The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-25


comfortable arrangement for those who
occupied the back seats, but torIure to the
adults who were obliged to camp their
legs inside the desk where che primer
class sat on school days.
Bette saw with tenderness :7ow devot-
eddy poor Ed served Maud. He could not
have taken a better method Of heaping
Goals of fire on her head.
Ed was entirely unconscious OF her
softeuing, however, for he coui9 not look
around from where he sat. He heard her
laughing and believed she was happy. He
had not taken poor Maud for the purpose
of showing his penitence, for he had no
suchfeellng in his heart, he was. on the
contrary, rather gloomy and reckless. He
was not in q mood to show. however,
front of indifference.
The oysters steamed, the heals of the
boys boots thumped in wild delight. the
women hustled about, the girls gggled and
the men roared with laughter. Everybody
ate as if he and she had never tasted Ovs-
ter soup and chicken before and the cakes
and pies went the way o. the oyster soup
like corn before q troop of winter turkeys.
Bill Yohe. by way of a joke, put some
frosting down the back of Cy Hurd, and
by way of delicate attention to Ella alter.
nately showed her out of the seat and
pulled her back again, while Je hurled
chicken leg at Cad Hines as she stood in
the entry way. Will Kinney told Sary
Hines for the fourth time how his team
ran away, interrupted by his fear that
some kind of pie would get away untasted:
AN so laid the lines down-H 'yarel
gimme another handful of crackers, Merry
an laid the lines down while / went t
find-Nary a noyster can hold any more.
Mrs. Moss, I'm ready FIR pie ne-an' so
noticed ole Franks eye kinda roll. but,
thinks 1, en- git holt o. the lines if he
Yes'm, aiwiss eat mince. won't you try
c..
ax--You bet! I'm goin' T. try piece Of
every kind if it busts my ssummick.
Gutta git my moneys worth"
Milton was in his best mood and was
very attractive in his mirth. His fine
teeth shone and his yellow curls shook un.
der the stress of his laughter. He wrestied
with Bette for the choice bits OF cake. de-
lighting in the touch of her firm. sweet
flesh, and as for Bette she was almost
charmed to oblivion of Ed by the superior
attractions of Millions town-bred gallan-
try. Ed looked singularly awkward and
lonesome as he sat sprawled out IN one OF
the low Seats and, curiously enough, his
uncouthness and disconsolateness OF attl-
tude won her heart back again.
Everybody, with the usual rustic free
dom, had their remarks to make upon the
situation.
WA, Bette, made swop. hev yehP"
said Council.
q
down town."
80, I keep one at each end of the line,"
Milton replied with his ready laugh.
wal, l swan t. gudgeon! l can't keep
track O. you town fellers. Your too busy
IF me" said Mr.. Council.
Carrie Hines came up behind the two
and put her arms around their necks and
brought their cheeks together. Bette
grew purple with anger and eznbarrass-
ment, but Milton, with his usual readiness,
said, THANK you," and reached for the
tittering malefactor's waist. Nobody
noticed it, for the room was full of such
romping.
The men were standing around the stove
discussing political outiooks and the
matrons were busy with the serving Of the
supper. Out of doors the indefatigable
boys were beginning again on pom pom
pullaway.
Supper over the young folks all returned
to the house across the way leaving the
men of elderly blood to talk on the grange
and the uselessness of the middlemen.
Sport began again in the Dudley farm
house bv dozen or so of the young peo-
pie forming on" for ''weevily wheat"
Weevilv wheat was "donation dance"
AS it would have been wicked to have a
fiddle to play the music, singers were sub
sung, while the couples bowed and bal
anced and swung in rhythm to it
Come hthcr. my love, and trip together
In the morning early
I'll give to you the parting hand,
Although / love you dearly.
But 'front.' have none of y'r weevilly wheat,
An won't have none OF y'r barley,
But have some -four in q half an bour
To bake a cake for Charley.
oh. Charley. he is q fine young man:
Charley. he is dandy.
Oh, Charley, hes q fine young MAG,
FIR he buys the girls some Candr,
Oh, 'front.' have none of yr weevslly wheat;
won have none of y'r barley:
But have some -four in half sour
To bake cake for Charley.
Oh. Charley, he's. etc.
Milton was in the thick of this most
charming old-fashioned dance, which
probably dates back to dances on the
green in England or Norway. Bette was
good dancer. and as she grew excited
with the rhythm and swing of the quaint,
plaintIve music her form grew supple at
the waist and her large limbs light, as she
and Milton moved up and back between
the two ranks OF singers, then DOWN the
outside, and laughed in glee when they
accelerated the pace at the time when
they went swinging down the ceater. All
faces were aglow and eyes shining. They
were good to see. these young people, at
such moments.
Bills red face and bullet eyes were not
beautiful, but the grace and power of his
body were unmistakabie. He was ex-
cited by the music, the alcohol he had been
drinking and by the presence of the girls,
and threw himself into the play with Wed
abandon.
Under his iIl-ftting coat his muscles
rolled swift and silent. His tall boots
were brilliantly blue and starred with gold
at the top. and his pantaloons We're tucked
inside these tops to let their glory strike
the eye. His physical strength and grace
and variety of "steps" called forth many
smiles and admiring EXPLANATIONS from
the girls, and caused the young men to
lose interest in "weev!lly wheat
When new set was called for Bill made
determined assault on Bette and secured
her, for she did not have the firmness to
refuse. But the singers grew tired and
the set soon broke up, and a game of for
felt was substituted. This also iwindled
down to mere excuse for lovers to kiss
each other. and the whole company soon
separated into little groups to chatter and
romp. Some few sat at the table in the
| parlor and played authors"
Bette was becoming annoyed by the
| attent ons of Bill. and to get rid of him
| went with Miss Lytle, Milton ard two or
| three others into another room and shut
| the door. This was not very unusual, but
| poor Blackler seemed to feel Il direct
| atfront TO him and was embittzred. He
| was sitting by Ella Pratt when Bill Yohe
staggered up to him.
Say! Do you know where your girl
| is?"
mo. an don't care"
"Wali Its time " cared. She's in the
| other room there. Milt Jennings has cut