Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-12-20
he TodK IN THE DANCE.


From the Courier-1ournAl.
Speaking Of practical jokes" " said a
drummer at one of the hotels the
other night, 81 was the victim Of one
Of the most embarrassing have heard
Of for a long time. It was during my
first trip south, and not being familiar
with the people In this part Of the
country, thought / had found a real
ly sociable place, when three young
'swells of the town with whom l had
Seea talking the evening before asked
me to go with them to dance that
was to be given at a female seminary a
few miles from this city. / had been
away from home for some time, and
not having the pleasure Of being in
the company of young ladies l was
fairly delighted at the idea Of spend
ing n pleasant evening.
II told them l would be pleased 10
go, and, after hurried preparation, we
started. The young men laughed at
the idea Of my paying anything to-
ward the carriage hire, and l felt that
l had never been in the company of a
more hospitable set of men.
when we arrived at the place the
dance had already begun. We left
the carriage in care OF negro man
and entered the ball room. OF course
l felt very strange at first among so
many strangers, but my companions
seemed to feel quite at home, and in
sisted that l should meet some Of the
young women at once. One OF the
young men took me by the arm and
led me across the room to where there
sat a young woman, who was rather
pretty and had an extremely neat ap-
pearance.
"After receiving sh'lntroduction to
her sat down and started conver'
sation. Soon she was talking at ar
astonishingly rapid rate. / became
rather interested in the girl, but was
very much surprised te learn that she
was the twentieth daughter Of {
wealthy farmer. At last she began tt
talk and laugh SO loudly that begar
to feel a little embarrassed, and asked
her il she did not want to dance
She was on her feet in an instant, anC
we had danced few steps when SHIT
suddenly yelled out at the top Of hel
voice: 'Don'tl Doh't! oh, dom
hold me so tight. l am full Of dy
Mantle, and she uttered a yell tha
made the cold.schills ruu down ml
back.
81 turned her loose in an instant
and stood simply Mortified. l felt lik'
swearing when tile other people il
the room only laughed and went oil
dancing l did not know what to do
l knew l had done nothing l SHOULD
not have done, Intentionally, at least
but started up to her with an apollo
gy, when one of my companions cam
up with ybung woman on his arm
He gave me an intr6duction to her
and asked me II / would not dane
the next set with her. l did not fee
like dancing u bit, but there was n
way of getting out Of it, so [ told hin
l would. While we were sitting dow
waiting for the next dance she toll
me she had been married fourtee
times and had 1000 children at home
l thought she was just trying to jok
me, and asked her where she lived
She said she lived in heaven. l kne'
something was wrong with her, and
made up my mind right there that
would not dance with her. / aske
her to excuse me moment, and with
out waiting for reply rushed acros
the room toward the door. though
to myself that if once get on th
outside would never attend anothe
swell dance in Kentucky.
II got within few feet Of the doc
when an old woman ran up and threv
, her arms around my neck. She yelle
out that was her lost son, who ra
away from home 400 years ago, whe
was a mere child. / tried to tea
myself away from the woman and sh
tainted at my feet. made dart fc
the door, and when l reached Oh
+ threshold / looked back and saw SCI
eral persons carrying her off the foo
: was dazed. expected to be arres
> ed every moment. saw man ou
side and asked him if there was not
train leaving that place soon. II
said there would be one going to Loui
Vile ia about an hour, and ! conclut
}. ed to wait around the little station nj
t til it was ready to leave. do not r
member to have ever heard mol
: welcome sound than the whistle
that train after spending an hour
You Can believe
The testimonials published in beha
4 of Hoods sarsaparilla. They a
written by honest people, who ha'
h actually found in their own expeI