The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-08-18
preston, but they promptly exclaimed

pIession, DuV tHey pronptly eAClhlleu'
1--WE agree.
1t was beautiful May morning, and
the picturesque road leading to Crystal
spring was an appropriate one for
race which must in any case afford a ro-
mantle ending. 1t was bordered with
hedges and stately trees odorous with
tender buds and leaves, from among
which busy little builders caroled merry
accom- paniments to their unceasing la
Dor.
The novelty of this race for wife
excited much pleasant comment from
the group of friends and cyclists who
had gathered in Mrs Preston's front
yard, responsive to her invitation to
watch the start of the trio and accom-
pany them upon the race
1t was just 10 o'clock when Meta
Randall, neatly attired in a cycling suit
of olive green with glinting silver trim
ming, passed out of the house and greet.
ed her friends with pleasant good
morning,
A murmur of admiration rose from
the feminine portion of the company as
she stood for brief second beside her
wheel. Self possessed but modest, in
the cool green of her costume she APP
peared a part of the natural picture
which surrounded her. A bed of daffo-
dis grew close to her feet, and she
stopped and gathered bunch of the
brave yellow blossoms and fastened
them securely at her belt.
Then, with a merry laugh and grace
full toss of the head toward Davis and
Stanton, at the quick ring of bicycle
bell the signal for starting, declining the
proffered assistance of the competitors
she mounted her wheel and sped quick
ly down the road. She had nearly reach
ed the first corner when, at a second
signal, the two men were away. A
third ring, and the merry company
mounted, following as rapidly as posi-
BILE the two flying con testants.
"What a glorious spin" thought
Meta, as the swift motion sent the ex-
ultant blood leaping through every ar
terry, and every fiber of her body thrilled
with the exuberant joy of living.
Faster and faster she flew along un-
til her efforts seemed involuntary. To
herself she seemed impalpable and en-
lowed with a freedom as perfect as the
breeze which famed her crimson cheek
and tenderly lifted the curls about her
face.
So completely did natures influence
enthrall her that no thought of the ride,
its purpose or the two men who were
speeding SO closely behind her entered
her mind until shout informed her of
the fact that Davis was ahead of Stan.
ton and rapidly gaining on her Then,
quicker than flash of light, came that
for which she had previously so longed
the knowledge that one of these men
was dearer to her than the other. Pure
tender and sweet, yet full of fear it
came causing a quick gasping for
breath and deepening flush upon the
cheeks as she realized that perhaps the
knowledge came too late, and that if
Harry Davis won the race the happiness
of two lives must certainly be wrecked.
With voiceless prayer more fervent
than any she had ever breathed before,
she redoubled her own efforts to reach
the spring as she heard the gentle whiz-
zing of wheel behind her. philip,
Philip, Philip appealingly resounded
through her brain like human voice.
In agony she olutched more firmly the
handle bars, bent her body forward as
she exerted every muscle to the utter
most, and pedaled with the greatest
rapidity in her determination to win
the goal ahead of Davis. If she succeed
ed, there was one more chance for Stan
ton to win by drawing lots.
But the spring was just in sight and
now SO near that she fancied she could
hear the crystal water as it tinkled soft
ly into its rocky basin. If Davis should
win
"Oh, mol Not thatp she whispered.
She was trembling with excitement.
A sudden mist clouded her sight, a
rumbling in her ears partially deafened
her, when-oh, thank God, the goal
was reached Then there was faroff
shout, the heavy breathing of a man
beside her, a gentle touch upon her
arm, and next
A sense of dizziness and the recollec-
ton of falling from her wheel came to
her as she opened her eyes and saw
not Davis but Philip Stanton. bending
over her with tender solicitude and ut
tering loving ordinations. - Emma
Platt Guyton i'll Waverly Magazine.