The Messenger. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1858-18??, 1864-03-16
A Mystery on Skates.
BY nosALlx enAr.

stupid lsw-boOks and 60 skating with
ams.' (.
II, l,can,,t.' replied, stilI turning over
; saz. lsa>es Of a popierous volume. 81
have puzzling ease here which requires
il..inedis,s attentlon.'
ssNSnsepsa! man, let the case alone fer
.his afternoon. There is splendid skat-
ing up at the park, for IT'S az cold as
blazes, and the ice is just like glass, it is
Z so smooth
.,es. AsI looked at my companion, hiE eyes
gsiK,ing, ard his face flushed with ex-
s.tement, half yielded to his sntrestiss-
He noticed my irreselutien and continu.
ed,
ssCems along, Bob! You are getting to
be SO old and grave, ever these books,
tnat you will pass for ssdats man Of
ffry soon, instead of young fellow Of
thirty-fve."
Jerry had ignored Eve years of my
age. and glanced in ny OLE bachelor
lookisg-glass---an article about foot
square, which was hanging ever my ba-
sin-to soe if l really locked as young
as hs represented me. My companion
noticed the direction Of my eyes, and he
went on:
"I'll toll yen what 1t is, Beb, it reju-
sinatss man marvolously to have lit-
tie relaxation from business opes a
awhile. If yOu'n only.go skating.a few
times, ysu'll get to ba Sc hands some, soon,
that you'll hardly know. yoursslt,sand
you'll be paid for going, ia another way,
too, for there Is most bewitching little
ersatare who is always there at this hour;
she skates splendidly, and all the fellows
a.o halt-erazy about hcr."S
"PsnaS." 1rsplied, eontsmpiuodsIy J,
d don't care straw foraalI the girls la
Christcndonln But atst6e' same iilnsss
oa.f upccascic-sly, turned back 10
rush my hair aud put on clean collar.
As Jerry apd we're walking along to-
~ I'm. Tired, "What is the name of
title beauty Of whom you speakp
op'tknow,' he replied; '6on't even
now that she is q beauty, for l have,
never seen hsr, except when closely veil
ed; but abe has the dearest little foet
and the prettiest figure havs ever be-
hsld; and then she is SO graseful, and
she glides over the ice With such an easy
motion; there isn't fellow up there can
equal her in skating"
Finding that there was an cir OF mys..
terry about her, | bseanie more Interested
in her, and l asked, "DOGs she come
alonsl"
nYes, always was the reply. i have
never seen her with any one.'
Wsrvached the pond, and Jerry poin-
ted to petite figure that seemed to be
gliding rapidly over the ice, without any
spparsnt exerticn, and remarked,
sThsrs is our little mystery. Is she
not divinoP
The bright crimson balmeral came to
the tops Of her CATERS, and displayed two
tiny feet Grnlly strapped in pair Of fam
oy skates, and looking most coqusttishly
tsntalizing. There was something SO fas.
cinating, 10 me, about this unknown he
roias, that stood for a few moments
watching her. quite forgetting the pur-
pose for which l had come to the pond
but friendly slap on the back from Jsr-
~ brought me to myself.
x sPut on your skates, man, and come
along. You will freeze 10 death If you
stand there, and, as to watching thai
r >vsilea mystery, it will do you no sort o
good; no oas ever yet made anything b,
it, for she pays not the slightest attention
10 any one
I did as my friend advised, and wa
soon shooting rapidly over the ice.
kept as much as possible in the direction
pursued by the crimson balmoral; but
went 80 swiftly, and turned so suddenl,
and frequently, that it bscames hope
less task. How wished that she woul,
faint; that the ice would break; that sh
would slip down; that the straps of be
skates would become loosonod d-anythin
that could afford me an opportunity Q
assisting her; but my wishes wsre i
vain; her skates bad been securely fal
tened, and she was as sure-footed as
deer. could not offer her any ASST
tancs without an evident intrusion. +
.nslly she left. HOv lhad.lengsd to hsv
her raise her veil! But my wish was III
gratifsd; II was unabls to catch the sigh
est glimpse of her fsSe. After she ha
left. skating suddenly .beesms, to m
Esry dull, and | seon followed her q
ample. ks.e-.,
Nv bachelor apartment had never leo
ed 80 gloomy, 10 me, a. 1t did on IN
particular evening, and never befo
S.a such . realizing sense Of the utt
-ia..l;.sss and forlornness of nay Q
SasLslor state. l glanssd around I
,ltsry apartment, and wondered hsw
ssuId appear lighted up by some bris
n face. Thsn>I fell to specializing sbs
shs vsilsd mystery on the les. lweBd