sealskin caps as they sped through the
delightful hours. Tullie Wasson was out there with his string
band--Tullie with his old black fiddle, and Jim Grey with his cornet,
and his son with his wondrous bass violin, and Tullie knew all the good
old tunes, and a few fancy waltzes and polkas, but he was at his best in
the Virginia Reel, and it was a pretty sight to see the joyous couples
ranging off to their positions for the ice dance, and what great bursts
of laughter and cries of happiness swelled up when Tullie shouted, "Git
yer pardners fer a Reel!" The movements of the dance were executed with
a grace that would have done credit to the ball-room, Jimmy Dunla, the
master of ceremonies, occasionally leaving the lines to give an
exhibition of fancy skating and cutting his name on the ice.

Then came the races. The towns of Vincent and Skarrow gave a cup each
skating year for the winner of the Ice Race. The race was for one
thousand yards, the starting point was at the big hay barn, and a red
flag marked the post at the end of the course. Four young men from each
side of the river were entered in this race, the event of the season.
Indiana held the cup. It had been three years since the last race. Among
those entered by the Kentucky boys was Shawn. He had been practicing for
many days, and somehow, the hopes of Kentucky were centered in him. The
winner of the last race was also entered again. He was one of the most
popular boys of the Indiana town, and the betting was strongly in his
favor. He was of magnificent build, with a long, graceful stroke, and
came skating out before the crowd with the easy confidence of one who
felt that the race was won. He closely watched the Kentucky boys as they
circled about the crowd preparatory to starting for the head of the
course. His eyes were fixed on Shawn. Turning to a friend, he said, "If
I am beaten to-day, there's the young fellow who will get the cup." He
skated over toward Shawn, and extending his hand, with the utmost good
will, he said, "I'm afraid that I will have to beat my old record to win
out to-day." Shawn smilingly took his hand and answered, "We are going
to do our best, but if Indiana keeps the cup, I know of no one who would
deserve it more than you, Danner."

The starter announced the race, and ordered the contestants to the head
of the course. As they gracefully swung away, Lallite waved her hand
toward Shawn, and the tender glance from her blue eyes sent a thri