Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-05-15
ahont thar FRENCH harps chat want teu. but.

Anyway queTleu DlslduuSf. NEVER steu
nuthin like it afore.p
81 hev,n sententiously replied another.
''Uncle Pete, up ter Newport he'd one. Called
it olymarjereeD, so he did,"
And so the unique remarks continued to
drop around in my hearing; and the first half
of the long change was completed. Then
the ssgentsr took their turn at balancing and
swinging and presently something trans
pired that caused me TO view the scene with
particular interest.
In the ''set" were two gaunt, overgrown
youths whom, from their general likeness to
the affronted Molly Ann Meeks, | had con-
cluded TO be her brothers; and, while it is
conceded as one of the unwritten laws of
polteness that no ''fellcrn shall slight lady
ON the ballroom floor, of all places in the
world, both of these young gentlemen, eager
to take up their sisters quarrel, pointedly
refused TO swing the innocent cause of all
this trouble and heartburning, balancing"
unconcernedly before her, and then, at the
last instant, declining her outstretched hand
and leaving her, with an exaggerated bow,
meant TO convey world of disdain and con-
tempt.
could hardly have restrained my anger
at this, but | saw, by the happy, careless
laugh that wreathed my darling's features,
that her thoughts were too full of a more de-
lightful subject to allow passing events to
trouble her in the least Therefore / could
watch the little drama with the silent amuse-
ment of an uncorned spectator.
CHANGING at Brisbane, could see that be
had noted it all, and was chatting like Gagged
lion
"It's them Meekses,n he said. He caught
my eye and interpreted my thoughts Alright.
"Ornery whelps Thar mad hekase my
Kinda is dancin' with that Teller, Ben Coffee.
Jes' see how black Molly Ann looks-an' half
the fellers here are mad, tew, fer thar all
Meekses, mighty nigh"
nodded TO intimate that | understood. /
would have spoken, but in order to keep up
with the violin | must needs use my breath
for another purpose. Just then | overheard
a loud remark, close to my elbow, from
third possessor of the Meeks physiognomy.
Jimmy bringin' up" he said in loud, SUI
percilious ones, nobody played the fiddle
hut ole niggers. Nowadays the poor white
trash hez Tux up ther trade"
Brisbane made balk in time, missed two
or three notes. and jumbled the rest of the
har together promiscuously. moment
later Meeks spoke again:
''Oh, yes, ole Brisbane used ter be more of
gentleman. but guzzling whisky hez about
laid him out.n
The violin was mute, but | kept time
going fer an instant longer.
Got a mighty purity gal" remarked an
other voice
''Ob, yes. sneeringly; "'Rinda Brisbane is
purity enough, allow, but them
The voice ceased, for had whirled around
and caught the speaker by the throat.
Take Miss Brisbane's name on your tongue
sgain and will tear it out by the roots,n
shouted. furious with anger.
Meeks shook himself loose from my grasp
and stepped back pace.
Whore we talkin' tew, little boyF' he
queried, looking down at me from the height
Of his six feet four. Reckon you must be
another one Of 'Rinda's sugar Jumps, or you
wouldn'tn-
Thumpl Despite his height managed to
plant blow between Meeks' snaky eyes. and
be measured his length on the floor
Brisbane caught me by the shoulder and
pulled me violently back His eyes were
flaming with anger and his cleaning teeth
shone like wolf fangs in the shadow of the
gray mustache.
"this is my fight, an not yourn. Fl they
want tussle with Their ole man, they kin hev
it. guess. Come on, We cowardly skunksl
Thar's forty Meeks tew one Brisbane, but be
amt afearedl Come tew me, an feel the size
OF ole Kernul Bowel"
conld see that his right hand gripped the
handle Of knife-the blade being concealed
in his sleeve. I saw Meeks staggering to his
feet and the crowd closing in, and l me
chemically grasped the revolver in my coat
pocket
At that moment there was halt in pro
ceedings A newcomer crowded through the
throng, parting them right and left: tall,
portly person whom had encountered a few
hours before and now recognized with de
light-Sam Morley, the jolly hearted Jus.
ticen of Snake Ridge.
Hold on a minute, boys" be called cheer.
iy II hate TO interrupt fair fight, but
am here on special business. and I'm in a sort
Of a hurry 10 get it over with.n
"Must be pow'rful pressin',n grumbled the
angry fiddler.
Quite so, replied the squire. Besides,
have already got my fee-and fat one, too,
and it is only fair that | should earn it at
once"
ne uFeW iIofu an inner lpChtt iolueO
paper, and looked at me inquiringly. us il
all rightf'
| hesitated: then suddenly | caught 8
glimpse of face in the backgrounds rosy,
radiant face, suffused with blashes-and
nodded quick assent.
"Then hear We. all people," shouted the
jovial Morley. holding the document aioft, IN
full view Of the puzzled, attentive throng
II have here marriage license, drawn with
all the formalities Of law, by which am
authorized TO unite in wedlock Richard Sher-
win and Marinda Brisbane. Are the parties
present.
With peculiar, half frightened sensation
at my heart | made a step forward, aud then
felt little, soft hand nestled conidingly
within my palm.
ANY body able TO produce any half way
decent objection to this matchl II so, speak
now. for its your last and only chance.
Every eye was turned upon old Brisbane's
weather beaten visage In evident perplex-
ity his eyes wandered from bis daughters
face 10 mine, then over the assembled crowd; |
until. BY chance. they rested upon the dis
colored hruise that now was plainly visible |
on the forehead Of big Tony Meeks Then
the old mans face lighted with a smile Of