Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-05-08

=
she had known all the time that he was
a gentleman. Why, her brother Dick
was at Magdalen; most likely he had
known hint was rs good as IN In
PRODUCTION. She would 60. What did
1t matter about the bicycle business?
No doubt he had the very best reasons
for keeping shop. The young man
was watching her misunderstanding
for the indignant refusal which must
come.
ut Is very kind of you," she said
sweetly. II shall like to very much.
1t will be pleasant change to have a
companion"
The bicycle mans face was burning
by this time, and when she spoke he
could hardly believe his hot ears. Then,
somehow, the face of the situation
changed. They forgot the bicycles, and
everything else they did not wish to re-
member and talked of the many things
they had in common-he as an Oxford
man, she as Girton girl.
He knew her brother quite well, he
said, and after they had arranged the
details of their ride to Mertleet Mar
garet went home, her mind in whirl.
II ought to be much more ashamed
of myself than am" she said wonder
ingly. 81 must really be much less
proper person than thought AT any
rate, whatever else may be, shan't
be bored any more" Is
The ride to Merfeet seemed very
short On the return journey the BIZ
cycles, as If of their own accord, went
more and more slowly. Yet the way
seemed shorter than before.
The bicycle man had remembered an
other pretty village. Why should they
not ride over to see it some day-say,
tomorrow? Why not, indeed
They did. A deeply incompetent
young man was left in charge of the
shop, whose owner thus lost many Gus
toners and some sixpences. But, as he
said, one can earn money all the year
around-and If one can't earn 1t, one
can always do without 1t. But there
are some things one cannot possibly do
without.
When you have ridden for two whole
afternoons with young man, why
should you not ride for third? And
a fourth and fifth?
During the rest of Margaret's stay
the two rode together every day. And
now the last day had come, and they
were resting by the roadside. looking
out through the gap in the hedge at the
hideous country.
1T doesn't seem so hldeous now"
she said. II suppose one has got used
to It."
He was silent. Margaret felt, In
sudden flash of illumination, that he
was silent because for him, as for her,
the world had changed SO much in
these two weeks.
And now she was going away. And
this, the pleasantest companionshlp her
life had ever known, was to end here.
He sat beside her, silent, pulling dusty
leaves from the hedge and twisting
them in his hands. Margaret knew
that he would not speak. How could
he? A man who-Magdalen notwith-
standing-kept bicycle shop.
And IL she lost him now, he might
see someone else-she might lose him
forever.
I'm going away tomorrow" she
said abruptly, and her voice was hard
and cold We've had some nice rides,
haven't we? But It's all Overland.
anyway, think the weather's going.
Those clouds look like rain"
"Going away?" he said-still not
looking at her He realized now, as he
had not done before, what these two
weeks had been to him, and he looked
Mt blank future. What would be left
when Margaret went away?"
Yes" she went on, II 20 tomorrow
and my aunt says I've neglected her 80
dreadfully that she'll never ask me to
stay again. We've had some nice times
u am sorry this is the last"
Still he did not answer. Oh, how
stupio Ao WIS IL only sue nau Deen
In bis place; how well she would have
known what to say! She let her hand
fall on the grassy bank beside her. He
looked at the hand, but he did not
touch it.
IT'S getting late" he said, awkward
ly. I'VE ought to be going home"
She did not move, however. He drew
deep breath. Her heart was beating
heavily and her hands trembled. She
felt that she held in them her llfe's
happiness.
Ride on" she said, "it's not far now.
III come on alone. l shall have to get
used to being alone now. So will
you"
She looked up at him.
Don't" he said, Its not fair. What
shall l do when you are gomez"
You'll work at your business"
Hang my business" he said And
then he looked at her, and the last cob
web of doubt foated away from Mar