The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1899-01-12

did not venture TO get 10 her feet: she
was afraid the wind would take her
on them. And the fact wss that abe
did not know what 10 d. 10 the sAfls.
anyhow. She did not understand them.
And meanwhile the Ice boat few fat
and faster. II whizsed Not for q
mihuts did Edna confess 10 herself
that her courage wss ooxIng; but Ehe
looked ahead. down the white stretch
Of Ice. and her heart beat with grea,
jump4 What II she couldn't stop as
ali7 In tina, case. first or last, she
should smash into somethiug-and
then.
~ wished she had not touched this
boat; she might have known she
couldn't do II. The wind seemed 20
roar In her cara; the runners. IN their
increased speed. had taken on q sort
Of sorreeh. II was dreadful.
What was that zigzag dark line
aheadr A crack, Not big one. Not
so big she thought, but tina, the boat
would slide over it.
There was sudden crash. lurch
Edna felt her hand jerked from the
rudder, the breath jerked iror, her
body, and for bewilderd moment
abe half believed her head had been
jerked of her shoulders. She felt her.
self thrown with q mighty strength,
which carried her along the Ice at
swift speed for several rods.
She had a confused fear that she
should never stopi bu, 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 che had sllddcn
was sore. And her third. that down
the distant bank were two hgures com.
ing on a run-Gilbert and Sgd.
She got 10 her feet IN a hurry. A
long way of las the ice boat, with
her bowsprit stuck fast where II had
struck In the jagged edge Of the crack;
II being a crack Of no mean kige. And
Edna was s;iiI standing there and
staring at II, and rubbing her bruised
elbow. when tie boys came racing aud
stridiBg across the re. But che was
ready for them; she stood Up straight
~ don't think its brokeBl" she
called out.
"Are you broken ?" sgd shouted back,
THAT'S the question:" And they be.
gan 10 talk together.
I'VE saw you" said Gilbert.
we knew u must be you" said sgd.
''thnuEh We couldn't believe H."
A. a.
you stop her? You went sliding on her
and over the Ice like a blrdl Are you
hurt? No7 sure2"
"snrel" sid EArs. ssa .Ss5 tAsy
all burst out laughing.
"s=y. =s=; go y5a So :; foT sait;
sgd. Where were you trying 10 get
TO, anyhow"
''ro The corlstts'." said Edna. with
lifted chin. 81 was invited. but YOU
went OF without me, and I thought I'd
go. anyhow, and get there ahead OF
you"
"But you didn't. quite" sgd
chuckled
There. let her he" said Gilbert.
''Shc's got lot OF nerve. anyhow,
hasn't she. though? She's all right,
! say!"
Edua's lip began to tremble. That
speech gratihcd her. and touched her
heart. II WAS real mad because YOU
went on without me-" she faiierrd.
Gilbert and sgd looked OF each other.
They dug their toes into the ice. shall
We tell herr" said Gilbert.
Might as we'll" sgd responded.
Say, see here, Edna" lie crossed his
thumbs. "You know how bad you've
wanted TO know what that meant?
Well, we couldn't tell you. because It's
about you"
"It's a surprise party said Gilbert
"or IL was Next Thursday night.
That's why we wanted 10 20 10 Joe
Corletts without you. We were go
Ing TO get Joe and the three Of MS were
going around 10 invite the girls and
boys. We'd have gone down on the Ice
boat ourselves, but we were going over
on the north road to Invite the GlbsonA,
and coming home around that way.
We weren't going to breathe a word TO
you about It. We hadn't even told moth.
er. not yet"
"li's what we've been doing 20 much
whispering about lately" said Syd.
''For me-" said Edna. slowly. "a
surprise party!" She grew red; her
eyes filled. "Oh, dear! I've been nw.
fully mean. I've been real hateful ard
horrid. Oh, dear me. suzl II would
have served me RICH, II I'd-well, ia
just ought TO have broken an arm, OF
something"
"No, you hadn't" slid Gilbert. "Ii
was real spunky Of you TO do II. Edna
Two or three lessons, and you'll bs
dabsier with al ice boat" said syd.
And It's all right about the surpris,
party" said Gilbert, "all but the sur.
prise: we'll have II just the same
You'll have just rs much fun. ANYHOW
Come ont we'll 60 the rest Of the way
on the Ice boat, seeing it's here. And
look sharp, aud we'll show sou how
10 run her"
"oh, dearl" said Edna, again. "Tte
been too outlaHdish for anythlngl'
And when they brought the ice boat
she took her seat on Il mrekly.
But there was u new brightness IN
her eyes and new happiness In her
heart. For Gilbert and sgd would
never again seem TO her Ike enemies;
they were her good, loyal friends.
TpNN TpAnE yUTTIy rAMAn.