The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-04-20

and for the first time she began to regret
task. Still she went bravely on, though.
at a poor six miles an hour, even when
the road was at it's best 1t was g.
o'clock when she reached Fulford
Heath, with over twenty miles to go.
Two of these were across the bare, open
ing sun. She gave a little sob of pain
as she came out of the leafy lane
through which she had been riding on
to the white, dusty, scOrching road. She
checked herself in the act Of saying
aloud, what Il perverse. fool l am!'
taking solace in the resolve to call at
to let her have bath. There was lux
ury in the thought Of splashing in the
sweet, cold water and washing off the
dust and heat Of that dreadful road.
When she was nearly across the heath
two dangers confronted her in human,
form, for suddenly. from q sheltering
leaped on to the roadway in front of
her. She was about to turn back, when
she heard a shout behind her, and saw, as
she looked around a cyclist coming full
speed to her aid. The tramps saw him
as well, and incontinently fed. Dolly
stayed still for moment. thinking she
would seek the strangers protection, but
she instantly bethought herself of her
appearance, and, hastily remOunting, she
dashed off at top speed. When she
next looked round the cyclist was out of
sight.
After four hours of painful toiling she
came to an inn, and entering through the
men were drinking, she found the land
lady and proffered her request:
II never heerd of such thing" cried
the landlady, with vulgar, brutal laugh.
Then. seeing the real pain she gave the
girl, she relented so far as to say: "You
like
Dolly gratefully accepted, and for
time rode on with renewed strength, but
it was when she came to milestone
bearing the disheartening inscription,
"ro Cumberlege, thirteen miles,"
Il can never do it," she said, as she
struggled on, worn out and agonized to
Suddenly at the end of winding road,
the machine came near to stopping, and
nearly jerked her out of the saddle She
turned the curve Of the road, dismOunt-
ed and found that really-bad puncture
was the cause. She sat down on the
the tears came pouring down her cheeks.
81 can't do it, can't do it!'' she sobbed
ALOUD.
"You needn't try" said voice beside
her, as a cyclist dismounted by her side
| and took her machine from the ground
| where it lay disabled.
She looked up to see Dick beside her.
All her anger with him fed at once, and
| only. grateful sense Of his protecting
presence remained.
"0h. Dick! I'm so glad you're here"
''Drink this" he said, offering her his
flask. Its only sherry, but you want
| it,
She took it meekly. and watched him
as he .skillfully repaired the puncture.
| but now she was so tired that she nearly
| fell. He was by her side in a moment.
Put your feet on the rests" he said.
She obeyed, and guiding his own ma
chine with his right hand and hers with
| his left on the bar. he drove along: Not
word was said but her timid '"Thank
you, Dick" and his curt comment,
full and comforting to her to travel thus
| after her long, and dire fatigue, and she
sat looking at his. broad shoulders and
noting how strong he was. She felt very
contrite as she remembered how kind,
and good, and brave, and what true
lover he was, and she was making up
| her mind to make amends for all her ill.,
a hotel after about fifteen minutes ride
he took her into the coffee room, and or
dering q cup Of tea for her at once, he
said, Drink it when it comes. l shall
be back Directly and went out.
! When he came back she had finished
the tea and said: II think l can get on
by myself now, Dick"
swer, as he took her to the door and
handed her into carriage that was in
| readiness.
''The bicycles will come on tonight -
was all the explanation he offered her
as they drove off.
1t was delightful to recline on the
seats of that well-cushioned carriage
with feeling of restfulness, and it was
pleasant, too, to have Dick beside her.
Dick she said presently in low
voice and with peiaiteht, duwncast eyes,
! Il won't 90 cycling alone again."
| You certainly WON'T" he assented,
| THAT was you behind me on Fulford
Heath, wasn't it, Dick?''
No answer; She smiled, paused and
went on, did mother send you after
me?"
you're not to talk" he said.
She smiled again quite happily. Pres
emily she said: "Dick, I'm very sorry,
and [ was very unkind to you, and-''
| That melted him. Never mind, Dolly,
old girl, that's all right"
And m you do-yon -still-don't
She was looking down with blushing
cheeks, and he could see the teardrops
glistening in her eyes as he STOPPED for
ward and whispered:
''You know love you more than all
the world
That was enough, and when they at
last reached Cumberlege, Dolly had suf-
ficiently recovered her spirits and her
pretty audacity to whisper to him as
they got out:
How thoughtful It was Of you to take
a closed carriage" -Afadame.
| Col. Chinn's Valet.