Iron County register., 1904-09-01

W ~ " AnC uduNtg III lllC OlNluC was
only ten miles distant; so every cart,
springwagon 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 an occasional rest, the
programme was interspersed with
songs and recitations.
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 selection of coon
songs with a 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 Ade-
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
ier, but in very truth Eloise Adelaide
who fioated 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 Vas not of such Importance as
it appeared to the ambitious Juliet pro
TEN. And strange as it might have
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 a 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 confided to the
cashier in knickers, ION the same night
there happens to be 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
Winkses 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
ing, Dick Van Horn picked his banjo
and sang his coon songs till everybody
in the room was humming an accom-
paniment. Still the dancing went on
with unabated zeal. Then, after clear
| ing his throat several times, and
stamping on the floor for attention, the
floor-manager announced, with much
mouthing of the name, Miss Eloise
Adelaide Smythe will now favor the
assemblage with the balcony scene
from Romeo and Juliet by Shake
| speare."
The women occupied the benches,
while the men leaned against the
walls; and after what she deemed a
proper delay, the impassioned Juliet
leaned from her imaginary balcony and
proceeded to thrill her audience.
Murphy had not danced much that
evening. He made frequent trips to
the bend, where he could look down
the canyon, and Eloise Adelaide no.
ticed, with mild surprise, that he
seemed to avoid her. She also no
ticed that he looked strangely pale,
which made his freckles show more
aggressively than ever.
The Buck Valley audience was be-
ing duly electrified by he'glowing eyes
and tender tones that seemed to play
chiefly in the cashiers direction, and
| just as he was being assured, "My
bounty is as boundless as the sea, my
love as deep" Hank Redhead, the
blacksmith, at sign from Murphy,
| WoNOu uAo dIOlL dS SlSudl lOI
attention, while Jim, regardless of the
condolences going on between the Juliet
on the stage and the Romeo in the
audience, sprang to the front, and be-
gan: Ladies and gents" in firm,
measured tones, II don't want to scare
nobody; in fact, there amt no need
fer gettin' scared; but the wind has
turned to the north, an the fire is
comm our way, an if it jumps the
ravine we'll all have to vamose.'
An instant's hush fell upon the
house, then stampede ensued for
doors and windows. Almost as the
| speaker finished, light began to glow
down the bend A grave apprehension
seized the hearts of the mountain peo-
pie at Jim Murphy's words, while the
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