Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1917-12-01

the swing, of this. Take even strokes"
Her feet numb with the unaccus-
toned weight of the skates, Helen
struggled around the rink, leaning
heavily on Warren's arm.
The roof garden of the Astor-Ritz,
converted into an outdoor skating rink,
was crowded with devotees Of the new
craze.
1t was fashion show on ice.
Warren 1 can't can't 60 around
again!"
With grunt of disdain he let her
sink on one of the benches. Then. free
from her incumbering restraint, he
swung off to the center, where few
of the more skillful were doing figures.
Warren, who at college had been
captain of the hockey team, was an
expert skater With thrill Of pride
Helen watched him glide through the
most intricate figures with easy grace.
"ReadyY again he swooped down
upon her. mo, you're not going to sit
there! The only way to learn to skate
is to skate"
'"My feet are numb. It's these shoes
they're laced too tight"
Y That's all right, you want 'em
tight. Bend your knees! Keep your
feet under you-don't let 'em slide of
to the side"
Trying to remember all these in
structions, Helen doundered on.
you're clumsy enough, but, thank
heaven, you're not fat! Look at tina,
tame hippo! Jove. I'd hate to have
to steer her around"
A grotesquely stout white-furred fig
ure just ahead was clutching hel
escort with wabbling insecurity.
"Huh, thought she was goner thai
time" Warren chuckled.
sob, dear, I dealt believe I'll evel
learn" walled Heldn.
Nonsense. Strike out-make some
effort! Lift your left foot. That's it
No, don't bend forward. Keep YOU
feet together"
'Then get me an instructor" des
perately. "You tell me too man!
things-it only confuses me-"
"All right. I'm not keen for thu
1ob," and, plotting her to a seat. War
rem left the rink and stamped into tn
Office.
When he came out one of the uni
formed instructors was with him.
sMrs. Curtis hasn't much conf
dence," by way of Introduction. "Thi
is only her second time on the ice."
Then, with the air of having shed
hampering burden, Warren glided OIL
leaving Helen in the hands of the in
structOr.
He was a blase youth, with hgh
hair and a blotched complexion. Wit
q bored expression he chewed gum ant
guided Helen around the rink.
"You ought to have f1atfoot skates,
it was his first remark. How'd yo'
come to get rOckers?"
Rockers? Why, Mr.. Curtis bough
them for me. Aren't they right?'
"Take you twice as long to learn,
indifferently.
For the next ten minutes he pilote
her along in languid gum-chewing s.
lence, not troubling to direct her awA
ward efforts.
"Do 1 lift my feet enough?" deter
mined to force some instructions.
ooh, that'll come. You can't d
much the first lesson"
To Helen the intimate closeness G
skating with this blotched-face, gun
chewing youth was most repugnan
When for the second time, with bore
! air, he glanced at his watch, she flare
out an indignant:
"You needn't finish the lesson. Nv
had quite enough. Please take m
back to the bench. Send Mr.. Curt
| to me-"
With an astonished stare he accep
, ed his dismissal, skated over to Wa
|; rem, delivered the message and le
the rink.
"Well, how'd you get on?' demande
{ Warren. "Time up?"
"Oh, he was horrid He didn't eve
try to help me. But he did say or
thing-that I ought to begin on fl
+, skates"
.. "Flat skates !" with q snort. eve
J, you'll learn right or not at all"
: "But, dear, anything to make
, easier now-while I'm learning"
!. "Clear the ice for an exhibition
;. roared an attendant
There was general scurry as
white-costumed couple stepped out.
christina and Adolph Hoffman
from the Ice Palace of Stockholm
was the shouted Introduction.
l With dashing speed they plung'
into an exhibition of spectacular ska
! Ing. 1t was picturesque scene, Il
white figures flying over the ice und
Il the glowing japanese lanterns and Il
! clear star-pierced sky.
: The. glass-protected orchest
! throbbed an accelerated waltz
;, Christina swayed, leaped. cavorted, h
i fur-edged, pink-lined skirt swirlil
e straight with her dizzy toe spins.
triumphant finale, Hoffman, he
her aloft, while he executed dari
figure, ending in mad whirl.
st The exhibition over, the applaud
"a audience swarmed y ck on the ice.
Il "Oh. not after that" protest
Nv Helen.
Warren dragged her out and 7