Orange County observer., 1898-01-06


4 expected"
Don't vou think it amounts to
about the same thing" hazarded
suayely, ''under the circumstancesa
'.Not at all why need ite Still, 1
must confess I wish YOU had not come
just now. [ didn't want 10 see YOU,
nor you to see me-"
T swung round as if to leave her.
~ girl never looks her best when
learning to cycle. " she went on "One
always feels so helpless, SO awkward,
SO very ridiculous an object at first
That's why practise out here before
the other folks are astir And now
you've found it out and have come 10
laugh at me-
II declare not, said r, retur4ing
to her side. II hadn't even n.2tIe
faintest idea that YOU were qualifying
for Q feminine Ixion-' r.
There, Isn't that poking f1fisat
me? Really, it's too bad. Why, Ber-
tina told me that YOU yourself were an
enthusiastic cvcist almost as exRert
a rider as Captain Moston. You ought
not to cl:aff or discourage beginner
for | DO 50 want TO learn.
Again she peerel round in search
Of him who, to my certain knowledge.
would never put in an appearance that
morning.
How annoying,,' she calculated.
pursuing mp her lips ''What can be
keeping him? | wouldn't have given
him those three dances last night If {
had thought he would have failed NE
now That was the condition.
"a pleaaurable one, surely" I
murmured, trying vainlv to recollect
moret than one of the three dances
mention d. TO be of service to YOU
in any way, to be with you, alone, and
ooh, must it not be delighful?"
cried Joan. IN ecstasy. II can imag-
/ ire nothing more cloliousr'
The exclamation struck me as being
! somewhat incredible. Looking up IN
/ surprise, / found that she had not
I been pa ing heed TO my words at all;
/ her lips parted, she stood gazing with
sparkling eyes across the greensward
to where the carriage drive wound
down beneath the elm trees toward
/ the Ddl SdltS- tI1S olItlCu OIL
road a tandem bicycle was being rid
den at 4 hot pace.
"Great Casar.'' / cried, on catching
sight of the distant scorchers; that $
Bertha, isn't it? And the other no,
it can't be-
'Is Captain Moston," interposed
Joan, eagerly. every morning they
90 for spin as far as Bra,esley and
back. Mustn't it be just glorious? :?
The sense of freedom, of buoyancy, Of
swift JOY, Of life and power, of-of--
+ Oh, how [ en- Y themr'
Every moriling?' [ repeated, con-
fusedlv. Bertha and Captain Mos
ton? don't think I quite under
stand
Hasn't Bertha told you? She and
Captain Moston have been great friends
ever 50 long, and they have become
But. there, now, I'm betraying
strict confdences ] ought not to
have said word about it, but l male
sure she would have told her own
brother.'
"That'. her way Of informing me
Of the TACT. F." replied I,pointing toward
the tvins figures. .'And, all things
considered, she might nave chosen a
worse method Bertha possesses
more tact than | ever gave her credit
for. | only hope | may hit upon III
equally pleasant and original plan for
acquainting her With my engage
ment--
Your engagement :" murmrred
Joan. v fth manifest effort TO control
herself that set my heart thumpin2 6
with iov. You engaged?"
TO teach vou cycling.
.Oh, / thought you meant-some
thing else.
''Since it's clear your regular IN
structor Will not be available today,
may | ask YOU to consider my proposal
: Ioan:'
'It's good Of you to offer, Tom
! I'm AFRAID You'll find me terribl,
, backward pupil, and | know / shal
never be able to get on by myself.
! Then allow me to help von. FIRST,
:, YOU place your right foot on the pedal
so; now [ lift You to the saddle ane
I keep You there firmly, securely
''Ol. hut l didn't mean that. yo1
stupid boy, And need you hold me
: quite 50 tightly? My other teacher
) did not
6 "Ry George. | should nope not, IN
! deed, He couldn't put his whol'
heart and soul into the matter as | ca
e that IS. If | am TO consider mysel
| definitely engaged.
Il We'll, not definitely, Tom; say TEN
c porariv. until | see low you sElt.
: with any prospec, OF permanen
:. cv. joan asked /, unsteadily. Il 4
Il ser!oas now; Won cannot have mlsln
I derstood -'
! .'Oh. Tom-hold me, I'm Go-go-
,. going, There, Won nearly let n
2. tumble over that time! WY, | don
.e believe you're bit abler lnstrueto
= than the other one, after al. 70