The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-01-27

one says ii was n craze, and it's go
ing out. And I'm not SO cure, h5
added vindictively, THAT you are as
keen about it as you were. Theirs
wasn't half SO much fuss over the
COMPOUNDED thing on the journey
down az we had last time.
Mrs. Butler rose impetuously.
She appeared to have lost her tenn
per.
II love it more than ever" she
cried, land ] always shall, with
which incoherent observation she
withdrew.
The breakfast room was empty
when Mr.. Butler strolled down at
about half past 10 on the following
morning. This did not surprise
him, but the message delivered to
him by the servant did.
MRS. Butler told me to say, if
you please, sir, said the man, THAT
she has ridden over to Fernhill on
her bicycle, and will lunch there. "
"What time will she be backa"
demanded her husband
about o'clock, SIR" was the
answer.
Mr.. Butler unfolded his newspaper
and ground his teeth.
1.-The whole dayi" he calculated
to himself We'll, | must say
However, she'll be tired. Forty
miles there and back, and then
she'll go to sleep all the evening.
Well, hanged if carei Wonder at
what time she started, and how far
she's got.
As a matter of fact, though Mrs
Butler had started some time since,
she had not made any remarkable
progress. 1t WAS delightful spring
like day, but the state of the roads
was not all that could be desired.
At this identical moment she was
walking along a particularly I'M
pleasant combination of ruts and
mud, wheeling her bicycle.
Mrs. Butler had her detractors, as
have all successful people, and there
was those who said she rode bicy-
Gle because she looked SO well in
the dress Her short, tailor made
frock and neat hat certainly suited
her to perfection this morning, ard
her little feet, in the daintiest imag-
Unable shoes, were delight to be-
hold. But Mrs. Butler did not ap.
pear to be thinking OF her appear.
ance Just then-she was obviously
taking no pleasure in it. Her pi
quaint face was rosy with air and OK
ercise, but it was distinctly overcast
In expression, and her every move
ment, lis she wheeled her machine
with Incredible carelessness over
the ruts, was expressive of boredom
and disgust. The bad bit Of roaC
passed, she stood for un instant con
TEN pl. ting her bicycle with an III
descrihable expression.
Il shall never DO able to give The
thing up, she said to herself de
spairingly. "Neverl II l did, he'(
think | wanted Oh, what bore
it isl"
She mounted as she spoke with {
despalring sigh. Perhaps she wa'
careless, perhaps the heel slipped
AT any rate the next thing O.
which she was aware was genera
, upheaval of the universe, which lef
her lying in the road with broker
bicycle beside her and every bon,
in her body, as 1t seemed, dislocated
"Oh, what fool I've beenl' sh,
, walled despairingly, and then sh
tainted.
1t was not a lonely road fortu
{ nately, and she was soon found ant
taken home The doctor was sen
r for and enjoined by Mr.. Butler OF
| his departure to come again in tn
| evening, and on coming down stair
, after his second visit he found MI
| Butler hanging about in the hall
The doctor did not wait to be ques
toned
D Going on splendidly, he sal
cheerily "Feverish tonight, O
: course But with Il broken arm an
r very nasty sprained ankle that
: only to be expected. !"
For Il man whose sentiments to
h ward his wife are of an eminentl
y philosophical nature Mr., Bulle
: was looking extraordinarily pal
4 and wretched. He drew quic
/ sigh OF satisfaction; then he said
$ with an air of stern superiorit,
J. which i'll disguised an undertone Q
@ ferocious vindictiveness:
r "Wretched things, these bicycles
I've always said SO. Then he added
- lis there any reason why shouldn
Sea my wifei would it do al
: harm, | meant
q The doctor screwed up his lip
# doubtfully.
"Well, he said. mo; hardl
IS that. But she is feverish, as | said
# and if she would rather be quiet
why, her wishes must be respected
d you know"
IT Confound it" calculated the hus
hand opl WI oa1,,, ,1,,,,l l., &C.,,