The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-12

bicycle and started for the place where
/ the ladies were to meet.
Now Alvira on the wheel was an al
together different Alvira from the one
Silas knew. In spite of her weight she
sat lightly and easily. perfectly erect,
her feet moving as easily as though
walking. Her short gray skirt, white
shirt waist. and small close cap of
gray cloth, beneath which her dark
hair with its streaks of white, was
smoothly brushed, was vastly beco,m-
ing.
In fact, Alvira had taken to the wheel
as duck to <he water, and seemed
( perfectly at home, as she spun along
the road. In her efforts to avoid a
meeting with Sias. she took round
| about way branching off from the
/ main road in several places, so it was
| quite a little past the stated hour that
! she arrived at the place of meeting.
| To her surprise, there was no one
| there, and thinking she was too early
| instead of too late, she stepped from
! her wheel and sat down in a shady
! spot 10 await the coming of the party.
The time slipped by, and still no sign
| of her friends, and once more mount
ing her wheel. Alvira determined to go
in search of them.
! In all her life it seemed to Alvira,
| she had never felt so care free and
happy. Gliding swiftly along the
| shady country road made fragrant
sweet smelling wild flowers, she almost
| forgot her destination, till she found
herself in the crowded village street
Fearing recognition, she rode swiftly
along to the circus grounds, secured a
ticket, and passed in through the big
gate.
A medley of sights and sounds
/
few moments she stood leaning upon
her wheel and gazed about her There
was the mammoth tent, and the usual
| number of smaller ones, the drawing
cards set forth in gay colored pictures
on the outside. BY the sound of music.
shouts of laughter and clapping of
hands, that. issued from the big tent,
| Alvira concluded the show had begun.
| Dear me, I never can find Lucinda
an the rest inside that tent, L know
she muttered to herself scarcely know
ing what to do next.
Suddenly from one of the smaller
tents, there came a number of people,
each with a wheel. Alviras face
lighted up as she pushed her way to-
| wards them.
There's Lucinda now, thank good
ness!" she cried aloud.
Obstructed by the crowd. the last of
the bicyclists was just vanishing in
side the tent when. Alvira followed
close behind. Inside, each mounted d
| wheel. and rode swiftly into big ring,
the one whom she supposed was Lu-
| cinda being one of the first
Determined to catch up with her at
all costs, Alvira jumped upon her
wheel and followed on. Inside the ring
| they quickly formed line, a bell rang,
and away they all flew like the wind.
With her eyes fixed on Lucinda, AL
vira peddled with all her might, yet
still she kept far ahead. Round and
round the ring they went. the band
playing loudly. the people shrieking and
clapping hands.
Look at the fat one. I'll bet on the
fat one!" shouted q rough boy in the
audience, and the people laughed and
screamed the louder.
/ Gathering her strength for final
speed Alvira dashed forward, and with
a mighty effort she rushed past the
! supposed Lucinda Peters.
a bell sounded, great shout arose
from the people, and a man thrust a
lag into Alvira's hand as she stepped
: rom ner wheel.
Her head was in a whirl, her heart
J )eat heavily, as she gaZed about that
sea of strange faces. The other riders
we're moving quickly from the ring,
md for the first time. Alvira realized
] that they were all strangers to her.
sudden trembling seized her
| ort of wild horror of her situation
I ook from her the last bit of strength.
! md her shaking limps refused their
| upport. Ma
Look out, therel Out of the way!"
| shouted a voice in her ear as she stag
| gered along.
Too late. The hoof of a horse struck
her down, a great wheel passed over
her bicycle, and the darkness of night
fell upon Alvira.
From the upper tier of seats an old
| farmer sprang UP as he saw her fall,
| and, elbowing his way downward he
| pushed his way to her side. Waving
back all offers of help, he lifted the
unconscious woman and dragged her
out into the open air. saying:
This lady is my wife, gentleman,
an I'll take keer on her..
Silas' face was white as chalk, his
| eyes wild and staring when Alvira re-
turned to consciousness, and saw him
bending over her.
Yes Alvira, it's me all right, but
blamed if I'm quite sure its you,
| though answered Silas. looking her
over curiously. "An' where in time
did you larn to ride a bicycle?"
Take me home Silas, an I'll tell
you all about it," said the wife. rising
!
the dirt from her clothes. Il guess |
can get to the wagon if it's pretty
| handy I suppose my wheel is ruined,
| anyway. Let it stay where it's" add
ed she as she limped along beside her
husband.
, Not until they were well started on
| their homeward ride, did Silas speak
again, but at last his curiosity could
be kept back no longer.
"I vow, Alvira, eff you amt the
/ smartest woman / know on" he burst
/ out admiringly. Who'd ever suppose
you'd win a bicycle race in a circus"
81 didn't know | was racin'. Silas;
as true as 7 live. / didn't" answered
! Alvira meekly. 81 was just a tryin'
to ketch UP with that fust women l
thought was Lucinda Peters,
well We did, Alvira, an beat her
all to nothin'. Why, when the man
gin ye that flag I jest holloed louder
than any boy around me-
But you didn't know it was me
Silas, did you?" said Alvira.
We'll, l kind o thought it was. but
yet couldn't believe my own eyes. till
that horse hit you. Then somethin'
| told me twas YOU. sure"
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