, 1897-09-25
a BAD MAN ON A BUS.
And u Bicycle Girl and a Moral
Censor.

| had watched her for some months
as my bus rolled slowly down Piccldilly
and was greatly taken by her appear
ance. The pavements and the carriages
were full of well-dressed and beautiful
women; but somehow | seemed to have
eyes for 40 n but that girl. She wore
The sweetest coStume-something in blue
picked out with white At the collar and
the cuffs, and. l inferred, white upon the
front OF the bodice. She was steering
her bicycle with skill and %boldness
through the 5-o'crock traffic. and | long,
ed 10 see her face, which, I felt %convinc>
ed, would please my eye. But this. OF
course, l could not do. as she was riding
steadily about 10 yards in front Of us.
| leaned forward to the driver, hand
ing him my open tobacco pouch.
do you think" l said, you could
hurry up a bit and pass that lady ahead?
| want to see her face"
He turned, and, jerking his head in
her direction. said:
Lady on the bike-blue dress-cut
saucy?"
You've guessed it," | replied.
He winked. Then he brushed mis-
horses with the whip, and passed the
Victoria bus ahead. The girl. seeing a
clear space before her, quickened up and
held her own.
Il don't think we can do it," | said.
resigning myself to disappointment.
He held his pipe between two fingsrs
and filled it with the remaining TWO.
feeling meanwhile with his thumb for a
match. l gave him my matchbox.
It's all right" he said. as he nursed
the flaming match in his fist and pulled
his pipe into action, there's a block at
the corner"
The girl slowed down and stepped
easily and surely from her bicycle. She
stood upon rhe kerb at The corner. lean
ing on her machine.
As the bus drew up ty her side, | lean
ed over and saw her face. | was not
disappointed. It was as | thought. She
was, TO me-, amazingly beautiful.
You will Xcuse me, sir" said a voice
at my side. but you have gained your
object"
looked round a t my neighbor and
saw a lady. by no means ill-looking, OF
about my own age. which is on the
wrong side OF 80. She was regarding
me with much apparent aversion.
You have seen the young lady's face,
and now perhaps-that's right, coach
man, drive on"
The bus moved slowly forward. l re-
flected for a moment, for I had not no.
ticed my neighbor before, and was a
little startled al her implied reproof.
Excuse me-" l said, II haven't quite
gained my object. l want TO make her
lock at me, and she won't. Now. what
is the etiquette in such cases."
I turned and waved my arm at her as
the bus went on. But she was mount
ing her machine, and. being occupied
with the arrangement OF her skirts, took
no notice OF me.
May l ask, said my neighbor, 'it that
young lady is your sister. or your cousin.
or -"
Certainly not," I replied. WHY do
you ask"
Then. sir, l feel it my duty to tell
you that you are no gentleman"
| sighed. 81 know that" l replied.
But I always pretend to be, and the
public is so gullible. How did you find
me out?"
mo gentleman" she said, would
seek to annoy a lady in the street, tes-
pecially a lady who, clearly. does not
wish to notice him. And I can see that
girl is p~ersistently avoiding you"
"Oh, is she?" I said. Just wait a mo-
ment. She'll be as pleased as anything
when she sees that l have noticed her.
Nothing annoys a woman like indiner>
ence."
"A girl-alone and unprotected"
she began.