The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-02

Mr.. Turner, inspecting the boat closely.
"Iou have built it for speed, I see.
You carry rather more sail than think
exactly safe. You had better drop the
peak when you catch u gust. Will YOU
try her against the Ice Q~uccn?"
eyes. sir, thank you," cried the boys
In concert, for they were greatly flat
tered and pleased by Mr.. Turner's pro-
posal.
MIR. Turner brought the Ice Queen
within a few feet of the Iriclc. The two
boats presented u great contrast-one
with its lily-whlte sail, smooth, red
frame and shining gilt letters, and the
other of Il uniform gray color, her sail
old and patched in many places, though
large and strong.
Eugene felt rather dismayed as he no.
ticcd the difference, but Stephen whis-
pered, cncouragingly:
1--WE will beat, | am sure"
II think" said Mr.. Turner, cit will
be safer to go up the river, for down be-
low the bend the ice is thin"
eyes. sir" replied Eugene. s'Fathcr
told me it was dangerous down there
this morning"
"'Thcn," said Mr.. Turner, eve will
go up as far us the fishcrman's house.
and back to my grounds. nm sure of
the ice so far. Now, boys, when you
are ready l am"
They started, and before many min
utes Stephen and Eugene learned the
truth of the provcrb "All is not gold
that glittcrs," for the little gray Icicle
soon shot ahead of its fine rival.
The boys felt as though they would
never grow tired of this delightful
sport. The keen wind whistlcd about
their ears and brought the bright color
into their cheeks as they rushed past the
snow-covered banks over the shining
ice. And, besides. there was the Ice
Queen behind them, urging them on to
greater eNcrtions.
The two boats vent up and down sew
cral times, and always with the same
| result.
When they reached the boat house
for the fifth time, Mr.. Turner sprang out
and said, laughingly:
cit is very plain to sec which is the
better boat. But we will try it over
again Tomorrow"
Then he babe the two boys goodbye
and returned to his house.
The next morning they were out
again, and so was Mr.. Turner. He
taught them several things about the
management of their boat, and Stephen
and Eugene thought him very kind and
friendly.
In this way a week passed. But one
night it grew quite warm and raincd
hard. Then it was found that the ice
had broken up at many points along the
river, so the boys were obliged to wait
for colder weather before vcnturlng OH
it again. After Il little while, however.
another cold spell came, and the ice
seemed as hard ns ever.
Stephen and Eugene were rcjoiced at
this, and prepared the Iciclc for a good
long trip. When they reached the cen
ter of the river they found that the
wind blew a perfect gale. and the Iciclc
skipped and hoped along as though
she might at any moment be lifted bod
lily into the air so. ut last, for fear of
an accident, they were obliged to follow
MIR. Turner's advice and drop the peak
that is, loosen the rope that supports
the upper cornc of the sail and allow
the gait to fall down, which reduces the
size Of the sail considerably. The Isiclc
ran along very smoothly after this.
They had sailed q long distance down
the river, when Eugene called out:
81 say, Steve, I can see clear water
ahead"
Steve stood up cautiously. Then he
said:
"Put her about. Eugene! I see water.
too. The ice seems to have been driven
all over to the east shore"
Eugene obcyed, and they turned back.
When they reached MosSbank, Stephen
said:
There is Mr.. Turner. Suppose we
go and ask him if he will have another
race to-day"
AS they drew near the shore, how
ever, Il little girl came running down
toward the boat-housc.
Stephen stopped the Iciclc by putting
down the brake, which was a sharp iron
spike fixed for that purpose near the
centre of the frame, and which, by driv-
ing into the ice, checked the speed of
the boat. This was an invention of the
two boys.
II will wait until the little girl has
gone said Stephen, hcsitating, and
looking toward Mr.. Turner.
But the little girl seemed to have no
intention Of going away just yet. She
came skipping and sliding down the
bank like u snowflake, her yellow hair
white fur cap, and her small hands
thrust into a tiny white mutf.
"Unclc James! Uncle james! Is
that your ice-boat 2" she cried. ''Plcase
let me have just one little bit of a slide.
mamma said l might ask you"
''That's just like II girl" muttered
Eugene. "Thcy are always teasing to
go where they are not wanted. Now
our fun is spoiled. OF course Mr.. Tur-
ner won't race with that mid get in his
boat. The wind would blow her away"
Stephen laughed.
81 don't think much of GIRLS mysclfn