Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-15
GaIes AND Skei1bes.
A Red MIffEs.

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II Was the afternoon of clear, sharp
January day of 1861. and the company
numbered fully two hundred; there were
men and women, boys and girls, flying and
circling about, in masses ,singly, by dozens,
and by twos and threes, over the frozen
surface of the beautiful Silver Lake in
Rockdale. suburb OF the fourishiDg city
of B. New England is dotted with
these small bodies Of water, and it is as
tonishing to recount what surprising
number bear the name Of Silver. And so,
on Silver Lake this goodly company was
disporting itself with all the gayety ard
zest, the keen. bracing air and exhilarat-
ing sport combined to produce.
Among the crowd were many lads and
lassies who imagined they were fond of
skating and came to Silver Lake tor no
other reason. 1t was singular. too, to
note how much more gracefully the out
ward rolI,'' backward or forward, could
be accomplished by joining hands, or by
being linked together with a walking
stick. Those sticks proved in many in
stances, no non-conductors to the sympa-
thetic thrill that pervaded the magnets at
either end.
The positive and negative conditions
were fully realized in the case Of brawny
John Horton and rosy checked Abbie
Latham. the daughter OF the Squire. She.
with her comedy figure. and fresh. hand
some face, lit up by pair Of laughing
blue eyes. could have led awkward John,
on or off skates. anywhere, with an apron
string or thread for conductor. Not
SO with John. He could lead her no.
where and the more the girl could balk
and tantalize him, the more she seemed
to enjoy the skating and his company
Many ludicrOus figure he cut, and many
an awkward fall he endured, for her sud-
den and unaccountabe turns and shiftings,
and her mirth and glee were at the high
est at Johns repeated failures to follow
her difficult and tortuous windings. John
was overgrown and massive, his twenty
years Of existence not having yet served
TO properly knit together and round out
the proportions Of his frame. She was
1.-THE and quick. and as graceful as she
was skillful in the use Of skates.
Apart from the throng this afternoon,
John espied little red mitten lying on
the ice, where it had been dropped by one
Of the numerous children. Miss Abbie
saw it, too, and as John. by one of his
capture the article, sine refused to release
his hand but. Just as he bent forward she
gave wicked pull and John, unbalanced,
was sent sprawlng rod or two beyond.
A peal of silvery laughter was her sympa-
thetic comment, as with graceful curve
she turned and caught the tiny thing in
her hand
John blushed at his awkwardness, and
held out his hand to receive the mitten.
But the captor only held it before him,
and gently moved away.
Won't your give it to me " he asked.
II will find the owner"
II can find the owner more easily than
you. | cant trust you you would fall and
crush the poor thing in trying to deliver
it," And she saucily laughed again.
.You made me fall" said John, in a
grieved tone. IF | skated more and
studied less, I'd soon be as much of an
adept as your friend, Joe Staples, whom
you are always praising."
..YouP Ha, ha, ha! As graceful as
Joe Staplesp And the hilarity of the
young maiden made John Horizons slug
gish blood course through his veins till
his face was as red as the scarlet kerchef
that encircled his neck.
All the rest of that afternoon John was
gloomy and silent He moved around
mechanically, or rather. automatically.
and his companion concluded to serve no
more tricks upon him.
The sport finished, the two wended
their way to the house Of Mr.. Latham,
Johns fair companion failing to rally him
into anything like conversation. He an-
swered her only in monosyllables, and
seemed morose and occupied.
As he was about to take his leave, John
said. seriously, and little sarcastically,
''Abbie. I'm going back to college. to-
morrow, and hope you will enjoy the
rest OF the skating season in companion
ship more graceful than mine"
Il hope ! SHALL" replied she in the
same tone. "You must feel bad about
something's perhaps it's the mitten; you
had better take it; no. not now-I won't
give IL up. II ever think enough of you
to surrender it. I'll send it to you by ex-
press"
And then she smiled on John with rare
sweetness. but John had seen that smile
before. and felt she was only hooking
him. So with solemn Good night" he
buttoned his coat close to his chin and
with his hands resolutely thrust in his
pockets. turned homeward, and resolved
to waste no more time with skating girls, |
who judged men by the dexterity they ex-
hibited in handling their heels