The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-04-06

dancing, and certainly nothing which young
Lennon had exhibited there up to that time
| conld at all touch it.
"Come Tom" said be, ''give the girls o
specimen of what You can do, you alone" and
he laid the poker aud tongs-across each other
| in the middle of the floor.
Paddy Murrin struck Mp q sprit-stirring jig,
which no one could resist. The girls were all
dancing it "to themselves" and young Len
mons feet were dying to be at it, but of course
| he must wait
Indeed he was not anxious to exhibit in OPP
position to his hosts son. bat feared his re-
putation as a dancer would put him in for it.
| was Tightening the flung of one of his pumps,
| to begin. Turning then to Murrin, he called
| for 1.-The fox hunters jig"
He now commenced, and like knowing
professor of his art "took it easy" at the com
mencement, determined, however, to astonish
them ere he had done. He felt that he
dance much better, aud would presently DO
50. He had often tried the "poker and tongs
| jig" but hitherto never quite to his satisfac-
ton. He had sometimes come off perfectly
| victorious, without touching thep, but
| often managed to kick them about the floor.
He was now on his mettle, not only on account
of Winny Cavana, but also because that whelp
right to be-" For a while he succeeded ad-
mirably. He had tipped each division of the
cross with both heel aud toe, several times
with rapid and successful precision; but be-
coming enthusiastic. as the piandits passed
| round, be called to Murrin "play faster" when
after q few moments of increased speed. he
triPped in the tongs, and came fat on his back
upon the floor. He was soon up again, and q
few touches of the clothesbrush set all to
rights, except the irrepressible litter that ran
round the room.
OF course there was ah excuse-one of the
fungs of his pump had again loosened and
caught in the tongs. This was not merely an
excuse but a fact, npon which Tom Murdoch
built much consolation for bis partial failure"
as he himself loosely called it; but he was
savage at heart.
There was a general call now from the girls
| for young Lennon, and "Emon- knock, Enron
| a-knock," resounded on oil sides. He would
| not rise, however; he was now more unwilling
than ever to dance match" as he called it
| to himself, with his hosts son.
The partial failure" of his rival-aud be
was honest enough to admit that it was but
partial and could not have been avoided
gave him we'll founded hopes of triumph.
He too had tried his powers of agility by the
| poker and tongs test, and oftener with success
| than otherwise. 1t was some time now since
he had tried it, as latterly lie had not much
| time to spare for such amusements. He was
unwilling, but not from fear of failure, to get
up; but no excuse would be taken ); he was
caught by two handsome girls. and dragged
ipto the middle of the room. Thus placed be-
fore the spectators, he could not refuse the
deal as it mig be called.
He had his wit about him, however. He had
| seen Tom Murdoek whisper something to the
piper when he was first called on to stand up,
! and it proved that he was not astray as to its
purporr.
Recollectng the jig he was in tho habit of
dancing the poker and tonGs to, lie asked the
piper to play it, Mnrrn hesitated, and at last
came out with a stammer that she hadn't it,
bat he'd give him one as good" striking up the
most difficult jig in the Irish catalogue to
dance TO.
NO" said Lennon stoutly, 81 heard Won
play the jig I called for . hundred times, and
no later than last night, Pat, at Jenny Null
larky's, as passed home from work, and I'll
have no other
took whatever jir 10 la IN tr;L
up" said Tom with sneer.
"Yon might have had Your choice, for that
matter, and and, daresay You had,' replied Len
non, land I'll have mine! 1t is my right"
j"If man can dance" continued Tom, she
ought to be able to dance by any jig that's
given him; it's like man that can say his
was q suppressed smile at LcnnOus expense.
He saw it, and his blood was up in mo-
ment.
"IIe may play any Jig he chooses now" ex-
claimed Lennon, except one, and that is the
one you told him to play" taking his chance
that his suspicious were correct to the pur-
port of the whisper.
"I'll play the one pied for the young mas
| ter himself; au' ii that doesn't shoot you, you
| neend't dance at ALL" said Murrin, apparently
prompted again by Tom Murdoch.
This was decision from which no impair
tial person could dissent, and Lennon seemed
perfectly satisfied, but after all this jaw and
| Interruption he felt in no great humor to dance
and almost feared the result.
| As he stood up he caught glance from
Winny's eye which banshed every thought
save that of complying with that look. If
ever look planted nndyiug resolve in u
mans heart it was that 1t called him "Emou"
! as plain as if she lad spoken it. and said
"Don't let that fellor put you down." and quick
as the glance was 1t added, Ines low fell
| low"
| To it now Enron went with his whole heart
He cared not what jig Pat Murrin played ''or
any other piper" lie able for them.
| at first the quiet tipping of his heel and toes
upon the floor, with now and then fat stamp
4 which threw up the dust, was inimitable. As
he got into the merits of the thing" the ma
sic was obliged to vie with him in activity. 1t
seemed as much as if he dancing for the
piper to play to- as that the piper was playing
for him to dance. Those who were up to the
merits of an Irish jig, could have told the one
be was dancing to If there had been music
at ALL There was a tip, curl, u stamp for
| every note in the tune. In fact he played the
jig npon the floor with his feet. He now CLOS
| ed the poker and tonss with confidence, while
Tom Murdoch l.?bed on with malicious hope
that lie too n. MD bnngle the business and
| Winny Cav.na looked on with timd fear of
of til" ..ine result. But he danced through
and ...nongst them as if by magic-a toe here
ar',! heel there, in each compartment of the
crossed irons with the rapidity of tightening,
i n he hpi nF