The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-08-27
A RACE WITH A MODERN
ATALANTA,

A RACE WITH A MODERN
ATALANTA.
Yes" said Byrd Bryton with a su.
percilious smile, girls answer to waltz
around with for a little, and skate
| gracefully enough, l suppose, but just
as fellow gets interested, they tire
out; have no stamina, you know"
That is your opinion, is it?'' ques.
toned Kate Merton, one of little cir
Gle of beauties that were discussing
the skatingrink, and her black eyes
flashed Indignantly, and even mali.
ciously.
Most decidedly" he answered.
mo girl could endure long race
and he glanced almost scornfully al
the slight, trim, 1.-THE figure in con-
firmation of his opinion.
DO you think you could catch meP''
| she asked. Lords of creation, like
yourself, | am aware, have very ex-
alted opinion of their athletic abili-
ties"
Easily. Should you chance to be
the tieetest 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"
Into your arms! l should very
much prefer more congenial resting
| place. and there was no concealment
of the Vexation she felt at even the pos
sibility of such an accident. But"
she continued, ''do you seriously think
--ou could catch me?"
AS certain Of it as that Meleager
caught Atalanta, though the proceed
ing was a deuced expensive one"
''No danger of your wasting golden
anythings except upon yourself. How
you have evolved brilliant idea from
out your inner nothingness, and l
eagerly seize upon it.
You intend to convey" he drawled
forth, though his flushed face plainly
showed that her ridicule-tipped arrows
had not missed their intended mark,
that you will assume the character of
Atalanta, the daughter of King Sche-
neusp'
''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 to 1oso
if you should be too slow, and your
brilliant conversation and princely
beauty fail to conquer my stubborn
hearth"
What do you wager that l do not
catch you before going twenty times
around the rink?" be asked, and in a
tone that revealed how much he was
annoyed by her cutting sarcasm.
Anything" saucily.
"Anythingp"
He fancied he saw good opportuni-
ty to get even, and continued:
'Iu wager dozen of gloves against
q kiss"
The full red lips curled scornfully,
the nez retroussee became still more
| marked, the flush On the face deepened
to crimson, tho bosom heaved with
pent-up indignation, and the black
eyes snapped with volcanic fires.
Then the amused smiles of her COM
panions, and the triumphant one of
Byrd Bryton, caused sudden change
in feeling, and choking down her in
suited modesty, though it cost great
effort, she answered.
81 accept the wager"
"a dozen pair of gloves if l lose, and
a kiss upon your coral lips"
''lf you win
Your hand upon it."
''N hen L give any man my hand, my
heart will 60 with it," she said proud
ly; and with cutting GOODNESS, and
withdrawing from the mental COM
bat, slipped quietly from the room and
house.
Busy days followed. What had sim
ply been intended as an impromptu af-
fair assumed Importance as the wager
became noised about, and was dignified
as Carnival" and costume became
the engrossing topic of every Venus of
one sex and Adonis of the other, and
each was arranged with much more at
tention to individual taste than historic
requirements.
That Of Atalanta certainly was, for
no one living has the slightest knowl-
edge of how the swift-tloated beauty
was dressed when a golden temptation
in tie form of an apple proved her a
genuine daughter of Eve.
Not having Scyrosian dame to
prompt her, or any Scyrosian fashion
magazine to guide, she robed herself in
scarlet bodice and skirt. short enough
to give free play to pretty feet and
glimpses of delicately turned ankles, a
gypsy hood of same color, and a half
mask, founced with lace that hid even
mouth and chin, and yet permitted
ease in 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.
the happy crowd.
Her antagonist thought so; noticed
moro than ever before the ripping
hair. the flushed cheeks, the light flash
ing in the black eyes, and sauntering
to her side said:
If beauty could ensure winning. the
gloves would already be yours"
''And as 1t cannot any more than un-
| welcome compliments, what thenP"
she questioned in return.
The kiss l am to have will be much
| the sweeter for
That will answer" she interrupted
| contemptuously, turning upon her he ell
and darting over the mirror-like floor
to another portion of the room.
He noted the dexterity with which
| she managed her skates, the graceful
swing, the long and rapid slide, the
| irmness of motion, the certainty of
poise, the utter want of timidity, and
| had the race been a short one would
| have confessed himself beaten.
What is the distance around the
! rlnk?' he asked of the proprietor. who