The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-07-24


I; logise for the liberty he had taken-assurIni
T; Donald that be bad meant nothing disre
{ spectful or insulting. This apoi Jgy was JUS
} made in time, as the irritable Celt had begur
f; to entertain the idea OF challenging Ia,
a Spaniard to mortal combat As it was
\ however, bis good nature al once gave wa,
} to the pacific overture that was made him
+ Selling the apOlogist by the hand with !
2 grippe that produced some dismal coatortion.
! Of countenance on the part Of him on whom
, it was inflicted
" Is no harm done at all, my friend Y0r
III not know no peter, having ne, er peen
J dare say, in our country, or seen heelan.
/, man pefore."
The Spaniar3 declared he never had Rad
either Of these happinesses, and concluded
! by inviting Donald to an adjL.ng apartment
to have some re'reshment-an invitation
which Donald at once obeyed
Now, my good sir said bis companion
on their entering a sort of rcfectury where
were variety Of tables sprea with abun-
dance of the good things Of this life and Of
Madrid what shall you prefer ?"
" Herselfs rot fiery hungry, but little
thirsty" said Donald, finging himself down
on seat 70 tree-and-easy way, with his
legs astrde, so as to allow free suspension
TO has huge goatskin purse, and doling his
bonnet, and wiping the perspiration from bis
forehead" Hersef's no very hungry but a
little thirsty; and she'll ;eukit, if you please,
tefy small drop Of whisky and water"
The Spaniard was nonplussed He had
never even heard Of whisky ia bis life, and
was therefore greatly at a loss to understand
what sort 0f liquor his friend meant. Don
aid, perceiying bis difficulty, an guessing
that It was Oi the same nature with the one
which lie had already experienced. hastily
transmitted his demand for whisky into one
for brandy, which was Imme liately supplied
7 him, when Donald, pouring into a RUNNER
a quantity equal 10 al least SIX glasses, filled
up with water, and drank THE wl1l- OFF, 10
the inexpressible amaZement Of his com
\ panlon. who, however, although he looked
unuterable things at the enormous drau ght
was much too polite to say sngtmng.
Thus primed a second time, Donald, see
ing his new frieci engaged with some ladies'
who had unexpectedly Jlinei him, returned
alone TO the dancing apartment, which Re
entered with a whOop Of encouragement 60
the performers that startled every one rre-
sent, and fer an instant arrested the motions
cf the dancers, who could not comprehend
the meaning Of bis uncOuth cries Regard
less Of the effect Of his interference in the
proceedings Of the evening, Donald, with
couhtenancs beamjng with hilarity, an eyes
sparkling with wild and reckless glee, took
up prominent pOstIOn IN the room, and
from thence commenced e1Ifylng the dancers
by series OF short abrupt shouts OF yelIs,
accompanied by vigorous clapping OF his
hands, at once to Intimate his satisfaction
with tue performances, and to encourage
the performers themselves to furthn- exer-
tons. Getting gradually however, too much
into the spirit Of the thing to he content
With being merely an onlooker, Donald all
al once caperei into the middle of th3 floor,
swapping his fingers and thumbs, and calling
Out 70 the musicians t0 strike up CabeF
telgh y and, without waiting to hear whe-
ther ms call was 0beTed, he commencsi a
vigorous exhibition of the highland fling, to
the great amazement Of the bystanders, Ehc,
instantly abandoning their own pursuits,
crowded around him 70 witness this t0 them
most extraordinary performances. Inus oc-
cupied, and thus stuatei-the centre Of a
ghttering ring Donald continued % ex-
ecute with unabated energy the various
s'rongy-marked movements of bis national
dance, amidst the loud applsuSes Of the sur
rounding spectators. Oa concluding
Z" Oich, oiCh r. exclaimed Donald, out Of
breath with his exertion, and looking laugh
ngly round on the circle Of bys.anGe~s
Did ever think to dance ia heelan fling a
Madrid Och, no, 20 Never, by $40
scph Bat, | dare say, i'll pc the first
time that II was ever danced here
From tas moment Donald became a uni-
versal favorite in the room, AMI the estab-
lished ion of the night. Wherever be vent
be was surrounded with an admiring group
and was overloaded with civiities Of all
kinds, including frequent offers of refresh
mant 80 that he speedily found himself 10
most excellent quarters. Thsre was, how
ever, Jne drawback TO his happiness. lie
could get no share in the dancing excepting
when he chose to perform solos, as there
was nothing in that way to be seen ia the
shape Of reel, nor was there a single tune
played Of which he could make head or tail
nothing but your foreign trash, with
neither spdnk nor music in them" Deter
mined, however, since his highland fling had
been so much approved Of, to give spec
men Of the highland reel, # he iuI posi-
bly, make it out, D5nal as hrst IT. J,
looked aroun1 him for -rtnir and see
ing very handsome girl IN one Of the s0r-
ners OF the apartment, he made up 70 Ter,
and, making oGe Of his best bows, solicited
the honor Of her joining him in a reel.
Without understanding the language in
which she was addresses, but guessing that
1t conveyed an invitation to tue hooT, tie
young lady at once arose and curtsied an
acquiescence, when Donald, taking her gal
lantly by the hand, led her up to the front
Of the orchestra, in order that he might be-
speak the APPROPRIATE music for the particu-
lar species Of dance be contemplated On
approaching sufficiently near to the mus-
clans
FILTERS" he shouted, at the top Of bis
voice, " sag, can you'll kive Us Rothie-
murchus' Rant, or the trucker Wives Of
Fochabers y "
Then turning to his partner, and flinging
his arms in an ecstacy Of Highland excita-
ton, caperipg at the same time hilarously
in anticipation Of the coming strain, he
said
Them's the tunes, my lass, for putting
mettle 10 your heels"
A scream from the lady with whom he was
using these unwarrantable personal liberties
and a violent attempt on her part to escape
from them, suddenly arrested Donald's hila-
rty, and excited bis utmost surprise III
the next instant he was surrounded by at
least half-a-dozsn angry cavaliers, amongst
whom there wss a brandishng Of swords,
and much violent ienunciations, all directed
against Donald, and excited BY his unman-
nerly rudeness to lady. It was some Sc
conds before Donald could comprehend the
meaning Of all this wrath, or believe that he
was at once the cause and object of it. But
on this becoming plain
Well, shsntlemer," ne said, " did not
mean anything wrong. No offence at al to
the girl. 1t was just the fashion Of my
country, and I'm sorry for it''
To tnis apology Of Donald's, Of which, or
course, not word was understood, the only
reply was more fierce fonrishing Of brands,
and greater vnlubiIity and vehemence of
abuse the effect of whicn was at once -
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