The Republican journal., 1885-08-27
BELFAST, MAINE, THURSDAY, AUGUST 81, 1885,

~SS 4OOos
| Their companions who had taken other
| directions in their explorations had re-
turned before them. They had not found
any news and indeed, failed worse than
| Norton and Kennedy, for they did not
even meet good looking girl to cheer
| them up. The afternoon and evening
were passed by our friends in reading old
papers and card playing, after they had
sent off their rather dull dispatches to
their respective papers. The next day
several of the boys we're called home by
the managing editors of their papers, but
Norton, Kennedy and Lansing remained,
having been requested by their journals
to stay over the holidays, as reports had
been telegraphed from Pittsburg that the
Knights of Labor, were asking the leaders
of the miners unions to resist the impor-
tations of foreigners to the mines, at all
hazards. Time hung heavily with the
correspondents all that day and the next,
which was Christmas Eve.
After supper on Christmas Eve, the
boys sauntered into the barroom to
watch the crowd of revelers there assem-
bled.
A sorry looking turkey was being
ratified, in which Will Kennedy took a
chance, won the bird, and had to treat
the crowd, which cost him $2.4O. .
'pve got enough of this said be as he
handed the turkey over to a miner for a
Christmas present. Lets go down to
the dance at Mulhaney's and see what
it's like. Our friend Lansing may get a
good society item while we shake foot
and steal squeeze from some of the
miners girls.
His companions we're in for it, and in a
few minutes they were on their way down
the road.
The Old Fort presented merry rough
and tumble scene that Christmas Eve,
and from the sound of the jingling glasses
and dscordant string instruments, the
outsider would not imagine that the min
ers were on strike, and had little money
to spare for fun. No doubt the nickles
and dimes that went over the bar were
more needed at home to buy bread. just
back of the barrOom in the Old Fort was
large apartment, which Mulhaney call
ed his parlor. For this occasion, how
ever, its time hOnored furniture and
threadbare carpet had been removed.
Huge branches OF green Zine ornamented
the four corners of the WhiteWashed
walls, while testOons of eyergreens hung
about in no very artistic designs, never
theless, adding an air of Christmas to the
scene. Perched upon three -four barrels
a of ha ~,
chestra, us MIR. Mulhaney proudly named
the trio Of miners, two of who'll scratched
away on fiddles that for age ought to
have sold for a fortune, while the third
musician picked and sawed away by
turns on Uery bass viol. When Norton
and his friends entered, escorted by Mr.
Mulhaney, who had put on big red
necktie and clean white apron for the
occasion, the orchestra was playing
Mollie Darling in waltz time, and score
OF couples were pirouetting around the
room in more or less graceful style. At
sight OF the strangers, the tiddlers rested
their bows, and there was halt in the
dance.
Time for refreshments y called one of
the young miners, and he gave his part
ner regular mountain smack on her all
ready lips. Several other couples follow
ed suit.
Ladies and gentlemen interrupted
Mr. Mulhaney, ALLOW me to introduce to
you three gentlemen from the city. They
are reporters (This remark made the
crowd gaze at our friends as though they
were museum monstrosities.) This gen
tleman, touching Lansing on the should
er, is society reporter, and he's come to
write up our party and do you girls all
up tine IN the papers,
Lansing here turned all colors and
looked daggers at Norton and Kennedy,
who had put up the joke on him. 4
number Of the miners shook our friends
by the hands, as did also the girls, and
all were soon acquainted. The most
novel feature of the party was the ap-
pearance of the company. The girls
were done up in all sorts of fancy rigs.
They had their heads banged and trizzed
in true city belle style. Most of them
wore worsted dresses of bright colors
Fancy ribbons adorned their necks and
girdled their waists Many of the girls
were quite fresh looking and pretty. The
boys We're dressed in their best Sunday
clothes, though some of the nobbiest
among them wore dark blue sailor Shirts
with rolling collars and black ribbon
bows.
Norton soon espied Jennie Clarkins, the
miners pert little daughter, in the merry
throng. She appeared even brighter and
prettler than when he first met her i'll the
saloon few days before Norton sought
her hand for waltz, and found that she
as as light on her feet as deer
Following this dance was the quadrile
Tucker, and never was it danced in a
more rollicking way. Both girls and boys
popped up and down, round and round,
like wild, to the furious music Norton
was standing apart from the dancers,
enjoying their capers, when suddenly he
gave start, uttered a cry of surprise,
and, dartlng into the midst of set Of
dancers, stopped and picked up a glitter
ing trinket that some one of the dancers
had dropped. His action had not been
noticed; and, hurrying over to a corner
Of the room, he drew from his pocket the
blue silk garter with the silver clasps.
Yes . Yes they match he muttered
in quick undertone The article he had
so eagerly picked up from the floor was
garter, worn and faded. One Of the
clasps had been substituted by an ordi-
nary buckle; but on the remaining silver
clasp were the initials ~ H. But who
was the owner Of the silken band Nor
ton, partly recovered from his surprise,
turned and looked at the crowd. The
dance was over. The company were
marching out in couples to the kitchen 10
indulge in the substantial refreshments of
hot coffee and sandwiches. A thought
struck Norton, and he did not join the
throng, but waited in the dancing room.
Soon all were gone, but in a minute one
of the girls returned.
She was Jennie Clarkins. Norton pre-
tended not to see her, and walked tow
ards the door leading to the bar. He
noticed the girl, however, scan the floor
anxiously in every direction. Then she
hurried into the barroom, called her
father; and when he came to her side in
the doorway, Norton overheard her re-
mark: 'Oh. Dad I've lost my good luck
garter
The miner at once became as agitated
cLo