The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-25
(Continued.)

The moment she had said it, she
was flooded by the notion of what a
strange thing it was to have said
'wer The Identification of herself
with Jem, 1t was a betise- Would
be be angry, or jeer? He replied
1T would not matter. They would
be none the wiser"
This time he did not look at her,
but down at the ground. This en-
abled her once more to stare at him.
Something In the expression Of his
strong face struck her as pathetic.
She had always thought him an i'll
tempered man. Latterly she had be-
gun to wonder whether he was rather
an unhappy one. In the influence Of
that new compassion, she spoke.
That's true. They would be none
the wiser"
land YOU" he slowly remarked.
wheeling the bicycle on the grass and
pushing the crank gently round with
his toe. you could see visions while
they ate cold pie and salad"
Would it scare the wild swans"
asked Vernon. Il wouldn't do that
for anything"
THE cygnets came out of the shell
the day before yesterday"
"Oh," There was joyful excite
nnent in her tone You saw them? ?
Then we must certainly go there! The
brave old husband swan! He went
for my toes that day when walked
In the water
He chuckled at that. but soon grew
grave. He might have hurt you
seriously, If he had flown at you"
He was afraid Of Sultana, think.
Now. just look at this machine! What
am I to do? How can ride upon a
thing that won't stand up? It seems
sheer insanity, if one had not seen
thousands Of people do it"
It's ali right; you'll learn in half
en-hour. First Of all get up, while
hold IT steady for you"
In a few words, but clearly enough.
he Instructed her as to the pedal1ing
movement and the steering. Then
she mounted, and slowly moved
across the grass. supported by his
hand upon the back of the saddle.
First, he made her mount and dis
mount, upon the firmly-held bicycle,
until she did 1t with comparative
ease. Then she went along a few
PAGES, and dismounted, to practice
getting the pedal into the right place
for the foot to spring from. Then
she went the whole way round the
lawn, and when she objected that he
was firing. himself, he would not let
her stop. but urged her onward, fast
er and faster until, after a time, when
the machine seemed to be gliding
very easily along, he informed her
that she had been going alone-he
had taken his hands right off.
This signal success, as might have
been foreseer, made her ambitious.
She essayed once more to go alone,
and rode full tilt into the 1aurestinus
brush. caught, however, and saved
from a scratched face by his immedi-
ate succor.
Then she said he had done enough.
He must be SO hot and tired. He
said 1t was silly to leave off when she
was getting on so well. She gave In,
was once more mounted, and eau
tiously. sped on. rounding her first
corner with an ease that surprised
her. Jem left her, and moved so rs
20 meet her as she advanced. Now.
imagine am a cart" said he. 'Avoid
me-
1t was really too idiotic that this
seemed to be the one impossible thing.
In the space of one heartbeat she
seemed to herself to execute every
possible manoeuvre to avoid the fatal
cart and as result of her efforts,
fell headlong into Jem's arms, while
the machine sank helpless on the
grass
He held her very much as though
she were something that might ex-
plode unless handled with much eau
tion- He set her down upon the grass
as IL he were by no means certain
that her own feet would support her.
She was flushed with her exercise,
warm and laughing-athrob with life
and glee.
''oh Mr. Bardsley, I never shall do
IT. I never shaI1I'
Yes you will. if you try" said Jem
obstintely. Come on now-up you
set.'
What, again? Oh, you are a hard
task-master."
IT mean to teach you to ride" said
Jem bluntly.
She gave in, and for another
quarter OF an hour the lesson went
On, the pupil improving fast. the mas
ter growing more and more exacting.
why, a minute ago you said / was
doing it right" said Vernon impati-
entity, in reply to his criticism of her
elbows.
Yes. but now you have progressed.
sns I am not content with what was
good enough at first was his cool
response.
Il think you are very domineering,"
sFa earnplofpad