Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-02-16
TWO VALENTINES.

The pond was covered with skaters; q CAV
shrong that had made the air jubilant with
ringing steel and merry shouts of laughter
all the afternoon.
1t was a pretty pictIre-the oval, mirror
like pond. with its dark fir grove on one
side, and the graceful, gliding forms, the
girls gay robes, forming such contrast TO
the sober CARDS of their brothers and sweet
hearts. But Il young man who stood on the
bank, looking on, with his skates flung down
by his side, did not seem to admire it. His
lips were set firmly together, and his face
had 4 gloomy and an angry expression, as
he watched little fitting figure in its course
over the pond. from one end to the other
slender girl. in 4 gay scarlet petticoat,
with demure mouse cOored skirt and
Jacket above it, and a mouse cOlOred jockey
hat with n dancing scarlet feather. The
saucy red feather was the beacon his eyes
followed through the shifting throng; but
he lost sight of it, at last, in a crowd that
had gathered at the further end of the pond
around Il newcomer who was performing
marvellous featS. Then his brow grew dark
er than ever. His eyes did not once aban-
don their quest, but Scarlet Feather and her
companion were nowhere to be seen; if
have not mentioned before that she had a
companion, il was not because the watcher
on the bank was unconscious of it. On the
contrary, it was toward the companion, a
tall, very elegant young man, that his angry
chances were chiefly directed.
The crowd at the end of the pond dis
persed, but still he looked in vain, until
suddenly, under his very eyes appeared the
dancing feather, and its wearer, with a sim
gle skate in 'her hand, quietly deposited
herself upon a bench at his feet, without
deigning to glance at him. But his face
lighted up little, for the elegant young
man was nowhere in sight.
eff you are ready, perhaps we may as
well CO., he said.
s.Oh, is that YOU, Dick? ''-nonchalantly.
.sReady to 90? Bless you'll no, indeed. L
broke strap off one of my skates, and Cap
tain Forester has gone to get it mended for
me. Go! why. what can you he thinking
of?-the ice i just splendid! | shouldn't
wonder if we didn't 90 home until mid
night" (Strong enough accent on 1--WE. ~
~ believe you came with me, +" said Dick,
stiffly. "
air and exercise and mischief, looked sauci-
" up at him.
>" Did 1? Well, turn about is fair play
shall go home with Captain Forester"
The young mans eyes flashed.
g "Captain Forester is a great gun 1t would
be presumptuous in me to attempt to rival
him. Captain Forester! What hne thing
a title is, If had come home with one, in
stead of my empty sleeve, how Inherently L
might have fared."
The color i'll her cheeks wavered 4 little.
That empty sleeve always touched lays
heart Ii he had only been wise enough to
saw nothing more! But his wrath would
biaze out against that elegant young Captain
att is very nice thing to be distin-
guished officer"
o.The lad who would hero be
Must have a musket tall "
cit would take more than musket to
,,,te some lads heroes!" flashed Zay, with
cheeks abIaZe. .,
What made Dicks rhyme particularly
,royokinp was that there had been report
that Captain Forester had uneere m ON
left for the rear, in the beslnnlns oi us eo
enemv. 1t was a base SANDER, originated by
the Young men who were enviotls OF MS pop.
ui.r,ty. the Young ladies thought, but 1t
rnaJe Zay angry, nevertheless, to have DICK
lit at H. He went on:
... fine m,lstache beneath his nose,
\ helmet ON his mead, ,,,y
rise when the martial trumpet blows
.It is very gentlemanly to talk about
reople oehind their backs,' interrupted
captain Forester has taught you what Is
,eptlemaI ,lv. | suppose"
He teaches me by his conduct. don't