Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-16
HOW WIhT GOT
EVEN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TT MILF SOWASH had known there
was to be 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
told him, and it was not until he rode
up to Lasha baugh'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 dam
gerously i'll; for girls were scarce in
IIondu county, and about the only way
for a maiden to escape the importuni-
ties of a round dozen proffered escorts
to n dance was to accept the first one
that came along--of course, always
>upposing that there was not a recog-
nized preemptor.
The dance was in full swing-literal-
ly, for Steve Whaley had just called
grand right and left" and this socia-
bic 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 ont Buffalo Girls" on that cele
brated fiddle Of his.
promenade ALTO your seats!"
shouted Mat, and then Mrs. Lasha-
baugh, who had been nodding and smil
ing at Milt in the pauses of the dance,
came busting 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. Pm
real glad you whisper, Milt.
The new schoolma ANS here. Hank
Dyson brought her--that's her with
Belle now"
Milt looked and saw slight little
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.
III get you something TO eat the
first thing" said Mrs. Lashabaugh.
'I've eat" said Milt. You don't need
to trouble. l met up with the mess
wagon at Pass creek. I was going on
to Bakers gap an calculated I'd stay
here tonight. l 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 Lashabaugh. fresh, rosy beau
ty Of IS, showed her white teeth in a
dazzling smile. "Howdy, Milt!" she
said. do you want this waltz? II
Won do you want to speak quick. l
amt going to take mas word for it,"
81 amt dressed for the part" said
Sowash. "You count me out tonight,
Belle. I did not bring my coat even
lest tied on my slicker behind the sad
die an pulled out. III set down an
look on"
The girl simply laid her hand on
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 times
Sowash caught glimpse of the school
ma'am, She was dancing with Emory
jackson, OF the Flying 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 soul
was filed with envy of the young mans
close-shaven and general "slicked up"
condition. When the waltz was fin
ished Belle, without word of warn
ing, walked him up to the divinity and
introduced him.
Mlt was usually particularly self
possessed young man, but as the brown
ryes looked up at him coolly and not
altogether approvingly he felt his self
possession desert him and hot blus h
mount to the tips Of his ears. He found
himself stammering out request for
dance.
I'm rather tired" she said. "Ihope
You will excuse me-"
Milt backed away somehow and was
presently Hospitality entreated by old
nan Lashabaugh, who had something
IN the top log outside that he wishe ID
% show him. They wiped their mouths
ifter they had inspected it and reen-
cred the house by the front door. They
,ame in quietly That is how Mlt over
heard the little schoolma am talking
TO Belle in the passageway.
mo, wasn't tired" she said, but
don't want you to think that I'm
stuck up or fnicky, my dear. l like
your western freedom more than ca n
ell you-but I think when a man asks
girl to dance he ought at least to
put his coat on first. lie didn't even
have"
Milt did not wait to hear the rest.
When young man finds himself
Ecorned by young woman it is al
ways the most sensible thing to make
resolution TO have nothing more tc
do with her. Sowash did this sensible
thing No little bundle of eastern