Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-03
Learning to Skate.


IL Here we are! oh, look, look! what crowdsI
Won't we have jolly timer" and Miss OviwelI
capped her hands
Il WISH 1t were another German, instead Of
| this, sighed her companion, in her ear.
pressing her hand, as he assisted her out Of
the carriage.
II don't, sir; don't you see, we can dance
| all the year round but skating comes but
| once year, You'll like it as we'll as I, when
you get used to it.
"Perhaps [ will;' and he escorted her
toward the ladies' dressing-room; but she
wasn't bit cold, and wanted her skates on
Immediately.
One thing he could do gracefully, and that
was to kneel to fasten on her skates; but he
had to be instructed in the mysteries of strap
ping. They were on, all right, and the other
couple stood waiting for them.
''Now put on yours, Mr.. rockingham"
ooh, not Just yet, I'll watch you awhile
first"
Miss Carrie darted off by herself, with
school girl freedom, while Mr.. Herring and
the heiress glided off gracefully, looking so
handsome, happy and well-mated, that the
torlorn, forsaken one, sitting there by himself,
would have ground his false teeth with jealousy,
had he not been afraid of iniuring the enamel.
Every once in a while they skated up to
him, pausng to urge him to try his luck on
the ice; and every time the young man APP
peared more easy, happy and selfassured,
and the girl more radiantly beautiful. The
exercise sent the warm blood to their lips and
cheeks, and merriment dubbed up in their
hearts.
''If this goes on much longer, I'm lost"
murmured rockingham, when they sailed
away for the fourth time, Here, boy, put
on these doosed things for me-"
When they again came gliding into port,
conveying Carrie also, he had braced himself
to the undertaking.
II guess I'll try it this time he murmured,
as the heiress all glowing and sparkling, sped
up to him. 'Wait minute, till Mr.. Herring
gets out of the way, something told
him who was his most dangerous rival, and he
did not like the cool, laughing light in the
young mans eyes.
ooh, I'll get out Of your way. Gomez
Carrie, and away they flew.
dom you think you d bettertake chair
they re so much more comfortable for ladies'
asked her partner, trying to prolong the
dreadful moment when he was to balance
himself on those treacherous instruments of
| torture strapped firmly upon his slender feet.
Iow can, if you prefer one, with little,
| sarcastic laugh. Il thought chairs were for
nvalds and old folks"
Horrible did she suspect?-he must make
an effort. She was growing impatient to be
| away again-he could see that, plainly.
''WhaD spirits you have, Miss Oywell! and
how charming you look. Perfectly charming,
upon my word Your cheeks are like roses.
You dom seem bit cold he ratified on, to
| draw her attention from his efforts to stand on
| the smooth glistenng surface, which Knocked
his distress
"Cold2-I guess not. That last race put
| me all III d glow You do tirst-rata Indeed,
you do. Now, then, strike out?
"What do you mean by strike ouJT
This way,''-and she showed him.
Despair will sometimes 10 what nothing less
could accomplish. In sheer desperation
| rockingham ''struck out and to his own
| agreeable astouishment, he did not bring up
| on his back
"You do better than | expected. Isn't it
| nice? Once you get used to it, and you'll
| ike it better than the German. Now, take
my hand, and We 90 slowly along together.
That's it. All you want, Mr.. rockingham, is
| confidence"
>'sIt's the first time I've ever been lacking
| IN that" thought he, his spirits rising with
this little success, and his teeth ceasing to
| chatter.
'Who could help learning with such a
| teacher, he whispered, as soon as he could
command his voice, holding very tightly to the
little hand nestled in his ''Ah, Miss Oylwell,
if l could only hope-could only dare to aspire
| to the thought that you might be my teacher
| through life-to teach me all those sweet
| ah-h!" and he chung tighter, and very nearly
| slipped up, having come into slight contact
| with a passing oemoiselle.
"What on earth is there that you don't know
already? I'm sure l shouldn't presume to
| teach yOu-any thing but skating replied the
| heiress, looking at him with the most innocent
| expression.
''You know what | mean, dear, dearest
| Miss Oylwel! You can teach me to iove-to
adore-to kneel at your feet in worship
and Just then, forgetting his new art in his old
one his heels flew from under him, and he
came down on his knees in good earnest.
Several Of the people about them laughed, and
as the pretty girl who was helping him up did
the same, he was fain to join in, though he
felt dreadfully Jared.
"Thank fortune, didn't fall on the back of
my head my Wig might have come off, was
his secret rejoicing.
~ didn't expect you to llneel in this crowd,
| said the heiress, with a soft, sauCy, piquant
| look which might have been encouraging, or
\ might have been prompted merely by girlish
| fun. He chose to consider it encouraging,
| and the pain went out of his knees, and he
| began to feel less cold, and to believe that he
| could learn to skate for the sake of an interest
| in the oil region, and q place of shelter in the
| avenue.
"Let US find quiet place and sit down a
little while" he said. i've something very
particular to say, and I'm afraid"
''Of tripping up? l couldn't possibly sit,
now, when l am so warm l should take cold.
Mamma has ordered me not to-" and looking
about her-''see that's VIII! Doesn't he
skate magnifcently? Come, try again
Her sutton tried again; and ever as he slid
slowly along, clinging timidy to the heiress'
hand, VIII Herring shot past them like an
arrow, returned, circled about, cut the most
intricate patterns in the ice before their faces,
skinned away like swallow, back again,
around, off, near, far, amid admiring cheers,
| followed by her eyes, until her companion
| grew desperate, and resolved 10 draw her
away from that dangerous rivalry, let what
would COME. With wild ambition to achieve,
he struck out bravely, and the heiress glided
| by his side, her eyes, however, still fixed upon
the champion skater retreating form.
| ITO be continued
aEIIssaIH-zHrsszEsrsusz