Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-06-05

And then the lasses were at him again.
"Eonnld, sing Willie brewed peck o.
lionold will you not give us Logan
Ronald, Aud Joe Nicholson's Bon
ME Mamie or Ny Peggy is young
thing whichever yc like best Yourself" |
No. no. said the pretty Nelly; ask
him to sing. " hen the hIc me hame,' |
and he will b. thinking of the. black
haired las, he left in the I.uthians.'
"Gae wa, gae wa, said j., rising and |
shaking hirs If free from them. " ken
whatll put her things into o,lr heads
or into your heels, rather
He picked up his pipes, which had been
left in n corner. threw the dluncs over
his shoulder. and marched to the upper
end of the barn; then there was prelln-
mary groan or two, and presently the
chanter broke away into a Lively reel
tune. The effect of this signal, as ii might
be called, was magical. Every ON" at
once OWNED what was needed, and the
next moment they were all helping to get
the long table separated into IFS com
ponent parts and carried out INTO
the dark. There was II cross table
left at the upper end, 10y the peat fire,
for the elderly people and the spectators
to sit at, if they choose. The younger
folk had wooden forms at the lower end,
bat the truth is that they were so eager
not to have any of the inspiring music
thrown away that sevehl sets were imme-
diately formed. and off they went to the
wild strains of Miss Jenny Gordon's
Favorte '-intertwisting deity, setting
to partners again, fingers ana thumbs
snapped in the air every lad amongst
them showing off his best steps and ring
ing whoops sent up to the rafters as
the reel broke off again into quick
strathspey.
1t was wild and barbaric, no doubt; but
there was n kind of rhythmic poetry III 1t
R1nuII
OF the fire that he could infuse into this
tcmpestUous and yet methodiCal crowd;
the whoops became yells and If the red
bearded drover, dancing opposite the
slim-fgured Nelly, would challenge her
to do her best, and could himself perform
some remarkable steps and shakes, WELL
Nelly was not ashamed to raise her gown
an inch or two Just to show that he was
/ not dancing with "a flat-fOoted creature,
/ but that she had swift toes and graceful
ankles to compare with any. And then
again they would trip off into the figure
/ s, swinging round with arms interlocked;
and again roof and rafter would "dirl
/ with the triumphant shouts OF the men.
Then came the long wailing monition from
the pipes; the sounds died down pant
ing and laughing and rosy-cheeked the
lasses were led to the benches by their
partners, and a general halt was called.
Little Maggie stole up to her brother.
I'm going home, now, Ronald" she
very WE'LL" he said. Mind you go
to bed as soon as you get in. And yen
find a package of oranges and nuts that
Mrs. Murray sent over for ye; but II
were you | would keep them for the NOR
row and next day. Goodnight, lass. ~
Good might, Ronald"
She was going away when he said to
her,
Maggie do We think that Miss Doug
las is no coming to see the dancing? l
u hat 10 CN. II
rather no come to the supper
In truth he had his eye on the door all
Gordon's Favorite."
81 am sure if she stays away" the little
Maggie said, lit is no her own doing.
Meenie wanted to come. 1t is very hard
that everybody should be at the party and
not Meenie."
"Well, well, good night, lass said he ;
for the young folk were choosing their
partners again; and the pipes were
wanted. Soon there was another reel 60
ing on, as fast and furious as before.
At The end of this reel-Meenie had not
appeared, by the way, and Ronald con
cluded that she was not to be allowed to
look on at the dancing-the yellow haired
Nelly came up to the top of the roOm and
addressed Mrs. Murray in the Gaelic; but
as she finished mp with the word qUddIUIe,
and as she directed one modest little
glance toward Mr.. Hodson, that amiable
but astutc on-looker naturally inferred
that he WAS somehow concerned i'll this
speech. Mrs Murray laughed.
Well, sir, the girls are asking if You
would not like to have Il dance too and
they could have a quadrille.'
give no cause to bfag about my dane
ing, he said, 9ood-humOredly, " but If Miss
Nelly will see me through, I.dare say well
manage somehow. Will you excuse my
ignorance :"
Now the tall and slender Highland maid
had not in any way bargained for this-it
was merely friendliness that had prompted
her proposal-but she could not well re-
fuse and soon one or two sets were
formed and a young lad called Munroe
from I.arg who had brought his fiddle
with him for this great occasion, proceeded
to tune up. The quadrlle, when it came
Off, was performed with more of VigoI
} than science there was no gnominious
Sinking of steps, no idle and languid
walking, but thorough and reSolute fling
ing about, as the somewhat bewlCered Mr..
Hodson speedily discovered. However, he
did his part gallantly, and was now grown
so gay that when, AT the end of the dance
he inquired OF the fair Nelly whether she
would like to have any little rcfreshment,
and when she mildly suggested a little
: water, and offered to 90 for it herself, he
would hear of no such thing. No, no he
: went and got some saltwater, and de
clared that 1t was much more wholesome
, with little whiSkey in it and had some
himself also. Gay and callanty-why Ger
, tainly. lie threw of thirty years of his
, life; he forgot that this was the young
person who would be waiting at table after
: his daughter Carry came hither he would
| have danced another quadrille with her
7 and felt almost jealous when a young fel
. low came up to claim her for the Highland
: uiScIe-thus sending him back to the
| society of Mrs. Murray And it was not
8 until he had sat down that he remembered
: he had suggested to his daughter the
r training of this pretty Highland girl fol
the position of maid and travelling com
! panion. But what of thaty If all men
: were born equal so We're women; and he
9 declared to himself that any day he would
t rather converse with Nelly, the pretty par.
s lor-maid than with her lllustrious High
, ness the Princess of Pfalzgrafweler
o GunZenhausen.
;. ITO Re CONTINUED