Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-07-12

rather nave the fresh air and good horse
on hard road than the whole pack of em.
Say, don't you want some of that pink
ivy to carry home with you? Don't say
anything about the theayter to mother,
cause she's dead set against it. 1 don't
know of anything she hates worse, less
it's moth millcrs."
Mirabel received the flowers silently.
The color had deepened in her checks in
the cool morning breeze. Dan noticed it.
you're chirpin up already" he said.
II spose schoolteachin WARM work 1
know I'd hammer all the kids into mush
If they bothered me the way we used to
work 1t on Miss Perkins You never knew
Miss Perkins; did you? l spose you
might, bcin in the came business"
enc" answered Mirabel 81 never saw
her"
"Wcll, she didn't look much like you.
She came from -Four Corners, and she woro
spectaclcs, and when she got mad her frizzes
would slip around over her ear. Do you
whale your boys much?'
Mirabcl laughed. mo- 1 guess not, 4"
she answered. "But don't see yet why
you feel so toward the theatcr. I'm Suro
it would be a great deal easier to get your
living by dancing and singing little ev-
cry night than it would by grubDing all
day in a nasty old school"
81 dunnop Dan shook his head disap-
provingly. "a woman might just as well
cut her head off among our folks as to
think of such thing. Once there was
girl called Florinda Bridges, and she
wanted to 60 actin, and her father near
broke his heart about it. 1t was such q
disgrace to the family that they all finally
broke up and moved away. l shouldn't
want any of EN- related to me-"
That ended the matter for the remainder
of Mirabcls stay. She went driving daily
with Dan, and they grew very friendly.
Miranda observed it, but had no objection
except the natural shrinking Of a mother
from giving up her boy. 81 always want
ed schooltcachGr in the family" she
thought. "Shc'll do more for Dan than l
could. Hos little rough yet. And, oh,
if some day l should have grandson, and
he should grow up to be u minister"
Every Sunday the Kccnes and their
boarders drove solcmnly into town to the
Presbyterian church. Mirabcl pleaded
tendency to headache as reason for stay
ing at home. She liked the silence and
loneliness when all We're gone. One Sun
day morning a slight accident occurred on
the way into town, and Dan, leaving the
others, brought back the horses and carry
all for repairs. He whistlcd for Mirabel
rs he ncarcd the house, but could not see
her. So, disappointed, he drove on to the
barn. 1t was closely shut in l9Opcr Sab
bath order, but as Dan started to push
aside the heavy doors an unusual sound
surprised him. 1t was womuu's voice,
singing gay, rhythmic tune and, accom-
panying it, u ClaShing as of little silver
bells.
Dan thought he recognized the voice.
He left the doors and made his way quietly
by some side stairs to the loft. Eorgctful
of his Sunday clothes, he threw himself
upon the hay and looked down. In the
center of the floor stood Mirabrl, dressed
in fantastic fashion, with q short red skirt,
little black Jacket, fringcd with coins, a
little spanglcd cap, and in her hand
round thing, gay with strCamCrs and bells.
Her neck and arms were bare and bcaut-
full. She was singing now in n low, monot-
onous tone, swaying softly to and fro.
Then the melody grew gaycr. The nimble
feet could hardly follow the rapid notes.
Faster and faster went song and step. At
last with a final crash of the bells, the
singer stopped, and sweeping low bow to
the cOrncrib sank down on heap of hay
Dan, entranccd, did not move. Some
calico garments were lying near her. She
picked these up, and after few moments
of energetic tanning put them on over her
other costume. She took off her cap and
let down her dark hair in wild wavy
cloud about her pretty head. The gilded
slippers We're kicked off and replaced by
coarse black ones. IVA hah!' rang out u
nearly negro laugh, and with n bound tho
transformed Topsy began hocdown which
outdid the performance of any plantation
belle. Pattcr, patter, pnttcr clicked her
feet on the floor. Dan could hardly help
laughing outright, and when she stopped
suddenly, threw back her head and burst
into her "Ya hah hahI" again he forgot
all caution and Joined in in hearty buyish
glce.
At the FIRST sound Of his voice Mirabel
stood still and silent "Oh, it's only me,
Dan called out to her, swinging himself
down from the loft "You needn't be
scared Gosh, how you can dance" With.
out knowing exactly why, he took her
hand. 1t was the first woman's hand he
had ever held in that way. His cheeks red
dcned, and nc was conscious of perfumed
hair and white arm near enough to kiss.
Mirabcl looked up at him, half laughing,
half afraid.
whoa, there! whoa, tell you'll Where
can the boy hGv got to, leavin the horses
standin here like this?n 1t was Father
Keene's voice Mt the barn door, and in the
distance screamed tho minister's children,
running down the yard
Good LordW whispered Dan, dropping
Mirabel's hand, cts the folks come home
from church, and 1 clean forgot about
EN-. How in thunder did they get here?"
Mirabel caught his sleeve. "Oh, what
shall 1 dor They mustn't see me like this.
They'd think was crazy. You must hide
me somewhere, quickr' Dan looked
blankly Mt her, then around the barn.
There amt any place but the hayloft,"
he said.
"Well, take me there" answered Mira
bel, sweeping various garments into
hasty bundle. Dan caught her up in his
arms and sprang for the ladder. Just as
the barn door slid open they dropped be-
hind the ridge of the hay.
Farmer Keenc led in the horses, fol-
lowed by the three children. Its mighty
queer, he was saying" tarnation queer
Dams always been such a steady, regular
chap. l never knOwed him to leave the