or, The Silver Skates _ 5

a jerk, and, finally, he lay sprawling upon the ice, kicking
against the air with many a fantastic flourish.

“‘ Ha, ha!” laughed Gretel, “that was a fine tumble.” But
a tender heart was beating under her coarse blue jacket ;
and, even as she laughed,

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

she came, with a graceful
sweep, close to her pros-
trate brother.

“Are you hurt, Hans?
Oh, you are laughing |
Catch me now!” And
she darted away, shivering

si A PAIR OF SKATERS.

no longer, but with cheeks all aglow and eyes sparkling with
fun. ‘

Hans sprang to his feet and started in brisk pursuit; but
it was no easy thing to catch Gretel. Before she had trav-
elled very far, her skates, too, began to squeak,

Believing that discretion was the better part of valor, she
turned suddenly and skated into her pursuer’s arms.