The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-08-06
A SKATING ROMANCE.

AShLiS hCiOs WIS llululSINc+ tie n1u
Hibernian way of yielding to the incli-
nation of the moment without regarding
consequences. During his fourth evenings
skating Mt niagara he came his cropper.
Il was then getting late. Many of tho
skaters had left the ice. Dennis and the
learning lady were in corner apart by
themselves. They were standing still, en-
gagged ia 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 n lady novice
overbalanceu backward does not know the
difficulty of restoring her to the perpcn
dicular? With each effort to raise her her
feet will slip away, and back she sinks,
head resting on his shoulder That was
what happened now The young lady law
IN Dennis arms, her head resting on his
shoulder. She was certainly good look
ing, Her eyes were very lustrous Her
complexion was clcar and good She had
pink little mouth. sudden impulso
overlook the Irishman. The absence of
near spectators aided aud allotted it. Ho
whispered something in that coral car.
Thcn-I am ashamed to writo it-hc-
well, yes, he did Tho kissed the pink lit
tie mouthl
She struggled littlo to tliscngagc her
self from his arms. But what could she
do? Her feet slipped away again. Shc
only sank upon him with increased weight.
Dennis whispered something else and re-
pcntcd the offcnsc. believe he repeated it
more than once before she was restored to
the perpendicular. Tho young lady, YOU
see, was helpless. She was obliged to &C
cept the inevitable. She could not offer
that resistance which her maiden modcsty
demanded. Dennis was master of the sit
uation. He used his advantage recklessly.
That Is, i'll fact, how he came his croppcr
Dennis was genuinely astonishcd when
he discovered that the young lady had
taken him seriously. He explained to tho
young lady as dclicately rs he could that
she was laboring under dcluSion Fora
long time she would not believe that he
was i'll earnest. She surIniscd that he was
pcrpetrating some lovers jest upon her
But, by and by, when she found that Inc
really meant it, she turned upon Dennis
in manner that made him quake.
Do you stand there before me. " she OK
claimed, with indcscribablo indignation.
and dare to deny that you asked me to
to marry your
My dear girl" returned Dennis, look
Ing anxiously around to see that no in
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
III shrillness which came uncommonly near
the high G.. "Are-nro you mad, Mr.. De
royt, or am-I?"
II 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 for? Do YOU sun
pose that L should have let you III IN m
make love to ne and XIX kiss me unless
you had first asked me to marry you?"
My dear girl answered Dennis hur-
ricdly, for he saw that it was necessary to
soothe her ut once if he was TO escape a
scene In tho public place, pray compose
yourself L never took you for anything
else but What you arc-the dearest little
thing alive. But as for marrying, never
thought of that. Couldn't possibly man
nge it, don't you know. Haven't the
means.'
you might have thought of that be-
fore you proposed to me, " she rctorted in
dgnantly.
But you are mistaken about that, Miss
lIinklcy, upon my soul you are, protested
Dennis
II wasn't Miss Linklcy four days ago, "
she interposcd, with queer look.
All, well, Florric, then, !" he fastened
to correct himself. That look of hers made
him wish himself we'll out of it. "But
you arc mistaken really. do like you,
of course, awfully, but
You didn't like INC four days ago"
she INTERCEPTED, with still moro danger
ous look. Dennis felt hnif afraid that shs
might lose her self control and involve
him In the disgrace of physical tussle be-
fore all those skaters
l-1-mcan to say I-I-love YOU
upon my soul, do" said Dennis, ready,
at the minute, to say anything that would
pacify her.
With all your hearth" she inquired,
subiccting his face to a searching gaze OF
her dark eyes.
Yes-nh-with all my heart" assented
Dennis mcekly.
The young lady still continued to scru-
tinizc his face closely Dennis wished that
her large eyes Were not quito so pcnctrat-
ing.
And you really mean that, DDcnnis
upon your hon0r?" she persisted
Upon my honor" replied tho Irish
man.
She came nearer and clung to his arm.
She looked up fondly into his face Dennis
began TO feel still more uncomfortable,
He had u suspicion that he should not find
1t SO easy to get out Of this foolish little
ENHANCEMENT.
Yes, he should put the truth to her fair
and strnight--in writing" Dennis hated
to speak unpleasant things. But nc could
be as bold rs IL lion-on paper
Next morning Dennis inditcd this let.
ter. BY return he had communication.
not from Fl,rric, but from Forric's pa.
the dry goods man in the Kings road,
Chelsea: