The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-09-10
The
HighWdyman

Slowly along the footpath. | heard the
ting" of a bicycle bell, and a girls
figure rose to view on the summit
against the clear morning sky. heav-
ems! She was never going to ride down
Kynaston Hill in this mud
Get off," / yelled, "the road is like
a pond"
The girl glanced at me for an in
stant-then at the long sweep of the
road falling away before her, smiled,
put her feet on the rests and coasted.
Her bicycle skidded. Just as | expect
ed; and l hurled down the road to
find her sitting in the mud looking at
her machine with a very rueful face.
She picked herself I'D without my
assistance. while the pink of her
cheeks deepened.
There is a warning to bicyclists at
the top of the hill" l said, stopping to
take the bicycle by the lamp-rest,
which was then only part l could see
unspotted by the mud.
1T is too late to tell me that now"
she said. Nobody with n sense ever
gets off for a warning to cyclists
The tone showed me that further
reproach would be unwise.
She turned half around to gaze anx-
iously IN the hill.
He can't be coming yet" she muir
INJURED.
An u~nwarrantable feeling of disap-
pointment chilled me FOR a moment.
oh" she cried. 81 mustn't wait an
instant, The bicycle is quite clean
now-er-thank you very much, 1
will walk down the rest of the hill"
ct would be wiser l turned to hide
a smile. 81 will wheel your bicycle,
if you will allow me-"
She looked at me for an instant be-
fore replying but after a short scrut-
my her face changed.
Thank you very much" she said.
She was about eighteen and charm
ingly pretty. l felt at all costs | must
know more about her.
Wouldn't it be better if we sat
down and waited for him." l asked
gently.
The girl looked at me with eyes full
of alarm.
Waltz" she cried, Good heavens,
mo- Why. should have to go
straight back home if we did"
At the next turn she looked back.
AS she did so l stopped, with the pre-
tense of clearing the mud from the
brake of her bicycle. and drove a pin
right through the front tire.
I'm afraid you've punctured your
tire" l said gravely. The look of
despair in those gray eyes filled me
with a sudden remorse for the deed
l had done.
Il haven't got an outfit" she cried,
perhaps you have one, though"
No" l answered, u%ntruthfully, hop
ing she would never see the contents
of my saddlebag.
The grey eyes filled with tears, and
| felt that l had behaved like a beast
ly cad.
Look here" said l, unless you tell
me all about it. l don't see how l can
help you"
1T is uncle George who is coming,
with his dog cart; and if he catches
me l shall have to go straight back
to Beryston."
Lets go and sit ON that fallen
tree" said l persuasively, land talk it
over calmly. If you don't mind my
suggesting it, wouldn't it be a good
plan to begin with your name and
address,"
She hesitated a little, then sat down
on the extreme edge of the iog and
looked ~doubtfully at me.
MY name is Letitia Rowe" she said,
'and l live at the White House at
Beryston."
1T is a very pretty name" l muir
INJURED politely. Why did you run
away"
Letitia's face grew crimson.
II came away" she said in a very
low voice, because l am engaged
to be married to a-a-beast. He is
coming today to the White House to
see me. and | made up my mind that
when he came I wouldn't be there"
Il don't blame you." said l. But 1
don't quite understand. Why, if the
gentleman is a beast. have you got
to marry him? In what way is he a
beast? Is he ugly?"
Letitia frowned and poked the
ground with her small patent leather
toe.
Il don't know whether he is ugly or
not" she said quickly. because l
have never seen him. l am engaged
to be married to him because Berys-
ron &c nina apd KvnaSton io HE ond