Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-12-10

had been no pleasure about the game.
Even when we got back, good deal
earlier than usual, 1 remember no.
ticing that Dolly was not quite as
pleasant to me as usual. However,
asked her to come and have game of
billiards after tea, meaning to get the
job over"
Jack stopped, and there was long
pause.
"Well," said, "what happened:
She accepted you, I suppose.
"No" he continued. "She refused
me point-blank. The fact was, must
have hurried it too much you know.
I was determined to get it over, and I
suppose was too abrupt. The poor
child was taken completely by sur
prise, or said she was. So, for that
matter, was I. 1t was all over in ten
minutes"
began to grow interested. "What
did you do then?" I asked.
"There was only one thing to be
done. I got on my machine and rode
off. I can tell you 1 was in awful
state. I neither looked nor cared
where I was going. After about an
hours hard ridlng--it was just Z
o'clock, for remember looking at my
watch-I found myself about fifteen
miles from home, and beginning to
get hungry. sat down on a mill.
stone and reviewed the situation. II
was very sad. I felt as if my life had
come suddenly to blank wall. IT
was no longer worth living. These
are the usual symptoms, I believe.
You will understand my sensation?
Like Marius among the ruins of
Carthage" I suggested.
81 can afford to laugh at it now, but
l can tell you that just then it was no
laughing matter. I must have sat
there for more than an hour, think
ing. Then I realized it was time to
be getting home, for, after all, even a
disappointed lover must have supper.
! thought sadly of what I should do.
OF course, I had to go; could never
see her again, never play the old Cen
eral at golf or billiards again. Well,
it had been very pleasant time while
it lasted. The next morning would
witness my departure-forever.
81 mounted the old machine, and
set off YEARLY homeward. Then q
sudden resolve seized me. Once more
l would 60 by her house, and cast a
glance at the roof that sheltered her.
1t was fine summer night, and I
should still be home we'll before dark.
I started, first slowly, then, as the
thought of my folly came across me,
faster and faster. until 1 was riding a
good twelve or thirteen miles to the
hour -.l.o such bad pace on one
of those old sky scrapers.
"Close to where old Trefusis lived
there is long hill, with u sharp turn
near the bottom. 1t has now been
marked with danger board, but at
that time there were but few of those
useful inventions about. 7" ar c.s",
had there been dozen, i. IS :, Y
that would have stopped for them.
I was reckless that night, and to have
broken my leg-porhaps even my neck
would have rather pleased me than
otherwise. So at least fancied as I
tucked my legs over the handle bars,
preparatory to good rush down.
"She simply whizzled along. Never
before, or since, have I felt the air
rush past me with such velocity. I
had come to the bow of the hill at a
good pace, and made no effort to check
myself before the descent. There was
nothing for it but to keep cool, and
watch for the turn. felt intoxicated,
exhilarated to madness by the speed.
I laughed aloud, and gave shrill
halloo of triumph. was nearly at
the turn.
"a woman's scream for help rang
out as I negotiated the corner. Like
steak of lightning I shot round, the
angle Judged to nicely, though I
shaved a stone at the edge of the
grass by miracle. Fifty yards
further down were two figures, man
and woman, their backs toward me
running. The woman was in front;
it was q chase.
II saw at once my game, and held
on without sound. The bicycle
was racing along at close on forty
miles an hour, the rubber tires max
ing no noise on the hard ground.
There were none of your clanking
chains in those days. The girl-for
I could now see that it was a girl
ran nobly, but the ruffian was gaining
upon her. In three seconds I should
have caught him.
Suddenly, in n flash. I recognized
the girl. It was Dolly! The sight
nerved me to a frenzy, and, as my
wheel caught her pursuer in the back,
I uttered a most blood-curdling yell
of triumph.
''The smash was terrific, and if I
had not put my legs over the handles
I should have been killed to. GER
tainty. As it was, I came off remark
ably we'll, with bruise or two, and
rather cut about the hands"
There was pause. ''That was
how it happened" concluded Jack.
"Shall we adjourn to the drawing
room?"
"She was netted, I suppose, by
your heroism?" I surmised, as we
rose.
"Well-you see-I had to carry her
home," exclaimed Jack, who seemed
reluctant to finish the story. "She
had tainted at the critical moment"
81 see. And how about the rob-
ber?"
Jack laughed. 81 left him there,
and, what was rather curious, I never
saw him-or the remains Of my ma
chine either, for that matter-again.
The man was only common tramp,
he added, as he thought that accounted
for the double disappearance.
Zone more question:" urged, as
we ascendended the stairs. "Why
was Miss Trefusis-Mrs. Addison
walking in country lane alone in the
evening?-if the question is not in
discreet.
EFT is most indiscreet," said Jack,
solemnly. "She has contided to me