The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-09-12
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A RACE WITH A MODERN ATALANTA

with for little, and skate gracefully
enough, suppose, but just as fellow gets
interested, they tire out; have no stamina,
you know"
"That is your opinion, is it ?" questioned
Kate Merton, one of little circle of beau
ties that were discussing the skating g-rink,
and her black eyes flashed Indignantly, and
even maliciously.
"NIost decidedly" he answered. "No
girl could endure long race, and he
glanced almost scornfully at the slight,
trim, 1.-THE figure in confirmation of his
opinion.
sDo you think you could catch me?"
she asked "Lords of creation, like your
self, am aware, have very exalted opin-
ion of their athletic abilities"
Easily Should you chance to be the
feetest at the start, which | very much
doubt, should have nothing to do but
wait, and you would soon grow weary and
drop into my arms.
EEInto your arms [ should very much
prefer more congenial resting-place, and
there was no concealment of the vexation
she felt at even the possibility of such an
accident "But, she continued, edo you
seriously think you could catch me p
GAS certain of it as that Meleager caught
Atalanta, though the proceeding was a
deuced expensive one"
"No danger of your wasting golden any
things except upon yourself. However,
for once in your efete existence, you have
evolved brilliant idea from out your inner
nothingness, and eagerly seize upon it.
"You intend to convey" he drawled
forth, though his flushed face plainly show
ed that her ridicule-tipped arrows had not
missed their intended mark, ''that you will
assume the character of Atalanta, the daugh-
ter of King Scheneus p
"At the mask and costume party next
Saturday evening? Certainly"
"And you dare me to race?"
Decidedly so. But don't neglect to
bring the golden apples Who knows but
that they might tempt me to lose if you
should be too slow, and your brilliant con-
versation and princely beauty fail to con-
quer my stubborn heart ?"
"What do you wager that [ do not catch
you before going twenty times around the
rink p he asked, and in tone that re-
vealed how much he was annoyed by her
cutting sarcasm.
"Anything," saucily.
"Anything?"
He fancied he saw good opportunity
to get even, and continued:
''I'll wager dozen of gloves against a
kiss u
The full red lips curled scornfully, the
aez retroussee became still more marked,
the flush on the face deepeped to crimson,
the bosom heayed with pent-up indigna.
ton, and the black eyes snapped with vol
canic fires,
Then the amused smiles of her compan-
ions, and the triumphant one of Byrd Bry-
ton, caused sudden change in feeling, and
choking down her insulted modesty, though
it cost great effort, she answered
II accept the wager"
IA dozen pair of gloves if | lose, and a
kiss upon your coral lips"
eff you win
'sYour hand upon it.
"When | give any man my hand, my
heart will go with it" she said proudly;
and with cutting GOODNESS, and withdrawing
from the mental combat, slipped quietly
from the room and house.
Busy days followed. What had simply
been intended as an impromptu affair as
sumed importance as the wager became
noised about, and was dignified as ''car-
nival, and costume became the engrossing
topic of every Venus of one sex and Adonis
of the other, and each was arranged with
much more attention to individual taste
than historic requirements.
That of Atalanta certainly was, for nc
one living has the slightest knowledge Of
how the swift-foated beauty was dressed
when golden temptation in the form oi
an apple proved her genuine daughter oi
Eve.
Not having Scyrosian dame to promp
her, or any Scyrosian fashion magazine t.
guide, she robed herself in scarlet bodice
and skirt, short enough to give free play
to pretty feet and glimpses of delicately
turned ankles, gypsy hood of same color
and a half mask, founced with lace tina
hid even mouth and chin, and yet permit
ted ease III breathing.
And very beautiful she looked upon the
evening of the contest as she stood, mask
in hand and hood thrown back, watching
the rapid glidings, twistings, turnings, anC
intricate movements of the happy crowd.
Her antagonist thought so; noticed mor'
than ever before the rippling hair, thu
flushed cheeks, the light flashing in tn,
black eyes, and sauntering to her side said
"If beauty could ensure winning, tn,
gloves would already be yours"
''And as it cannot any more than un
welcome compliments. what then ?" sh,
questioned in return.
"The kiss am to have will be much tn,
sweeter for"
"That will answer" she interrupted con
temptuously, turning upon her heel anC
darting over the mirror-like floor to anoth
er portion of the room.
He noted the dexterity with which sht
managed her skates, the graceful swing
the long and rapid slide, the frmness o
motion, the certainty of poise, the ute
want of timidity, and had the race been
short one would have confessed himsel
beaten.
'What is the distance around the rink?'
he asked of the proprietor, who chanceC
to be near.
! "Well, without going into fractions,