Middletown transcript., 1901-02-02

was wondering why Kitty, who had
promised to be on hand nearly fifteen
minutes before, hadn't come. But at
that instant an apparition III blue came
into view gliding down the street, and
Kitty sprang lightly from her wheel.
"All ready to start, l see" she cried
gayly. ''Well, come on. do hope you
won't have many falls"
"Oh, not great many" answered
George, cheerfnlly, although she is de-
ternined to teach herself We will &c
over to Hawthorne Street, where there i:
plenty of room and not many people tc
see the fun"
81 am glad you expect to be amused, .
l said to George, with frigid air, but il
only made his smile the broader.
started rather gingerly to wheel the
bicycle to the scene of the first engage,
ment between it and myself.
"You would better lead it yourself, y
George had said, $50 as to have at least
slight bowling acquaintance with it be-
fore suing for its favor and taking liber-
ties with it"
| We came to broad, level bit of ground
that seemed to be just the place, but
George shook his head.
! ''No," he said, f'it will be better to
find slight incline where the wheel will
run along of its own accord. This is
quite help in learning to balance your
self"
"There is plenty of room here to fall
in" he remarked, with an unpleasant
smile. "And now," he continued, let's
begin. 1t is almost 'as easy as rolling off
a log to roll off bill mean, to ride a
bicycle. You women make too much
fuss about it,-as if you were learning
some acrobatic feat. Remember that
your feet are never more that ten or
twelve inches from the ground, and that
while you may fall, you rarely hurt
yourself. Isn't that SO, Kitty?'
Kitty, who was darting and circling
about in an easy careless way that was
quite tantalizing, nodded an assent.
81 suppose it would have been easier
for me-" remarked, surveying her cos
tune, 'tf l had knickerbockers or bloom
ers or something of that sort on"
'You are all right" answered. George.
''That shirtwaist gives you plenty of
room in which to move your arms; and
as to the skirt, while it should be little
narrower and reach to the ankles, ii is
the kind that most women learn in. Not
one in thousand has regular bicycle
suit before she becomes a goo6 rider.
And now, Kitty" George added, "show
her how to mount"
''It is very easy, my dear" said Kitty,
sweetly. "You stand on the left side of
your bicycle, with your hands on the
handles; you put your right foot over
the bar upon the right pedal, which is
elevated and inclined little forward;
then you press your weight upon the
right pedal and give little spring into
your seat. The pressure OH the pedal
has given you momentum; you get your
other foot on the left pedal, and ride
away, like this"
"Why, it is very easyp I exclaimed.
II am sure 1 can do that! No, don't
help me, George. Let me see; you put
your. foot ON the right pedal, and
spring
But what was the matter with the
thing? 1t darted away like frisky colt
before I was half ready. And where
was that left pedal? 1 sought it franti-
cally with my foot, but couldn't find it.
The wheel darted to the right, then
suddenly changed its intention and
swerved to the left. 1 felt it totter un-
der me; vainly did 1 twist myself to
keep it upright. Calmly and gently, as
if tired, it lay down on its side, and l |!
lay down with it, while George stood
over us grinning idiotically.
''It is not quite SO easy as it looks, is
it?'' he asked, when was Strengthening
myself out. "Let me give you point
about falling. When you feel yourself |
going over, of course your inclination is
to let go of the wheel and put your
hands out to break the fall; but it is
much better to keep a firm grasp upon
the handles. The chances are you will
alight ON your feet, and there is no dan
ger of the wheel down on top of you,
which is the way you are most likely TO
get hurt if you let CO."
every well, will remember" I an
Iwered; "but don't intend to fall often.
Let me try again"
Really, that bicycle seemed possessed
# an evil spirit. No sooner had l put |
ny feet on the pedals than the front
Wheel gave quick turn of its own ac- a
ord, and the whole thing began to settle t
gain; but was ready for it this time. q
When it was halfway over got my feet tt
n the ground, and stood there helplessly Ii
Or an instant in position which / am 81
ute sure was far from graceful. didn't h
lind that, however; l was beginning to
that grace and bicycle riding y
! its first stages have nothing in COM tc
ION. a
"Don't you Think" asked George, as pl
as preparing to mount again, "that ] SO
ould better give you little help2" h'
I hated to admit that it might be well, "
ut I had to,
''Well, perhaps so," replied, assum-
g an Indifferent air. "You see, I am to
1t altogether used to mounting yet. in
hen l get on and started am sure I bl
all be all right" Or
George caught the wheel by the saddle I'M
pport and handle and held it upright mi
bile / comfortably settled myself in pr
e seat, then he pushed it gently and Cr
n alongside to steady it. 1t was like me
ating through the air; felt thrill of ito
light, and cried, enthusiastically. he
'Oh, do let me go! 1 am sure 1 can WI
le it alone"