a hollow pretence Of self-esteen.
And away down a hill Mr.. Champion was
rassed by q tandem bicycle. He overlook Its
Il