El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-21
PAGtS 9 TO IL.

1t seemed to Edith that all the cOmpa-
ny had caught somewhat of the vacant,
ruminant expression of their own kline
The musicians were already establish
ed in q corner near the open doors lead
ing into two smaller apartments also
lighted and made ready for dancing,
into each of which the fiddler by cram
ing his neck ever so little from where
he sat upon the floor might command
the fullest view. He was not an impos-
ing parsonage, this gentleman, being
afflicted with an extreme case of stra-
bismus, while he was withal left hand
ed, holding his fiddle reversed, the end
resting upon the floor. 1t was for his
convenience in this particular presum-
ably that he preferred to squat in his
lowly, tailorlike attitude, where it
would seem in the narrow limits Of the
room that there might be danger of his
coming to grief from needless heels up
on occasion, but with all his unassum-
ing position it was no less clear that he
was sustained by very large sense of
his present Importance, as with doleful
squeaks he tuned the instrument, while
his wife, complacently seated at the
parlor organ, responded to his repeated
demand to give him "a.
Mrs. Dennison, a rosy little woman
in a white gown, something of misfit
from the shrinkage of many washings,
came in to welcome them presently,
volubly regretting that Mrs. Ellery had
not come.
cit was so unfortunate, Edith de-
clared, with polite mendacity, ''but it
was the children. She could not leave
them, you know
''But she might have brought them
surely cried the hostess in all SINGER
ity, glancing toward the improvlsed
nursery in the corner.
But L am glad that my sister Is go
ing to have glimpse of society on the
range" put i'll Hugh hastily.
Eyes, I'm glad she come, - returned
their hostess simply. Were so short of
ladies. Every one counts.
But we're not going to dance, I'm
afraid, . Hugh returned, amusedly glanc-
ing at his sister, whose face had flushed
with Il shade of dismay at this speech.
MRS. Ellery insisted that we should
come home early. If we should once be-
gin dancing. it would be all the harder
to tear ourselves away. you know"
Not going to dance?' cried Mrs.
Dennison, with such very blank ex-
preston that Edith nervously question
ed if their coming at all had not been a
mistake. why, you'll dance while
you re here surely. Why not:''
Il shall dance If my number is call
ed and you will dance with me. - cried
Hugh CALAMITY. And if | tip the fid-
der n winiS-has he soul above brib-
cry, do you think? As to my sister,
thou9h-oh, she doesn't know much
about dancing, Mrs. Dennison. Her ed
ucation has been rather neglected in
some directions. - Nobody disliked a lie
more than good natured Hugh Ellery,
but he held that there was such a thing
as jns:itiable prevarication
why, 1 should think you d want to
learn, " cried the little woman, turning
to the girl in innocent surprise
Il have thought of it, murmured
Edith uncomfortably, darting glance
of mingled amusement and reproach at
her brother, but just then happily the
numbers for the first dance were called,
and partner came to lead Mrs Denni-
son away. How could you?" the girl
muttered in smiling rebuke
81 couldn't but for you, you migrate
full young woman! Where would you be
now but for ME, I'd like to know? Stub
bling your little toes over this rough
floor. at the risk of your life. I hope
you'll not lose sight of the debt of
gratitude you owe me-" And he settled
back comfortably to view the company
now ranged in order for a quadrille.
Edith looked on, dreamily amused,
the whole performance seeming as I'M
real as a scene in a play 1t required
some self restraint to refrain from smil-
ing at the simple coquetries of the rud-
-aI A.
md occasionally at the reckless gyrations
If their jolly, flannel shirted partners
most of whom moved as though embar-
'assed by imaginary spurs upon their
heels, while not a few were almost bow
egged from Overmuch hard riding
Now and then a cry would issue
rom the calico curtained creche in the
corner, at which sound two or three anx-
Gus mothers would rush in a body to
he spot, unceremoniously DESERVING
to the great confusion of the
Iuadrilles, but these episodes seemed to
Ne accepted quite as matter of
curse, scarce calling for even smile
" way of comment. Most of all Edith
ound herself diverted by the humor de-
-eloped in the cross eyed master of GER
monies, who, while scraping out
tightly original rendering of Sweet
'iOlets' and "Old Dan Tucker, was
ully alive to his duties of prompter.
which he appeared to think great fun.
All chaw hay, " he would blithely cry
vhen chassez was in order, while his
erslon of call hands round" was to
dmonish all vehemently to Keep
-hool>in an a-hookin an a-hookin,'' the
ariation evidently suggested by the To-
al custom of locking elbows instead Of