Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1885 — RIVALRY ON ROLLER SKATES. [ARTICLE]

RIVALRY ON ROLLER SKATES.

BY SARA B. ROSE.

' The Albion rink was crowded with gyoung people. It was tbe night of the ■calico masquerade, and when the Ijnasque was over, the young ladies were Ito have a race for the championship of ■Albion. Every known shape and cosftume which could be formed from caliEco was there represented. Pirates in ■black and red,Undines in green, daisies Bin yellow and white, while one auda-l-cious young fellow represented a barIrel of spirits, his head protruding from | one end of the barrel, with long calico f -streamers depending from it, and his i feet gracefully rolling along beneath. 1 The best two youtag lady skaters, one i of whom was expected to win the race, i were attired in pretty suits of pink calico, with long streamers of pink ribbon floating behind them. They usually skated together, unless ’ it was when Alf Whitman, the brother of the taller of the two, joined them, and, leaving his sister Estelle to skate t by ’herself, acted the part of a devoted : cavalier to pretty Orette Harrington. . As soon as supper was announced the ’masks were lifted, and when it was |jover the young men stood aside to rwitness the race between the young F ladies. None of the girls expected to distance Orette or Estelle, but several | of them laughingly started out to keep j them company. Orette did not care to skate her best, .for she knew that Estelle had set her heart upon the championship, and she cared too little about it herself to wish to offend her friend, who was of a very jealous disposition. She had not thought of other oppo» sition; but, as they turned the first jeorner. Estelle a little in advance, ■Orette was astonished to see a tall, ■lender young lady, in a black velvet Idress, trimmed with old-gold satin, a [black velvet cap upon her curly head, prom which depended a long, ol’d-gold-|colored plume, and with white kid Igloves upon her hands, which reached Inearly to her elbows, shoot ahead of sher riend and proceed to execute a inumber of intricate maneuvers in front *of Estelle, and, in spite of this extra and twisting, the stranger alyways managed to keep in front. Orette knew that this would be very displeasing to Estelle, and by a little j effort she gained her side, only to see pthat provoking stranger waltzing like a ■whirlwind before them. She glanced at Estelle and saw that her eyes were enapping with anger, and her cheeks were flaming with rage. Suddenly the waltzer put on an extra epurt, and in a moment she was half way around the rink ahead of her antagonists, and was apparently intending to pass them again shortly. Orette and Estelle were now the only Albion girls upoq tlqe floor, the others withdrawn to witness the excit- > ing race. Estelle Whitman was a good skater and was very sure upon her feet. She was very angry at the antics of the stranger, and noticing a group of empty •chairs by the side of the rink, she glided to the side of the hall, and as if >by accident, she stumbled over one of .the chairs, sending it sprawling directly in the way of the girl in velvet. Everyone expected to see the stranger waver or perhaps trip over the overturned chair. Not so; a flash of amu.sezment passed over her face, she in•creased her speed, and with the utmost ease she jumped over the obstacle, and a second more darted up to the "judges’ stand, the winner of the race. After the excitement was over, Estelie informed Orette that the straniger's name was Hora Archer, that she iiad come from the village of Camden, Aiear by, and Estelle added, with upiturned nose: “She don’t pay the least {attention to any of the girL, but is all taken up with these half dozen Camden fellows, who, I do believe, brought her here.” ’ Orette laughed a little and took off Jher skates, as the rest of the evening was to be devoted to dancing. She had ■romwed the first dan e to Alf Whitnutn, but when the set formed what wnahar astonwhinant to see him at the Sr d*® o ® witl * Mi “ Flors Estelle, when it

■was finished, “see her lounging in the corners with the young men; and she jumps like a jumping-jack when she balances. Did you notice her, Orette ?” “Hush!” warned Orette; “somebody will hear you!” “Well, I declare! I think I would stand up for her, Orette Harrington, when she is trying her best to get Alf away from you!” Orette blushed at this coarse speech, and was about to move away, when Mr. Whitman and Miss Archer confronted them. “Ah, girls!” said he, “ I wondered where you were hiding your diminished heads. I wanted to present you to the belle of the evening.” Miss Archer cast a languishing glance at Alf, and appeared greatly pleased at this broad compliment; but Estelle frowned, and said in a cutting tone: “I do not wish any introduction to Miss Archer, Mr. Whitman, and I think you might’be a little more careful yourself about your acquaintances,” “Aha! my dear sister. So you are jealous are you ? Do not mind them, Miss Archer; they are beneath your notice. ” “I did not say I did not wish an introduction to Miss Archer,’’said Orette, quietly, although she was feeling much embarrassed. “Thank you,” said Miss Archer, bowing and leaving Mr. Whitman’s arm. “Suppose we take some seats at the other side of the room.” Miss Archer assumed so much of the bearing of a cavalier that Orette, without thinking, almost, that she was a lady, took her arm, and left the brother and sister together. Miss Archer drew some chairs into a cozy little corner, and the two sat down. They chatted a few moments, and then Miss Archer said: “It is a very impudent question that I am about to ask you; but I would like very much to know if yourself and Mr. Whitman are engaged?” “No,” said Orette, smiling. “We are not engaged and never shall be.” “Ah!” hazarded Miss Archer, shaking her head; “that is because you are angry at him now.” “I am not angry,” replied Orette. “He could not anger me by admiring another lady.” “But if you loved him?” persisted the strange girl. “I never loved him,” said Orette, laughing. “You may have him if you want him.” “You have made me very happy,” replied the other, a smile in the dark eyes, then she picked up Orette’s white hand and kissed it, while Orette looked her surprise. Miss Archer deepened it by asking: “Will you dance the next set with me?” “I am engaged for this set,” replied Orette, adding: “Ladies do not dance together much here. ” “Oh, I beg your pardon, I forgot.” and Miss Archer drew on a very sober face. At this moment Orette’s partner claimed her. It was one of the young men from Camden. “You are forgetting yourself,” he said in a warning tone to Miss Archer, as Orette arose to take her place among the dancers. The party was over before Orette and Estelle drifted together again. Estelle was still angry. “What a dreadful evening this has been!” she said, peevishly. “I have lost the championship, and you, my dear, are surely going to lose Alf. He is hanging around her every minute. “ “Never mind,” laughed Orette, “I do not care in the least.” “Oh! It’s well enough to say so, of course; for my part I’m glad the evening is over. ” Hoods and cloaks were now being donned rapidly, and the two girls put on their wraps, and returned to the sit-ting-room. Estelle made a discovery. “Alf,” said she to her brother, in an excited whisper, “that Miss Archer is in the gentlemen’s dressing-room. I heard her talking and laughing in there as loud as any man. I believe she is going away with those Camden fellows. ” “Don’t alarm yourself,” returned her brother, angrily. “Miss Archer gave me permission to see her home my“And Orette and I can take care of ourselves, I suppose,” was her dismayed answer; but, as she looked around for her friend, she saw her leaving that moment with a gay party of young people. Estelle waited, with several others who were in Alf’s confidence, to see him depart with the “belle of the ball,” but they were disappointed. Miss Archer had disappeared, and could not be found anywhere. “Served you right,” was Estelle’s comment. The others said nothing then, but Alf in the next few days was not allowed to forget Miss Archer. The days passed by and the skating in Albion rink was going on merrily one evening, when there was the stir ol an arrival at the door and the six young men from Carnden who had visited them before entered, accompanied by another. This time the nobby skating suit was a little different. It was now white satin with gold trimmings. The white and gold cap contrasted well with the dark curly hair, black eyes, and red cheek of the skater, the indescribable coat of white satin, gold lace and gold buttons fitted , the lithe form to perfection, but instead of a skirt were now worn knee breeches of white satin and gold lace, and gold embroidered white silk stockings, white kid. shoes and gloves finished the costume. The wearer of this costume soon began a series of maneuvers even more intricate those exhibited upon the previous evening. “Miss Archer!” exclaimed Mr. Whitman in delight, and joining the fair skater he attempted to renew his acquaintance. He did not enjoy her company long, however. Miss Archer soon joined Orette Harrington. Orette did not quite approve the oung lady’s costume, but she said poitely: “Good evening, Miss Archer.” The skater laughed aloud, and then asked humbly: “Jun J then so feminine looking that

I am doomed forever to be Miss Archer?” Orette only looked her surprise. “Dear Miss Harrington, will you keep a secret for me ? lam not a lady. My name is Fred Archer. My home is in Washington. Becoming quite an expert upon roller skates, I adopted these flashy costumes to make more of a sensation, and if you do not reveal my secret, I am anticipating quite a flirtation with our mutual friend and lover, Mr. Alf Whitman.” Orette colored a little, but she smiled also, and promised to keep Mr. Archer’s secret for him. From that moment his time was divided impartially between Miss Harrington and Mr. Whitman. Alf became very loverlike, and declared his affection to be excessive. He also 1 oasted to some of the fellows that he had “cut out” Ben Landis from Camden. This was too much for Mr. Landis. He nearly exploded with laughter, and in his merriment the whole joke came out. Alf was nearly paralyzed, but he managed to get away from the rink someway, the shouts of laughter stinging him like the cut of a whip. Next day he called on Orette Harrington and astonished her by making her an offer of his hand. He was refused decidedly. He lost his temper and exclaimed: “That Archer is nothing but a poor low scamp, who has crowded himself upon society by his fancy skating. ” “You did not think of that when you thought he was a lady,” retorted Orette. That was enough; he left her. But after a time that speech gave Alf hope. She was surely jealous or she never would have said that. He was preparing to offer himself again when he heard some news. Orette was engaged to Mr. Archer, who had turned out to be the son of a wealthy Washington gentleman. He bad been visiting his cousin, Ben Landis, where, together with the other young men of Camden, they had planned the joke which had resulted so disastrously for Alf.—Chicago Ledger.