The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-04-22
LOVE ON WHEELS.
BY JOHN wIcKLITFE GRAY.
Would she come to-day?

BY JOHN WIcKLIFFE GRAY.
Would she come to-day?
John Haworth leaned back In hle
invalid's chair and scanned every vshi.
Gle that appeared from the uptowH
horizon. He was seated in the bic
bay window that looked out over the
trees and meadows and winding roads
and paths Of the park Now and thsn
the light June breeze waited acroaa
the street the prattls Of half . dnGe4
children at play on the greenswaf4
nearest where the invalid sat To tAo
philosophic and the speculative, II wAa
an ideal spot to study human nature .
we find 1t on the sidewalk-the Mghto
and shadows of the past shining dimly
through the features OF those via
hurry by.
But the speculation Of JohA H
worth ran In another direction AnA
every morning for two weeks Il hAA
been the same. Before that time -
by watching the faces just below HIN
on the street from the time they saAs
into good view four doors north q
south until they were gone. to givs
place to others.
There was q look Of eagerness q tAe
invalids face as he glanced at his
watch for the fifth time within the hAH
hour. 1t lacked but nve minutdB noW
of the TING when the Bicycle 0isl -
he chose to call her. would pa0
through the entrance Of the park -
most opposite.
Il think he might take Q bit NOSE
exercise. Walking in the park. fss -
stance. in the next day or so.- JGAA
turned to see his mother and d.. No
Rae. the family physician. entsr tAs
room. There viii be no further NJ
cessity for my services, think. How
does that sound, John?" he addeA
| cheerily.
Almost as good - the DIGIT .
home after two years in the Philip-
pines, Doc. I think" he broke -
suddenly and turned his eyes % tAs
| street
Yes. there she was. The same nj.
ty, tailor-made riding skirt and Jacket:
the same iuffy. dark hair that refused
to be kept under the jauntisst of nstle
caps.
The girl glanced up and-wls Is .
bow? Or had she merely turAsd hae
head to guide her wheel into the PARK
driveway. Who was abe? he wondersd,
as be had scores Of tfmes before n
those two weeks he had bsen sitt1ne
by the window slowly regainlng ths
health that long fever had stolen
i think I'll get out my bicycls II .
day or so." he continued. afer the n
terruption.
"A good idea. but, mind you, mot t.
much at first. Take 1t easy. and 80 g.
ercise will be Of as much benefit -
double the amount Of indoor Labor
with dumb bells" answered the doctor.
"A case Of pleasure and medicine.
eh, Doc?" said the invalid, with .
smile.
Yes. pleasure 10 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 ~
tic and. with the help Of the pertsrl
put in condition.
All, but II was glorious to have even
little strength to pedal. thought John.
as he took his nrst ride through TIE
park. He was ON the bicycle path
that ran down among the alders, where
it wound In and out like Q snake.
crossed q little bridge and then
wormed its way around the hin- fs
needed only . companion to make the
day and his enjoyment perfect. AAA
naturally he reverted to the Bicycle
Girl who crossed into the park evesY
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 -
her again. he had come out alone.
Suddenly, out Of q by-path, the gfri
of his thoughts dsrted. There was q
, simultaneous twist of front wheels
away from each other to avoid & COL
: lision- In . moment they were Con-
templating each other, with foot d
each on the ground and their handle
bars touching. a.
There was simultaneous laugh
Pardon me-" he said. removing N
cap.
There's nothing TO pardun," shs
said. smiling'y. as botAs Hheeis wers
righted. John knew instinctfvsly thsa
she would smile like that
Il see I have bent several spoksa. :
said Jonn. Il suppose might ~ weIl
straighten them now" he added.
John took out his kit, only to An1
his wrench missing.
May 1 borrow your wrench," n
asked.
Certainly, Mr.. Haworth." abe a.
swered.
"You know my manner" he sx
claimed. delighted as well a. surpriss<
at the turn Of affairs.
"Yes. was at college with your sic
ter. And l want to thank you for ,
beautiful silk shawl you sent me
though we have never met. am Jos
ephine Randall" A scarcely perceptibs
color mounted to her cheek a. she ex
tended her hand. John Remembered
now, the shawl he had placed in tn,
homeward-bound box of curios for hI
sisters chum. Miss Randall, who wa
N frequently mentioned in the letters n
had received on the. other side of tn,
| world.
Both myself and the shawl are hon
/ ored." he exclaimed. with warmth.
I'VE would have met before perhaps
had your sister been at home" Mis-
Randall went on
"Now that we have met, may not "
finish the ride together" he asket
wistfully.
And thereaftre the invalid scldfe