Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-21
MILF sOwAsH GOT EVEN.

A STORY.

Is
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 woulo'
have told him, and it was not until
he rode 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 dam
gerously ill: for girls were scarce i,
Hondu county, and about the only way
for a maiden to escape the importuni-
ties OF a round dozen proffered escorts
to a dance was to accept the first one
that came along-of course. always
supposing tt at there was not a recog-
.nfZed preemDtor.
The dance was in full swing-liter-
ally, for Steve Whaley had just called
grand right and left" and this So
ciable figure was being executed by
three sets with great vigor. Mat Bark
doll. from Hat Creek, was seated in a
chair that had been set in the Kitchen
table in one corner of the room and
was saving out Buffalo Girls on that
celebrated 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 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 theirs 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 school. ma'am's here. Hank
Dyson brought her-thats here with
Belle now
Milt looked and saw a slight little
woman with pale face and large, soft
brown eyes, and as he looked the brown
eyes met his for an instant-just an in
stant-but it was enough.
I'm get you something to eat the first
thing said Mrs. Lashabaugh.
coid Milf don't poo6
to trouble. / met up with the mess
wagon at Pass creek. was going on to
Bakers gap an I calculated I'd stay
here tonight. I didn't get no word that
there was doings here"
We'll, 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
beauty of Is. showed her white teeth in
a dazzling smile. "Howdy, Milt!" she
said. do you want this waltz? If you
do you want to speak quick. amt go
ing to take mas word for it."
II amt dressed for the part" said So
wash. You count me out 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 on
the blue flannel shirt sleeve and led
him into the middle OF the floor. The
next moment they and the other Ii
couples We're whirling away to the
strains of "Sweethearts." Severaltimes
Sowash caught a glimpse OF the school.
ma'am. She was dancing with Emory
To- of Wy -
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
clos shaven and general "slicked up
condition. When the waltz was fin
!shed Belle. without word of warn
ing. walked him up to the divinity and
introduced him.
Nlilt was usually a particularly self
possessed young man. but as the brown
eyes looked up at him cody and not
altogether approvingly he felt his self
possession desert him and a hot flush
mount to the tips of his ears. He
found himself stammering out re-
quest for a dance.
I'm rather tired" she said. Il hope
you will excuse me-
Milt backed away somehow and was
presently Hospitality .entreated by old
man Lashabaugh, who had something
on the top of a log outside that he
wished to show him. They wiped their
mouths after they had inspected it and
reentered the house by the front door.
l.
Milt overheard the little schoolma'am
talking to Belle in the passageway.
mo. wasn't tired" she said, but
I don't want you think that I'm stuck
up or finicky, my dear, like your vest
ern freedom more than can tell you
but think when a man asks girl to
dance he ought at least to put his coat
on first. He didn't even have"
Nlilt did not wait to hear the rest
When a young man finds himself
scorned by a young woman it is always
the most sensible thing to make a reso-
,1itinn RI havn NOTHING mono tn do witt,