Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-05-15
THE FIDDLER'S DAUGHTER.

] hall"
Keen and shrin as the notes OF a frightened
! jay rang the opening chords of the "Arkan-
saw Traveller drawn from the gsyly rib
boned violin, by the deft fingers of sold
| Brisbane, who had furnished the music for
all the Snake Ridge ''shindigsn from time
immemorial; ''ting-aling ting" from the fly
/ ing knitting needles with which "Widder
/ Thompsons jim was ''knockin' a rude
accompaniment on the same instrument;
''thumpity thump, as heavily shod feet rat
| tied on the uneven Hoor-and the Christmas
'baln was fairly under way.
sPromenay single, back agin. One at er
time-one at er time" sang, rather than
called, the gray bearded Brisbane, following
/ his usual custom of ''dewin' his own prompt
in'n 'Trot aroun' thar lively, you Teller
1 from Pond Crick Git regular Swiss move
ment on We. an'-Fust foah, foh'd AM back
Foh'd up, an right an lef' through Git
over ON that side, Molly Ann Meeksl Lady
chain; chain-a-back; sling 'em right AM lef'
an poun' sandr
'Jes' see EN- knockin' Their backstep," ex-
claimed my companion, as we stopped just
outside the door and looked in upon the
merrymakers ''See that Teller in ther blue
shirt and big bootsl He had a pow'rful chill
this a'ternoon | seed i'm about an hour by
sun. an he was burnin' up with fever. Don't
look much like it now, duz her
He surely did not 1t was his turn to
forward and back and with proudly erect
head, one hand ON his hip, and the other ex-
tended as high as his rather diminutive
partner could reach with her finger tips, he
was executing a complicated STEP half way
between a double shuttle and series of
crow hops. ben allus did beat thar Jews
ter dance, continued my guide, with no at
tempt 10 conceal his admiration, pears like
it comes material fer him ter sling them big
feet of his'n Shucksl Eff c'u'd only daince
that way I'd never dew nothin' else"
"Who is the young lady who is dancing
with himf'
"'Rinda Brisbane. she's Their fiddler's gal.
Evybody thinks a heap of that little ole
gal. Purtiest gal on Snake Ridge, think;
blest If don'tf"
''Fust lady ter Their right, an cut er mighty
ine,n vociferated the fiddler; and the long,
quivering bow leapt across the 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
Meeks-the ''fust LADY, IN question. Swing
'em, ef yer want te y, and cheat i'm ef yer
kinr'
With enticing grace the agile dancer hoated,
for an instant, almost in reach of my friend
of the blue shirt, sprang forward, with ex-
tended arms, aud then, with "A knocking bow,
darted aside, and back to her own partner.
who Swung her" with rude courtesy, and es-
corted her on to the third gent, who had al
ready prepared for her coming by backing
out into the circle and commencing very
awkward but energetic war dance in honor
of her arrival.
Ibid you see thatr' queried bystander
anxiously.
Cheated Ben Coffee !" muttered my com
paniou, in almost breathless excitement.
Don't that beat YER
Thought Ben an Molly had done made it
up ter maryFn remarked third. Whats
wrong now, / wonderi'
"It's all on account Of that Brisbane gall
eagerly asserted an elderly lady, who had
lighted her corn cob pipe and stationed her
self in the doorway. II knowed thar'd be
trouble when Ben TUX Kinda on Their floor fer
the first dance Molly Ann amt goin' ter be
run over by no SIGH trash as them Brisbanes.
Il don't run in Their Meek's family ter play
second fiddle ter nobody
II reckon Ben KIN dance with who be
pleases, muttered the stalwart youth who
had accompanied me from the little hotel at
Snake Ridge Village. Course he'd rather
daince with Kinda, ey'y time Anybody
would-an' 50 would II Kinda is a nice little
gal, ef she has bin off ter skule: thar hain't a
A
left him arguing the case with the garru-
lous old dame, and crowded my way through
the room 10 the fiddler's side. He acknowl-
edged the presence Of stranger with a slight
nod, and moved along on the rude bench in
order that might be seated.
I" Second gal dance as purity as she kinr-
Evenin' stranger. Take a seat-swing that
man In ther staked am ridered shirtl Looks
a little like rain outside reckon-po'rful big
ring aroun the moon las night Balance ter
Their nex'-Hope it'll keep dry tell gether
my corn-'Swing him ef yer love imam
git my house re-kivered, bekase-' Balance ter
Bill jackson, thar'-the ole house leaks like a
sfter-'S Swing i'm eff We hev tew. Swing yer
honey, an all corn breadr
was. as it CHANGED. a fair performer on
the clarinet. and had my favorite instrument
with me.
As it caught Brisbane's eye he nodded his
head IL approval
"Chip in he exclaimed, as he started the
third lady on her trip around the circle.
'This ere ole shell is tuned ter concert pitch;
| allus keep 'er thar. Put on full head of
steam an make 'er toot lively"
The first blast on the ''leetle hawn,n rs one
Of the bystanders at once termed it. drew the
attention OF everybody in the room. The
.Widder Thompson's Jim stopped knock
in" the strings and dropped his knitting
needles in surprise. while dancers and spec
tators alike favored me with stares of sur
prised interest. In the entire assembly
noted but one exception to the general rule,
Kinda Brisbane, "the fiddler's little ole gal
as my companion had lately termed her-my
own demure little Rinda-gave one startled
glance in my direction, and then her eyes
dropped. aud l could discern a wave Of color
sweep over her face.
She bad been expecting my coming, but
not 50 soon: and the notes Of the clarinet,
50 familir 10 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 was
the only sign Of recognition ON the part of