The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1900-01-13
DIR. WAYBACK SKATES.

Nf WulU6 ClOun I1du gave MIN II
handicapped look. A pair of padded
c1pitches was leaning by his couch,
while foot out of all proportion to the
owner, was elevated to a conspicuous
height above the PROSTATE form. Most
striking of all changes in this erst-while
Vigorous, almost brawny, personality
might be noted certain subdued air
that really argued i'll, so entirely in
Gmpatible was it, with all pre-conceiv-
|ed ideas of the gentleman. 1t really
aroused suspicion that Mr.. Wayback
was doomed to die no older. With a
Iplaintive air of abject humility Short
lived he explained himself.
~ You see, Mrs. Wayback insisted it
was my duty to identify myself more
with the boys. Dick, she said, was at
the most important age, and needed
/ r fathers constant supervision. She
t5ought ought ''to throw myself more
4 INTO his pleasures and pursuits" Since
ITve been stretched here, all through
IirIy, da ahem. doubtful folly in attend
litg 70 her advice, it's occurred to me
! tSy1s she was saying one word Tor me,
dn9a dozen for herself. l notice there's
MO trouble about Mrs. Wayback S
throwing herself into youthful pursuits.
Poor Isabel and Dorothy can't bulge
without their conscientious chaperone.
swell, | threw myself with a VEN
geance." "Or weren't you thrown, per-
haps?" | inquired. Without noticing
my poor attempt at righteousness, he
continued. "Dick was dead set on skat-
ing. The ponds weren't dangerous
enough. He said 'twasn't often we got
a chance to skate on the Tennessee riv-
er, especially in his Christmas holidays,
and there we'd skate and nowhere else.
He was very otficious with advice to me,
and finally ended by presenting me his
skates, and buying an improved style
for himself with my money. He used
them so much more than do, he said.
Umph! he can have mine thrown in.
Mrs. Wayback and the girls in the lat
est cut skating rig, went along. felt
mighty certain | was fool, but not as
convinced as | do now No, hadn t
skated before, but Dick and his mother
insisted it was easy to learn, and as safe
as walking on Gay street, though I've
seen easier things than that. Maybe
so-but Well, I got up with the In
fernal things on, in the face of whole
crowd of gazing fools, myself the big
gest, but | can safely say there was nc
time to grow tired of the monotony for
up flew my heels and down crashed my
head, and the heavens turned black.
80, that's nothing, dad, said Dick,
that's to be expected why didn't he
say so then sooner.) And Here, Rich
ard, murmured Mrs. Wayback, "let's
skate together" Well, we did Just
trust to me, and follow as | Lead she
urged, tits merely certain swing
you'll catch in no time caught, but
not the swing. LET go all hold now
and push forward" advised Dick. So,
grabbing Maria away | went. She went
too, and it took our breath, that
slide that carried us clear across. To
be sure we did our skating full length,
most of the time. Maria called, "Rich-
ard, hold up | answered I'D be
burned glad to hold down if | could.
Pell-mell we tore against Rev. Starr,
who was gallantly showing the New
England glide to the pretty Widow
Moore, who chung to his arm, while
Baby Moore was poised on his left
shoulder. Destruction ensued. Away
flew Reverend, widow and baby to
three points of the compass while Maria
and |, still gripping hands, took the
fourth point, and a header straight into
an air hole that seemed to be purposely
bored there for us. "Was that alp |
asked. Hardly" he answered grim
| ly. Don't be afraid, pa, yelled Dick,
you're just dom fine. The waters
only five feet and We'll get you out in
no time.n Five feet. That left me and
Maria sticking in the mud at the bot.