The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-09

doors ana WINDOWS bub ne RuoW tu4h
was Gros Leonis ball, which he had
heard the boys talking about all the
week.
Suppose he should stand in the door
way an instant and exchange a word
with the dancers? It would not take a
moment.
Chouchoute dismounted, fastened bis
horse to the fencepost and proceeded to-
ward the house.
The room, crowded with people young
and old, was long and low, with rough
beams across the ceiling, blackened by
smoke and time. Upon the high man
telpiece single coal oil lamp burned
and none too brightly.
In a far corner, upon o platform Of
boards laid across two -four barrels, sat
Uncle Ben. playing upon squeaky fid-
die and shouting the figures"
"Ahl Via Chouchoutel" some one
called.
"Ehl ChouchouteI"
"Jus' in time, Chouchoute; yere's Miss
Leontine waitin fer partna."
"S'lute yo' partnasP' Uncle Ben was
laundering forth; and Chouchout, with
one hand gracefully behind him, made a
profound bow to Miss Leontine, as he
offered her the other.
Now Chouchoute was noted far and
wide for his skill as dancer. The mo-
ment he stood upon the floor fresh
spirit seemed to enter into all present.
1t was with renewed vigor that Uncle
Ben intoned his ''Balancy ALL Fus fo'
fo'ard an bRckl"
The spectators drew close about the
couples to watch Chouchoute's wonder
full dancing.
"It takes Chouchoute to show 'em de
step, val" proclaimed Gros Leon, with
fat satisfaction, to the audience at large
Look 'imi look i'm yonda! Ole Ben
got to work hard an dat If he want to
keep up wild Chouchoute, vaT'
So it was; encouragement and adula-
ton on all sides, till, from the praise
that was showered on him, Chouchoute's
head was as light as his feet.
At the windows appeared the dusky
faces Of the negroes, their bright eyes
cleaning as they viewed the scene
within and mingled their loud outlaws
with the medley Of sound that was al
ready deafening.
The time was speeding. The air was
heavy in the room, but no one seemed
to mind this. Uncle Ben was calling
the figures now with rhythmic sing
song;
Right an leF all rounl Swing
co'nasi"
Chouchoute turned with smile to
Miss Felicie Oh his left. his hand ex-
tended, when, what should break upon
his ear but the long, narrowing wall of
locomotive.
Then he vanished from the room.
Miss Felicie stood as he left her, with
hand uplifted, rooted to the spot with
astonishment.
1t was the train whistling for his sta
ton, and he mile and more awayl He
knew he was too late, and that he could
not make the distance; but the sound
had been a rude reminder that he was
not at his post of duty. 70
However, he would do what he could
now. He ran swiftly to the outer road,
and to the spot where he had left his
pony.
The horse was gone, and with it the
United States mail bagl
For an instant Chouchoute stood half
stunned with terror. Then, in one
quick flash, came to his mind vision of
possibilities that sickened him. Dis
grace overtaking him in this position of
trust; poverty his portion again; d his
dear mother forced to share both with
him.
He turned desperately to some negroes
who had followed him, seeing his wild
rush from the house:
"Who saw my hoss? Wat you all did
with my boss, sayT'
"Who you reckon tech yo' hoss, boy?"
gr1mbled Gustave, a sullen looking
mulatto. "You didn' have no call to
lef i'm in de road, fus' place."
"'Pear to me like | heahed a hoss
a-lopin down de road jis' now; didn' you,
Uncle Jake?" ventured a second.
''Neva heahed nuttin-nuttin t all |
'cep' dat big mouf Ben in yonda maxim
NC fuss an t'unda sto'm."
"Boysr" cried Chouchoute excitedly, |
'ebring me a hoss, quick, one of you.
I'm boun to have one! I'm boun to;
I'll give two dolla to the frs man brings |
me hoss."
Near at hand, in the "lot" that ad- |
Joined Uncle Jakes cabin, was his little |
creole pony, nibbling the cool, wet grass
that he found along the edges and in the
corners of the fence.
The negro led the pony forth. With
no further word and with one bound |
Jhouchoute was upon the animals back.
He wanted neither saddle nor bride, for
here were few horses in the neighbor-
mood that had not been trained to be
guided by the simple motions of the
,ider's body.
Once mounted, he threw himself for
ward with a certain violent impulse,
Gaming till his cheek touched the ami
mails name.
He uttered a sharp "Hei!" and at
,nce, as if possessed by sudden frenzy,
he horse dashed forward, leaving the
1ewildered black man in a cloud OF
lust.
What a mad ride it wasl On one side
vas the river bank, steep in places and
away; on the other an IN
broken line of fencing, now in straight
ines of neat planking, now treacherous
,arbed wire, sometimes the zigzag rail.
The night was black, with only such