Hans Brinker; Or, The Silver Skates

by Mary Mapes Dodge

  XXXIX

  GLIMPSES

  Annie Bouman had a healthy distaste for Janzoon Kolp. Janzoon Kolp, inhis own rough way, adored Annie. Annie declared she could not "to saveher life" say one civil word to that odious boy. Janzoon believed her tobe the sweetest, sauciest creature in the world. Annie laughed among herplaymates at the comical flapping of Janzoon's tattered and dingyjacket; he sighed in solitude over the floating grace of her jaunty bluepetticoat. She thanked her stars that her brothers were not like theKolps; and he growled at his sister because she was not like theBoumans. They seemed to exchange natures whenever they met. His presencemade her harsh and unfeeling; and the very sight of _her_ made himgentle as a lamb. Of course they were thrown together very often. It isthus that in some mysterious way we are convinced of error and cured ofprejudice. In this case, however, the scheme failed. Annie detestedJanzoon more and more at each encounter; and Janzoon liked her betterand better every day.

  "He killed a stork, the wicked old wretch!" she would say to herself.

  "She knows I am strong and fearless," thought Janzoon.

  "How red and freckled and ugly he is!" was Annie's secret comment whenshe looked at him.

  "How she stares, and stares!" thought Janzoon. "Well, I am a fine,weather-beaten fellow, anyway."

  "Janzoon Kolp, you impudent boy, go right away from me!" Annie oftensaid. "I don't want any of your company."

  "Ha! ha!" laughed Janzoon to himself, "girls never say what they mean.I'll skate with her every chance I can get."

  And so it came to pass that the pretty maid would not look up thatmorning when, skating homeward from Amsterdam, she became convinced thata great burly boy was coming down the canal, toward her.

  "Humph! if I look at him," thought Annie, "I'll----"

  "Good-morrow, Annie Bouman," said a pleasant voice.

  [How a smile brightens a girl's face!]

  "Good-morrow, Master Hans, I am right glad to meet you."

  [How a smile brightens a boy's face!]

  "Good-morrow again, Annie. There has been a great change at our housesince you left."

  "How so?" she exclaimed, opening her eyes very wide.

  Hans, who had been in a great hurry, and rather moody, grew talkativeand quite at leisure in Annie's sunshine.

  Turning about, and skating slowly with her toward Broek, he told thegood news of his father. Annie was so true a friend that he told hereven of their present distress, of how money was needed, and howeverything depended upon his obtaining work, and he could find nothingto do in the neighborhood.

  All this was not said as a complaint, but just because she was lookingat him, and really wished to know. He could not speak of last night'sbitter disappointment, for that secret was not wholly his own.

  "Good-bye, Annie!" he said at last. "The morning is going fast, and Imust haste to Amsterdam and sell these skates. Mother must have money atonce. Before nightfall I shall certainly find a job somewhere."

  "Sell your new skates, Hans!" cried Annie; "you, the best skater aroundBroek! Why, the race is coming off in five days!"

  "I know it," he answered resolutely. "Good-bye! I shall skate home againon the old wooden ones."

  Such a bright glance! So different from Janzoon's ugly grin--and Hanswas off like an arrow.

  "Hans! come back," she called.

  Her voice changed the arrow into a top. Spinning around, he darted, inone long, leaning sweep, toward her.

  "Then you really are going to sell your new skates if you can find acustomer."

  "Of course I am," he replied looking up with a surprised smile.

  "Well, Hans, if you _are_ going to sell your skates," said Annie,somewhat confused, "I mean if you----Well, I know somebody who wouldlike to buy them--that's all."

  "Not Janzoon Kolp?" asked Hans, flushing.

  "Oh, no," she pouted, "he is not one of my friends."

  "But you _know_ him," persisted Hans.

  Annie laughed. "Yes, I know him, and it's all the worse for him that Ido. Now please, Hans, don't ever talk any more to me about Janzoon. Ihate him!"

  "Hate him! _you_ hate any one, Annie?"

  She shook her head saucily. "Yes; and I'll hate you too, if you persistin calling him one of my friends. You boys may like him because hecaught the greased goose at the Kermis last summer, and climbed the polewith his great, ugly body tied up in a sack, but I don't care for suchthings. I've disliked him ever since I saw him try to push his littlesister out of the merry-go-round at Amsterdam; and it's no secret up_our_ way who killed the stork on your mother's roof. But we mustn'ttalk about such a bad, wicked fellow. Really, Hans, I know somebody whowould be glad to buy your skates. You won't get half a price for them inAmsterdam. _Please_ give them to me. I'll take you the money this veryafternoon."

  If Annie was charming even when she said "hate," there was nowithstanding her when she said "please"; at least Hans found it to beso.

  "Annie," he said, taking off the skates, and rubbing them carefully witha snarl of twine before handing them to her, "I am sorry to be soparticular; but if your friend should not want them, will you bring themback to me to-day? I must buy peat and meal for the mother earlyto-morrow morning."

  "My friend _will_ want them," laughed Annie, nodding gaily, and skatingoff at the top of her speed.

  As Hans drew forth the wooden "runners" from his capacious pockets andfastened them on as best he could, he did not hear Annie murmur, "I wishI had not been so rude; poor, brave Hans; what a noble boy he is!" Andas Annie skated homeward filled with pleasant thoughts, she did not hearHans say, "I grumbled like a bear--but bless her! some girls are likeangels!"

  Perhaps it was all for the best. One cannot be expected to knoweverything that is going on in the world.