The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-04-09

cation and refinement. The girls SIM
pered and whispered among them
selves, and the men turned with one
consent to Marie.
"Well, it must be Marie" said An
tome. "She's the prettiest girl in the
parish"
eyes, Marie, Mariev' said others.
Alphonse had a mind to speak, but
he dared not, for he saw that he could
not contradict Antoine and he also
saw that Marie would be handed over
to this handsome stranger.
"Goodp' said the stranger. 'Then
let it be Marie" not looking toward
her-'that is" he added, eff Marie is
willing"
Now they made way for her to come
forward and said, "Here-here she is"
Marie came down slowly, not look
ing at the stranger, and his eyes did
not dwell upon her face They rose no
higher than her neck. where she wore
little cross of gold.
Good" he said again, good"
Then as she came nearer he contin-
ued in an offhand way, "My name is
Camille, Marie"
She did not more than whisper the
words, IN. Camille" and held out her
| hand, still not raising her eyes to hia
| face.
He took her hand and clasped it. AS
he did so q sound almost like a moan
| broke softly from her lips. There was
so much noise and chattering that per-
haps no one noticed it except Babette
and Medallion, but they were watch
I ing-watching.
All at once Marie broke away with
wild little laugh. "Chut" she said
as she danced in among the other girls,
changed all in an instant. He'll be
tired of me before the things over"
"1 es," said Medallion under his
breath; 'as he was before. Yet I'm not
so sure either"
Medallion was only specializing.
Ten minutes afterward M. Camille
was seated on a little platform at the
end of the room, raised about six inches
from the floor playing for the dancers.
Marie was dancing with Alphonse.
"You think he's handsomeW asked
Alphonse furtively.
"Oh he's so vainv' she said. "Look
at the way he switches the bow!'
"And listen how he calls off the
Dances" continued Alphonse, delight
ed; mot half so good as Vigord. And
such airs; such airs! Who's he, any
how? We don't know; likely some
scalawag from Quebec"
perhaps he's a prince" said the girl,
laughing.
"Prince? Bosh! Where's his mus
tache" Alphonse stroked his own
carelessly, one arm around Marie's
waist. "Why, he's shaved like priest"
Something peculiar flashed into Ma
rie's eyes, and she looked for a mo-
ment inquiringly at Alphonse. eyes,
just like priest" she said.
The dance went on. NJ. Candles
clear, resonant voice rang out over the
heads of the dancers: Ladies' chain
there you go-right and left-balance
to partners-promenade ALP And so
on, the words bending and injecting
to the music like a song, with here
and there laughing phrase thrown in
at a stumbling habitant or a pretty
compliment to some blushing girl,
whose eyes, as well as her feet, danced
q reply to the master of the revels.
Never was such music heard in the
parish of Pontiac. Vigords sun had
gone out in darkness, and M. Candles
was at high noon. Already had Me-
dallion made friends with the fiddler
and had become at once M. Candles
lieutenant in the jocund game, for Me
dallion had no vanity, and he knew a
man of parts when he found him and
loved the man for the parts.
In the third dance Marie took her
place on a chair beside NJ. Camille
The crowd gave little cheer for her
for them both-before the dance began
and then they were all hard at it, heel
and toe, knee and elbow, warm shout
der to warm shoulder, enjoyment pant.
ing through the room. Suddenly M
Candles voice was heard as he paused
at the beginning of a set.
ats my turn to talk. Who'll call of
the dance? Will your" he added, look
ing at Medallion.
. Medallion nodded and took I'D the