Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-11
HOW WILT GOT
EVEN

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
IF MILF SOWASH had known there
was to be a dance at Old Man Lasha-
baugh's he would have stopped at the
Flying Wand and overhauled his war
sack for the conventional white shirt,
stand-up collar, red necktie and black
diagonal suit, which, with pair of fine,
high-heeled calfskin boots, made up
his gala costume. AS it was, he pushed
up along Elkhead without going near
the ranch, where the cook would have
up to Lashabaugh's and saw the string
of ponies outside, the lights inside and
heard the lively scrape Of the fiddle
and the stentorian voice of the caller
that he had any idea of it.
Still, he was not going to turn back.
He knew that most of the boys were
dancing within that log ranchhouse-
and the girls without exception, I'M
less one of them happened to be dan
gerously i'll; for girls were scarce in
Hondu county. and about the only way
for a maiden to escape the importuni-
ties of round dozen proffered escorts
to a dance was to accept the first one
that came along-of course, always
supposing that there was not recog-
nized preemptor.
The dance was in full swing--literal-
ly, for Steve Whaley had just called
grand right and left" and this socia-
BILE figure was being executed by three
sets with great vigor. Mat Barkdoll,
from Hat Creek, was seated in chair
that had been set on the kitchen table
in one corner of the room and was
saving out Buffalo Girls" on that cele
brated fiddle of his.
promenade ALTO your seats!"
shouted Mat, and then Mrs. Lasha-
baugh, who had been nodding md smil-
ing at Milt in the pauses of the dance,
came bustling forward to greet him.
"Why didn't you come before? But
then you amt never too late. And
bet you haven't had your supper, and
of course the fire is out in the stove.
Never mind there's some cold pork an
beans an biscuit an some o my plum
pie. guess you won't go hungry. I'm
real glad you come-whisper, Milt!
The new schoolma' ANS here. Hank
Dyson brought her-that's her with
Belle now"
woman, with a pale face and large,
soft-brown eyes, and as he looked the
brown eyes met his for an instant
just an instant--but it was enough.
"I'll get you something to eat the
first thing" said Mrs. Lasha baugh.
'T've eat" said Milt. "You don't need
to trouble. l met up with the mess
to Bakers gap an calculated I'd stay
here tonight. I didn't get no word
that there was doings here"
"Well, if you don't want to eat you
can dance. Here's Belle now. I've got
a partner for you, Belle"
Belle Lasha baugh. fresh. rosy beau
ty Of 10, showed her white teeth in a
dazzling smile. "Howdy, Milt!" she
said. DO you want this waltz? II
you do you want to speak quick.
amt going to take mas word for it,"
81 amt dressed for the part" said
Sowash. "You count me ont tonight
Belle. ] did not bring my coat even
Jest tied on my slicker behind the sad
die an pulled out. I'll set down an
look on"
The girl simply laid her hand or
the blue flannel shirt sleeve and LED
him into the middle of the floor. The
next moment they and the other II
couples were whirling away to the
strains OF "Sweethearts." Several time,
Sowash caught glimpse of the school
ma am. She was dancing with Emory
Jackson, Of the Plying W." Judging
from her radiant smile, the pink flush
in her cheeks and the light in her eyes
she seemed to be enjoying it. Milt felt
his old liking for Emory turn to bit
ter hatred on the instant and his sou
was filled with envy Of the young mans
close-shaven and general "slicked up
condition. When the waltz was fn
ished Belle, without a word of warn
ing, walked him up to the divinity ant
introduced him.
Milt was usually a particularly self
possessed young man, but as the brown
eyes looked up at him coolly and not
altogether approvingly he felt his self
possession desert him and hot blush
mount to the tips of has ears. He founo
himself stammering out a request fol
a dance.
I'm rather tired" she said. "Ihop,
you will excuse me-"
Milt backed away somehow and wal
presently Hospitality entreated by ole
man Lashabaugh, who had something
on the top log outside that he wished
to show him. They wiped their mouthi
after they had inspected it and reen
tered the house by the front door. The,
came in quietly. That is how Milt over
heard the little schoolma' am talking
to Belle in the passageway.
: mo, wasn't tired" she said. but
I don't want you to think that In
stuck up or fnicky, my dear. Ike
your western freedom more than ca
: tell you-but think when a man ask
girl to dance he ought at least t.
put his coat on first. He didn't ever
have"
: Milt did not wait to hear the rest.
When a young man finds himsel
scorned by young woman it is al
ways the most sensible thing to maxi
resolution to have nothing more t.
do with her. Sowash did this sensible