1898.]
By the time they reached the seminary Helen was sorry for
her hasty action, because she was not so indifferent to Jack as she
had made him believe. But her pride prevented her from show
ing this, and they parted that evening without his being aware of
her repentance.
Several days later Jack Winters was graduated from Lincoln,
and he immediately set out for his home.
About a month after the commencement exercises at Lincoln,
Helen Stratton, her mother, and her friend, Eva Kingsley, got off
the hack at Sunnyside in the Adirondacks, They were followed
by a man bringing two bicycles.
As they passed up the steps and disappeared inside the occu
pants of the veranda ceased their talking to stare at the new
arrivals, and from the remarks that were freely circulated it was
evident that the girls had created a sensation. Everybody asked
everybody else who they were, but nobody seemed to know.
The girls made their appearance in the afternoon with their
bicycles and attired in their up-to-date cycling costumes.
As they mounted and sped away, many were the admiring glances
bestowed upon them, and when they disappeared in the distance
the little darky bell-boy, with a broad grin, exclaimed, " Jiminy,
but they're beauties! And that tall one, ain't she a stunner!"
Although he was the only one who expressed himself openly,
many others were of the same opinion.
Unconscious of all this admiration that they had awakened, the
objects of it rode on enjoying the bracing mountain air. As they
proceeded, the country got more open, and here and there they
came upon small farms whose occupants stood gazing as they
passed.
One old farmer, whom they slipped by in the road, muttered to
himself, "It do beat all how these gals dress nowadays. Now
that one with them Mother Hubbard britches on; it's a shame for
a gal to be seen out with such clo'es." And here the good man
sighed at the sinfulness of the present generation.
But Helen Stratton did not hear this soliloquy, for she was the
one who had excited the old man's comment. Her more demure
companion was clothed perhaps with greater propriety.
The girls kept on in high spirits, now and then singing snatches
of college songs arid causing the farmers' wives to shake their
A Cycling Episode