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

q stake
marked dangerous, the ice was cracking
beneath their feet, the water was rising over It
a step or two away. Light and skillful as Miss
OylWeh was, she could, even then, have turned
away, and escaped the consequences of her
careleSSsness, but poor rockingham could not
turn himself a hair s-breadth, and chung
tenaclousIy to her hand, dragging her down
with him. There was a shriek2surelv, NOT
her voice "a splash, crash, splash, and both
were laundering In the water. Men dashed
almlessly about, and women screamed.
stop yer yellin'!' roared an ungallant
policeman, to the excited crowd, "and keen
back, as he run up with plank; ''t' amt deep
enough to drOwn'd EN-, but it's too cold to
feel good"
His advice was obeyed by the most, but one
young man, who had been rods away the
previous minute, could not be held back, and
sprung into the water as naturally as a New
foundland.
"Get her on the plank" shouted the police
man, and while he stayed one end of the board
on firm Ice, the young man assisted the Young
lady to foOthold; then dozen hands reached
out and pulled her to aqua trina, and her
rescUer gave his assistance to her companion.
still laundering and splashing amid the ruins
Of the splintered ice.
For moment all was fuss and confusion
then VIII Herring, dripping and steaming,
was clasping Miss Oylwelfs wet glove and
looking very much as if he wanted to kiss her.
"Oh Will, it was so good of you to get me
out"
''But you mustn't stand here, not moment,
Is the carriage waiting? Yes, | see it, lust
coming up. VIII any one lend the young
lady a dry shawl Or two? We will drive home
as fast as the horses will take us. You'll both
takeyour death of cold. Come, Frothingham.n
But no rockingham answered.
'Where is he? Where can he be? Didn't
he get Out?'' anXiously cried Miss Ovlwell,
while little Carrie cried, and Herring, SILVER
ing, looked about for his rival.
There was no rockingham to be seen; yes
no! no Mr. frothingham but another person
who certainly looked as if he had been in the
water, though how he, too, came wet and
shivering, no one could say. But two persons
went into the water, and this was not one of
them.
This was quite an elderly man; his head
was bald, and looked pitiful, without any hat,
that article being still ahoat in the air-hole.
There was something else beside the haiti
may have been a wig.
Looking twice and thrice, and seeing no one
else but this half-drowned individual, light
broke gradually upon VIII Herring, though it
was all dark yet to Miss Olywel
Good heavens! rockingham, is this you?'
he burst forth.
Miss OyIwell looked, and gave little
scream.
'If it's you, pray come along The lady
will freeze to DEATH The fortune-hunter
gave one glance at the heiress face, and saw
that the game was all up for him.
81 can't nor won 90, till | find my teeth"
he muttered, speaking as plainly as chattering
toothless jaws would allow him. "They cost
over hundred dollars before gold went up,
and they d be twice that now. Won't some
fellow dive, and find my teeth? I'll give five
dollars to anybody thatll get my teeth
THAT wouldn't pay for gettin' wet" sung
out rough chap.
"WeIl, ten, then, he moaned, in despera.
ton.
"Ofer a reward, and come away. You'll
take your death-cold," demonstrated VIII.
''The ladies can't wait"
II don't want them to- III get a private
vehicle, aud go 70 my hotel
"Good-by, then" cried out Will and We
are afraid there was triumph in his voice.
1t was no time to stand upon ceremony and
Miss Oylwell hurried home to dress. The
next day she was on the ice again with VIII
Herring, not bit dauuted by Yesterdays
mistortune; but alas, Mr.. rockingham was
no more seen by her side. Neither was he
met again, for some weeks, at German or
soree. Upon sending to inquire after his
health Miss Oylwell learned that he was con-
fined to his room by influenza, and received
in return the following characteristic billet
dour:
"AlIss OYIwELL-As it was entirely owing
to your solicitations that | attempted to learn
to skate, | must hold you directly responsible
for the effects Of the accident which followed.
Il send you the bill;
Miss 0YLwGLLt