The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1866-08-04
Katie and 1.-The DELL
A BOHEMIAN STORY.

In certain village of Bohemia lived peasant
woman called Katie. She possessed little hut of
her own, garden and small income; but had she
rolled in wealth not a lad would have ventured to
say-"Katte will you be mine = for she was snap
pish a cat of the wood, and owned tongue
which worked like fail. She had old mother,
proydentially deaf as log, and her she scolded
from morning till night SO that her voice was au-
dble half mile Off If any neighbor entered her
cottage she spat, and set up her back, and hissed
so that the intruder was only too glad to escape
without a scratched face. When any one passed
her door, Katie flung him spiteful word; and was
only toe glad if the passer by stopped to retaliae
fori he had an ugly expression to cast at her. she
had dozen to pet him with in return
BY the time she had reached the age of 40 with
ont having found lover, all the-mk of human
Kindness she never had which might acidulate- but
the vinegar of her nature had become concentrated
suiphuric acid. ready TO blackea and burn anything
with which it might come in contact.
1t is the custom in Bohemia for young people to
resort to the tavern on Sunday afternoon for a
dance. As soon as the fiddle bagpipe is heard,
the lads into the streets the girls appear the
cottage doors. and the children peep out of the
windows. Young men and women then follow the
musicians TO the inn and the dance begins.
Katie always the first TO follow the fiddler,
and to appear in the public house; there she saw
the lads whirling abort with the lasses but never
in all her life had she been invited by any one
dance; Sunday alter Sunday she tried her lack.
and hoped against hope: no man solicited her hand
partner.
''Well." said she impetuously one Sunday, ''here
l am getting an old woman and have neaer dane ed
yet, anything like the lads here such
set OF clowns this is provoking! I'd dance
with any one with the old Dell himself, if he were
to ask me, and she snapped her fingers and stamp
cd the ground.
She bustled into the inn, sat down and looked
about her at the whirling, merry figures. Sudden
ly gentleman in a huntsmans 5 suit came into the
room seated himself at the table. called for beer
and had tumbler filed. Running his eye over the
assembly, it rested on Katie. He sprang to his
feet. walked across the room. and with the most
graceful bow, and with the most courteous air, Of.
fered her the glass.
Katie, delighted at the attention, drank the
beer with avidity, and made room for the gentle
man seat himself at her side. After few words
had passed between them the stranger flung some
silver 70 the fiddler, and asked for SOLO The
dancers deserted the centre of the room, cleared
the area and the gentleman led Katie forth to the
dance.
BLESS US all, it will rain tomorrow :" exclaimed
the old people, opening their eyes wide with aston
ment.
The lads BIT their fingers snd the girls hid their
faces to conceal their laughter. But Katie no
one; she was radiant with joy, now that she had
chance Of dancing: and danced she wouli have, in
spite of the whole world laughing.
All that afternoon. and all that evening, the
strange gentleman danced with Katie, and with
her alsne He bought her gingerbread, aim oni
rock. and lemon-drops, and she ate and sacked to
her hearts content
As soon as the dance came TO an end, the straa-
ger escorted her home.
''Oh dear, = exclaimed Katie, would that
might dance with yen forever!"
THAT is quite within the range of possibility, =
replied the stranger.
Where do you live. sill :"
Put your arms around my neck and Twill whis
per to YOU Katie did So and presto the stran-
ger had become devil and was flying with her TO
his home, place which need rot be specified In
he at the door bathed in profSe perspira.iou,
for his necklace was heavy one.
Now, thea, Katie, let 60 said he.
"0h, never, neveri'
Come, there's dear soul, take your arms Of
Dearest, nevsr,,'
why, whom have you got here ," asked the
master spirit in a voice of thunder which had in it
faint thrill Of iismay.
''KK-Nattie,' painted the unfortunate devil
struggling TO shake his fair load of.
Katie = echoed his majesty leapng from his
throne, casting aside his hifarcated sceptTe, and
turning-nes exactly pale, but Oxford MIXTURE
Here's an end to our quiet life if that woman be-
GENES inmate Of Pandemonium. She'll bring
the place down about our ears. Away with you
Moloch, and do not show your face in here till you
have shaken of your dreadful iucumbrauce.''
So there was nothing rit, but that the euandan
Jagcr should return to earth and free himself from
the embrace Of Katie, as best he might.