St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-10-08
and shake those flexible shoulders TN

| ner CeeLn turned TO caStanetS.
Everybody at the hotel was planning
to go to the dance. for the Divide was
only ten miles distant; SO every cart
spring-wagon and blackboard was
hauled out the shed, creased and put
in order for the trip. AS the people
came to these dances from 20 miles
around, the trip had to be accom-.
plished In daylight, SO the entertain.
ment began when the sun went down
and lasted until it arose again. Conse.
quently, in order to give the dancers
and musicians IN occasional rest, the
programme was interspersed with
songs and Rotations.
On this occasion the notices posted
a. the surrounding post Offices an
nouned that the well-known Billy
Winks twins, Ruby and Pearly, were
to speak dialogue; that Dick Van
Horn would give a selection of coon
songs with cork accompaniment,
| and that Miss Eloise Adelaide Smythe
would render the balcony scene from
Romeo and Juliet
The herders and ranchmen of the
vicinity, who pulled up their horses
and threw on their brakes to gossip
| over the coming event, hailed with
pleasure the prospect of hearing the
twins and Van Horn in their respective
specialties, but all were "dinged if
they knowed who t'other one was,
until by dint of much canvassing and
caucusing the identity Of Eloise AIDE
laide was sifted down to Lou-"little
Lucy Smith, old Tom Smiths little
girl"-then with meaning twinkle,
"been away to school, haw, haw!"
But it was not Lou, nor Lucy, nor
even Miss Louise who appeared at the
dance escorted by the dignified CASH
isv, but in very truth Eloise Adelaide
who floated in Shakespearean state
across the floor to the place of honor
reserved for the performers. To the
town-bred eyes of the visitors the
scene was not of such Importance as
it appeared to the ambitious Juliet pro
seemed to her, it had humorous side.
Each man, as he paid his admission
fee, was decorated with red badge
OF courage to exOnerate him from be-
ing dunned second time, and as the
floor filled, more motley assemblage
would have been hard to find. There
were trim, shirt-waist suits worn by
the town women, limp finery worn by
the native bellies. khaki suits. knicker-
bockers, and tweeds worn by the men
everything, in fact, whirled across the
floor but the accepted dancing garb-
always excepting the flowing robes of
the Lady Juliet.
However, in the eyes of the town
people this occasion was also of mo-
ment, for 'its almost too much of a
good thing to have country dance"
the barrister in khaki conf1ded to the
cashier in knickers, ION the same night
there happens to be a forest fire up
the canyon. It's pity we can't take
in both"
Murphy, who had arrived upon the
scene late because he had not intended
to go, but somehow could not stay
away, Joined the pair, and explained |
to them that the fire was too far away
for them to reach, and that the south |
wind was carrying it still farther away |
The sound of revelry waxed high as
the evening wore on. One caller after !
another grew husky and retired from
the field, but the flying feet of the !
dancers were indefatigable Then the |
did their turn, and were
thereafter treated to pink lemonade by
every gallant in the house, till they
must have been internally soaked.
After another several hours of dane
ng, Dick Van Horn picked his banjo
and sang his coon songs till everybody
n the room was humming an accom-
'animent. Still the dancing went on
With undated zeal. Then, after clear
ng his throat several times, and
stamping on the floor for attention, the
loor-manager announced, with much
nouthing Of the name, Miss Eloise
adelaide Smythe will now favor the
lssemblage with the balcony scene
rom Romeo and Juliet by Shake
peare."
The women occupied the benches,
While the men leaned against the
walls; and after what she deemed a
roper delay, the impassioned Juliet
eaned from her imaginary balcony and
proceeded to thrill her audience.
Murphy had not danced much that
vening. He made frequent trips to
he bend, where he could look down
ne canyon. and Eloise Adelaide no.
iced, with mild surprise, that he
eemed to avoid her. She also no
iced that he looked strangely pale,
'hich made his freckles show more
excessively than ever.
The Buck Valley audience was be-
1g duly electrified by the glowing eyes
nd tender tones that seemed to play
hiefiy In the cashiers direction, and
1st as he was being assured, "My
ounty is as boundless as the sea, my :
we as Deep" Hank Redhead, the
blacksmith, at sign from Murphy,
aved his fiddle aloft as signal for :
ttention, while Jim, regardless of the !.
onfidences going on between the Juliet
the stage and the Romeo in the !,
udience. sprang to the front, and be- :.
an: Ladies and gents" in firm,
leasured tones, II don't want to scare '.
obody; in fact, there amt no need ..
r gettin' scared; but the wind has !.
lrned to the north, an the fire is
'min' our way, an if it jumps the .
wine Well all have to vamose." !.
An instant's hush fell upon the
ouse, then stampede ensued for =
DORIS and windows. Almost as the