Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-03-15
Copyright, 1905, By Ruby Douglas

separated, meeting and parting and
swinging as they met up the sides
again. The play was no more than
reel, tacking only the piping or the
fddling. But good Mrs. Dowdell, who
held dancing a deadly sin, stood by
looking on happily and laughing heart
ily at the antics and shufiings of the
more vigorous players.
Mary -Cindy's foot was as light as
thistledown. Her mother thought proud
ly how clumsy she made the other girls
look. unintentionally, of course. Mary
Cindy would not think of 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 let Mary Cindy have her way. The
trouble had been nothing to speak of,
and as for the expense-well, she reck-
oned she could call in the neighborhood
young folk to feast and frolic this one
night without asking anybody's leave.
What if she had not quite paid back all
the money she had to borrow when her
husband died? She owed it to her
brother, a bachelor. and as fond as he
could be of Mary-Cindy. Certainly he
wouldn't make her trouble. As for
other folks, let them say what they
pleased.
Thus the good dame said to herself
openly in her upper mind. Down be-
Meath she felt that the party was worth
while because it had brought young Ell
lerton again within range of MaryCin-
dy's eyes. He had seemed struck with
her at the big meeting, now six weeks
back, but had somehow not come to
call, as she had confidently expected he
would But nobody could say she had
run after him. His coming was, after
a sort, accidental She had but said to
Jack Edwards that he might fetch
whatever young men he chose, and
Jack had chosen to bring Ellerton.
EIierson had insisted upon beng Ma
ry-Cindy's partner in all the plays. He
bad said, too, he 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 as full of pranks as q boy just
out of school He had even been auda-
cious enough to drag Mrs. Dowdell her.
self into one play-for single round,
Of course-and he had fallen into the
way of calling her Nanny Dowdel,
as did all the other boys, whom she
had about half brought up.
TIA I,
his wife'd like ii ef she knowed his
carryins on Pamela Kicks said in
Mrs. Dowdelfs ear nodding as she
spoke toward ElIert0n.
Pamela, tall and twenty, had been
very pretty. Now, at thirty, thinning,
fading, with her soul on edge she was
spiteful withal, gossip of the first wa
ter. But Mrs Dowdell was match
for her.
"Nobody's wife has got any call to
mind her husbands bein' at my hause,
party or 10 pIety, she said. with heg
easiest smile. HBut / believe IN bein'
keerfpl That's why / told Frank Ell
lerton he'd have to put up mostly with
Mary-Cindy tonight. l wouldn't have
him beauin' around the other gals. I
knowed Mary -Cindy d keep him out O.
mischief
Pameia's Jaw dropped. La, l
thought you didn't know-no more'n
the restr' she calculated.
Just then the rush to supper swept
her away-supper which meant hot
roast turkey, barbecued pig, nine kinds
DC cake and five 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 it seemed to her suddenly
to hid naught but dust and ashes.
She had lied bravely to Pamela. 1t
was the only thing TO do if she would
save her child from Pamela's acid
tongue. Her heart went down, down
as she looked to the farther end of the
room and saw Mary-Cindy with cheeks
like damask roses and starry eyes
laughing at something young Eilerton
had said, then suddenly darting away
from him 10 greet late arrival.
t'You don't deserve a howdy nor q
crumb Of supper, you horrid Belly
Slowpoke," she said 10 the newcomer,
with smile that took all sting from
the words. you tried your best to
slight my party, but you couldn't" che
went On. Don't try to make excuses.
1 know"
My excuse made itself It's waitin'
for us outside" Billy Acton said very
low as he spoke, stepping between
Mary Cindy and the rest. "I wish
you'd come and see It," he went on. "I
found it in the road, and what TO 90
with it beats me plumb and Clean"
"What? Who is it?" Mary -Cindy
whispered as Billy half dragged her
toward a seated figure in the deserted
big room. You ask" Billy whispered
back. "All / know is it's somebody
huntin' up Frank Ellerton-somebody
that had got stuck In the mud down
this side the creek. The buggy axle
broke, aud we had time splicin' it,
you said we should find my hus-
band. Where is he?" the figure de-
manded, rising up and turning to face
the pair Mr. EIlerton, mean. Tell
him to come al ence."
Call him," Mary -Cindy said, wheel
ing upon Billy. She was white and
trembling, but her voice rang clear.
The stranger girl looked at her Curl
ously with eyes full of dancing lights
lights that matched well the wayery
color in her cheeks. But she said moth
ing until Billy came back with young
Ellerton, who started at sight of her,
yet evidently not in dlsmay. He caught
both her hands and looked down at
her with n working face, his eyes ask
ing questions his lips could not frame.
Frank, Oh, Frank! It's all right
were friends agaln-and freer' the
stranger cried ioyously, finglng her
arms about his neck and hugging him
rlcht IA nd I'm ars nrlad alnanaf Inx-e