The record-union., 1897-03-24
RACE TO THE ALTAR.
The Bicycle Question Was Again
UppermOSt.

1t was she, its dauntless rider.
She rested her fingers on its beloved
saddle and brushed the dust from their
pink tips, the dust of a long week rest
week of ideal bicycling weather. A
dainty handkerchief hid her great blue
eyes, and she burst into flood OF tears.
A loud clang, clang Of the door bell
startled these tears away. She knew
that ring All disheveled and dusty, she
rushed into the drawing room. ohe
met her lover like moody cherub. He
looked at her for moment, standing
with his legs wide apart. his hands IN
his pockets, and forgotten hat on the
back of his head, heaved sigh OF res
ignation, and said disgustedly: Il see,
my poor little girl, that this confounded
bicycle question is on top again.
do you know, Eleanor, that l know
fine fellow who wants a bicycle just like
yours so everlastingly bad that ne
would be willing to give thousand doi-
lars cash for it if ne could have it with
in an hour"
''Georgei You shall not have my dear
wheel to smash into splinters- Ii you
yourself had ever ridden you would ad-
vocate it for everybody. 1t is stubborn
and narrow that you will not learn
Your prejudice is making heartiess
fellow of YOU 1t shall be crushed at
once l am determined. Can't you
see that I am determined"
Her hands were clasped tightly. She
shivered slightly, and her voice was
tense as she continued with White teeth
set, Il shall ride tomorrow to Chevy
Chase Inn. l start at noon exactly.
You may start on a wheel at IL II
you reach the Inn before do We will
be married soon, if not-never!'
The last word was called from the hail
The speaker was gone.
The man turned pale. He was not
student of women's whims, and he was
deeply in love. He put hand to his
head and was dimly conscious of Won
dering whether it was his hand or some
other fellows.
He sat down on the corner OF a cara
table because it happened to be behind
him, and said out loud, Il will think
three minutes later he arose and said,
81 will think
He walked through the hall and out
into the air, forgetting his cane, MS
overcoat and the violets he had brought
Eleanor. AS the front door closed De
hind him with bang it startled him as
it might a sleep walker.
He walked down Connecticut avenue,
hardly realizing where he was.
Soon his eyes, which had not distin-
gu;shed the passers-by, were rlveteo on
a sign which seemed to scream at him.
bicycling Academy.
1t drew him TO the spot as If by mag
netism He entered the door ana looked
blankly at the man at the desk, lalo
down a bill which made the fellow
stare, refused the change and asked 90
be taught at once.
An attendant brought him wheel
The cold glitter Of its nickel plating
filed his whole being with determine
ton. He waved The teacher aside and
mounted with the spring of kanga-
roo The wheel headed straight as
die for the brick partition. When
within a yard of it he lifted his long
limbs above the handle bar and met
the wall with the bottoms of two sub
tantial feet He was shot back some
distance and then off.
The instructor asked him sweetly II
he thought he was riding a battering
ram or a boomerang. 7
The lover did not smile.
The instructor then asked him for
the address of his doctor. He gave
number on Sixteenth street. This was
Eleanors home.
Before he left the school the shadows
had heightened into darkness, and he
was riding beautifully around the circle
with his handkerchief bound tightly
around his head and the teachers
about his waist. If Eleanor could have
seen him. He felt himself victor over
a fiend.
The next morning at 1888 he left
his door. The day was perfect
He felt the exhilaration of success
and a resistless force of resolution. He
leaned over the handle bar and sped
rapidly over the asphalt. He painted
and pushed up the hills and coasted
down. over the bridges and past the
Zoo His one thought was to make
the wheels go round, to cover space.
Slowly the idea began to force itself
upon him that something was wrong
with the wheel. He thought it must
need oiling such terrible pain and
weakness did attack his limbs when he
tried to force the pedals around, and
his head grew light and dizzy. He
thought to dismount, but rolled off in
stead He tried to take a step to
straighten his limbs. They refused to
be straightened: they gave way be-
meath him. and he fell on his knees as
if in supplication to Cupid to cease
from his torture.
He lay on the ground for a moment
in order that the dizziness might pass
away.
He must have lost consciousness for
q moment. for suddenly he felt hand
on his head and the gruff voice of a
notorman asked: Are you all broke
up old man? Don't you want a lift?'
These accents were as sweet to his
ears as the murmuring of a siren.
He was sorely tempted and yielded.
He allowed his wheel to be lifted on
the car and himself to be assisted to
a seat. which was not a saddle while
ne constantly whispered to his con-
science, "lall is fair in love and war"
He closed his eyes ard half-dreamed,
half-thought that he was waited along
on fIeecy clouds. Suddenly a thought
struck him like thunder bolt. 'Elean-
orr" might she not see him alighting
from the car. Was he to be branded in
her eyes as a cowardly cheat?
He snatched at fns watch and drag
eed himself to the end of the car and
tried with his eyes to pierce the solid
hills. in order to gain the first dread
glimpse of his darling who rode like
the wind on her metal steed.
He saw for ten minutes only blank
road. and then, with nervous start,