The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-06
Breaking the Ice,


both in love with Alice Ware. but sh
had so successfully used those method
in which all accomplished young womel
are well versed that neither OF them hat
any assurance OF being a favored sutton
With most admirable adroitness she wouit
| divide her attentions between the two. ant
| then. on convenient occasions, woult
| slight them both with equal sincerity.
One afternoon in mdwinter as she sa
/ playing and singing dreamily TO herself
| she was interrupted by her cousin Edith
| who came TO discuss the skating party
planned for the approaching evening.
We must start early. so that We car
make the most Of IT," she said, enthusi
astically.
They're going 10 build fire on the
| bank OF The pond, where we can warn
/ ourselves and have our refreshments. anu
1 believe twill be the gayest time we've
/ had this season"
Il don't think ] care much about IL, .
! said Alice. lingering her piano absently
as she spoke.
| Regardless of her Indifferent manner
Edith continued her lively conversation.
Didn't Frank Spencer look fine at the
last dance. as if he'd just stepped out OF
fashion plate?"
Il hate to see man looking that way
said Alice coldly. TITS a bad sign
Nonsense. IT'S only signal that he's
fastdious. that's ALL replied Edith.
Harold ought to suit you better, then;
his necktie is hardly ever exactly
straight"
He is very careless about his clothes,
and that's another bad fault"
Goodness! If l wasn't acquainted with
you, Alice. 1 should think something
dreadful was going to happen, but l know
you'll be yourself again when you get on
your skates with a devoted attendant on
each side
The full moon shone in cloudless sky
when the party reached the pond, and
soon equipped for their sport they went
skimming away over the sparkling surface
like flock of swift-winged birds while
the brushwood fire burning on the bank
shed warmth and brightness around the
merry scene.
Exercise sharpened all appetites, and
the lunch baskets were emptied at IN
early hour, after which their spirits seem
ed to rise to higher levels. Alice espe-
cially displayed more than her usual will
fulness as she performed her capricious
evolutions, closely followed by her I'M
wearied satellites
At length as she was describing a wide
circle near the edge of the pond she ap-
preached a point where the prying beams
of the afternoons sun had discovered q
weak spot, and now the warm breath of
the fire waited across it had rendered it
unsafe. But unaware of this, she swept
fearlessly onward, when suddenly the ice
gave way at her feet and she sank into the
water beneath. Though the depth was not
great, the shock was sufficient to excite
7,
ly, she shrieked aloud, "Oh, Harold, save
mel"
Bottle young men arrived at nearly the
same moment, but Harold had heard his
name called, and with headlong speed
he rushed to her aid. Plungins into the
broken ice he held her fast while he
strove to secure a foothold on the muddy
bottom. He was not long in doing SO, and
then succeeded in getting to the shore
unasisted, with Alice clinging frantlcally
to him.
"Oh, Harold" she murmure1 between
her shivering sobs. I'm so glad you got
here; I didn't want Frank to get me
OUT
Let me get off your skates. quick.
Alice. and then we must hurry nome for
you'll get deadly cold
Frank met them on the bank, saying
anxously: do let me help about some
thing
Take care of our skates, will you?'
said Harold; we've sot to race for life
and catching Alice by the hand they ran
like two children across the me 3dow TO
he road where they disappeared from the
sight of their companions, who iminedi
ately disbanded and FASTENED away from
the scene of the catastrophe.
up the skates that had been left in his
care and walked in silence amid the talk
alive groups. feeling thd- something was
ended forever.
Alice, comforted by dry clothes and a
warm bed, soon recovered from her chill
and fright, and Harold, blessing his coed
fortune that at the mere cost of a cold
bath he had won her approval, slept with
-ainbow visions lowering around HIS pill
ow
The next morning, as soon as practical
Die, he called on Alice, to find her calm
md reticent-not at all the clnging i'm
oulsive being he had so lately rescued;
1ut resolved not to be baffled, he ven-
ured to say: Il never dared to think
before that you could really care for me,
'ut last night, when you said"
You were my choice then" she has
ened to reply, with a look and emphasis /
hat struck the gallant youth like blow |
n the face, and unable to command his |
'oice he rose and walked 20 the window. |
But ina moment he was aware OF a hand /
N his arm and a pair of mischievous
yes looking up into his.
Il know you don't choose me today, >"
lie said, falteringly, endeavoring to keep
rs gaze fixed upon the distant land
cape
Why yes do she answered in tones
f such evident truthfulness thar the
ourage OF her nearer again revived. and
e questioned impetuously: To-day and
lways?"
Yes" was the answer. "if you are bent
n making it such a serious affair"
oh Alice! Ny love now and forever"
nd he clasped her INTERESTINGLY TO his
cart
"Dou you know" said Alice, after a
hort silence. when 1 found myself n
ne pond il flashed lkht lightning through
ny mind that Frank would be disguised
nth the thought OF getting me out Of
UGH a disagreeable place. and knew
hat you would be perfectly happy to
o it," she concluded, with a mos; ador-
BILE smile.
Poor Frank" whispered Harold. f17
this hour of supreme happiness he
ould we'll afford to pity his disappointed
Z. y. Hathaway, in Boston