A FAST WOMAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 304, 3 January 1902, Page 1

A FAST WOMAN.

PARIS, Nov. 2 Jimmy Michael, the bicycle crack-a-jack, has had a mysterious romance, since lie began riding here, and is the giealest- favorite among the women. “ I don’t object to their sending me notes and portraits,,’ he says, ■“ but my manager srasts me the trouble of redding their foolish messages. But receiving flowers kills me. Everybody sends me bouquets, which are carried to my dressing rootn, and I carmct refuse them without rudeness, yet they make me feel like a chorus girl.’’

Jimmy was compelled to make an exception in his disregard of feminity two weeks ago. While he was training on the Park des Princes track a beau-

tiful girl suddenly dashed from .’he riders’ quarters, to everybody’s prise, for in the morning’s only rarers are admitted. The girl took li few leisurely turns, then “tacked on to ’ Michael’s wheel, keeping up a tremenlous gait at his pace easily for two mi Ms. The boy was imcoiisM-v.s that he was followed until nis trainer, growing impatient, cried : 'Spurt twice rotnil and drop the h«R, ‘Jimmy.’” Jimmy ” turned, saw the lady, and increased iiis pace, smilingly emifldeni. that she would lie unable to follow. But he was mist Men-. Try as lie might, he could not leave the g il behind. PTi ally the Lanur, fearing Prat Michael would be mdio for Ins afternoon ride, ordered him to desist. The girl immediately dismounted, and extended her hand to “ Jimmy,” saying in English : “ i admire your riding immensely,” “By Jove ! I admire yours,” exclaimed “ Jimmy." “Oh, I am good for short spurts,” she responded, “ but I couldn't have followed much longer,. Will you be friends ?” “ With pleasure,” cried “ Jimmy,” “ May I enquire who does me such honor ?” “ Never mind my name. I will meet you here every morning.” Thereupon tho strange girl handed her wheel to an attendant and entered a luxurious closed carriage, which had a coachman and footman in full livery, and drove oil.

The manager of the Velodrome was questioned, but could give no information as to the identity of the young woman, as a servant had arranged for tr.e lady’s riding daily, paying handsomely for the privilege. Since that day the girl had been attending faithfully, rain or shine, and is fast growing chummy with Jimmy, though when he questions her or tries ;'n any way to discover who she is she grows sullen and leaves abruptly. Naturally this has caused considerable gossip among the habitues of ihe track, and some have offered to follow tne carriage and find where the girl lives, but “ Jimmy ” has threatened to break the head of anybody who tries to spy on her. She seems to be about twenty-four years old, is of medidm stature, refined, athletic, and of surpassing, beauty. According to experts see rices the wheel as no other woman ever did. ~ , From the fact that her maid Inadvertently twice called her “ Princess” and occasionally addresses her in Russian. the Parisians incline to think that she may be the natural daughter of Grand Duke Alexis, one of the Chars uncles, the same young Princess about whom much was printed nere three years ago, who fives in Paris, in great splendour and proud islet ion.