The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-01-18

sequently IL produced silght shock.-
/ Minnie was about fifty yards ahead, ant
4 as [ did not wish to trouble her abou
my mishap, | managed to rise on ont
knee and get the right foot on the ic'
again. She seemed to miss me, for sh.
tnrned her face to the. point she hat
started from, and; as she did so I benz
over and pulled vigorously at the straI
of one skate. a-.oL .ef
I guess Minnie knew what was up
for she turned back, and looking at me
very arehly,. asked if / fell. q
"Fall! Oh, no" said I. s'This con
founded strap got loose; that's all"
ooh! is that all ?" and as she said
this 1 saw something in her eyes that
told me she knew I was fbbing.
"Well, get up and take my hand
DO you see that bench near the lower
corner? Now, well both start for that. =
q ~~~NNN'
1 knew Minnie could start for it, and
reach it, too. but my confidence was
considerably SHAKEN by the rest I took,
and | said | would rather try it alone,
until | could assure myself that the
skates were all right. g yl
every well, follow me-" said Minnie.
and off she went, describing curves on
the ice with each stroke from right to
left; mustered courage and started af.
ter her, saving the air with nv hands
and calculating on the result of a coils
ion with stout woman who was an
preaching at the rate Of about ten miles
an hour. | had passed over about
thirty feet of ice-not with bold strokes
as Minnie did, but Earily on the right
foot, using the left as lever to propel
me forward. 9..-'
The stout woman passed between me
and Minnie, and | was about to return
thanks for my deliverance, when I be-
came sensible of an inclination on the
part OF one foot to get as far as possible
from the other. This was rather en-
barrassing, for when the feet do not
work harmoniously, particularly on the
Ice, there is danger of fall. | made
desperate effort to harmonize my feet,
and while struggling to overcome the
tendency of my bodyto gravitate toward
the Ice, | became conscious that Minnie
was looking at me.
And it seemeed to be cruel, tantal-
lzing look, without spark of pity in it.
"Why, Fred" said she, whats the
matter? Why don't you come on?"
Then she started toward ME, doubt
less to help me out of my difficulty but
was determined to acquit myself cred
ltably, so waving her aside with one,
hand and grasping the air with the
other, | struggled with my departing
feet, and then sat down on the back of
my head. Minnie was quite close to me
Whenl sat down, and as Iextended nv
feet, somewhat suddenly, it is true, nv
skates struck hers, and in a minute T
was aware that something soft was rest
ing on me.
When the back of your head strikes
the Ice, your eyes close suddenly. [
opened mine in an instant, and looked
toward my feet to see what was resting
on me- | saw some curls, furs, bal
moral skirt and pair of skates that
did not look like mine.
ltwas Minnie. The sudden contact
with my skates had caused her to fall
and she took the liberty of making a
cushion of my body.
MINNIE was soon on her feet again,
and though her hair was slightly disor-
dered, she looked very pretty, for she
was blushing.
q Erred" said she, II think we had
better go home. The skating is not
good to-day.
''oh, no! I am enjoying myself cap
italy" is-s
Minnie was piqued. She would not
stay any longer SO Escorted her erhome,
and then returned to the pond to i'm
prove myself for the next occasion, and
to think what a big thing this was on
ice.
A BUsHEL.-The following table Of
ha,, -. Il n