The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-06
A joyful light flashed over her eloquent

You dear old thing!'' she cried. ''Oh,
you dear old thing! l love you better than
anyone in the world except Jim. It's aw-
fully good OF you to try and help me, and
IN never forget your kindness, even II
you mind going now. at once? Do go now.
I can't bear suspense. 1t maddens me.
would rather know the worst
Very WE'LL said Sir George. good ma
turedly. I'm going how. dear, but don't
don't be too hopeful"
He found the general sitting at his writ
in table in the library with Mr.. Brabozons
card before him. His pen was in his hand
and he was just on the point Of writing
an answer when Sir George entered the
room.
"Oh, it's you." ne grunted, when he saw
who the intruder was; :sit down for min
ute will you, while answer this thing? I'll
talk to you afterward"
Sir George strolled up to the writing table,
with his hands in his pockets and the most
Indifferent air he could assume
What is that?" he asked. nodding toward
the card.
The general snorted contemptuously
An invitation to Mrs Brabazon's gymk-
hana.' he answered. Really there seems
to be no limit to the rot that people inun-
date one with nowadays. A bicycle gymk-
hana indeed! What next?'
Sir George nodded
What next" he echoed. "Of course
you're going to refuse?'
"Humph! grunted the general
W course you won't go to it, Sir
George went on. feeling like a Nineteenth
century Machiavell1; land as for letting
Nab ride, why, of course; you would never
think of such thing"
The general looked up sharply.
Why" he asked.
"Why?" echoed Sir George, assuming
quite Judicial tone "Oh, because it would
n q var IL 6vyia,
ADVISED thing, indeed Ten to one young
Beresford will be there, and if you take nv
advice '''S
Confound your advice!' spluttered the
general, turning purple with rage. CON
1ound your advice, sir: Keep 1t till it's
asneo ior' You may be MY elder brother
ana the head Of the family. but I'll see
you at Hanover before I'll be dictated to
ana domlneered over by YOU What do 7
care 1or young Beresford? Am I such a fool
that cant manage girl of 49,? If l
choose mat ab shall ride in this rotten
snow, she snail ride And if she rides I'll
she that she conducts herself properly. in
spite OF young Beresford or young any,
body else.
Sir George stroked his mustache to con-
ceal a smile.
oian mean to put your back up" he
said Il only thought
Then you shouldn't think" rayed the
general: What business have you to
think about my affairs? Things are coming
10 pretty pass, a very pretty pass indeed
when I'm hectored and brow-beaten in NV
own mouse, first by an ignorant, ungrateful
chlld ana then by my own brother But I
won't stand it, George I'm a. rildtor
pered man. as all the world knows but T
won't take interference from ANYBODY.
shall go to Mrs. BrabazOn's bicycle gvmkba
ma, ana snail let Nab ride, so there's an
end to the matter. It's no good areuin..
M ic
Sir George smiled again as he sauntered
out of the room to reJon Nab in the gar
den.
The childs thorough woman, though
she looks such baby" he unused. "A
Wiful woman, toe; and a Wilful woman
must have her way" and then he quoted
four lines of an old rhyming proyerb smil
ing still more: CIR
That mans fool who tries, by force or
skill
To stem the current of a womans will.
For If she will, she will, YOU may depend
And she won't she won't and there's an
end ont
The day of Mrs. Barabazon's bicycle GYM
khana dawned fresh and fair-an ideal June
day of clOudless skies and golden sunshine
glad with the songs of birds ami sweet
with the scent of roses. The large lawn
in front Of the house was very gay and
anmable scene indeed when the East Hill
party arrived.
Nab went to get her number. escorted
by Miss Tempest, and then returned at once
to her party to wait under the generals
personal supervision until the races began
She looked nervous and excited and her
eyes kept wandering wistfully over the
laughing group Of which Jim Bcresford
formed the center. The most formal of
bows was the only greeting that had pas
sed between them and Sir George wondered
how they could manage to exchange any
words under the lynx eyes of the general
and Miss Tempest. That they did manage
it some way subsequent events showed, but
how and when and where Sir George was
never able to make out.
At 8 O'Clock the starting bell sounded and
a little fiutter ran through the eXpectant
crowd. Nab sprang to her saddle as lightly
as bird and wheeled swiftly away to
JOIN the group that were collecting at the
head Of the track. Very pretty and very
dainty she looked in her fresh white BIZ
cycle suit. Her cheeks were flushed with
excitement, her eyes shown like stars. and
the perfect poise of her slender figure,
swaying lightly and easily with every mo-
ton of the wheel that she guided 50 skill
fully. gave the lie direct to the oft-made
assertion that bicycling is an ungraceful
and unbecoming exercise for women.
Co.. cried the starter and away flew
MALT a dozen girls dropping potatoes into
hover pots as they went.
Map was the most successful one. She
managed to drop all the homey vegetables
with which her hands were filed into the
receptacles provided for them. and quite
a little round of applause greeted her as
she rode back to the starting point, look
ing prettier than ever.
We'll done, Miss Montague!' said the
starter. and then he began to marshal an
other line of girls into something approach
ing order.
Race followed race in quick succession
and the afternoon wore on.
Then came tea under the trees, and as
soon as the general had swallowed a cup
he began to think about going. He always
liked to be as nearly as possible the last to
arrive at entertainments and the first to
leave. That was one of his anna BILE weak
nesseS.
Now, Nab" he said standing up.
Sir George, who was sitting by Nab, saw
look Of utter dismay and CONSERVATION
flash over her expressive face; but the
next moment she was walking decOrously
by her guardians side toward their host
ess.
"Going!' exclaimed Mrs. Brabazon, MAX
ing no attempt to take the generals prof
fered hand. oh! nonsense l can't hear
Of such a thing. You mustn't take Nab
away and break up my party like this
Why, the prizes haven't been given yet,
and Nab has won two Besides, there is
another race to come off after tea-an ex-
ira event that we can only put in this att
ernOOn after the program Is made up. 1t
was Mab's suggestion, too. and she per-
suaded me to have it, so you must let her
take part in 1t. Sit down again, please
and don't say any more about going till
l give you permission