Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-12-13

R E%i'Ct PIN SL. tiF r.. o ' NAN . !" ..
 
 at icaSt was tur h0i%eNcp1 ,HrS point OI view. d crochety one. he it said. nat shared hy the brothers Benton, whose hospitality was as genuine as il w;ls primitive. To this same difficult lady the infants who were too tender in wears to be separated from their moth CTS were as productive of anxiety as their elders. X room had been set apart for their especial accommodate ton. the floor of which. carefully spread with bed quilts and pillows, prevented any great damage from hap. pening to the more tender of tho guests. and they rolled and crooned and dug their small fists into each oth- CTS face while their mothers danced in the room beyond.
 Ry nightfall the Benton ranch gleam- ed on the dark prairie like constella tion. Lights burned at every window; broad beam issued from the door and threw welcoming beacon across the darkness and silence of the night. The scraping of f1ddles mingled with the rhythmic scuffle of feet and the sing song of the words that the dancers sung as they whirled through the fig ures of the quadrille and lancers About the walls of the room where the dancing was in progress stood fringe of gallants, their heads newly oiled and proclaiming the fact in a bewl- dering variety of strong perfumes. Red silk neckerchiefs knotted with elaborate carelessness displayed to ad- vantage bronzed throats; new overalls of the shaggiest species amply tes- tiiied to the social importance of the Benton dance
 As yet the dancing was but intermit- tent and was engaged i'll chiefly by the mothers with large progeny, who felt 1 that after the arrival of a greater num- Der of guests and among them the un- married girls their opportunities might not be as plentiful as at present. One or two COW punchers in an excess of civlity at the presence of the fair had insisted on giving up their six shooters, mumbling something about ''there being ladies present and man being nasty at times" In the bunk room," which did duty as a gentle mans cloak room, things were really warming up. There was much drink ing of lealths, as the brothers Benton had thoughtfully provided the where withal and that in excellent quality.
 Costgan was there and Texas Tyler, who had ridden sixty miles to swing a pettcoat,' or if there were not
 
 handkerchief tied to some fellows sleeve. By swinging a petticoat' it was perfectly understood among all his friends that he meant a chance to dance With Judith Rodney. Texas had been devoted to Judith since she haG left the convent, and sometimes, per haps twice il year, she told him that she valued his friendship. On all otAaH occasions sle rejected his suit, as if his continual pressing of it were some thing in the nature of all atFront. Yet Texas persevered.
 Well, here's lulin at you, since in the way of a friend there's nothing better to look at.'' And Costigan drain ed a tin cup at Texas Tyler.
 Your very good health,' said Texas who was somewhat embarrassed by what was regarded as Costigan's flow erineSS.''
 "Begorra is that Hinderson or the ghost av the b'y" Costigan's rowing eve was arrested by the foreman of the XXX. who stood drinking with two or three men of his outfit He was pale and i'll looking. He drank several times in succession, as if he needed the stimulant, and without the formality of drinking to any one. The two or three xxx men who were with him seemed to be equally in need of restor- atives.
 They talked of the cattle stampede in which several of the outfits had been heavy losers. Some 900 head of cattle had been recovered, and members of the different outfits were still securing the Red desert for strays.
 Something in the nature of sensa- tion was created by the arrival of the Wetmore party. The women were frankly interested in the clothes, bear ing and general department of the New Workers Rumors of Miss Cole brooke's beauty were rife, and there was general inclination to compare her with local belles. Such exotic types they had seen these city beauties be- fore-were as rule too colorless for their appreciation. They liked faces that had more go to them was the verdict passed upon one famous beau ty who had visited the Wetmores the year before. In arrangement of the hair, perhaps in matters of dress, the judges were willing to concede the laurels to city damsels, but there con cession stopped But evidently Kitty. to judge from the elaboration of he toilet, did not inte9d to be dismissed thIlS c11rSOrilv Shd hnrSalf wac daIi-