Evening journal., 1899-03-16

HleinutItu now once, IN turning the
wind had lifted the boat off the hind
runners and slowed her around on the
fore runners, and how narrowly they
had escaped being swept clean of.
She dared not try It.
II she could tie up the sails-but she
did not venture 70 get TO her feet; she
was afraid the wind would take her
off them. And the fact was that she
did not know what to DO TO the sails,
anyhow. She did not understand them.
And meanwhile the Ice boat few fast
and faster II whizzed. Not for a
minute did Edna confess to herself
that her courage was oozing; but she
looked ahead, down the white stretch
of ice, and her heart beat with great
jumps. What IL she couldn't stop at
all? In that case first or last, she
should smash into something-and
then.
She wished she had not touched the
boat; she might have known she
couldn't do il. The wind seemed TO
roar in her ears; the runners in their
increased speed, had taken on a sort
What was that zigzag dark line
ahead2 A crack. Not a big one. Not
so big, she thought, but that the boat
would slide over it..
There was a sudden crash, lurch.
Edna felt her hand jerlSed from the
rudder, the breath jerked from her
body, and for a bewilderd moment
She half believed her head had been
ierked off her shoulders. She felt her
self thrown with mighty strength
which carried her along the ice at
swift speed for several rods.
She had a confused fear that she
should never stop; but at last she did,
and she slowly sat up. Her first con-
viction was that all her bones were
broken; her next, that certainly the
side Of her on which she had slidden
was sore. And her third. that down
the distant bank were two figures COM
ing on a run-Gilbert and Syd.
She got TO her feet in a hurry. A
long way OFF lay the ice boat. with
her bowsprit stuck fas, where Il had
struck in the jagged edge of the crack (;
IL being crack Of no mean size. And
Edna was still standing there and
staring at IL. and rubbing her bruised
elbow. when the boys came racing and
striding across the ice. But she was
ready for them; she stood up straight
II don't think it's brokenl" sh,
called out.
"Are you broken ?" sgd shouted bacl,
that's the question:" And they be
gan to talk together.
eve saw you" said Gilbert.
"We knew It must be you" said sgd
though we couldn't believe it,"
THAT crack Goodness. why didn'
you stop her? You went sliding off he
and over the ice like birdl Are yol
hurt? No? Sure?"
"surel" said Edna. and then the,
all burst out laughing.
"say. what did you DO It for?" sal
sgd. where were you trying TO ge
TO. anyhow"
"To the Corletts'," said Edna. wit
lifted chin. 81 was invited, but yo
went off without me, and thought T.
go, anyhow, and get there ahead O
you"
But you didn't, quite" sy
chuckled.
There, let her be- said G;lber
"she's got lot of nerve. anyhow
hasn't she, though? She's all righ
I say!"
Edna's lip began 10 tremble. Tha
speech gratifled her, and touched he
heart. II was real mad because 70
went off without me-" she faltered.
Gilbert and sgd looked at each othe
They dug their toesinto the Ice. "Sha
we tell her?" said Gilbert.
"Might as WELL" sgd responde,
"Say. see here, Edna" He crossed HI
thumbs. you know how bad you'y
wanted 10 know what that meant
Well, we couldn't tell you. because It
about you"
"It's surprise party" said Gilber
cor II was. Next Thursday nigh
That's why we wanted TO go TO Jc
! lCOrletts without you. We were e,
J ing to get Joe and the three Of us wei
going around to invite the girls an
e boys. We'd have gone down on the iC
3 boat ourselves, but we were going ovC
G on the north road to invite the Gibson
I and coming home around that wa.
I We weren't going to breathe a word
you aboutit. We hadn't even told mott
c er. not yet"
G "It's what we've been doing so muc
T. whispering about lately" said sgd.
d "For me-" said Edna, slowly.
I surprise partyl" She grew red; h
cges filed. "Oh, dear! I've been a,
i fully mean. I've beeu real hateful an
G horrid. oh. dear me. suzl, 1t wou
?. have served me right II Td-weil. l
y just ought TO have broken an arm.
d something"
n "No. you hadn't" said Gilbert. "
r was real spunky Of you TO do It. Edna
d 1.-TWO or three lessons. and you'll
!. a dabster with an ice boat" said sgd
"And it's all right about the surpri
q party" said Gilbert. "all but the su
- prise; we'll have II just the sam
- You'll have jud as much fun, anyho
u Come onl well go the rest of the WI
= on the ice boat, seeing it's here. Al
!, look sharp, and we'll show you he
. TO run her"
"Oh dearl" said Edna. apain. az