A CYCLING ROMANCE. 



Miss C. H. Thayer. 



Charles Raynor, an enthusiastic 

 cyclist, planned a trip, on his 

 wheel, from Chicago to Niagara, 

 through Canada. He accordingly bade 

 his fiancee a tender, but cheerful, fare- 

 well before departing. She was not so 

 cheerful, especially as she knew from 

 experience that Charles was not a model 

 correspondent. In fact, he begged so 

 eloquently that he might confine his 

 communications to telegraphic messages, 

 that she finally consented with as good 

 a grace as was possible under the cir- 

 cumstances. He then started on his 

 trip, in a happy and expectant state of 

 mind. 



This was his first telegram to Miss 

 Nelly Sprague : 



St. Johns, Ind. Arrived in good con- 

 dition, all but right thumb, having tried 

 to outrun a horse. C. R. 



Another message soon followed. 



South Bend, Ind. Reached here 

 safely. Thumb well, ankle slightly 

 damaged by collision with an apple- 

 stand. C. R. 



At Elkhart he received an answering 

 telegram : 



Chicago. Hope to see you return a 

 unit, which is doubtful, if your " epi- 

 sodes " are repeated. N. S. 



Adrian, Mich. Still a "unit," and 

 flourishing royally. C. R. 



Ann Arbor. Feel like stopping here. 

 Female students threw flowers at us as 

 we meandered by. Never saw so many 

 pretty girls ; but no " episodes." 



C. R. 



At Detroit another message awaited 

 him. 



Chicago. Will you come home via 

 Ann Arbor ? Yet the question is superflu- 

 ous, considering the unparalleled attrac- 

 tions. N. S. 



Detroit. You should use shorter 

 words wheri telegraphing, Nelly. Will 

 not go back through Ann Arbor, if you 

 disapprove. C. R. 



This was answered immediately. 



Chicago, Take whatever route is 

 most attractive. I will try to make my 

 syntax conform to telegraphic rules. 



N. S. 



London, Canada. Not yet pluralized, 

 and like this town. Thurston is here. 

 Pink tea was improvised for us. Lots 

 of fun and beauty. May stay another 

 day. C. R. 



At Brantford he received this tele- 

 gram. 



Chicago. Are you looking up beauties 

 for the Clark street museum ? If so, I 

 congratulate you on your success. 



N. S. 



Cairnsville. Do not be sarcastic. 

 You know I hate sarcasm. I send by 

 express 4-lb. box candy. C. R. 



Ancaster. Took a vicious header 

 that marred the pleasing harmony of 

 my profile. Met some agreeable cyc- 

 lists here. Hope you received the 

 candy. C. R. 



Hamilton. Have taken a beastly 

 cold, and will have to stop awhile. Like 

 the people very much. C. R. 



Chicago. Hope your " beastly cold " 

 will not prove dangerous, and — but I 

 leave criticism to you. N. S. 



Hamilton. You need not be so 

 severe, Nelly. Did you not get the 

 candy ? C. R. 



Chicago. Of course I got the candy — 

 and ate it. N. S. 



Hamilton. What is the matter, 

 Nell ? Are you sick, or have you not 

 received all my telegrams ? C R. 



Chicago. Received all telegrams, 

 hope you are not exhausted intellectu- 

 ally, or physically. N. S. 



Hamilton. I am afraid you are ill. 

 Dispatches so meagre. Cold not much 

 better, but friends make it endurable. 



C. R. 



Chicago. Are vou still in Hamilton ? 



N. S. 



Hamilton. You see am still here. 

 Not able to leave yet, but young people 

 very kind, and keep me amused. Am 

 worried about you. Your messages so 

 short and curt. C. R. 



Chicago. First you complain of 

 length of my words, then of their brev- 

 ity. Can you invent some for my use ? 



N. S. 



Then Charles used a postal card, 

 writing as follows : 



