New-York tribune., 1902-03-02
A RACE FOR LIFE.
TWO GIRLS THOUGHT THEY WERE
CHASED BY A GROUND HOG

said ii So she retOrted. and guess he ought
to know Then balancing herself upon her skates
she turned abruptly. and skated down the pond.
Bertha watched the flying figure.
'Madr' she exclaimed. well, never! Pooh!
Who cares anyway and she began to laugh as
"the rope came swinging around the bend, and
catching the hand the end skater. she fell into
step.
'"The rope" was composed of a long line of girls
and boys holding hands and keeping step to the
music of the Chnk cnk, of their skates upon the
ice. All who could skate welcome, for 1.-The
rope never clqued. consequently on pleasant days
the string sometimes stretched from bank to bank
and lone pair skaters were obliged to stoop
while the shouting line of girls and boys raised
hands and skated them
But to-day the skaters upon the pond were few
for the weather intensely cold. and Old Sol
had not once looked out from behind the dull cur
tain of clouds. The rope" which far from
its usual size began to dissolve until Bertha alone
remained Glancing about her in the twilight she
disCerned Mary sitting upon the opposite bank.
'Ho-uh-hu!" she called Going home Nary"
The brisk exercise had removed all trace, of anger
from the girls minds.
Yes! Mary called back swinging her skates
i've been waiting; ready?"
The girls lived side by side down the pike, and
were in the habit Of going home together.
Suppose take the half-mle down the pond
then cut across Bramble'S woods and down
the pike it's rather late to-night?' Bertha sug-
gested. and Mary assen-cd she helped her to re-
start.
The girls linked and struck out.
one! TWO! one! Two Mary counted. and their
skates clinked musically
Mary Bertha said after short interval of
silence. did Grandad Haskins really tell you
that?'
Yes honest true, Bertha! He said that every
year on the second day Of February the ground
hog out of his hole in Tho. woods and ~ tho
sun is shining and he his shadow he goes back
INTO ms hole again to sleep. and for six weeks
longer we nave cold weather; but if there is no
sun "Ae to-day. then ne stays out because that
''' - it"E VIII soon DE mere.
'i'P". ",''Ha answered, with an increduous
hAIuI oI i'I NloIIdcrS II hc comes out to-day nell
FteZe TO death. ard daresIy he'll be glad enough
10 Sk'd''die back again.
i"'S """ ioich'u the Point where they must
le"Ve tHe pond The moon, risen, with its white
steady light made Ehostly shadows Of the I., f,ss
u''S '""I i'e banks and Gown the beaten wood
anu P'l+-
Ihe girls removed their skates ana started
''ioush inc woods Suddenly Bertha stopped and
siasp'd Mary arm
mary she whispered. what's that? Did won
les. Mary whispered back ana their ewes
scanned tn" woods on either side OF tho path For
Il moment all was quiet. then they heard the snap
ping u '"'ES IN the underhrush and low &c
se"-ee-Ee" as from tho shadows of the trees "a
hUEe' ".. H. "'daIinE form emerged With one
accord the girls cIdsTed hands. then a terrified
shrek rent the air. ana two pairs of leg. v.,r.
hyInG over ih" frozen ground But alas, th. SKATES
"heh d'h#.'d from each girls arm had played
l"HoC WIZ" III" usually "siI" feet and these uuuhod