The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-11-17
My SKATING STORY.

Mi ONAIIHu OIUhIi
I was in duandars, as I think YOU
will admit when I have stated my case,
and it was exceedingly provoking to be
conscious that was looked upon by all
my acquaintance as the luckiest man in
town, while 1 bore in my bosom the in
ward conviction that was the most in
volyed and bothered being in existance.
Up to month back, 1 suppose might.
with some show Of reasonablehess, have
been called lucky, for Miss Clara Alden,
the recognized belle of the season, smiled
upon me, and the current impression
prevailed that if would go in, I'd win.
Well, I did goin. That's the mischief
of it. 1 went in just far enough to COM
nit myself to the contest, but, before I
had sighted the winning post, something
happened to give me pause. We were
at the skating rink one night, large
party of US, Miss Alden being one of the
number. Her special escort was a young
foreigner, who was being a good deal
lionized in society just then, and Clara
seemed to take marked interest In
him. 1t did not concern me in the
least to observe this, for since had
fancied myself to be in love with Clara
Alden had had reason to congratulate
myself upon the assurance that was
not Of a jealous temperament. l intended
pretty soon to tender to Miss Alden a
good-sized heart and a good-sized hand
and a fairly good-sized fortune, and I
sincerely hoped she would accept them.
Until then and indeed after then, always
within the limits of good taste, she was
free to receive the attentions of any man
or woman whose society gave her pleas
ure. 1 think Miss Alden and under
stood each other perfectly. We were
very old friends and the suitability of
an alliance between US had been fire.
quently suggested to each ever since we
could remember. I was quite cuntented
with this condition of affairs and even
supposed myself to be very happy.
Well, this night at the rink I Ihad seen
Clara skate off with her Englishman,
and with an unperturbed spirit was
skimming around the rink alone when,
Just behind me, heard little scream
and little scramble and somebody fell.
The next instant, as turned, met
pair of imploring and beautiful eyes and
an imploring and beautiful voice cried
out:
"Oh, won't you please pick me up?"
I eagerly clasped the little hands and
drew the PROSTATE young lady to her
feet. I was just in time, for half a
dozen other men had hurried to the
spot, among whom she recognized an
acquaintance. She made her bow to
me and said her "thank you" very
prettily and then she accepted the prof.
cred hand of her friend and glided
away from me. And do you know did
not like it I felt distinctly vexed, for
you see she was bewitchingly lovely and
the glimpse I had of her was merely tan
talzing.
] met her after that many times, al
ways with the same man, whom I was
rather provoked to recognize as q stran-
ger. I now found myself always watch
ing for that one little figure, and follow
ing it through all the labyrinthine mazes
of the surging crowd upon the rink. I
forgot to speak to my acquaintances as
they passed, and, although there were
half score of young ladies who had
right to expect me to join them and con-
alone, in utter disregard of every social
and moral obligation to that effect.
Every now and then CHANGED upon
Miss Alden, but I felt too preoccupied
to join, or even to observe her especial
| ly, when suddenly something occurred
that invested her with lively interest.
| She had been stopping to speak to some
| friends who sat without the railing look
ing on, and as she and her escort were
starting out again she suddenly came
face to face with my little beauty.
| There was CLEAN of recognition on both
faces, and then Miss Alden exclaimed
"Why, Daisy, where have you
dropped from2 Who would have thought
of seeing you, of all people, here?"
! There was rather q warm greeting
between the two before Daisy explained:
81 have come for the winter and have
been wanting to look you up, but I only
arrived yesterday. am SO glad to have
met you here"
After that I heard no more, for the
two friends joined hands and skated of
together. I hung about them little
way of, pretending to be talking to
some men who were lounging about,
and when thought my presence would
not prove an unpleasant interruption !
skated toward Clara and greeted her
cordially, asking her where she had
been this long time. She saw through
me in a moment, and showed me that
she did by disregarding my story en-
tirely and presenting me to her friend,
Miss Lyle. I had seen a good many
masculine eyes regarding Miss Lyle
with interest during the evening, and
now 1 perceived the owner of one pair OF
these approaching Miss Alden with what
l OWNED to be the same intention that
had brought me hither q moment be.
fore so while he was stopping to shake
hands with Clara I offered my hands tc
Miss Lyle and we glided off together. A
few adroit questions on my part ELECTED
the fact that Miss Lyle and Miss Alder
had been schoolmates. who had not met
for some years, and furthermore dis
covered that Miss Lyle was stopping il
town with relatives who happened to bs
old acquaintances of mine. So, after
we parted that night, Miss Lyle and
met often, and we were together sc
much at the rink that people had begur
to remark it.
And this brings me to the period o
the quandary with which 1 started out
Here was ], supposed by everybody t.
be the favored adorer of one lovely girl
while in reality was head over heels il