The Greeley tribune., 1906-01-11
CHAPTER XVIII.

was the great social event of
the midsummer season. All
i day strange wagons-ludicrous,
makeshift things-had been discharg-
ing loads Of women and childen at
the ranch, tired mothers and their in
sistent offspring. To the women this
strenuous relaxation came rs mama
in the wilderness. What was the
dreary round of washing. ironing. bak-
ing and the chain Of household tasks
that must be done as primitively as In
Genesis If only they might dance and
forget? So the mothers came early and
stayed late. and the primary sessions
Of the dances fulfilled all the func-
tions of the latter day mothers con-
gresses There We're infant ailments
to be discussed; there were the Ques-
tions of food and Of teething, of pare
goric and of flannel bands, which.
strange heresy, seemed to be going
out" according to the latest advices
from those compendiums Of all do
mestic information, the "womans
pages" Of the daily papers.
Inasmuch rs these more than pune
tual debaters must be cooked for, there
was, to speak plainly, feeling" on the
part of the housekeeper ut the Ben
tons Wasn't it enough for folks to
come to dance and get good sup
per and go away like Christians when
the thing was over instead of coming
day before it began and lingering OH
as If they had no home to go to? This
at least was the housekeepers point of
view, crochety one. be it said, not
shared by the brothers Benton, whose
hospitality was as genuine as it was
primitive. To this same difficult lady
the infants who We're too tender In
years to be separated from their moth
ers We're as productive Of anxiety as
their elders. A room had been set
apart for their especial uccommoda-
tion, the floor of which, carefully
spread with bed quilts and pillows.
prevented any great damage from hap
pening to the more tender of the
guests, and they rolled and crooned
and dug their small fists into each 9TH
er's face while their mothers danced
in the room beyond.
By 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 Il welcoming beacon across the
darkness and silence of the night. The
scraping of fiddles mingled with the
rhythmic scuflle of feet and the sing
song of the words that the dancers
4, ,;,,I. Al.
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 bewil-
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-
titled to the social Importance of the
Benton dance.
AS yet the dancing was but intermit-
tent and was engaged in chiefly by the
mothers with large progeny. who felt
that after the arrival of n greater num-
Der of guests and among them the un-
81 40 'iitii IllSuI
not be us plentiful as ut present. One
or two cow punchers in an excess of
civility at the presence of the fair
mad insisted on giving up their six
shooters, mumblng something about
there being Indies present and a man
being hasty ut 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 hea!ths, as the brothers Benton
mad thoughtfully provided the where
"ithal and that in excellent quality.
Costigan was there and Texas Tyler.
VINO had ridden sixty miles to "swing
II petticoat.' or If there We're not
enough to 20 round to dance with
handkerchief tied to some fellows
sleeve. BY Swinging n petticoat, II
was perfectly understood among al, his
friends that he meant Il chance to
dahce with Judith Rodney. Texas had
oeen devoted to Judith since she had
ieit the convent and sometimes. per
maps twice year. she told him that
she valued his friendship. On all other
occasions she rejected his suit. as if
nis continual pressing of 1t We're some |
uiihs IN the nature of an affront. Yet
Iexas pcrseyered.
wen. here's lukin' Mt you, since in |
the way of a friend there's nothing |
petter to look att And Costigan drain
eu tin cup at Texas Tyler.
Aour very good health" said Texas.
"ho WIS somewhat embarrassed by |
what was regarded as Costieun,s "aov-
eriness.''
hesorra. is that HENDERSON or the
snost av the b'y:" Costgan's rowing
eye was arrested by the foreman Of
.he NM, who stood drinking with
TWO or three men Of his outfit. He was
p"ie and Ill looking. He drank several
t,,nes In succession. rs il he needed the
s.'nulant, and without the formality