Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-09-05
theater and balls, but I shall never for

get the way in which these two danced.
First the Betyer, with ma este steps, !!
led his partner one or twice around
room, his face proud, his gestures
Imposing. Suddenly he sprang into
the middle of the room with q loud
shout, the fiery Hungarian music wax
wilder and wilder.
Slowly, with steps full of grace, the
Countess commenced the dance. She
ii1uttered about like a butterfly, touch
ing every flower, but alighting on none.
Now and again the bandit bent over
her as if about to embrace her. Sud-
denly stopping, he would throw back
his head and turn aside with wonderful
grace, the bewitching little fairy float
ing toward him at one moment as if
about to throw herself into his arms.
then drawing ba k and Turing him
h!ther and thither in pursuit of her, the
glance OF their eyes alone showing that
they formed one couple. At last the
Betyar turned round completely and
placed himself in front of the gYpsies,
as if he had turned his back on his
partner, wishing in his rage to dance
quite alone: again with q bound he re-
sumed his place before her, their hands
met, and he waltzed round with her at
li,s,htning speed. 1t almost made me
giddy to watch them.
l feared all the time thatthe unblush-
ing rogue would in his excitement be
rude to the Countess. He had ample
opportunity. One misdeed more or
less could matter nothing to a man
with a price on his head-the Countess
was quite in his power. l was deter
mined that if he forgot himself or dis
played any improperly in his manner
toward the Countess l should make a
rush for the pistols and shoot him down
like a dog. What are you smiling at?
Parole d'honneur! | was bent upon it!
Nothing Of the kind occurred. Fe-
kete led the Countess to her seat, rev.
erently kissed her hand, and then
turned to me. Laying his hand famil-
iarly on my shoulder, he said:
"And you, old gentleman, you are
not dancing"
Qnsolence! "old gentleman" to
me!)
"Ihank you, I can not dance"
"Indeed; that alters the case" He
turned away to the Countess. .Par-
don us, Your Ladyship, for not being
duly prepared for the reception of such
distinguished guests. / hope you will
be content with what we have; it is not
much, indeed, but non the worse for
that"
He alluded to the supper. 1t was .
sumptuous banquet, l can tell you. A
small kettle filled with slices OF lamb
was placed on the table, and the whole
band gathered round it. The riches of
the world would not have procured a
plate; each person tished scraps of
meat out of the kettle with a pocket
knife and a bit of bread. My little
Countess ate as though she had had
nothing for three days. The Captain
Of the band himself selected the tit-bits
for her, and cut several pieces Of white
bread. Her appetite was excellent.
Fekete suddenly remarked that l was
taking no part in the repast. He first
frowned ominously, but soon recovered
his temper, and smilingly inquired why
I did not eat.
''Eat away-eat away, old gentle.
manr this will fatten you; stolen meat
is very nourishing."
'.Thank you," answered; 'it is toe
highly seasoned for me-"
The wine. of course, was served in a
Kulatsch-such people know nothing of
glasses. After their custom, Fekete
drank first himself. Rubbing the neck
Of the vessel with his wristband, he
handed the wine to the Countess, who
took it readily, and, putting her lips to
it, drained a hearty draught. Think of
it, my friends-she drank, and a good
deal, too!
Once more it came to nv turn:
"Drink, old boy" cold boy'' he had
come to now, 'tdrink, just to wake
yourself up"
"Thank you, I am not allowed to
drink; | live homeopathically."
"Ah!" laughed he, 81 understand,
similia similibus." Gle even under
stood Latin!) 81 also follow the hon.
eopathic system; yesterday wine did
me an injury, to-dayI cure myself with
wine"
1 felt sure that they wished to intoxi-
cate us first. and then take our lives.
How they could drink, too! Though
only i've in number, they emptied a
cask OF wine and rose from the table
per ectly sober. While the others took
some wine to the gypsies the Captain
again approached your humble servant.
"Well, we'll, old gentleman, you
don't eat, drink or dance? How do
you pass your timep Do you play
cards?" :.
He took a pack of cards from his
pocket.
"Now," thought I, che wants to find
out how much money l have"
81 don't do that, ethsr,"Ianswered;
II have eve played"
mo matter. FIJI Don teach you a
game-it's very easy. Look here. I
put one card here and another there.
You stake on that, l on this; whoever's
number first turns up wins the stakes"
The shameless fellow wanted to teach
me lansquenet-as if the requirement
of this game had not cost me two of
my estates! Yet, l had TO allow him
to teach me. I had a little silver and
some coppers in my pocket-this !
thought l might risk. =.
"What! you don't want to play for
coppers with me? Whom do you take
me for, sir: Here is the bank.".
He threw a whole pile of brand-new
ducats on the table. l had few gold
| n;ocns in q nocket-hook. tremhlinrlv