The Washington times., 1906-02-04
a HERO AND A LITTLE HEROINE

Martha Chester Invited Isobel and
Jean and Mafy Arthur 20 the Saturday
matinee. Mrs Chester chaperOned them
and they sat in the very front box and
had a gOrEeously beautiful time.
The play was fine the heroine WAS
lovely. but the hero was the most Won
derfuI person any OF the four had ever
set eyes upon. lie was very tall and
straight and had "a beautiful mon Of
yellow hair. which. un great occasions
he shook back with terrific energy
Mr. Chester thought he looked ss If
he didn't know very much. but the
girls said that was sacrilege and only
grown-up prejudice. and all declared
they were madly jealous OF the heroine
when the play was over they wen.
To the Palm Room and had ali sorts Of
goodies TO eat after which they took
the car bone, most happy and indebted
20 Martha and her mother for the
great treat
Jean and Isobel had a deal 10 talk
over concerning thu play and its hero
for some time after that They even
acted over several scenes iu Isohels
room and wondered very much what
the hero was like of the stage.
Frost and cold and snow came early
and Mr. Strickland soon received a
notice 10 the effect that the skating
club. OF which he was a member, was
| opened for the winter season. He
turned the card over 10 Isobel and told
her TO enjoy herself
Isobel promptly repaired 20 the club
alone. Tor no one seemed able To go
| with her that afternoon The skating
! pond consisted of several vacant CITY
! lots. nearly a block in extent. The
space was fenced ia and hedged with
! eVergreeus, and Ia one corner sat tiny
club house where members kept their
skates. warmed themselves, and drank
hot drinks
/ Isobei skated FOR a little while and
I then sat down on Il bench near the
: house To rest. What was her astonish-
ineut 10 see the hero come striding int
! the club enter the house. put on his
/ skates and take 20 the Ice
She was so limp with establishment
I that she sat quietly and watched him.
IAN round her people were buzzing.
/ That's Mr. - the actor. Yes II IS,
/ I saw him the other night
( II vas he without any doubt and he
/ was "A very good skater and almost as
{ handsome of the stage as on.
Wild with excitement. Isobel burst
+ into school next morning and told the
And you've all got 10 come down
1 there this afternoon" she finished he
/ cause they say he's going TO come
/ often"
/ There was a general rejoicing. then
oh. but / can skate decently AMI I
mustn't spoil the fun for the rest OF
Nonsense" replied Martha vigorous
/ Is. wei hold you up.
J They were on the Ice soon after
! luncheon. but their hearts sunk when
minute after minute passed and the
hero did not arrive.
/ several times. and she was beginning 70
! get some strength and courage. Ihen
her ankles grew tired so she begged
TO sit down while the others had a
/ Away they went. around and around
/ the pond. Jean got rested soon. and
quite brave. Rising 10 her feet she
made a Few gentle strokes. enc stayeu
close 10 the railing for awhile, then,
4 growing holder. moved over toward the
( clubhouse.
All of a sudden her feet all went in
the wrong direction. and the next thlng
I she knew she went plump on the ice
] She started TO get up. only 20 take an
other slide and another tumble The
| girls were in the farthest corner OF
! The pond and didn't see her. II was
getting embarrassing. Then kind voice
/ behind her said.
Can / help you?" and two strong
| arms set her securely upright.
! Looking up 10 thank her rescuer. she
1 gazed straight into the face Of the hero.
She was SO confused that her feet
| both slipped from under her and she
would have gone down again. but that
/ the strong arms caught her quickly,
/ and this time held on until they had
| seated her safely on d bench
The girls came fOcking quickly over
| to her. alive with excitement. Jean
/ had been a heroine. The hero smiled.
| raised his hat and skated away, leaving
| the EttIe crowd to buzz and enjoy its
sensation.
Wasn't it kind?" Isn't he a dear?'
Jean think Cf being rescued by the
/ hero
And Jean smiled happily.
/ Yes" she said and he was laugh
/ ing at me all the time the way Uncle
/ Francis does when I do crazy things
/ I suppose he thinks were a lot Of silly
/ babies A"
| We'll perhaps that's what we are,
| admitted Isobel