The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-04-27
THE FIDDLER'S DAUGHTER.

bands an circle Their hall-an' circle Their
hallr'
Keen and shrill as the notes Of frightened
| jay rang the opening chords Of the "Arkan-
saw Traveller drawn from the gayly rib
boned violin, by the dcft fingers Of "Oh
Brisbane, " who had furnished the music for
al the Snake Ridge "shindiss" from time
inmamorial, 'ting-a.ing ting from the fly
ing knitting needles with which "Widder
rhompsons jim was "Anockin'n a rude
accompaniment on the same instrument;
''thumpity thump," as heavily shod feet rat
lied on the uneven noor-and the Christmas
'baln was fairly under way.
"Promouay single back agin One at er
time-one at or time sang. rather than
callsd the gray bearded Brisbane. following
bis usual custom Of "lewin' his own prompt
n'.n "Trot aroun' thar lively, YOU Teller
from Pond Crick Git a regular Swiss move
ment on SO. unjust foah, fohd an back
Fohd mp. an right am Jeff throughl Git
over on that side. Molly ann Meeksl Lady
chain: chain-a-blck. sling 'em right an lef'
am pouu' andw
"Jes' see 'em kn0ckin Their baclstep.7 ex-
clamcl my companion, as we stopped just
outside tie door and looked in upon the
merrynakcrs "See that Teller in Their blue
shirt and big boots' lie had pow 'rful chill
this afternoon. | seed i'm about an hour by
sun. au he was buruin' mp with fever. Don't
look much like 20 now, duz herr
lie surely did not 10 was bis turn 10
forward and back and with proudly erect
Iuf. I.f
tended rs high as his rather diminutive
partner could reach with her finger tips, he
was executing a complicated step, half way
between double shuiilen and series Of
crow hops "Ben allus did beat thar Jews
Ter dainco, continued my guide, with no at
tempt 20 conceal his admiration, pears like
it comes material Ter him ter sling tuem big
feet Of hisn Shuci.sl Ef c'u'd only daince
that way Id never dow nothin' else"
"Who is the young lady who is dancing
with HING
Kinda Brisbane she's Their flidler's gal
Ey'ybody thinks heap OF that little ole
gal. luriiest gal ON Snake Ridge, l think;
blest IL don'tw
"Fust lady ter Their right. an cut 'er mighty
fne,n Moderated the fiddler: and the long,
quigering bow leapt across TIE strings with
renewed vigor. while the KEEN gray eyes,
sparkling amidst a tangled wilderness Of brist-
ling beard and dangling foretop. critically
noted the 1.-the movements Of Molly Ann
Mceks-the 'fust lady" IN question. "Swing
'em If yer want tew, and cheat i'm ef yer
kinm
With entlcing grace the agile dancer f0ated,
for an instant, almost in reach Of my friend
Of the blue shirt, sprang forward, with ex-
tended arms. and then, with a mocking bow,
darted aside. aud back % her own partner,
who "swung hers with rude courtesy, and cs-
corted her on 90 the third gent, who had al
ready prepared Tor her coming by backing
out into the circle and commencing "A very
awkward but energetic war dance IN honor
Of her arrival.
"Dl you see thatr queried a bystander
anxiousiy.
Cheated Ben C0lleeW muttered my COM
nanion. in almost breathless excitement.
Don't that beat YER
Thought Ben am Molly had done made it
mp ter marry" remarked a third. "What's
wrong now, / wonder"
"Its an on account of that Brisbane gal'-
eagerly asserted am elderly lady, who had
lighted her corn cob pipe and stationed her
SELF in the doorway. II knowed thard be
trouble when Ben TUX Kinda ON Their floor fer
the first dance Molly Ann amt goin ter be
run over by mo- sich trash as them Brisbanes
10 dome run I'm ther Meeks family ter play
second fiddle ter nobody"
81 reckon Ben kn dance with who he
plaases, p mutterei the stalwart youth who
bad accompanied me from the little hotel 40
Snake Ridge Village "Courso he'd rather
daince with 'Binla. oy'y tmel Anybody
woud-an' so would 10 Kinda is a nice little
gal. Of She has bin OIL ter skule; thar hain't a
nicer one boz Arhansaw-nOwna
left him arguing the case with the garru-
lous oh dame, and crowded my way through
the room 90 the iiddier's side. lie ackno"l-
edged tho presence OF a stranger with slight
nod, and moved along on the rude bench d.
order that ] might be seated.
" Second gal dance as purity as She KIM
Evcuin' stranger. Take seat-swing that
man iu iler staked au ridered Shirt Looks
o little like rain outside reckon-porful big
ring ar0un' the moon ms night Balance ter
Their nex'-Ilope itl keep dry tell l gether
my corn-'Swing him ef yer love imam
citmv house re-kivered bekase-' Balance ter
Bill jackson, thar'-ihe ole house leaks like
sifter-'SRing i'm ef ye hey tew. Swing yer
honey, an all corn breadl
was. as 10 chancCd, q fair performer ON
the clarinet, and had 10y favorite instrument
with me.
As it caught Brisbanes eye he nodded his
head in approval
"Chip in, he exclaimed, as he started the
third lady ON her trip around tine circle.
"This ere olo she'll is tuned ter concert pitch;
alias keep or thar. Put on full head of
steam am make 'er toot lively"
The first blast ON the "leetle hawn, MS one
Of the bystaudcrs al once termed il. drew the
attention OF everybody in the room. The
"Wdder Th0mpson's JIM stopped knock
inn tine strings and dropped his knitting
needles in surprise, while dancers and spec
tators alike favored me with stares Of SUP
pri.ed interest. I'm the entire assembly
noted but one exception TO the general rule,
Kinda Brisbane, "the iildler's little ole gal,
ass my companion had lately termed her-my
own demuro little 'Rinda-gave one startled
glance in nay direction, and then her eyes
lronped. and could discern a wave of color
sweep over her face.
Cue INl NH-U tAl'HNtlli- NY N'.4-i'1f ''-N
not 50 soon, and the notes Of the clarinet,
50 familir 20 her ear in the bright, beautiful
days Of the past summer, had been TO her the
first intimation of my presence.
Our eyes met. for an instant, but that as
the only sign Of recognition on the part OF
either. ! restrained my desire 70 rush TO her
side and turned my attention strictly 70 my
duties as assistant musician. Ny sole bust
ness on this particular occasion was 20 pro
pitiato stern and unrelenting parent"
and / was determined TO let nothing what
eyer swerye mo from ny purpose.
Old Brisbane seemed delighted with the
slight assistance / offered him; patted his
foot with renewed vigor, leaned his head far
Their 10 the left, and the long bow swept the
strings with a multitude Of grandiloquent
curves and gestures Despite the frequent
occurrence OF yariou, twists and turns, not
originally found in the score OF the "Arkan-
saw Traveller" had but little difficulty in
following his version of tho tune, greatly %
the satisfaction Of all those within hearing
That's what I call musicw announced one
gaudily attired maiden, who had crowded up
"a close 90 my side as the spreading legs Of