The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-05

up like Napoleon crossing the Alps.
7 come home here with a song in my
heart to tell you that I am going out
for a couple of hours diversion. If
hitchingposts it would be different. but
explain that I am going out to glide
with the Gliding Band. 1 tell you this
in a kind and gentle way but what do
you do2 You fly mad; get red in the
face; your ears begin to witch: you
begin to yell out about my bulk and
loginess and predict that 1 will smash
all the ice in town before 1 get through
falling down. Is this a wffely spirit? Is
It even common dece1cy on your partZ
Mrs. BoWser sighed and turned away
and pursued the subject no further,
but when he was ready to set out she
wished him good time and promised
to have a hot drink ready for him
when he got home The cat followed
him out to the gate and yeowled sort
of last farewell but he gave her no
heed. and soon Joined some of the Gid
ing Band waiting for him on the corner.
As a school boy, Mr.. Bowser had
showed himself around on a hOrsepond
with two old skates tied to his feet,
but though 40 years had elapsed he
hadn't the slightest doubt that he
would lead the band of gliders from
the start. In fact, on the way up 10
the park lake he looked them over and
felt sorry for them and determined, in
his own mind, not to humiliate them
too much unless they drove him to it
There were u of the band when
/ they got together. and it was not I'M
til he had his skates on that dim
/ suspicion began to creep into Mr.. Bow
ser's mind He sought to joke and
| laugh and drive it away, but it would
return and it kept growing. Things had
changed since he was a tow-headed boy
I of ten. Even ice had changed. 1t might
be that he would dash out on the
smooth surface and cut few figure
Fights and then go gliding away like
a duck on summer pond, or it might
be that
Mr.. Bowser began to grow warm as
he thought of what might happen with
500 people looking on, and in his heart
he wished himself back with Mrs Bow
ser and the cat. It wouldn't do. how
ever He must shake off the feeling
had somehow got the idea that he was
going to show them some imported
novelties on ice, and pretty soon one of
them observed:
We'll Bowser, we are willing to
give you the lead and We'll follow af-
ter. Don't give away all your profess
sionaI tricks at once, however, as fresh
spectators are coming along every min
ute"
I'm little short of breath. walk
ing so fast" he stammered in reply.
You folks can go on and III soon be
/ WITH JOA-
No you don't, old mani" they laugh
ed You have been chosen as leader
tonight, and you have got to lead off
with some of those fancy figures OF
yours.
Mr.. Bowser sfruddered. Forty years
had gone by since he wriggled around
on that horse pond. and who could tell
what tricks the ice had in store for
him He could imagine Mrs. BowseT
in the cosy sitting room, eating apples
or chewing gum, as she delved into an
interesting book while the cat basked
in the freight and expressed her con-
tentnent with an unbroken purr- What
would he not give to be there! W nat
an ass he had been to rush into the
Gliding Band and become glider! He
was trembling and shudderlng and
wondering whether he could not get VI
a case of heart disease and get MS
skates off and go home, when the
elders became so impatient that ne
was forced to move.
With a prayer 10 Heaven on his lips
and desperation in his heart he took
the lead and the ice- There was