The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-07-02

tered in the hall, and Mr.. Railton was
looking them over to see if they were in
every respect fit to 60 out with him.
elisa, look at that child's gloves"
Lisa looked.
"Put on your best gloves today, Paul !"
II haven't got any best"
ayes, dear, you have. Where are they?
| bought you pair a fortnight ago.
So she had; but Jane had been surrepti-
tiously wearing them to school every day,
and this was the result.
81 haven't any but these, Paul said
stolidly, with hazy notion that either he
or Jane was in for row, and that it had
better be he, because Jane was only girl
"You naughty boy, you know bought
you new pair. Where are they?
"There, there, don't seold the poor child
and spoil his day said Mr.. RailtOn fret
fully. al really think you might try to
have the children decently dressed when
am going to take them out,
So it was mother who was in for the
row after all. Well, mother was always in
rows; still it seemed rough on mother that
she should be scolded because they had not
obeyed her.
When they reached Regents Park, they
found the ice bearing, and good many
skaters. The frost had not lasted long, and
the Humane Society was in full force with
all its apparatus The sight of the ropes
and ladders started Lisa, and she timidly
suggested that they should inquire which
was the shallowest part. The shallowest
part, however, proved to be also the most
crowded; so Mr.. Railton decided to try
elsewhere, where only few skaters were
disporting themselves, and ten minutes
later they were all on the ice.
There is nothing like violent exercise for
driving away low spirits, and there is no
exercise more delightful than skating-so
slight motion of the muscles sends this
heavy body, which drags so YEARLY on foot
flying lightly along, the fresh wind blowing
in the face, the warm blood dancing and
racing through all ones veins, in the in.
tense enjoyment of motion, without the ia.
tigue of motion. We rise to the level of a
bird when skating, only, Mercury-like, our
wings are on our feet.
Before long Mrs. RailtOn was enjoying
herself thoroughly, and Mr.. Railton laugh
ing happily with the children. The chill
dren skated well, and did not need to be
dragged about, which was fortunate, for
Lisa would certainly have done most oi
the dragging; and, as it was, she was in +
fair way to spend the afternoon very
pleasantly indeed.
She watched her tall, stylish daughter
skating about with her father, and thought
how well they locked together. So did thu
younger ones as they dashed about in cou
Piles.
Lisa was the odd one of the party; bu
it did not occur to her to let that trouble
her. Fresh people kept coming on the ice
She enjoyed watching almost as much a'
skating.
Presently, as she stood at the further
end of the pond, her husband and children
came skating towards her; they stopped a.
they neared her, and for few moment:
they all stood in a group watching the rest
of the skaters. A stalwart couple, both
about six feet high, came skating clumsily
but happily, along, wavered, clutched wild
ly at each other, and fell. A few gooc
natured people rushed forward to assist
them, when there was heard a resonant
crack, and long white line shot across the
entire width of the pond. There was q
chorus of "0hs" laughter and hall
fear-and general stampede for the shore
| Mr.. Railton was one of the first to move
but in a second he recollected, stopped
hesitated, then seized Kate in one hand,
Paul in the other, aud made for the bank
calling to the others to come on.
Lisa stood breathless. She had seen the
pause, the consideration-"Which shall
save ?''-and that she had been left, and
the sight took away all desire and power
to move. Next second, two strong arms
seized her shoulders, and she was hurled
rather than drawn, into safety.
Every one stood silent on the bank
waiting to see the water bubble up through
the crack. They did not see it. The ice
looked as strong and as safe as as ever, anC
presently people began TO realize this anc
TO feel foolish.
Liza heard low, jolly laugh, aud, look
ing up at her rescuer, saw a big, black
bearded man, who took off his hat and be
gan apologiziug for his unnecessary rough
ness.
"No danger whatever; the ice is just set
tling down. | suppose you knew that ant
so didn't move 1 thought you were too
frightened to stir, and so 1 just shot yol
off. l hope l didn't hurt you; but saw
you were quite alone, and it took the dis
grace off my own fight to rescue some
body"
He laughed again, and started on the ic,
once more, followed by several others.
81 say, he thought mother was alone :
said Paul. "If the ice had broken, ant
you hadn't got wet, should have beer
glad he was there, wouldn't you, father ?
No one seemed disposed to follow Pau
into these abstract speculations. Mr.. Rail
ton changed the subject abruptly, saying
'iNonsense; don't let little crack lik'
that frighten you. Come along
Mr.. Raiton was, perhaps, just little
ashamed of himself, and that made his tone
all the harsher.
"I do not care to come.
''You can't stand about all alone in tn