The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-04-01
A HEROINE INDEED.

IL WIS OHt VI GIOSc COlu, hceH ulSulS
when the stars seem best to shine, and
the earth in its snowy mantle shines
back again in harmony with them.
At Deans Mill there was to be skat-
ing party-one of the old-fashioned
kind, with great roaring fire on the
bank, and afterward a supper at the
tavern a little distance from the stream.
Jack Hardy, coming down the road,
with his skates slung across his shoul-
der, and clad in thick, wooden jacket,
was in high spirits. And why should
he not be? He was bound for the house
of the prettiest girl in the neighbor-
hood, and this prettiest girl had prom
ised to go skating with him that very
night.
In these rural settlements everybody's
business is town talk, and it is not sim
gular that people nodded their heads
and said:
'.Parson Bronlow had better look out!
That there will be a match afore he
knows it"
THAT there" was the growing init
macy between Jack and the parsons
daughter Jane. Mrs. Deacon Purrit
had said:
Now, amt to say but she'll make
him a good wife, but she is so harum-
scarum fear no good will come of her.
And so feared! The least thing will
skeer her. Why, t'other day l was
a-callin' at the parsonage went over
for that there receipt for sponge cake
that lost this spring, and you know
there amt none alike it round here
and it was my mothers own-well, and
bat Il IN
in and pale-like, and said: "Oh, take
that horrid bug off my armr Well,
was so nigh dead a-laughin' at fust l
couldn't take it off, but finally l man.
aged to, and then Jennie-yes, she sat
down and cried like 2-year-old child.
I'm feared Mrs. Parson Brownlow
hasn't trained up her child strict
enough. Not, say |, but she's meant
well, though"
With which lengthy speech she folded
her knitting in her lap and then put on
a most self-complacent smile.
Jack Hardy went whistling down the
road that lay clear and white in the
light of the moon, Just rising, knowing
little of all this. That Jennie was
lively, ight-hearted girl he knew, and,
too, that she within herself was true
woman he was confident.
Whistling, sometimes, is like having
a good companion. 1t makes the way
short and checry. 1t smooths the hard
ruts, and makes one forget the hour and
lose himself with his thoughts. So,
soon the parsons house was reached,
and Jack-who shall say that his heart
was beating faster?-steppcd to the
door and raped.
1t was scarcely half minute before
Jennie herself made her appearance at
the door, trilling happy little song
and looking, in her blue hood, like a
bluebird.
"Come in! You see am all ready to
20; but you must warm yourself a min
lte," she said
Remonstrances were of no avail, and
so Jack soon found himself by the open
fire. rather awkwardly answering the
questions of the old folks. The mother
looked trifie anxious.
You will be really careful, won't
you, Jack?" she said.
Jack was an acknowledged fact in
that household.
''Of course l will take good care" he
said. sDe Fivae says the ice is five
inches thick, and they'll begin to cut in
the morning"
.'Yes, yes, know, but 1 confess I'm a
little anxious. If anything should hap
pen to my girl"
And her eyes glistened.
''Oh, she will be safe-she is in good
hands," said Parson Brownlow, merrily,
with pleasant nod at Jack.
The parson was growing old, and
Jack was the ikeliest fellow in the vii
lage.
And at the door the mother said once
more:
you'll be really careful of my girl,
won't you, Jack?n
Indeed l will," he answered.
Oh, that walk in the moonlight! The
crunch of the snow, the far
away falling water, and the aged town.
clocks stroke of eight, all sounded de-
licious in their ears. Why? All, no
one has ever found it out! Not breath
of air stirred the leafiess branches; not
a star but shone its brightest; not a
cloud could be seen but one or two in
the low west. 1t was glorious night;
a night when nature sings and earth re-
joices-when it seems wrong to stay
indoors, and a glorious privilege to be
outside.
The pond was dotted with many skat-
ers, for skating parties were the most
popular the only-excitement
the Mills had. Skillful skaters We'd
with each other in their graceful evolu-
the latest curve and fancy reel. All the
!, q, fl,ef Oh
bags. And now the climax had come.
A grand skating-party at the full of the
moon, with the prospect of good hot
supper afterward, brought together
skaters from all the country round.
Pretty pictures they made, too, glid
ing here and there over the glittering
surface, while the moon looked on ap-
provingly at the figures generally by
twos-skating in and out of the shadows
the tall pines cast.
BY the cracking, CHEEKY fire their
skates were put on. and then, with his
strong arm holding hers, Jack and Jen-
ME glided away.
What picture they made! Skaters
turned and looked at them as they
darted by. He, tall, strong, 1.-THE; she,
as supple as a willow, as graceful as
fay of old. Yes. they were known as
the best skaters in town.
Far over the ice they sped far down
the river, and then. with grand curve,
back, never stopping for breath till the
fire was reached again.
As they warmed their hands at the
blaze somebody spoke to Jack-remind-
ed him of his share of the work-he
must bring an armful of wood for the
fire, for each had done his part. So he
excused himself for moment and
swiftly skated to the other shore, where
driftwood was plenty and to be had for
the taking.
Look out for the air-hole by the
bendr' somebody shouted after him.
R,,t Jook did not bear and Olidad on