The Messenger. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1858-18??, 1864-03-16

would only ihersase my admiration Of
her. Slight twingsDof Jealousy would
sometimes assail me when / saw that she
VAS ready TO converse with ethsrs as we'll
as with myself: for she seemed now to
be overcoming, IN a measure, the ex-
treme tiinidily which had, at frst, made
her SO entirely rasorsed. Sill ] had
Sti.e sarfmacftUE OF rejecting that she APP
pearsd to listen to me with deeper inter-
est, and that she evincsd greater plea
sure in my society than in that of others.
One dsya group ofus were standing
together on the pond, and the question
was asked, "Who among US is the swift
est skater.
81 am," replied the yelled mystery:
'and whoever can overtaks me, shall
have kiss, and instantly the crimson
balmoral was gliding swiftly ahead Of,
and far beyond US.
All started in quick pursuit. / had
always been good skater. but now l
had something TO urge me on to greater
efforts than ! had ever yet made. / felt
somewhat startled, it is true, by the very
liberal offer made by my little divinity,
fer l had always been very particular
about such matters, and i admired re-
serve, above all things, IN lady; still,
l reflected, this was, of course, intended
for me alepe; she expected me 10 out
skate all the others, and felt that my
chivalry-te speak of ne softer feeling
was calling up me to exert myself to the
utmost.
was making the best speed of which
/ was capable, when, to my modification
and chagrin, saw another fellow shoot
triumphsntly past me. / called into re-
QUESTION all my powers, and, finally, left
him behind. The little divinity was but
a short distance in advance of me, and
/ felt eertain of victory, when break
in the ice put stop, for moment, to my
progress, and my rival passed me, iron
ically Reckoning ne forward as be did
SO. l Was soon again in full pursuit, but
OH misery! what did l see? My rival
had reached the object of our pursuit,
anu'was in the act or puttIHE= rorrn hi
arms to seize the prize! I would have
given anything possessed to have been
able to stay his arm, at that instant, but
it was not in my power. One moment
of dreadful suspense, and the petate fig
ure had glided out of the reach of it's
weuld-be captor, and the almost trium-
phant victor had slipped, and was lying
PROSTATE on the ice. There still was
hope for me, and shot eagerly past him,
too intent on securing tho reward Of the
chase to waste any time en- my PROSTATE
fellsw- competitor. The distance be-
tween the crimson balmoral and myself
was lsssening-I took courage and pres
sed on. Presently half-suppressed
laugh from my mysterious divinity rea-
ched my ears This was cheering to me,
for, of course, 1t must mean that the lit
tie angel was pleased because l was the
one noat likely town the reward. One
moment moro, and my arm eneircled tbs
graceful figure, while, with the other
hand, proceeded to raise the veil. Oh!
blissful moment! Was,eys man SO bles-
sed as II But, heavens and earth! what
did | see! Not the charming face si
beauty which l had expected-but in
stead, the NEST roguishly mi'chisveu'
face of little boy, who slipped quickly
frem my loosened grasp, and, with a Ioud
laugh, shot triumphantly on, leaving ME
paralyzed between astonishment and an
ger; while my companions, who, but Q
moment before, had felt disappointed Al
my success, now heartily enjoyed ,h,
joke of which had been made the vie
tim.
The "veiled mystery" disappesres
from view; no one knew where it went
ncr was it ever seen there again in re-
eognizable guise.
l returned to my bachelor quarters
and tried to face the cheerless apartmen
bravely, for made resolution, then
that l would never again give any on
the opportunity ofplaying similar jok
, upon nle. And l have kept my resolu
f ten bravsly, for l invariable avsid eve
rything that wears skirts. t,.