ick Brown looked at the youngster as he lay happily sprawling on his
stomach, and then turned to Hertha. "And I've lived for twenty-five
years without a chance at that!"

"It's never too late to learn," she suggested.

He thrust his hand in his pocket and pulled out a nickel. "Say," he
said, calling to the boy who was starting off, "Gimme a ride!"

The youngster grinned derisively. "What 'er givin' me?" he asked, and
slid away on the path.

Brown ran after him. "I'm giving you this," he answered and produced the
nickel.

This altered the situation. The boy looked a little doubtfully at his
sled and at the tall young man beside him, but, financial gain
outweighing distrust, he took the money and handed over his property.
"Go a little easy," he said, "it ain't yer size."

The man from Georgia eyed the bit of board on runners and then looked
down at his long overcoat, his gloved hands, his highly polished shoes.
Suddenly he felt very foolish. He glanced up at Hertha who was standing
some rods away watching.

Moved by an impulse of mischief, she ran over to where he was. "I'm
waiting to see you do it," she said. "It's perfectly easy, isn't it?"
turning to the boy.

"I bet you two are dagoes," the youngster said by way of answer. "Dagoes
don't know any more about snow 'n the fleas they bring wid 'em. Say,
mister, this sled ain't your fit. Why don't you give your girl a ride?"

"Will you?" said Dick Brown, glowing with pleasure at the suggestion.

The park was filling up. Ahead on the path were two girls, one not more
than a baby, clad in so many jackets that she looked like a little ball,
sitting upright on a sled, which her little sister, in red coat and
white hood, was pulling. She same running down the path, steering with
accuracy and care.

"I could do that all right," Brown said with assurance. "Won't you try?"

"Oh, no, I couldn't!"

"Please do," he pleaded.

There were only children about, and, to Hertha, Dick Brown himself was
beginning to seem just a big boy. The intoxicating air and the dazzling
snow were breaking down convention and leaving her quite gay and daring.

"Well, just a little way," she said curling herself up on the sled.

Dick at once took off his overcoat and wrapped it about her, tucking it
well under her feet. To her expostulations he paid not the slightest
attention.

"There you are, all right," he cried joyously, and ran with her down the
path.

The owner of the sled follow