The Tomahawk., 1904-03-17
A BICYCLE PROPOSAL
BY JOHN w1cKLIFFE GRAY.

lieved that was timid man. But the
happenings of few weeks led me to
the conclusion that I had my share and
more.
A girl with blue eyes did it. AS in
most cases where a man has found him
self face to face with himself, it was q
woman who held the mirror
1t was the old story of scouting atlove
until met the one girl, and then want
ed to propose. But what with the doubts
that assailed me as to the probable re-
ception of proposal, and my newborn
timidity, I could never gather together
sufficient courage at the proper time to
give expression to the thoughts that kept
me awake at night. I carefully formu-
lated plan after plan to rid my mind OF
it's burden, but one after another they
came to naught through my disgusting
shyness-coWardice, if you will. l am
half inclined to believe that Beatrice
knew my condition all the time. But
she had keen sense of humor and l
dreaded that silvery laughter more than
a whole regiment of regulars. She could
grow serious in moment, and it was
this mood liked best. But, until that
sunny day, when my bicycle helped me
through, had always missed the point.
It lacked but four days of my departure
from the springs, and knew to delay
might mean to fail altogether.
Delay and defeat were the words that
hummed through my brain like a sprock-
ct wheel as we spun down the lane that
morning. We were out after an early
breakfast, and on that short journey
a=wheel had determined to throw all
my chances in the balance and find their
intrinsic worth. Just how I was going
10 begin I had not determined, and
thought that for once would leave the
matter open for the seizure of the first
opportunity.
The roadside flowers seemed nodding us
CHEEKY good morning in the light
breeze. Now and then from the trees
came the call of bird, and, making
shiny black streak in the air, a crow
would bend his flight to lonely tree
in the fields, calling to his mate.
Bee and I had said little until We
reached the broad pike.
want to racer" she called back to
me from her point of vantage a few
lengths ahead. Now knew what that
meant. Bee was the better rider, for
instead of taking a course of indoor
physical culture she had adopted golf,
tennis and bicycle as the most enjoy
able method of obtaining exercise and
health.
Trying to tease" I said. "But go
ahead. I'll do my best Want to bet
anything?"
''No, not when am certain of the re-
suit" she laughed.
I grinned appreciation and asked:
"How far?''
"The two mile post" she cried, and
we were off.
Bee sprinted, and so did I. But the
distance between us remained about the
same, and precluded conversation, even
had not the pace attained the same end.
Soon the sprockets were singing a
steady song to pebbles that spun back
ward from the rubber tires. We were
running at 20 miles an hour down the
best piece of road in the section.
settled to steady speed, not quite
my best, and Bee did the same, saving
strength for the last half mile. The
wind whistled merry tune to the time
we kept with our pedals. A covey of
partridges fled with sharp chirps at our
whirlwind advance. felt and noticed
little else beside the trim figure, with
flying Wisps of brown hair, Just ahead
of me.
Of sudden Bee began to draw ahead
of me.
"Put your heart into the game" she
called back to me, with her head half
turned as she spoke. She was laughing
out of pure enjoyment of the exercise,
and perhaps my probable discontinue.
My pride was nettled, and it must have
increased my strength to a considerable
degree Soon I was close behind her,
and with the wheels buzzing like mad
things, was even. One mere squirt, and
by a tremendous effort I was ahead!
"Get your hand in the game" called
back, paraphrasing her own slang. MY
heart and your hand" l added by the
force of an inspiration, "a match race!"
The second mile post was not more
than hundred yards ahead, and was
beginning to believe I should win.
: had no time to look back, fearing loss
of my little gain.
But neither was to have the victory.
Bees front wheel advanced slowly,
but surely, until it was even with my
handle-bars, and as we arrived oppo-
site the post, we were side by side.
It was tie!
"You got your hand in" l laughed
later under the trees where we were
seated.
Yes she agreed.
"And my whole heart was in it,"
added, cautiously.
The blue eyes looked into mine and
seemed to read what was there. And
then in the fear that my shyness would
return, said quickly, incoberently:
s'YO1lr hand nv heart a match the