The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-02
THE RACE ON SKATES.
From the Cincinnati Times.

From the Cincinnati Times.
"Five dollars and nay heart to th'
young lady who will beat me in q rsc'
across the pond" were the words spoken
one winter evening three years ago
Each skater paused to ascertain from
whence the voice proceeded. The indi.
stiLct form OF man could be- seen
against the sky, rs he stood on q little
knoll that overlooked Gleason pond
which was crowded with merry skaters
Happy voices and merry laughter could
be heard on every hand. All became
still in an instant, when the voice of the
stranger rang out loud and clear:
give dollars and my heart to the
young lady who will beat me in race
across the pond" Again where these
words repeated in as bold, manly tones
as before.
"Whols it? Who can it be?' were
the EXPLANATIONS heard among the
skaters as they tried in vain to get a
glimpse of the strangers face.
"Just wait minute, girls" said Will
Bancroft, the particular beau of the eve.
ming; "wsit, and will try and see who
he may be-"
ale may DO a crazy man escaped
from some lunstic asylum" said tlmid
little Amy Gordon, creeping to tho
side of her big brother for protection.
"Pshawl you little cowsrdp exclaimed
beautiful brunette, standing close by.
watching with much interest the group
gathered around her and the stranger on
the bank.
"rll tell you" said Will returning, II
think the fellow is none other than
Walter Arlington-he who has lately
graduated at - college, and is so ia
m ous as skater"
"Ohp exclaimed the lady just men
toned, and if one had observed her
closely they might have noticed the
color come and go on her usually rosy
cheek; dyes, met hun once in New
York last winter, and know this to be
be-"
The girls looked at another, each
seeming to seek the others thoughts,
"Five dollars and my heart to the
young lady who will beat me in race
across the pond"
"Well, Olive" spoke up several of the
girls, as they looked toward the right
beauty in centre, as if to gain advice
from her on the subject.
"Fm of for the ice," said Olive,
striking forward. at will be much fun.
Come on, girls"
"It's my opinion" said q tall, thin
looking man with scorched looking
beard, "thst the man is an im-im-
poster"
"AnG l believe the ladies would be
better of not to pay any attention to the
SCAMP" SAID another fellow with y
very high hat and sleek face, who stood
close to the first speaker.
"Let Tall hat and Buff whiskers'
stand back if they choose no one will
care" and sprightly little blue-eyed
lassie started after Oil We.
"If the fellow is handsome, l don't
know but l will 60 tooT and another
was added to the small group,
"Thst fellow can't be much TO offer his
heart that cheap" said Will Bancroft,
his color rising. He was already begin
ming to feel the psngs of jealousy.
Quite a group had gathered around
tho strange young man, who announced
himself as Walter Arlington.
Among the many lovely girls IN Brent
vile, a place noted for beautiful faces,
Olive Whitney was the "brlght particu-
lar STAR" But am sorry to say she
seemed to delight in flirting, and woe be
to he who exposed his heart to her fss.
cinating vile. She was tall, brilliant
brunette. with dusky midnight curls,
bright, sparkling black eyes in which lay
"world of witchery," a clear, dark
complexion, matching her hair, and such
sweet ripe lipsl When Olive laughed a
bright light illuminated her whole face;
and, too, such white pearly teeth were
surely no, made to be hidden; and Mat
Hubby, who was not noted for her
beauty. was even 80 malicious as to make
tho remark that Ollie Whitney kept up q
constant grin from morning till night
because she knew she looked pretty and
had perfect teeth. But friend of
Olives took the opposite side of the sub
iect and said it was cheerful and happy
spirit shining through her face. The
latter was more generally accepted as
the truth.
Olive looked the picture Of beautiful
grace and lovelness this evening. Her
skating costume was dark maroon cloth.
trimmed with gilt braid, and the gay
colored balmoral and high-heeled boots
seemed lust suited for skating. The
isuntv hat, with its floating plumes,
showed to advantage the long dusky
curls waving in the wind, leaving her
rosy cheeks exposed to view rs she
dashed oil here and there on the ice.
Then, too. hidden within the little
ermine muff, with its saucy-looking
cherry.colored tassels, was tho softest and
wnitest little hand in all Brentville. But
to return to my story. The young girls,
| FIVE in number, arranged themselves IN a
row with the handsome stranger; and
at the word Start" given by ore OF the
spectators on the bank, all started oil at
a fearful speed. Faster! Faster! Faster
At one time Olive was few teet IN sd.
vance, when, with one stride, WaHel
Arlington dashed past her, and on they
went. Finally, two of the girls stopped
tired out, and watched the progress o.
the rest. Auothersnd another dropped
Of. until none were left but Olive anc
Arlington.
aFss.er, Olive" shouted those OF
shore; "fasteri faster! you can win th'
! race if you keep-
The words died out just as Olive reach
ed the opposite bank, Arlington few
feet in the rear, when crack
crack. went the ice, ant
in another moment the jaunt
hat, with its floating plume had disap
peared under the ice. va, the e1trem