The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-04
A xEALOus REroRMER.
The Young Woman He Wanted %
Reform Failed % Appreciate.

The long, timber. loose-jointed individ-
ual who was riding ieisurely along the
boulevard On a bicycle Quickened his pace
slightly and drew alongside q young VIC.
man attired in divided skirts and riding
a mans wheel.
IF you will not think I am taking too
great a liberty, miss he said. raising his
hat, II win venture to tell you that you
ride pigeon~toed.
.'Sir.
.-Oh. most decidedly. Piseon-toed. No
body. perhaps, has done you the Kindness
10 call your attention 10 II. The effect,
as one may say. viewed from the rear
IL don't think you're much OF = gentle
man. anyway
Yes, but I am. I'm a gentleman old
enough to be your father. young lady.
That IL why / took II upon myself to
speak to you. Wouldn't you rather
I'D rather not have anything TO say to
you. sir!'
Il was going to ask II you wouldn't
rather I spoke TO you about II than TO
wink at somebody on the sidewalk and
point at you. and let you ride on In Is.
norancs''--
There isn't any need of your doing
either. SIR
Il beg your pardon, but think there
Is. couldn't be ungentlemaniy enough
to jeer at you behind your back. and from
my point of View
Besides. ! have never been introduced
to you. SIR
Then allow me to introduce myself,
My name is Civilians. Have wife. but
to go about doing good
"Sir, T.
And from my point OF view. a. I was
about TO say. II would be almost equally
ungentlemaniy TO see young woman un~
consciously riding along In . highly
y,;s .o@d nd hal int
nation that she Is making . bewiidering
spectacle Of herself
II don't believe II, either!"
BE it far from me to dispute with you.
miss. but you win pardon me for observ-
ing
II went eitherr'
For observing that you are not riding
the least biz pigeon-toed now
How dare you. sir.''
1T does take good deal OF courage;
that's a fact. But it's q soyf Of duty. I
am always getting into scrapes. even
when l am trying the hardest 10 be a
public benefactor. Great Scott. young
woman. Do look like man who would
20 around poking his nose into steel traps
merely for the enjoyment OF the sensa-
tion?'
II was going along here psaceabiy, sir.
and paying no attention 10 you, and II
does seem TO me-
Il beg your pardon. my dear Miss
Miss
Never mind. sir.'
Miss Nevermind-shank you-why will
you persist In refusing to look at the case
from my point OF view? Just because no,
body has ever told you OF your plgron
toed form OF riding II doesn't follow that
nobody ever ought TO tell you. and who
can do IL so appropriately an soma old
withered--but stiil active. young woman,
ss!ll ae.ive-hunks like me. Pigeon toes
generally accompany-steady. now-they
generally accompany howiegs''--
Sir. I think you are
They do, indeed. miss. They do. In
deed. wouldn't deceive you In matter
like that. They don't always go together.
os course. but the presumption Ii strong.
Now, my wife rides out occasionally on
her wheel. but l do assure you that II
she rode p.geon-toed or had dropped han
diehars and a hump. or wore the Jenny
Miller style OF gear--I am net sure wheth-
sr that's the proper name for it,
We'll. IL isn't"
Probably not. But ls she did ali that,
ard rode q mans machine besides I
should say 10 her: My dear. I have a
position in society 10 maintain. I owe
something TO my family name. There ts
no blot. I believe. On the name of CIVIL
Hams. Therefore. my dear. ~ you In
st.t going out in that style | shall
hire some trusfy policeman to 70 along
to take care OF you. and I will stay az
home and pray for you There are ma
chimes made fer wemen 20 ride an and
there fx no more need Of their mounting
a mans wheel than there 10 for their rid
snr IN the sfnokinx-ea- 8s u railway train
heeaIxe there happens to b. o. szyssxlng-
car And short skirts look better than
shart skirts and she Jenny Miafer ssyi.
combined That's the way I should talk
~ nay wife and IL you knew her ~ well
"a DO you wouid knew I was taking
fearful risk. young woman
II don't care what you would say 10
Your wife, sir. | think yeu are the most
!mpudent old
Il beg your pardon. mics. but you are
riding pigeon.toed again"
"slgi you please so on ahead, str--'
II would like 80 chiAg. yDa. ynfss but
thss ~ aeseut as fast IS can ride. I'm
no seorehsr. However. thas IL where I
surn ny wish yoa good afternoon Miss
segerrind- | have enjoyed our little con
sersatsou very much"
He lifted his bat turned down q side
stree; and rode away with his head up.
But 80 he turned 90 glance AZ her. be-
fore she passed entirely 90; 81 sight. he
saw that sire WAS rot riding pixeont
Chicago Tribune.
4 Ysvostse Stesy 81 jWe Je0ePs~n.