Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-06

hills which tested strength ana staying
power. At the top of one Nettie claim
ed a rest. and, pushing the machine in
by the hedge. they sat down IN the
shade together.
And why have you never married."
Jack asked-a venturesome question.
do you remember our first meeting
in London, about a year ago."
Eyes, of course do"
"Well, l had been married for six
months them
You did not tell me"
Nettie produced a purse, and open
ing it, displayed therein a plain gold
band.
Have you ever heard of Cecil Lane,
the actor? Yes? Well, l have the
honor of being Mrs Lane. My devot-
ed husband went to Africa with my
cordial assent-had not been married
to him for five months!-and | have
neither heard from him, nor of him,
since"
You have always seemed happy"
Il must always laugh or cry"
Jack was serious. He had reason to
remember the name of Cecil Lane, for
Gladys, in one of those self-imposed
confession moods of courtship days,
had named him as the only man for
whom she had ever experienced any
affection. and Jack had hated the name
with loverlike hatred ever since.
Are you right in concealing the
badge most women wear with some
pride?'
MY right has been challenged by so
many of those upon whom Mr.. Lane
has smiled that it might prove a wrong
only" laughed Nettie.
Are you prepared to make the claim
should need arise?" asked Jack, cur
iously.
NO, unless for the public good"
what do you mean by. Hello!
Look" and Jack gazed up the road.
"Your wife? There is a gentleman
following"
Gladys was coming steadily down TO
where the hill dropped suddenly to its
steepest part, and Jack and Nettie were
resting. She had her hand upon the
brake, and was pedaling slowly. Close
behind rode a tall, fair man, with
strangely staring blue eyes, but GER
tainly handsome.
BE steady there, over that steep
place" he called to Gladys.
Thanks, see,' she answered.
Almost at the same moment she look
ed ahead and saw the sociable, and
Jack, with Nettie, beside it, She gave
a noticeable start just at the sudden
| drop in the road. She seemed to lose
! control of her machine at once. Free
| from the pressure of the brake, the
pedals, rapidly revolving, darted down.
ward, as it were. in advance of her feet,
| and struck them as they rose. She
whirled down the decline, shot across
! the level space in front of Jack and
Nettie. who rushed out together to stop
her, and went at breathless speed down
the hill. The man behind came tear
| ing after as quickly as he dared, and
| did not seem to see the two who were
racing after him on foot.
At the bottom of the hill there was
a wide sweeping curve of the road and,
| beyond that, a gradual rise, so that a
self-possessed rider might escape fall.
But Gladys let her whirling wheels go
! straight at the stone hedge which Dor
dered the road and faced the hill The
machine struck the wall az an angle and
Gladys was thrown headforemost, but
sideways, against it.
The man following reached the turn
almost as quickly and upset his ma
| chine with a crash as he dismounted in
his haste to reach the figure by the
/ hedge. When Jack came up he had
| Gladys in his arm and was carrying her
across the road to where a small
stream of water ran by the side.
"You do what you can" he shouted,
with the wind of his reckless ride still
! kissing in his ears. II will go for a
carriage and a DOCTOR" and Jack
knelt to fill his cap with water, the
other mounted and rode as if in race.
A long cut from the temple back
ward bleeding freely, made poor Gladys
| look rather CHASTITY, but Jacks careful
! bathing showed il was not from di-
rect blow, the full force of the fall hav-
| ing come upon the shoulder, which
looked slightly lower than the other,
! the hand upon that side being turned
palm outward.
Nettie assisted, pale, but helpful.
After a short time Gladys moved at
the touch of the cold water and, to
Jacks intense relief, opened her eyes.
Il am going for the sociable," said
Nettie.
1t was nearly twenty minutes before
Gladys spoke. who is she, Jack?"
came in a weak voice from the white
| lips.
Mrs. Lane" said Jack boldly.
Cecil never told me.
1t was so like an echo of what he had
said to Nettie that Jack started.
Il thought thought said the
still feeble voice, which seemed to
hurt Jack in a way he could not under
stand, that She. But it does not
matter now"
A carriage and pair turned the curve,
and the fair man sprang out.
1T is awfully good of you" he said.
"She is friend of mine"
She is my wife" said Jack, shortly,
as the doctor, who was behind Lane,
came forward and knelt down.
"And this gentleman is my husband"
said Nettie, very loudly, coming up, and
placing her hand for a moment on
Lanes cuff. Someone must take this
sociable." she added; then. looking at
Jack, for the public good"
Jack alone knew what that meant.
If it is always best for women to
cleave to lawful husbands, despite all
circumstances ard feelings, these two
had reason to be congratulated.
Nettie did her share of pedal work as
she and Lane rode home.
When Gladys had recovered from her
cut and dislocation she understood how
narrowly she and Jack had escaped
more serious accident and dislocation
of a moral sort She would have
| +bopLad Nettie but Nettie had van