Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-09-13
A 81 ATING ROMANCE.

nation Of the moment without regarding
oonseQuences. During his fourth evenings
skating at Niagara lac tame his Croppcr.
IT was then getting late. Many of the
skaters had left the ice. Dennis and the
learning lady were in corner apart 10y
themselves. They were standing still en-
gagged in conversation, when her feet shot
suddenly forward as the feet of learners
have way of doing. Dennis was Just in
time to catch her in his arms before she
could strike the ice with the back Of her
head.
Who that has thus held "a lady novice
overbalanced backward does not know the
difficulty Of restoring her 20 the perpcn-
diculary With each effort 10 raise her her
feet will slip away, and back She sinks,
head resting on his shoulder. That was
what happened now. The young lady lay
in Dennis arms. her head resting on his
shoulder. She was certainly good look
ing Her eyes were very lustruuS. Her
complexion was clear and good She had
pink little mouth. \ sudden impulse
overlook the Iri>hman The absence Of
near spectators aided and ahctted il. He
whispered something in that coral ear.
Them am ashamed 10 write it-he-
well yes, he did he kissed the pink lit.
tie mouth,
She struggled a little TO diSengage her
self from his arms But what could she
doY Her feet slipped away again. She
only sank upon him with increased weight,
Dennis Whispered something else. and re
pcatcd the oticnse | believe he repeated il
more than once before she was restored 10
the pcrprud:cular. The young lady, you
see was helpless She was obliged 10 ac-
cept the inevitable She could not offer
TINT re- stance which her maiden modesty
demanded Dennis was master of the sit
M ipu iIc Used his advantage rccklessly.
That .~ I'M fact, how ne came his croppcr.
Dennis was genuinely astoui,hcd when
hc discovered that the young lady had
taken him seriously. He explained 20 the
young lady a. delicatcly n he could that
she was lahoring under dclu~iOn For a
long time she would not believe that he
was i'm earnest She surmised that he was
perpetrating some lovers jest upon her.
But by and by, when she found that he
really meant IT, she turned upon Dennis
in a manner that made him quake
do you stand there before me, she ex.
claimed with indcScrihable indignation.
land dare TO deny that you asked me to
20 marry youE
My dear girl, p" returned Dennis, look
ing anxiOuSly around 20 see that no in
Quisitive skaters were within earshot, you
must know that | never asked you any.
thing Of the kind. -
Never asked me anything Of the kind"
cried the young lady in an ascending scale
of shrillness which came uncommoniy near
the high G. "Are-are you mad MIR. De.
royt, or am T.
Il don't think am, answered Dennis
perhaps rather rudely.
The young lady burst into tears
You insult me, sir, she sobbcd
"W-what do You take me forY DO you sup.
pose that 1 should have let you MN IN.
make love 10 me and XXX k-kiss me unless
you had first asked me to marry youy'
My dear girl, ~ answered Dennis hur-
riedly, for he saw that it was necessary to
soothe her at once if he was 70 escape "a
scene in the public place, pray compose
yourself. l never took you for anything
else but what you are-the dearest little
thing alive But as for marrying never
thought Of that. Couldn't possibly man
age it, don't you know. Haven't the
means"
You might have thought OF that be-
fore you proposed to me, " she retorted in
dignantly.
But you are mistaken about that, Miss
Linklcy, upon my soul you are protested
Dennis
u wasn't Miss Linklcy four DAYS ago, 3"
she inteTposed with queer look.
All, well, Florric then, ~ he FASTENED
TO correct himself. That look of hers made
him wish himself well out Of it, "But
you are mistaken really. l do like you,
Of course, awfully, but
you didn't like me four days ago, Z"
she INTERCEPTED, with "a still more danger
Gus look. Dennis felt half afraid that she
might lose her self control and involve
him in the disgrace OF physical tussle be-
fore all those skaters
"I-I-mean 20 say I-I-love YOU
upon my soul, do, " said Dennis, ready
AT the minute, 20 say anything that would
pacify her.
with all your hearth" she inquired
subjecting his face TO "a searching gaze Of
her dark eyes
"Yes-ah-with all my heart, " assented
Dennis mcckly.
The young lady still continued to scru-
TIME his face closely. Dennis wished that
her large eyes were not quite so penetrat-
ing
And you really mean that, D-Dennis
upon your hOnorf" she persisted
CPoh my hohbAt ifIlltu lue lTlsH-
man.
She came nearer and chung 20 his arm.
She looked up fondly into his face Dennis
began TO feel still more uncomfortable.
He had a suspicion that he should not find
II so easy TO get out of this foolish little
ENHANCEMENT
Yes, he should put the truth 70 her fair
and straight--in writing" Dennis hated
20 speak unpleasant things But he could
be as bold as a lion-On paper.
Next morning Dennis indted this let.
ter. BY return he had a communication,
not from Florrie but from Florrie's pa,
the dry goods man in the Kings road,
Chelsea:
sIR-1 am az loss 20 understand the das-
tardly letter which my daughter has this day
received from you. II you think that shall
permit you 10 play fast and loose with ny