Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-03-10
AT THE
PLAY
PARTY
BY Marth.
McCulloch.
Williams
copyright. 1895, op Rubp Douoiu.

waving and weaving. her hands as
high as her head all the while chant
ing with the rest:
''whirl about and wheel about. Rose
Betsy Lima.
wheel about and twir about. Rosa Bet
sy li-na!
Twill about. whirl about. Rosa Betsy
Li-ua'
want you for my d-a-r-l-i-n-g'"
Her chanting was thin ana sweet. a
fine thread of melody through the
rumping. romping chorus, which the
rhythmic footballs. heavy or light. ac-
centcd into something weird, almost
barharic The motion. too had Il touch
Of primitive sayagery II was 80 free,
SO unrestrained. So yividly vital
The row OF players ran all the big
rooms length. men one side. women
the other. with the topmOSt couple ever
changing as those who had stood head
swung down the middle together. then
separated. meeting and parting and
swinging as they met M the sides
again. The play was no NOR" than a
reel lacking only the piping or the
nddllng But good Mrs. Dowdell. who
held dancing deadly sin. stood by
looking on happily and laughing heart
ily nj the antics and shuillings Of the
more vigorous players.
Mary Cindy's foot was Us light as
thistl~lown Her mother thought proud
lV how clumsy she made the other girls
look. unnirntionally. of course. Mary
Cin,ly would not think II willfully out
shining them thus in her own house at
her very first party
Mrs Dowdell had been doubtful over
the party Now she was very glad she
had lei Mary Cindy have her way. The
trouble had hcen nothing 10 speak Of.
ana as FOR the expense we'll she reck-
oncd she could call in the neighborhood
young folk to feast and frOlic this one
night without asking anybody's leave.
What II she Ind not quite paid back all
the money she had to borrow when her
husband died: She owed II 10 her
brother. bachelor and ms fond rs he
could bee Of Mury-Cndy Certainly he
wouldn't make her trouble. As for
other folks. let them say what they
pleased.
THUS the good dame said 10 herself
openly In her upper mind. Down be-
Meath she felt that the party was worth
willie because II had brought young Ell
lerton again within range of Mary in
dys eyes lie had seemed struck with
her 1T tie big meeting. now six weeks
back. but had sor"chow not come 10
call. as she had confidently expected he
would. But nobody could say she had
run after him His coming was. after
u sort. accidental She had but said TO
Jack Edwards that he might fetch
whatever young men be chose. and
Jack had chosen 10 bring Ellerton.
Ellerton had Insisted upon being Ma
ry-Cndys partner IN all the plays. He
had said, too lie was going to make
her take him In to supper, SO as to be
sure OF getting a full share Of the good
things All night he had been laugh
Ing and rs full of FRANKS as u boy just
out Of school He had even been auda-
ciOus enough Ia drag Mrs powdell her
self into one play FOR "A single round.
OF course and he had fallen into the
way of calling her Nanny Dowdell.
as did all the other boys, whom she
had about half brought up.
"Ain't he II gay one? | wonder how
his wifc'd like II ef She knowed his
carryiu's on" Pamela Kicks said in
Mrs Dowdell's ear nodding as she
spoke toward Ellerton.
Pamela tail and twenty. had been
very pretty Now. at thirty, thinning
fading, with her soul ON edge. she was
splteful withal, gossip of the first wa.
ter But Mrs Dowdell was match
for her
"Nobodys wife has got any call to
mind her husbands bein' at my house,
party or no party" she said. with her
easiest smile But believe In bein'
keerful. That's why | told Frank Ell
lerton he'd have 10 put up mostly with
Mary Clndy tonight. wouldn't have
him beauin' around the other gals.
knowel Mary-Cindy "a keep him out o.
mischief"
Pamela's jaw dropped. La.
thought you didn't know-no more'n
the rest" she calculated.
Just then the rush to supper swept
her away supper which meant hot
roast turkey. barbecued pig. nine kinds
Of cake aud i've OF custard not to
name hot coffee and brandy fruit. Mrs.
DOwdell had stinted nothing. but some
how as she glanced up and down the
long table she had set with such house
wifely pride II seemed To her suddenly
to b III naught but dust and ashes.
She mad lied bravely to Pamela. II
was the only thing 10 do II she would
save her child from Pamela's acid
tongue. Her heart went down. down
as she looked 10 the farther end Of the
room and saw Mary-Clndy with cheeks
like damask roses and starry eyes
laughing at something young Ellerton
had said, then suddenly darling away
from him to greet "A late arrival.
"You don't deserve n hOwdy nor
...,,,.h 80 Gupnar won horri1 Reilly