The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-03-17
A BICYCLE PROPOSAL
BY JOHN wICKLIFFE GRAY.


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 a
woman who held the mirror.
1t was the old story of scouting at love
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 a proposal. and my newborn
timidity. | could never gather together
sufficient courage at the proper time TO
give expression to the thoughts that kept
me awake at night | carefully formu-
lated plan after plan to rid my mind of
its burden, but one after another they
came to naught through my disgusting
shyness-cOwardice, if you will. | am
half inclined to believe that Beatrice
knew my condition all the time. But
she had a keen sense of humor. and
dreaded that silvery laughter more than
a whole regiment of regulars. She could
grow serious in a moment, and it was
this mood | liked best. But, until that
sunny day, when my bicycle helped me
through. | had always missed the point.
1t lacked but four days of my departure
from the springs. and l knew to delay
might mean to fail altogether.
Delay and defeat were the words that
hummed through my brain like 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 l had determined to throw all
my chances in the balance and find their
intrinsic worth. Just how was going
to begin | had not determined, and |
thought that for once | would leave the
matter open for the seizure of the first
opportunity.
The morning air was crisp and cool.
The roadside flowers seemed nodding us
a CHEEKY good morning in the light
breeze. Now and then from the trees
came the call of a bird, and. making
shiny black streak in the air a crow
would bend his fight to a lonely tree
In the fields. calling to his mate. Once
a rabbit watched us from down the lane
with what l imagined was a quizzical
expression, and when we had come quite
close, sped through the underbrush with
the rattle of a dry twig.
Bee and | 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 If 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" | said. But 90
ahead. I'll do my best. Want to bet
anything"
mo, not when | am certain of the re-
suit" she laughed.
| grinned appreciation and asked:
How far"
THE two mile post" she cried. and
we were off.
Bee sprinted, and so did |. 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
partrdges fled with sharp chirps al 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 | was close behind her.
and with the wheels buzzing like mad
things, | was even. One more squirt. and
by tremendous effort | was ahead.
Get your hand in the game" called
back paraphrasing her own slang. My
heart and your hand" | 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 | should win. I
had no time to look back, fearing a loss
of my little gain.
But neither was to have the victory.
Bees front wheel advanced slowly.
but surely. until it was even with nv
handle bars, and as we arrived oppo-
site the post, we were side by side.
1t was tie!
You got your hand in" / laughed
later under the trees where we We're
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, incoherently:
Your hand. my heart, a match, the