The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-02-04

fiddle or bagpipe is heard, the lads rul
into the streets, the girls appear at tn
cottage doors, and the children peep ou
of the windows. Young men and womel
then follow the musicians to the inn, anC
the dance begins.
Cross Katie was always the first to fol
low the fiddler, and to appear at the pub
lie house; there she saw the lads whirl
| ing about with the lasses, but never il
all her life had she been invited by any
one to dance; Sunday after Sunday she
tried her luck, and hoped against hope
no man solicited her hand as a partner
| "Well!" said she, impetuously, one Sun
day, "here l am getting to be an old wo
man, and l have never danced yet! never
saw anything like the lads herel Such
a set of clownsl This is provoking. I'd
dance with any one, with the old Dell
| himself, if he were to ask mel" and she
snapped her fingers, and stamped on the
ground.
! She hustled into the inn, sat down, and
looked about her at the whirling merry
figures. Suddenly gentleman in hunts
mans suit came into the room, seated
himself at the table, called for beer and
had a tumbler filled 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, offered
her the glass.
Katie, delighted at the attention, drank
the beer with avidity, and made room for
the gentleman to seat himself at her side.
After few words had passed between
them, the stranger flung some silver to
the fiddler, and asked for solo" The
dancers deserted the center of the room,
81 ho 1a1
Katie for to dance.
"Bless US ALL it will rain tomorrow !"
exclaimed the old people, opening their
eyes wide with astonishnent.
The lads bit their fingers, and the girls
hid their faces to conceal their laughter.
But Cross Katie saw no one; she was ra-
diant with joy, now that she had a
chance of dancing; and dancing she
would have, in spite of the whole world
laughing
Ali that afternoon, and all that even
ing, the strange gentleman danced with
Katie and with her alone. He bought
her gingerbread, almond rock and lemon
drops and she ate and sucked to her
hearts content
As soon as the dancing came to an end,
the stranger escorted her home.
ooh Dear!' exclaimed Kate; would
That is quite within the range of pos
sibility," replied the stranger
Where do you live sir?'
'"Put your arms around my neck, and l
will whisper to you" Katie did so, and,
presto! the stranger had become devil,
and was flying with her to his home-a
place which need not be specified In he
came at the door, bathed in perspiration;
for his necklace was heavy one.
Now, then, Katie, let &c" said he.
"Oh never neverw
Come, there's dear soul, take your
hands off
Dearest, never"
"Why, whom have you got here?' ask
ed the Master of the Spirit, in a voice of
thunder, which had in it faint thrill OF
dIsmay.
xxx -atie,' painted the unfortunate
devil, struggling to shake his fair load
off
"Katie" echoed his majesty, 1eaping
off his throne, casting aside his bifurcated
sceptre, and turning not exactly pale,
but Oxford mixture; Gross Katie! here's
an end to our quiet life if that woman
becomes an 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 off your dreadful encumbrance. "
So there was nothing for it, but that
the quondam jaeger should return to
earth, and free himself from the embrace
of Katie, as best he might
He few back wearily and desponding-
ly with a crick in his neck. On reach
ing earth, he seated himself on fowery
bank, and putting on solemn expires
sion said, in hollow voice:
Katie, if you do not let go, 1 shall
plunge you in molten birthstone"
"Oh, replied she, with empresseme1at, 81
fear no pain so long as I am with you,"
and she laid her hand on his breast.
"Aheml' Moloch looked vacantly at
the landscape "Katiep' he resr n ed, as
brilliant idea entered his head, and
illumined his countenance with a mo-
mentary gleam of ghastly joy, Katie, 1
am SO rich; 1 will give you mountain
of gold if you will only let me 60"
What leave you for filthy lucre?
Never, never, never" and she buried
her head in his breast.
Here's pretty kettle of fish," said
the spirit; what is to be done now p
He rose, and wandered despairingly
over desolate moor, which lay stretched
before him
Presently, staggering under his load,
he came upon young shepherd, in
sheepskin with all its wool upon it. The
evil spirit resumed its former human
form, and the shepherd was, consequent
ly quite ignorant of who he was
"Why, my good sir, whom are you car
ryingY asked the shepherd in perplex-
ity.
"Ah, good friend, scarcely know
Why, look you l was walking peacefully
along my way, without thinking of any
thing particular, when with a hop, skip
and jump, this woman fastened herself
to my neck, and will on no account let
ME go. l want to carry her to the next
village, and there obtain my liberation;
but l am scarcely in fit condition to do
SO; my knees are shivering under me-"
Come now," said the compassionate
peasant, Il will help you; but cannot
carry her for long, as l have my sheep to
attend to; half the waY-will that suit
your
"Ah l shall be thankful"
"Now, then, you! hang yourself to
meW cried the shepherd, addressing
Katie.
The woman looked round, and observ-
ed that the shepherd was infinitely pref
cradle to Moloch; he was good-looking
and young. She let go her hold on the
Dell and click! she was as fast as
spring collar round the shepherds neck.
The man now had quite enough to car