The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-12
BICYCLE ISLAND.


ment OF summer resort called Bicycle
island. After had finished reading tho
paper I sat idly looking out Of the window
thinking about the island mentioned In
tho advertisement. when noticed that the
country through which we were passing
did not look natural The train was duo
ut Lawrcsce In Ave minutes But instead
OF the familiar river with the mills ON the
opposite bank, l saw a wide expanse Of
water with no land In sight except q large
island three or four miles distant.
L looked around the car and was sur
prised to find myself alone, with the ex-
ception OF young lady who sat In tho
forward end Of the car Very soon heard
the conductor call out: Ocean Station
This train goes no farther" As / stepped
from the train heard voice ON the shore
calling, "This way for Bicycle islandp'
Well. 1t seemed that my opportunity to see
this island about which l had read had
come sooner than expected.
i found on questioning tho conductor
that the train did not return 10 the city
for five hours. So hurried down to the
shore where found the young lady, my
travelling companion, already seated in the
forryboat, which was really bicycle boat.
Tho fcrryman sat astride q bicycle In the
middle OF the boat. the propclling power
being largo paddles underneath, which
were connected with the pedals of the BIZ
cycle.
On the way 10 the island had n very
pleasant chat with the young lady.
found that her name was Grace Edwards,
and that she had tho dread disease, bicy-
closis, and was going to the island for a
weeks vacation to recuporatc. The more
talked with her the more fascinated
became, and by the time We reached our
destination had decided that would ask
her to marry me- l could not understand
it, but l seemed possessed with an insane
desire to make this girl my wife.
AS we neared the island l saw that the
place was literally alive with bicycles.
People Of all ages were riding. Not sin
gle person conld l see walking. There
were no horses-man was the only motive
power.
| asked Miss Edwards if she would ride
with me.
with pleasure, =" she said
"Shall We take our first ride this after
noonY'
Yes; about 8 o'clock.
AS we stepped from the boat we were
met by II man who had in charge row of
bicycles. There are several kinds from
which TO choose, and was lucky enough
to find the exact counterpart of my own
wheel. After adjusting the saddles and
handlel2rs to snit US we mounted and rode
to the hotel.
We were just in time for dinner, so, as
Miss Edwards was alone asked permits
sion TO dine with her. l still adhered to
my determination TO make her my wife,
so while wo ate dinner l laid the case be-
fore her and told her that although had
known her so short time was very much
in love with ber and begged her to marry
me. To my surprise she consented and
said she had liked me from the very first.
why not bo married this aftcrnoonf'
said "and then we can spend the honey
moon right hero on the island
At first she would not consent to this,
but 1 finally ovcrruled her objections, and
she said she would do whatever thought
best.
i found, on questioning the proprietor of
the hotel, that there was minister stay
ing there so tho last objection to our mar
riagc WAS removed. / hunted him mp and
found him just starting off for ride, but
when / had introduced myself and told
him what | wanted he offered TO postpone
his trip till later, and when he found that
we both rode the same kind of wheel he
was more willing than ever 90 do me the
favor l asked. Well, the Wedding took
place that afternoon in the parlor of the
hotel, all the other guests being present to
witness the ceremony. 1t was bicycle
wedding in every respect, as every one
wOrc bicycle suits, even the bride and
groom.
After il was over ard we had received the
congratulations of the whole party | sug
gested that we take the little ride we had
planned while coming over in the boat.
Grace was eager to show me tha beauties
of her dear Island 80 we went down stairs
after orr wheels The man I'm the check
room informed us that We could hays u
tandem if we preferred. 80 we decided to
try 1t.
Tho island was covered with labyrinth
of roads, hard and smooth enough To dc.
light a whcclman's breast, and it was per
feet bliss 10 roll swiftly along, stopping
now and then tn inspect some interesting
spot or view II fine bit of scenery.
"Now, must show you the cliff, )" said
Grace, looking toward the northern end of
the island. When coming over i'm the boat,
l had noticed that at that particular point
huge mass of rock stood out i'm bold re-
lief, 80 or more feet above the water, with
the waves dashing abruptly against its
base
From the place where we were standing
the road lay straight and smooth before
us, extending almost To the very edge of
the cliff, where il turned abruptly, follow
ing the other shore back to the hotel. We
started of toward the cliff, and as il was
slightly down grade we were soon going
like the wind As We ncarcd the cliff, l
discovered that my handle bar seemed To
he stuck in Che tubing, and ID was impos
sible to steer the machine. | told Grace
that she would have To do the steering, as
could not move my handle bar.
"Why, my handlcbar Is stuck too" she
exclaimed. "What can bc the matter with
the old machine anyway Let's use the
brake and dismount.
There is nos'Irakc," | replied.
We were approaching nearer and nearer
the cliif and were going ~ fast that IL was
impossible To get of the wheel. l tried
harder than ever to turn the handle bar,
hnt IL abS,l,lto1y r.fti.cI In tuava