Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-04-06

hattle, said Mrs. Miller, looking
up from her sewing one day in late
February, don't forget to post my
letter when you go for the mail, as it
is important, and 1 want it to go on
the o'clock train
Yes, mother" answered Hattie, a
bright looking girl of Is years, as she
reluctantly closed the book, AN Old
Fashioned Girl" which she had been
reading and pushed it aside on the
table. May 1 take my skates along
and have some fun on the ice?'
Yes" her mother replied, but post
the letter first. And 1 will expect you
home for tea; you know Mr. and Mrs.
Harris will be here, and 1 will need
you
mittens and started for the door. Be
fore she had reached it, however, her
mother said: Come back, daughter,
and put your book away"
The girl obeyed with a slightly
pouting expression on her pretty face
She disliked very much to have her
greatest fault corrected. Hastily kiss
ing her mother goodbye, she opened
the door and ran lightly down the
steps and hurried along the street, her
good spirits entirely recovered At
the corner, three or four blocks from
the postofhce, she met a merry party
of girls and boys who, also with their
skates slung over their shoulders,
were racing madly along, making the
air ring with their clear voices and
laughter
''Oh, Hattier' cried Madge Rumsey,
1--WE were just coming after you. Ed.
Carter has his new iceboat down on
the river, and has invited all the
members of the Winchester Literary
club to an iceboat ride If you had
been out to our meeting last night
you'd have known about it''-here
Madge stopped for lack of breath.
We'll have to get a-humping," said
one of the boys, "or we won't get any
boat ride today, as Ed said we would
have to start by o'clock, and it can't
be far from that now. We're going
down as far as Lindon and have some
refreshments. then we will come back
and have a jolly old time on the ice
with our skates"
'tHurrah!" cried one of the boys.
Keep still, Bert said Madge.
you'll come, Hattie, of course?"
Yes, of course, I'll come,'' Hattie
replied, thinking to herself, Pm not
stupid old letter. Mothers always so
particular, anyway
The party soon reached the river,
where they found the other members
of the w. L. C. congregated- Eds
boat was beauty and Hattie soon
forgot all about the letter in her pleas
ure. They enjoyed long ride up the
river rast small, peaceful villages to
Lindon, and after refreshments, re-
turned. Swapping on their skates,
they INDUCED in races and cut up all
the capers that a lot of mischievous
youngsters could think Of The boys
had built a huge fire on the edge OF
the river and after they had tired of
skating they gathered around the fire
and told stories till the lights in the
village began to show Then realizing
how late it had grown, the party broke
up, each one wishing they could have
an ice boat ride every day
AS Hattie turned once more towards
the postof1ice, she knew she was too
late to send her letter that night
However, she slipped it in. received
her mail, and hurried home. trying in
vain to believe that it did not matter,
and that her mother would never |
know but that it went that day.
We'll, sis, thought you had skated
clear out of sight" said her brother |
Tom, as she came in
What has kept you so late. Hat |
tie7" asked her mother.
Hattie replied rather evasively that |
she had been having a ride in Ed Car |
ter's ice boat and did not know it was |
SO late Mrs Miller asked If the let |
ter was posted, to which Hattie re-
piled, Yes. mother. it was
After the dishes had been washed |
Hattie's mother said, How would you |
like to go to Montreal, daughter?
ssF3effer than most ANYTHING else On 1