The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-02
SKATING FOR LIFE.
Remarkable Escape Of Corfed.
crate Prisoner.

crate PRISONER.
The snow, which had been coming down
for hours, gradually ceased, the soft flakes
changing into an icy sleet, singing the
faces Of pedestrians, and converting the
1eathery covering of the streets into a
sheet Of glass, over which locomotion was
becoming more and more impracticable
The leahess branches Of the trees along the
sidewalks swayed in the rising wind, drop
ping fragments Of ice upon the heads of
the passcrs-by, and occasionally, no longer
able TO sustain their icy burden, coming
down with sharp crash on the pavement
below.
The Office Of Messrs. SHINES & Har-
court, Attorneys al Law, presented &
cheerful contrast to the dreary scene with
out. A huge bed Of Goals glOwed in the
open CRATE. and lit up still more brightly
the crimson rug and curtains. The two
gentlemen, themselves the only occupants
OF the room, seemed 20 fully appreciate their
agreeable situation, as seated before the
fire, they allowed newspapers and chat to
snpersede, for the nonce, briefs and law
books.
"'Skating at the Park" said Mr..
Simmes, the junior partner, as street car
bearing the announcement IN large letters
rolled by within sight of the window.
t'That little flag VIII bring joy TO the
hearts of the skaters"
'I confess" said Mr.. Harcourt, folding
up his newspaper, ''that | still enjoy the
sport as much as the young people. 1t puts
young blood in the veins-skimming over
an icy floor, through an icy atmosphere.
Now this roller-skating is miserable sub
.stitute. l suppose that is the only kind you
ever enjoyed, SHINES, in your benighted
section, where you can hardly save ice
enough to cool your summer drinks"
I t'You are very much mistaken, my dear
fellow" rejoined his companion, returning
from the window where he had been view
ing the arctic scene below. SIN my section,
as you call it. have felt as cold weather
as here-perhaps I'll except the present
blizzard You remember l came from
Kentucky. We had splendid skating al
most every year"
+Indeed! You indulge in it here, then, l
suppose
''No," said Mr.. Simmes, "never l have
not skated," he continued, refectively,
''for twenty years: and then L skated for
my life"
''Whatw exclaimed his friend, s'were
the wolves after you?n
Mr.. Simmes smiled. Yes he said. "the
wolves were after me; and nearly got me.
100"
''My dear fellowr' cried his companion.
slapping him upon the shoulder, ''is it DOS
sible I've known you so long, and you've
never told me such an adventure! Here,
sit down! We have nothing specially i'm.
portant on hand this afternoon, SO suppose
we devote it to the recital"
swell, If you are willing to run the risk
of being bored. But perhaps your sympa-
thies will be on the side OF the pursuers."
What! the wolves!''
SHINES laughed. They were not beasts. !"
he rejoined, They were human wolves: or
perhaps that is too harsh term 10 apply
TO them. They were simply doing their
duty in trying to catch me-"
''You are growing mysterious, SHINES.
] guess the sheriff and his posse were after
you. Was it arson or murder that ven had
committed2n
Neither. In fact l had committed no
crime, that was aware Of, and vet 7 was
escaping formy life, and my pursuers wero
perfectly right in eldeavoring to capture
me"
''Wel, nomore riddles, If you please. Nv
curiosity is sufficiently whetted. so pro.
ceed;" and Mr. Harcourt settled himself
comfortably back in his chair in the atti-
Iude of listener.
His partner sat meditating for several
moments. Twenty years ago. he said 1:
''that is long time, Harcourt. Il makes
me feel quite elderly to think that / was
twenty-four years cid then"
''Well, l was nearly thirty then.n Mr..
Harcourt Youchsafed this comforting niece
OF information, and his companion contiu-
ued.
''lt was in the winter of '65, when the
whole country was involved in war. The
fortunes Of the Corfederacy were looking
pretty gloomy-at least it seemed so toms
orfellows, who were spending the winter
at Johnson's Island''
''Johnson's Islandl" His listener leaned
forward attentively.
eyes, sin prison on Lake Erie Once the
lake was frozen over, and our guards and
the prison employees amused themselves by
skating; and as we were taken out to 90
through our daily exercise we were allowed
the privilege of watching them. l don't
think there was man among the prison
ers, besides my myself, who had ever had
on skates; and the guards urged, and even
insisted on eur trying them, for the diver
sion our awkward attempts afforded them,
The poor fellows were nothing loath to en-.
gage in any thing that broke the monotony
of prison life, and loud and many were the
shouts OF laughter that echoed over the
lake as the luckless tyros, one after an.
other, came to an ignominious fate.
'In my Kentucky home 1 had been &C
customed to the sport every winter, and
was accounted the champion skater of the
neigh borhood. Many a time had l dis
tsnced whole party Of young people in a
race up the river, and prided myself on
my accomplishment. This, however, kept
q profound secret; for the wild thought
had entered my brain, why not make my
escape in this waYf Once across the lake
snd in the woods, pursuit would be next tc