The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-12-16

bows, most OF them with single skate. scud'
ding up and down this oasis with shouts OF
laughter and many tumble on the opaque
surface Of the frozen puddle, which only
made them the merrier.
"Confound the brats z" said Jack, savage.
ly. 'liow the deuce can q man think, with
such an Internal row in his ears! I've .
great mind to go out and drive them OF
However, as Jack was most amiabls fol-
low ut bottom. he didn't execute his threit.
hut contented himself with semi.oecasional
anathemas on the joyous urchins in the in.
tervals of his labor.
When he finally STOPPED 10 light his gas
they were gone. and couple Of hours per.
feet silence enabled Jack to finish his task.
and prepare to 60 home.
.Let me see." said no to himself, AZ he
went along. "Yes; it will be moonlight by
about ten tonight, and, by George I'll have
a glorious skating frolic all to myself, tor
there won't DO any one out, it's 20 excessive
ly cold! "
Jack was qnits consoled with this idea
and by the time he had had his supper, light.
I'd his cigar, and sat down in front OF cheer.
full wood fire, by the side OF his widowed
mother and his only sister Kate, he was in
capital humor.
"Kate, how I wish your poor foot WINS
we'll" said he. $50 that you might 60 with
me on the river tonight. There won't be
soul out, aud We would have it oil to our
selves"
Kate had violently sprainsd hOr ankle. n
fow days before. In skating.
"Why, john" exclaimed Mrs. Phillips.
"you surely don't thint o. & ng ,tskating
such bitter night You'll freeze to death.
nv boy"
"Not bit Of II, mother!" cried Jack,
cheerily. "l'm used to Il, you know. Aud
haven't I that splendid worsted jacket you
knit me? Id defy Lapland in that JACKET"
"rhey've been cutting ice up the river to-
day, Jack, said Kate. "Look out fer air.
holes."
"Pooh! as if I didn't know all about It,"
answered Jack, chucking his sister playfully
under the chin. "l'l jump them, ruy dear,
if don't see them 10 time to 90 ronnd.'
Being aware from experience, that relnon'
strance would DO useless, neither Mrs. Phil
lips nor Kate volunteered any further remarks
OF that nature; and, at ten O'Clock, Jack
blde them both good night, and, apparelling
hiuself In skating guise, went merrily forth
to his solitary ice frolic.
Fortunately, there was no wind. A still.
hitter cold made everything crisp and brittle.
The turf crackled under tho foot, aud, though
1t was many inches thick. the ice ever and
anon gave sharp snap as the weight of Jack
Phillips pressed for an instant upon 1t, here
and there in his erratic course over its moon.
lii surface.
After lettering. as II were. back and forth
in front Of his own grounds for while, m
idea, and very natural one under the cir.
cuu,stances, struck Jack that IL would be u
pleasant thing To skate down the river as far
rs Fanny Leyton's domicile and have
look at the windows thereof, especially GER
tain two that gave air and light to that
young lady's chamber. Jack Immediately
acted on this idea, and In u very few min
utes brought himself gradually to stand in
front of the I.syton villa. Ills hope, howey.
er, if such it was, Of seeing q light glancing
from the easements. or from any special case
mcnt. of that mansion proved tallacious.
The house was entirely dark within. and the
moon. which was but lately risen, sheda palo,
cold glitter on the gray stone walls. black.
ened iantistcally here and there by the shad
ows of tho old trees that stood around them
Jack heaved an involuntary sigh, and,
after remaining few moments longer In u
sort Of reverie by the river bank, struck out
towards its centre with the intention of re-
turning homeward. Gazing mechanically
down tho stream. .ns he shot out from the
shadow of the bank, his gaze was suddenly
arrested by the apparition Of form that
seemed to he skating In circle near the fur.
th,r shore, about couplo Of hundred yards
lower down. He ianced for moment that
1t was an optical illusion, as the distance
and the uncertain light thrown by the moon
through tho bel. OF trees that lined the river
hank made the figure somewhat shadowy and
indistitiuct. lie rubbed his eyes. skated fur
ther out into the line Of vision. and looked
again. No! there It was, an actual form.
curving and swaying In the fantastic evolu.
tions Of an accomplished skater In the samo
spot where hs had just beheld Il the instant
before.
"who can II be7" muttered Jack. "Solns
one from town. reckon. At all events, I'll
run down and have nearer look ut him" I"
And suiting the action to the word, he
struck out leisurely down tho river.
A few yards below the point ut which the
form seen by Jack was gliding about. the
river took bend. and narrowed suddenly,
running Tor more than three miles between
lofty, overhansing banss, from which tho
trees, chiefly hemlock and pine. projected
themselves towards each other from either
shore, throwing the stream into deep shad
ow, with here and there hard of light,
where a few trees had been cut down, or had
fallen away from the bank with tho gradual
wush Of the soil from their gnarled roots.
To Jacks astonishment, no sooner was no
fairly under weigh for the mysterious skater
than tho latter. apparently seeing him aud
divining his intention, suddenly ceased his
eyu,ions, and, after an instant's pause,
swiftly shot down tho river. keeping close In
shore. and evidently with tho design OF evad.
ing Jack e pursuit. s..'i
"Ilo. ho!" said Jnck to himself. half
aloud. "That's your game, 10 IL? Very
well. Here goes for chase. my fne fsl.
low ~ ,
And, putting forth an additional amount
OF strength, he increased his speed W lar and
quickly a. to gain hundred yards In mo.
ment upon the flying phantom. But the
other. apparently perceIving this again, im- |
mediatcly increased bic own pace. and, with.
out materially widening the distance be-
twesn them. sped onward with q rapidity
that deiod Jacks utmost efforts to surpass.
In . moment the form had entered the deep
shadows beyond the bend. and Jack lost
eight Of Il. In another moment hc again