Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-03-12

/ depths Of her berry basket, with her
( bronze ties and clocked silk stockings
nestled snugly underneath. She was
/ going surreptitiously to a barn dance,
albeit her grandmother thought danc-
l ing among the deadly sins. She knew
I she would get a wigging afterward.
! Still. she did not mean to let the knowl-
edge in any way dim the splendor of
/ the day.
The Radley house lay just beyond
the berry field Once she reached it
/ she was safe. Mrs. Radley had indeed
melted her going, Offering to take her
/ in the carryall along with her own
girls. Mrs. Radley was so plump and
yielding and obstinate even Grand
mother Wills could not quarrel with
| her She was as motherly as she was
| plump. Now, for two years she had
| been persuading her son John TO marry
Augusta, $50 as TO let the poor thing
have little fun and the chance to feel
that her soul was her own" John and
Augusta had laughed Jointly over his
mothers matchmaking. They were the
best friends in the world, but had quite
other views for themselves.
Here's a hat, Gussie. | knew you
never could smuggle out that line chip
fat you have not worn twice this sum
mer," Mrs. Radley said, setting a pic
turesque rough straw turban upon the
runaway's head as the last hook on the
pink lawn snapped into place. my,
but you do look pretty! she went on.
Then over her shoulder to John, Shell
outshine everybody, won't she, Jack"
Except one" John answered. Rose
Lee III be there, you know. That re-
minds me. She's to fetch her city cous-
in. There's a chance for you, Gus!
Rose says he has more money than he
well knows how to spend"
81 wonder if he has changed" Gus
said, laughing, cor If he is the same
little whining beast he was that sum
mer nine years ago."
"Why, where did you ever see himF'
John demanded in open eyed wonder.
Again Gussie laughed. His grand
mother and mine were cronies at the
springs" she said. Don't you re-
member our going to the mountains?
Those two old ladies thought | was
born to take care Of Jody. How
should have hated him If | had not
been so sorry for anything compelled
to suffer that namel He was so sick
ly and spoiled and just plain hateful
along with il. Ughi I'm sorry he's
coming. He quite scorned dancing
with me-said / was clumsy-but | al
ways believed 1t was spite. | beat him
so far when 1t came to climbing trees
or even throwing rocks
"And you never told me word Of all
this" John said little reproachfully.
Gussie twealSed his ear, answering
softly: "Of course not. You have been
in love with Rose since you wore trou-
sers. / wouldn't say things about
your dear cousin that was to be, Jody
Fits"
Six double sets were already dane
Ing under the big bush arbor when the
dancers n string band played for dear
life, while the leader Of it called the
figures In a loud, merry voice. Out un-
der the trees other people sat, usually
young people, fittingly paired and so
rapt one in the other they had eyes for
little else besides.
A slight young fellow, with single
glass dangling from his buttonhole,
leaned against near tree trunk, look
ing discontentedly about He darted
at Gussie and caught both her hands
saying: "How dare you be late? You
must have known / was pining for
another real good fight"
you cried Enough and promised
TO keep the peace ever after the last
time" Gussie protested. Besides, /
do not fight enemies any more"
"Fm ahead Of you" Fits said, draw
ing her hand through his arm. 81 not
merely keep the peace with my enc
mics; love them dearly-one of them
at least"
Your pretty speeches must be sadly
In need Of air" Gussle said, with lit
tie sidelong look at John. IL amazed
her to see him frown and turn away,
gnawlng his mustache. Fits caught
the look and smiled little, but press
ed toward the arbor, saying as they
reached the edge of 1t:
"You are going to dance with me.
Now, can you longer doubt my deyo-
tioni"
ways devoted TO yourself" Gussie said.
pnillng wickedly.
Fits pretended to frown. 81 see you
nre not properly impressed with the
change In me-" he said. Understand,
/ have escaped from the Jody stage.
Instead, behold Joe Fits, very much
ut your service. Do you know I came
down here Just to find your
mo, and | don't think | shall ever
find It out" Gussic retorted, beating
time with her foot.
The quadrillc was in It's last whirls.
Fits raised his hand ana nodded slight
ly TO the leader Of the band. Instantly
the flddles broke out in the maddest,
merrlest twostep.
Fits caught Gussle's hand and said:
"Pve been waiting for this. Twosteps
were invented especially for you. You
always romped no matter what the
step or the figure"
"Can you wonder? All my dancing
has been done under the rose" Gussio
said, yielding herself TO his impulse.
Fast faster, faster, they went up and
down the aTbor, eyes Frightening,
breath quicksning. bare half dozen
other couples dared 10 follow them.
Few were so straitlaced as Grand
mother Wills In the matter Of dancing.
Still there was n general feeling that
quadrillcs, or at most cotillons, were
the proper things for big public com
panies. Even the Radlcy girls watzed
only at home.
I John felt himself grow hot ms he
watched Augusta and young Fits
through their madly gay rush. No
harm In it, Of course, but she had never
waltzod even with him. His brows
drew so portcntously together Rose Lee
smiled significantly AZ she came up
behind him and touched his arm. Eyl-
IDENTIFY she had L I'm mind TO say some
thing something little bit out OF the
common. But great ctttcring stir
at the arbor's farther end silenced her.
A family carriage, rusty and ancient,
had drawn up there, the horses painting
and fieclSed with foam. out from the
door Of Il strobe an awful figure,
Grandmother Wills In dead black, the
plumes Of her best bonnet noddine
hearsewise over her forehead AS she
caught sight of Augusta whirling half
inclosed by n strangers arms she gave