Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-04-10

minute the boys were slipping
through the woods at the edge Of the
town to the shore. At the beach they
put on their skates, and in moment
they were off on the ice, the keen cold
reddening their cheeks and the e1hil-
arsting knowledge that they were of
without leave adding excitement to
their wild trip.
81 looked at the clock through the
window" said Joel, land it's just 10. y
Mother thinks we're asleep. We
can cross the bay, call on the coast
guard so that he can swear we've been
there, and be back long before nam 8
awake. Won't the fellows be mad ?
Dad says it'll thaw tomorrow and
they wont have a chance, and only
US two can say we've skated across
the bay Hoorayr'
1t was distinctly scrumptious-a
word which you will not find in the
dictionaries, but which is readily COM
prehensible. The ice was was little
rough in parts, and Of peculiar bill
lowy formation, but there were no
breaks save a few cracks-no holes
They forgot their main object in the
delight of the solitude and the fair
ness of moonlight. They sung and
whooped and felt that they had ca.t
off the shackles OF their little world
and were free-free of school, and
chores and all boys troubles. They
were monarchs Of that immense silent
bay.
Suddenly Joe swooped in wide
circle from the straight track and
skated slowly back, peering here and
there in the thin snow.
whats up?" Frye yelled, follow
ing.
81 saw something queer in the snow
shine out like flash. | want to
see what it was"
They skated slowly about in short
circles, when Frye darted on his
knees and held up something in his
hand-a ring.
"Was is this2 1t flashed"
The boys examined the ring Curl
ously.
"It's gold. 1t must be worth all Of
dollar" said Joel
There's something on it shines
when you hold it right. That's what
flashed. Hold it in the moonlight"
II can't get it right. Say What's
the matter with the moon?"
They looked up and were ave-
stricken. The moon was passing out
of sight. A great black shadow wa'
stealing across it.
Il know, cried Frye Your dad
was talking of it, but | forgot. It's
an eclipse =
Just then stray beam kissed the
ring, and shaft of light shot from it,
"Oh Frye" cried Joel. Now l
know-it'sa diamond. It's diamonds
that fash like that. Gollyl | bet
that rings worth all of two dollars !
And then all the light passed away,
and the total eclipse left them in ut
terly complete darkness.
Joel and Frye felt quickly afraid.
Lets go home" they said together,
and clasped hands and skated as fast
a, they dared in the blackness for the
shore.
They were far out now, nearer the
ocean side of the bay than their own
home. They skated and skated, but
nothing but blackness surrounded
them.
"We ought to be therel" Joel cried
in trouble, "but l cant see any lights
or anything, and it looks the same all
round. Frye, are you sure we're
skating in the right direction?"
"You ought to know better'n me,
cried Frye, fretfully. "You belong
here, and I don't"
Joel tried in another direction and
again in another. He saw no lights.
They were lost on the ice in the mid
die of the Great South Bay, and the
moon still hid its face. Frye began
to cry. Joel kept peering about into
the blsckness. He saw deeper shad-
ow than those about and took Frye's
hand and slowly skated toward it.
When very near they heard loud an
cry voices.
You're dandy, you are" cried
out man in very savage tones. "Said
you knew the whole country, and get
lost same's if you were in an African
desert You're nice one to put trust
in"
How could l know this eclipse was
going to leave Us in this blackness2"