The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-04-08
10 ON Nv HEELS.
By JOHN WICKLIFFE CRAY.
Would she come to-day?

BIZ JOHN W1CKLIFFE GRAY.
Would she como to-day?
John HaWorth leaned back In hid
invalid's chair and scanned every vshi-
Gle that appeared from the uptown
horizon. He was seated in the big,
bay window that looked out over the
trees and meadows and winding roads
and paths of the park Now and then
the light June breeze waited across
the street the prattle of half a dozem
children at play on the greensward
nearest where the invalid sat. To the
philosophic and the speculative, it was
an ideal spot to study human nature "a
we find it on the sidewalk-the~ lights
and shadows Of the past shining dimly
through the features of those who
hurry by.
But the speculation Of John Ha-
worth ran In another direction. And
every morning for two weeks it hal
been the same. Before that time he
had helped to pass the tedious hours
by watching the faces just below him
on the street from the time they came
into good view four doors north OF
south until they were gone, to give
place to others.
There was q look Of eagerness ON tho
lnvalid's face as he glanced at his
watch for the NTH time within the half
hour. 1t lacked but I'VE minutes now
OF the time. when the Bicycle Girl. ~
be chose to call her. would pass
through the entrance of the park al-
most opposite.
Il think he might take a bit moro
exercise. walking in the park, for in
stance, In the next day or so." John
turned to see his mother and DR.. Nc
Rae, the family physician, enter tho
room. There will be no further nc
;essity for my services, l think. How
1oes that sound, John?" he added,
3heerily.
Almost as good as the sight of
home after two years in the Philip
pines, Doc. l think" he broke of
suddenly and turned his eyes to tho
street.
Yes, there she was. The same nat
IT, tailor-made riding skirt and jacket:
the same fluffy. dark hair that refused
to be kept under the jauntiest Of little
caps.
The girl glanced up and-was it .
DOW: Or had she merely turned her.
head to guide her wheel into the park
driveway. Who was she? he wondered,
as he had scores of times before In
those two weeks he had been sitting
ny the window slowly regaining the
health that a long fever had stolen.
i think I'll get out my bicycle in
day or So" he continued, afer the in.
terruption.
"A good idea. but. mind you, not too
much at first. Take it easy. and the ex-
ercise will be Of as much benefit az
double the amount Of indoor labor
with dumb BELLS" answered the doctor.
"A case Of pleasure and medicine.
Ell, Doc" said the invalid. with 4
smile.
"Yes, pleasure is half the cure. with
exercise or medicine" he answered
=, 1t was three days later that Johns
bicycle, the trusted servant of other
days, was brought forth from the At
tic and, with the help Of the porter!l
put in condition.
All, but 1t was glorious to have even
little strength to pedal, thought John.
as he took his first ride through the
park. He was on the bicycle path
that ran down among the alders, where
II wound in and out like a snake
crossed a little bridge and then
wormcd its way around the hill. it
aeeded only q companion to make the
lay snd his enjoyment perfect. And
naturally he reverted to the Bicycle
Girl who crossed into the park every
morning.
He had not seen her since that day
when DR.. McRae was in the room, and
now, three days after, in desperation
and growing fear that he would not sea
her again, he lad come out alone.
Suddenly, out Of by-path. the girl
Of his thoughts darted. There was a
simultaneous twist of front wheels
away from each other to avoid q COL
lision. In moment they were con.
templating each other. with q foot Of
each on tie ground and their handle
bars touching.
There was simultaneous laugh.
pardon me-" he said, removing hia
cap.
There's nothing to pardon" she
said, smil!ngly. rs both wheels were
righted. Johc knew instinctively that
she would smile like that.
Il see have bent several spokes. "
said Joan. Il suppose l might Is we'll
straighten them now" he added,
John took out his kit. only to dnj
his wrench missing.
May borrow your wrench" "
asked. :
Certainly. Mr.. Haworth," she an.
swered.
"You know my nameH' ha Az