Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-08-24


 Hilary, for all his instincts were social, and between them they organized and carried through successfully quite a | number of picnics, fishing parties and impromptu dances. Mary, drawn into l the vortex by her impetuous cousin, en- joyed it as much as any of them, and l felt somehow as though the springs of | youth and joy were being renewed | within her She rode and walked and fished with the rest, enjoying their pleasure and her own, and one evening she actually danced again-a thing she had not done for years. Dan had very nice tenor voice, and both the Hendersons were musical; so a part of the evenings was usually devoted to music, singing and practicing duets and having strange and inharmonious concerts, wherein Dan initiated a French horn with his mouth (and thought he times had difficulty in making the rest agree with him) and Ella whistled like 8 mocking bird, while Mary and Nan performed the instrumental part, and Anthony picked bravely on banjo.
 For Anthony had suddenly become a candidate for musical distinction. He
 
 and the natural taste for music which is so noticeable in his class in the south One evening he surprised them all by appearing with an old banjo under his arm, which he said he had bought from white man living back in the woods for five dollars.
 The man was under conviction of sin and mindful to be rid of satan and all his works; so he had sold his banjo to Ned in preference to destroying it, for in all the Scriptures there is no verse which teaches that for his souls saliva tion man shall turn his back on profit, if so be he is poor already. This Ned | told them while he strung his banjo up. and afterward, sitting down before them so that he might beat time properly with 1 heel and toe, he trolled out mining camp ditties and old plantation melodies that he had picked up from the negroes when he was boy, to a rattling accompani- ment that made the sheepskin sound l again. Once he droned for them a real 1 ly excellent imitation of an Indian fu- neral dirge, interspersed with walls and 1 curious long drawn howls, which per formance transported the little boys with admiration and caused them for l sounds of mourning that Mary was forced to interfere and make it pun ishable offense.
 Anthony, through his intercourse with Mrs. Beverley, had overcome his shyness with ladies, and enjoyed this intimate association with well bred women more even than he realized himself until he came to look back upon it. He was I boisterous, but it was summer weather and everybody was happy, so they were not captious or critical about him. With Mary, what he did and said no longer made a particle of difference; he had ceased even to jar upon her. For her, heaven and earth were filled with soft content, and all things were beautiful, all people tolerable, if not absolutely pleasant.
 The days rolled on in peace and beauty until a month had passed, and then came the little rift in the lute, the tiny cloue ill the sky.
 They had been dancing-that is, the girls and Dan and MT. Warwick, who had come up from Richmond F'for re. pairs," he said, after damaging course of civilities to Miss Cornelia? Mary played for them, and Anthony, who did not dance, leaned on the end of the piano and watched them. Dan was dancing with Ella Henderson, and after dozen turns or so, at @ word from her they stopped in the corner by the piano.
 'Let me play now, Mary" said Ella with mischief in her eyes, land take { turn yourself. It will do you lots oi good, and MT. Stewards step is just per fection."
 "Please do, Mrs. Beverley" Dan plead l ed eagerly. You have never danced with me once, and I have begged you SC often. Miss Elias compliment is to bt 1 taken with salt, but I'm sure we should 1 get on together"
 Mary hesitated q haven't danced for years," she said, half rising. "Then don't lose any more time," saiG Ella, usurping the piano imperiously "AI thought of the years is bootless our part is to chase the glowing hour with flying feet Go dance, my dear and never heed the years. Listen: Pn , going to tempt you both with Woman Love-" She glanced up, smiling as he , fingers swept over the keys.
 7 Mary danced with the beautiful UT , dulating movements of a daughter c n the south whose rect nave learned [
 follow the mazes of music from the yer LN cradle, and Dan was the partner who1
 every woman he danced with felt g 1t once that she had waited for for year, i'd Never was waltz more beautiful, neve i'd seemed a waltz more perfect, sine 1t music and movement first lent then of selves to the embodiment of dream
 and received a soul from love.
 c-I
 pair, moving softly to the softness (
 the music, for the first time 8 suspicic
 of what might be impending brol
 coldly, like the dawn of winter da,
 upon his mind. He was stunned for
 moment and stood quite motionless, vii
 his lids dropped as was his custom. Ell
 spoke to him once or twice, but recei
 ing no answer glanced at him over h
 ebou1der The Dair were DaSsinp clos