The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-09
Eoening Story
Cupid Glace.
By FREDERICK HART,

The sign Private Property-Tres-
passers Beware" did not have the
usual effect on pretty Mildred HamiI-
ton when she saw it conspicuously dis
played in a pole stuck upright on the
edge of the little pond in the woods
To begin with. Mildred was the undis-
puted mistress of many acres in that
very neighborhood, and was used to
roaming the country at her own free
will. Then, too. she had heard that
the next property had been purchased
recently by Mr.. Scroop. and she had
taken an immediate dislike to the
name.
Hes probably an old curmudgeon
VINO will put up high fences and buy
bulldog to keep people OFF" she had
said when her father told her of the
purchase. az hate him already" With
which remark she had flung out of the
mouse, pausing only long enough to
get her skates.
Mildred set a high opinion of her
| skill on the steel runners, and when
she was in a pet she would often steal
| away to the little pond on her neigh
boris property for an hour in the win
ter. to return with peace at her heart
from the hard exercise and glowing
with health from the chilly air
So when she read the impudeut no.
| tice board she was merely confirmed
in her opinion of the unknown Mr.
Scroop. She stuck out her tongue at
the sign, and sitting down on a bow1der
she slipped off her shoes and in a
moment had fastened the. cleaning
| skates in place. Then out upon the
| ice she glided
Outer edge-inner edge-back rink.
turn-grapevine-sh essayed them
all, and all successfully. Her irritation
at her new neighbor was rapidly dissi-
patlng when there was a sudden
cracking, a Sickening, sinking sensa-
t1on, and then she was standing up to
her shoulders in the icy water. with
the churned-up flood and chunks of
broken ice all around her.
The suddenness of it all caused her
TO utter one frightened scream. She
knew that she was in no danger of
drowning, for the pond was nowhere
over four feet deep-this she had as
! certa1ned long ago in the simmer
months-but she was three miles from
her nome, and while the distance was
| notnlng TO her youthful strength when
Dry. IN soaked clothes it might prove
a fatal venture. All these thoughts
flashed thru her mind as she set
herseif to Chamber out on the ice. At
last she managed to find a stretch of
Ice that would bear her weight, and
Tor moment lay exhausted Then
| she struggled to her feet to become
| conscious for the first time of a man
standing on the edge of the pond
watching her. AS she stood upright
ne called to her:
will hold"
She was too wet and cold to wonde r
at mis- appearance. Obediently she did
as he said, tho her wet clothes ham
pered her. When she got to the shore
ne stretched out his hand-she
/ grasped it and in q moment was stand.
| beside Ia
with the laces of her skating-shoes
They were obdurate. In a moment he
mad given up the job, and before Mil
! dred had time to utter more than an
astonished protest he had swung her
up In his arms and was striding along
! the lake-shore toward a. clump OF
| trees.
He entered the thicket. and Mildred
| saw a cabin, newly built. with a big
stone chimney from which the smoke
was curling. Her unknown bearer set
her down, opened the door, and beck
oned. She staggered inflow clumsy
! skates are on the land!-and found
herself in comfortable living-room
with great wicker chairs and before
her a fireplace in which great logs
were glowing. Her host threw ar
armful of kindling on the blaze, and
| then turned to her.
You must get out of your clothes
| and get warm Immediately" he said in
the voice of one accustomed to be
| obeyed. There are a lot of sweaters
and breeches and golf stockings and
| things in that locker over there, and
| guess you can find enough dry things
When you are ready, call, and I'll sec
if there's a cup of coffee to be had"
And he was gone, the door slamming
| behind him.
| Cold conquered amazement. Mil
| dred meekly obeyed him, and in a mo-
ment her soaked clothes were steam
ing before the fire. while she herself,