The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-05-25

over and over again-she only shook
her head sadly
Its no USE" she sighed. II am
afraid you will think me terribly stu
pid, but l never could understand Ell
Their maps or railway guides. l am
afraid 1 shall have to give it up"
Then the bicycle member looked up.
Margaret smiled. II don't care II 1
am forward" she said to herself.
Somebody must improve our acquaint-
ance-and he certainly won't"
But at her smile he grew suddenly
holder.
do you always ride alone?" he
asked.
Margaret sighed. II have no one else
to ride with" She hated herself for
saying it, and waited for his response,
knowing that If it was what she feared
she had only herself to blame, and yet
half hoping that her fears would be
justified.
There was only one thing for him to
say, and he said it, almost certain OF
rebuff, yet feeling that If she gave It,
she had certainly not played fair.
II wish you would let me show you
the way" he said, and Margaret gasp
ed. She turned over the leaves OF
Omar's Khayyam nervously, and for
minute she did not answer. The book
opened at the flyleaf, and half uncon-
sciously she read the name OF the own
er, Miles Leighton, E. Coll. Magd. An
she had known all the time that be was
a gentleman. Why, her brother DICK
was at Magdalen; most likely he had
known hint was as good as an IN
PRODUCTION. She would go. What did
it matter about the bicycle business!
No doubt he had the very best reasons
for keeping a shop. The young man
was watching her misunderstanding
for the indignant refusal which must
come.
1T Is very kind Of you," she said
sweetly. II shall like to very mucn.
It will be a pleasant change to have
companion"
The bicycle mans face was burning
by this time, and when she spoke ne
could hardly believe his hot ears. Ihen'
somehow. the face Of the situation
changed. They forgot the bicycles, ana
everything else they did not wish to re-
member, and talked of the many things
they had in common-he as an Oxrord
man. she as Girton girl.
He knew her brother quite well, ne
said. and after they had arranged the
details of their ride to Merfleet Mar
garet went home, her mind In wnirl.
81 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, snan I
be bored any more"
The ride to Merf1eet seemed very
short. On the return journey the BIZ
cycles. as IL 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 1t 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 ne
said. one can earn money all the year
around-and II one can't earn It, one
can always do without it. 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 third7 And
fourth and a nth?
During the rest Of Margarefs stay
the two rode together every day. And
now the last day had come, and they
were resting By the roadsides looking