Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1897-02-25

ID some grove beside 8 spring, beat the
iearthen door hard and smooth. covered
II an inch deep ia bran or sawdust. set
theatiddlers and the prompter high At
one side, made rough tables for the bar.
sbecue dinner and asked fall theiconnty3
to come and be merry. Dancing began
az early in the morning as enough
dancers could be got together and lasted
throughout the day. Waltzes were I'M
known, the cotillon even looked at
askance, but tho good company gavei its
whole heart and mind and feet to the
Or adrille and the Virginia reel. Ste.
phen's bran dance had a few modern
improvements, notably in the music
which was to be made by a full string
band of much local renown. There
would be broiled chicken. boiled ham,
cake, Ice cream and fruit Of all sorts to
supplement the barbecue, not to men.
tion tea and coffee, lemonade and fresh
sweet cider. Then, too, the invitations
were simply gorgeous printed In col
ored ink upon cream laid embossed pa
per. Only ladies received them. Any
man Of good social standing was free to
come II he pleased. II an objectionable
one appeared, he was promptly warned
of the grounds by the floor manager,
who upon this occasion was to bedeck
himself with sash and q badge worthy
the chief of militia parade.
1t was agreed upon all sides that
Stephen had ''laid himself OUT over
Z the affair. His heart !; swelled with
pride as he drove slowly past and found
everything going exactly as he would
have it. 1t was good omen, quite good
enough, in fact, to Danish his super
astitious feeling over being forced to tell
his love Friday, notoriously the day of
bad luck. About three hours later he
stood on Major Elton piazza the hap
piest young fellow in the county. He
had come, seen, .conquered-at least he
had reason to think so. Nancy had Re.
ceived him with. .unconcealed empresse-
ment, fed him upon smiles, broiled
chicken and waffles-all were equally
. adorable. Now she: was beside him all
in vapory white, with a red rose at her
belt and another in her hat, critically
admiring the turnout, which stood at
the steps ready to receive her. Major
Elton walked slowly around eying it at
all points. Virginia bred, he rated him
self az an expert in matters Of equipage
Stephen was all impatience to be off,
but it stood him. in hand to be in the
majors good graces; so he dared not
hurry him. After the, third round the
major pulled off his hat, wiped his fore
head refectively with his red silk hand
kerchief and said patronizingly, "Pret-
ty fair, Steve. pretty fair; very we'll in
deed for young fellows buying. I
could have done better, Of course, but
I'll know more about it after I've tried
it Jump in. you two, and let's be OFF,
Stephen stood aghast. Could it be
possible that the major meant to trust
his 200 pounds to. the light narrow
vehicle that he had counted would put
him in such delicious proximity to Nam
10y? Desperately affecting to misunder-
stand, he said: lit is.time to 60 Come,
Miss Nancy! Good morning to you,
major. Tom, let 'em go''-thia last to
he black boy who stood at the heads Of
the champing, fiery, silver. roans -,
Major Elton put on all his Virginia
gentleman's dignity to say. II hope,
Mr. Hughes, that I misunderstood you:
My niece accepted your invitation for
Us both. We 60 or stay togther." ~ +
Certainly, certainly glad to have
you. didn't hear. Let me help you
in, Stephen said breathlessly, but
through set teeth and with eyes Of
snothered fury. TWAS not so much the
spelling Of his ride with. Nancy aa the.
ridiculous figure he would cut driving
up before the crowd in such a plight
that moved him to wrath Of the deepest
dye. What il Tom Beasley; the rival
he most dreaded, should .overtake them,
on the road! That, atleast, should not
happen. With scant ceremony Stephen
bundled the major in. handed Nancy
into the narrow space beside him, clam
bered up, ,braced himself against the
edge of the seat which alone was visi..
Die between them, and sent the silver
roans away at a siapping pace The road
ran straight over region Of: long I'M
dulant swells. His span could take over.
twice the weight now behind them
at top speed. Go they must and, should
even If they had = to breast ruinous
sleeps. - -. - - x :
Go they did. The first mile was. Gov
cred at such a..rate that Major Elton
could only sit ;breathless and silent
while Nancy, pale to.rthe lips, chung
openly to Stephens arm. But neither
war; pestilence nor earthquake could
long stop the majors tongue. Reaching
forward, he laid hand on the reins
and said, with his usual serene patron
u . :
z,s0 70