Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1867-06-15
KATIE AND THE DEVIL.
BOHEMIAN LEGEND.

SG3D O ~ '"S ~ liz " ~ " lN--~'i
and a small income but had she rolled
in wealth, not a lad would have geutured
to gay" Katie, will you be mine ~ for
she was snappish as q cat Of the woods,
and owned q tongue which worked like a
naii. She bad an old mother, proyiden.
TALLY as deaf as a log, and her she scold.
ed from morning till night, SO that her
voice was audible half a mile off, If any
neighbor entered her cottage, she spat,
and set up her back, and Kissed, 50 that
the intruder was only too glad to escape
without q s~eratced face. When any one
passed her door, Katie flung him o spite
ful word and was only too glad if the
passer stopped to retaliate, for if he had
an ugly expression to cast at her, she
had q dozen to pelt him with ii return.
BY the time that she had reached the
age Of forty, without having found d
lover, all the-milk Of human kindness
she never had, which might acidulate-
but all the vinegar Of her nature. had
become ~sulphuric acid, ready to blacken
and burn anything with which it came
ia contact.
It IL the custom in Bohemia for young
people to resort to the tavern on Sunday
afternoon, for o dance, As coon as the
bagpipe or fiddle was heard, the lads run
into the streets, the girls appear at 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 was always the first to follow
the fiddler, and to appear in the public
house there she saw the lads whirlirg
about with the ~lasSes, but never in all
her life had she been invited by any one
to dance !; Sunday after Suuduy she tried
her luck, and hoped against hope no
man solicited her hand as a partner -
" Well p said she impetuousIy one Sun
day here am | getting an old woman,
and have never danced yet Such a
set of clowns This is provoking. I'd
dance with any one, with the old Devil
himself, if be were to ask me p and she
snapped her fingers, and stamped on the
ground.
She hustled into the inn, sat down and
looked about at the whirling, merry, fig
ures. Suddenly o gentleman in hunts
mans suit came into the room, seated
himself at the table, called for beer, and
had a tumbler filled. Running bis eye
over the assembly, it rested Ga Katie
He sprang to bis feet, walked across the
room, and with a mostRraceful bow. and
the most courteous air, offered her the
glass.
Katie, delighted at The attention,
drank the beer with ayidity, and made
room for the gentleman to seat himself
at her side. After a few words had pass
ed between them, the stranger flung some
silver to the 6dler, and asked for a solo.
The dancers deserted the middle Of the
room, cleared the area, and the gentle
man led Katie forth to dance.
BLESS Ms all it will rain tomorrow RI
exclaimed the old people, opening their
eyes wide with establishment.
The lads bit their fingers, and the girls
hid their faces to conceal their laughter.
But Katie saw no n she was radient
with joy, nov that she had a chance Of
dancing ; and dancing she would have,
IN spite of the whole world laughing,
All that afternoon, and all that eve.
ming, the strange gentleman danced with
Katie, and with her alone. He bought
her gingerbread, alnond-ro6k, and lemon
aud she ate and smoked to her
hearts content.
As soon as the dancing came to an end
the stranger escorted her home.
Oh dear y exclaimed Katie " would
that | might dance with you forever p
That is quite within the range of pos
siollity.' replied the stranger.
Where do you live, sir ?" 4
Put your arms around my neck, and
] will whisper to you" Katie did so, ,
and, presto the stranger had become O
devil, and was flying with Der to his
home, q place which need not be apeci /
lied. In he came in at the door, bathed /
10 Q profuse perspiration, for his necklace /
was q heavy one. /
Now then, Katie, let CO." said be.
"Oh, never | never |" (
"Come, there's a dear soul. take vouy I
Off +,
dearest, never |"
Why, .whon have you cot here n /
asked the Master Of the spirit. in o voice /,
Of thunder, which had in ii q faint thrill
Of dismay.
"KK-k-attie," painted The unfortunate
devil, struggling to shake his fair load off
Katie n echoed his Majesty. ~leaninp