Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-10-28


he drifting? he asked himself.
Both girls greeted him with frank
friendliness, and though he endeav-
ored to maintain his former reserve,
neither of them would have it so.
Miss Densmore seemed quite herself,
and as for Miss Merton, she was in
the gayest of gay moods.
'Of course you've heard about the
hop-dance!" she exclaimed. Its to
be one of the largest we have ever
had. Sylvia's never seen one, and
she's very curious about it. You're
familiar with hop-dances, 1 suppose.
Mr.. Rossiter?"
NO." said Rossiter, 81 can't say
that am"
what! Why, how funny! But 1
forgot, you're not farmer, are you2
Well, you'll have a chance to see
what hop-dance is like. I've asked
a few friends up from Hintonville,
and we are going in for grand good
time, aren't we, Sylvia? We are ex-
pecting you'll ask us to dance. Mr.
Rossiter.''
''Dance!" cried Rossiter in be-
wilderment. Was the girl making
game of him? Apparently not, for
she seemed wholly in earnest.
Certainly" she said in reply to his
exclamation. 'You dance, do you
not?"
Rossiter was compelled to admit
that he had danced.
''Then we shall feel very much
sighted if you do not dance now,
and if you neglect u.s." she added
Won't we, Sylvia?"
81 am sure Mr.. Rossiter is not ac-
customed to slight his friends" said
Miss Densmore.
..But I haven't danced in a number
of years, and" began Rossiter.
He had heard the gayeties of the
following night talked about among
a number of the younger pickers-
Mamie Becraft was in a twitter over
them-but the gossip had meant
nothing to him. He dance! 1t was
absurd. Not that he lacked skill in
the art. Once he had been consid-
cred the most accomplished, part
ner who was welcomed by all whom
he sought, but that was in another
existence. He was surprised that
Miss Merton and her cousin proposed
joining in the free-and-easy rollick-
ings of the hop-dance, but evidently
the two girls were bent on lark,
and Miriam was doubtless eager to
show Miss Densmore all the phases
of the hop-harvest.
"You haven't completed your sen
tence," said Miss Merton. THAT
and does not mean because you
haven't danced in some time you
won't dance now, hope"
The pole-puller glanced down AT
his clumsy shoes and at his attire.
People don't wear their finery at
hop-dances," said Miss Merton.
And yet Rossiter would not prom
Use. Much as he knew the pleasure
would be to him, this more intimate
and friendly association with the two
cousins, he had a feeling that their
gratitude prompted them to urge
him, and, moreover, he shrank from
meeting, in his coarse garb, Miss Mer-
tons Hintonville friends. The girls
renewed their attack the next morn
ing, but without avail.
I'm too rusty" Rossiter plead as
an excuse. 81 should be treading on
everyone's toes!"
It CHANGED that afternoon that Miss
Merton had left the yard for few
moments, and Miss Densmore was
picking alone. Rossiter was passing,
and she called to him.
My cousin is sadly put out" she
said, because you are so obstinate.
She is very anxious, as you must
have seen, to arrange a set by our
selves. There are three men and two
girls coming from Hintonville, and
Jack Chats Mr.. Parmelee, you
know can't dance all the time, for
he's got everything to look after.
Don't you realize how much YOU
could help out if you only would?'
This put the matter in quite diff
ferent light.
II will do what 1 can" said Ros-
sitter, simply. II didn't quite under
stand"
THANK you," and her smile car
ried more real joy to him than any
thing he had experienced, it seemed
to him. since he could recall.
Evening came, and all preparations
for the gayeties had been made. The
floor of the large hop-house had been
cleared and the room lighted with
lamps and lanterns. About the walls
festoons of hops had been hung,
small platform erected for the must
clans. and seats placed for the