The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-10-15
Ralph's


fence which only emphasized the
No trespasse signs that, at regular
intervals, announced James Kelcey's
desire for ~seclusion.
1t seemed q crime to spread sucn
a splendid skating surface before the
youthful eye and then forbid its use.
A thaw, followed by a hard frost,
had left the Kelley artificial pond
one glare of ice that shone like a
mirror In the January sun and Ralph's
skates tangled as he shivered with
anticipatory delight at the very
thought of skating on that glittering
surface. Skating on the river had
been forbidden. His mother insisted
that he should go to the canal where
the water had been drained off at
the close of navigation until only a
foot or so remained. 1t was surely
safe, but the snow had drifted into
the cut and not even the thaw could
melt it all, so that a bit Of cleared
surface here and there was all that
was available to small boys and
girls on the canal, while the ornamen-
tai lakes In the Kelley grounds were
broad md inviting.
There had been a time when the
grounds were open to the public and
all might enjoy the beauties of the
handsome park. That had been be-
fore Marion Kelley had run of with
her music teacher, leaving her
father alone amid the splendors of
Kelley Hall.
Since that day the grounds had
been closed to the public, just as the
owners heart had been closed to all
companionship with his fellow men.
He now spent his days in lonely
brooding and yearly he grew more
and more bitter. Few ever saw him
now, but many and weird were the
stories told Of his paroxysms of rage
by servants who had been discharged
and the tales grew in the telling as
they were passed along, until Kelley
had become a veritable ogre to the
children of the town
Still Ralph looked through the
grill with growing eagerness and at
last he climbed the fence. Presently
the steel OF, his Skates was ringing
musically against the hard Ice, as
Ralph sped over the perfect surface.
Here were no canal boats laid up for
the winter in the very center of the
best surface and no drifting banks
circumscribed the available space.
From bank to bank the ice was clear,
and there was 8 full half-mile of
straight skating to the waterfall at
the far end.
In a few minutes Ralph forgot that
he was a trespasser, forgot every
thing except that at last he was hav-
ing a really good skate, and at first
he did not hear the hail from shore.
nor see the thickset figure on the
bank wildly waving a heavy cane.
When at last he turned to head down
the lake his .eart sank Within him,
but he skated boldly toward the man
who he knew must be Kelley.
aDon't you know that skating is
not allowed here?. Numbered the old
man as Ralph glided up to the bank.
The boy nodded.
II know it." he admitted, but say,
that skate was worth the lickin I'm
going to get. The canals no good
since the big storm, and mother
won't let me skate on the river
cause she's afraid that I'll be drown
ed, but here you've got to crawl UNI
der tho ice if you want to fall in.
oh, it's just bully. II ! was you.
I'd be skating all the time
sc. you knew that you. would be
thrashed If you we're found on the
ice?s demanded Kelley. In spite
Of that you came and skRted?"
Sure" assented Ralph. 81 amt
had a really good skate this winter,
and I'd rather be thrashed than lose
that
He pointed with a generous gesture
toward the CLASSY surface. Kelley
smiled as the boys gaze was averted.
why didn't you run away when
you heard me call?v the man de-
manded curiously. "You could have
skated down to the part nearest the
fence and have been over before
could get you
"Did you ever run away when you
was caught" demanded Ralph. Il
knew I'd be seen, and ! know I'd
| get licked, but 1t was worth it, and
now you can go ahead. Real men
don't run, even If they are boys"
He spoke simply and without bra
vado. He had been brought up to
face the music. 1t was a part OF
his boyish religion, and it seemed
to him perfectly right that, having
had his fun, he should pay for it.
He stood quietly expectant, looking
UP at the old man. but Kelley was
looking over his head across the
glare Of ice with ayes that compre-
hended nothing of the scene. They
! saw only a slender, high-spirited girl
looking defantly into her fathers
face. and Kelley could hear again the
quiet even tones:
Eve married Robert and ! don't
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