St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-03-10
A Skating Lesson
Ey Kennett F. Harris.
A THEY approached the park She

n ) THEY approached the park she
IA said: I'm afraid you Will find it
rather tiresome teaching me-"
And he replied: I've got a pretty
lively imagination, but it ism t equal to
imagining you tiresome."
As she was remarkably pretty girl
with bright black eyes and cheeks
glowing with the exercise of walking
against a stinging cast wind, and, as,
moreover, jaunty scarlet skating cap
and snugly fitting fur trimmed coat set
on eyes and cheeks to great advantage,
it is more than probable that the young
mar was perfectly sincere.
Il always wanted 10 skate" she said,
There always seems to me something
so free and birdlike about the motion.
Is it really as easy as it looks?''
We'll, it is easy enough if a person
has little confidence and doesn't mind
4 tumble or two"
That's just it. / haven't got the
tinisst mite of confidence in myself"
-sDo sou think you could feel just q
tiny mite Of confidence in me-"
:"Perhaps; I'm an awful coward,
though"
Il won't let you fall" he said, reas-
suringly and protectingly, with per-
ceptibIe swelling of the chest. and she
gave him sidelong glance that had
something of admiration in it.
Its very kind Of you to offer 10 teach
me, anyway" she remarked. presently.
"You tcld me that before, but you
know hetter. / know one or two other
boys who would be kind enough 10 90
1t il you would give them a chance"
you do? Tell me who they are.
quick. Mr.. Parminteer?'
Miss Bowman"
Il think you are kind of absurd. l
was going to ask you"
go on, III tell you if know
'Did you ever teach any
body else to skale-any other young
iady?"
'Never. I never met one I'd care 10
.each until i me; you"
''Of course you'd say that
''Not unless l meant it-and whole
lot more"
Doesn't the park look bare and
bleak now! There's always something
SO mournful and forlorn about leafless
trees. feel sorry for them.
'.Me, too.''
81 believe you are laughing at me. /
was going to tell You something, but l
won't do it now. so there"
II can guess what it was
'.No you can't. There's only one 9TH
er person in the whole world knows be-
sides me = = and / know he
wouldn't tell"
'He!"
''Oh, didn't mean to let you know
that"
81 suppose not"
''Mr. Parminteer."
"Well?"
would you like to know who that
was? 1t was Mr.. Nyeswanger. What
makes you look so awfully crosse
'I'm not looking cross"
"You are, too. / don't like to look at
you when you frown like that. You'll
make me wish had-there! I came
very near telling you"
Telling me what?"
"That would be telling. Tell me what
makes you look so cross. You needn't
say it's your natural expression, be-
cause know better
"You'd be mad if told you.''
"No, wouldn't: tell me-"
81 didn't think you'd have secrets
with fellow like Nyeswanger. OF
Course, it isn't any of my business, /
know that"
swell, 1 don't think il is. either"
"There! l said you'd be mad"
mo, I'm not mad. I'm just amused.
So that was it! Well, I'll tell you the
secret, too. Mr.. Nyeswanger asked
me to go skating with him and Offered
to teach me. Now are you satisfied?"
why didn't you let him?"
"Well, pre-Ill beat you to the
pond. One, two, three. off"
She was first at the pond, for the
distance had not been more than about
hundred yards, and the young man
was taken by surprise. She was laugh
ing triumphantly when he came up,
and looked prettier than ever.
There was still frost on the bench
and the young man carefully spread
his handkerchief SO that the girl
would not run any danger of catching
cold by getting her skirts damp when
she sat down. Then he l,nelt, and, rev
erentially taking the shapely foot she
extended to him, began to buckle on
her skates. As soon as he had got
them securely fastened, which took
some little time, he put on his own,
and. holding out his ha Id, invited her
to come along"
"Oh, you go first" she said. .Just
show me little. Let me see how you
do it."
Perhaps he was not sorry to show
her. And perhaps she thought it was
quite likely that he would he per-
fectly willing. In any case, he offered
TO objection, but hobbled stiffiy to the
edge of the ice and then with one
swift stroke shot out nearly half way
across the pond. Checking himself
abruptly, he darted off at right angles
and then came back in a long, sweep
lng curve on the outer edge.
1t was most unfortunate that the
piece of twig should have been living
directly in his path, but SO it was. If
ne had been looking where he was go
ing he might have ave ided it. As il
was, he happened to be looking at the
girl. He struck the twig squarely,
plunged for.rard, and then in a des-
perate effort tc regain his equilibrium
his skates clashed fou. or five times
ON the ice; second later they flashed
above his head. and he experienced a |
shock that almost loosened his teeth
IN their sockets. The girl screamed.
did You hurt yourself?" she called |
to him as he slowly raised himself to |
his feet.
Not at all" he answered. bravely, |
as he looked around for his hat. az