San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-02-10

by the dust, be heard above the din,
until, having hushed his orchestra, he
had called "Haltr dozen times.
In the intervals between the dances
we observed Larrap distributing whisky
to the better class of the emigrants. Siz-
yum did not disdain to accept the hospi-
tally of the stranger. Old Bridger's
liquid stores, now Mormon property and
for sale at the price or Jonann1sperget,
diminished fast on this festal night
''Shall we go?" whispered / to Brent
after awhile.
"Not quite yet. Old Bottery an
nounces that he is going to play polka.
Fancy polka here! That will engage
Sizzum after his rotations, so that he
will forget our friends"
'Now, brethren and saints" cried
Jake, attention for the polky! Pipe
up, Bottery"
At the sound of the creaking polka, a
youth, pale and unwholesome as a
tailor's apprentice, led out sister saint.
Others followed. Some danced teetotum
fashion. Others bounced clumsily about
Around them all stood an applauding
circle. The fiddlers scraped; the dust
flew. Sizzum and Larrap, two bad ele-
ments in combination, stood together,
cheering the dancers.
Come" said Brent, "let us get into
purer air and among nobler creatures.
How little we thought" he continued.
'when we were speaking of such scenes
and people as we have just left as pos
sible background, what figures would
stand in the foreground.'
~ am glad to be out of that noisy rab-
ble," said /, as we passed from the gate,
'sThe stars seem to look disdainfully on
them. | cannot be entertained by that
low comedy, with tragedy sitting beside
our friends wagon"
1.-THE stars" said Brent bitterly, "are
cold and cruel as destiny. There is
heaven overhead, pretending to be calm
ing and benignant, and giving no help,
while ! am thinking in agony what can
be done to save from any touch of shame
or deeper sorrow that noble daughter"
1T is fine night for gallop," re-
peated.
"There they are. Wemust keep them
out of the fort, Wade. If you love me,
detain the old man in talk for half an
hour"
Certainly; half century, if it will
do any good"
Mr.. Clitheroe and his daughter were
walking slowly toward the fort, He
appealed to us as we approached.
II am urging my daughter to join in
the amusements of the evening"" sai0
he. You know, my dear, that many of
our old Lancashire neighbors still would
be pleased to see you lady patroness of
their innocent sports and lending your
countenance to their healthy hilarity.
A little gayety will do you good, / am
sure. This ball may not be elegant, but
it will be cheerful, and of course con-
Quoted with great propriety, since Broth
er Sizzum is present. am afraid he
will miss us and be offended. That
must not be, Ellen dear. We must not
offend Brother Sizzum in any way what
ever. We must consider that his wishes
are sovereign, for is he not the chosen
apostle?"
Brent and l could both have wept to
hear this crazy, senile stuff.
pray, father DEAR" said Miss Clithe-
roe, "do not insist upon it. We shall
both be wearied out if we are up late
after our days march,"
1t was clearly out of tenderness 70 him
that she avoided the real objections she
must have to such a scene.
1T is quite too noisy and dusty fol
Miss ClitherOe in the FORT" said |, and
took his arm. Come, sir, let us wall
about and have chat in the open air."
led him off, poor old gentleman,
facile under my resolute control. All
he had long ago needed was firm man
friend to take him in hand and be his
despot, but the weaker he was the less
he could be subject to his daughter. II
is the feeble, unmasculine men who fight
most petulantly against the influence
and power of women.
"Well, Mr.. Wade," said he, perhaps
you are right. We have only to fancy
this the terrace outside the chateau, and
it is as much according to rule to prone
made here as to stife in the ballroom.
You are very kind, gentlemen, both, to
prefer our society to the entertainment
inside. Certainly Brother Bottery's VIC
lin is not like one of our modern bands,
but when was your age could dance
to anything and anywhere. l suppose
young men see so much more of the
world now that they outgrow those fan
cies sooner"
So we walked, On, away from the harsh
sounds of the ball. Brent dropped be
hind, talking earnestly with the lady.