The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-20

in towards the close of the day. But come along and I'll make you acquainted with her at once, if you'll promise not to run away with her; for I tell you what it is, she's the likeliest gal in all these parts yet
 Well" said I. '1ll promise not to run away with her, but you must not let her know who I am. l wish to make myself known to her: and, for fear of the worst, you shall witness the introduction. But don't get jealous squire, if she seems little too glad to see me- for l assure you we had a strong notion of each other when We were young
 "No danger" replied the squire. "She hadn't seen me then. or she never could have loved such d hard favored man as you are.'
 In the meantime the dance went on and i employed myself in selecting from the party the best examples of the dancers of my day and Mrs. Gibsons, for her entertainment. In this l had not the least difficulty; for the dancers before me and those of my day we're in all respects identical.
 Jim Johnson kept up the double shuttle from the beginning to the end of the reel; and here was Jim over again in Sammy Tant. Bill Martin always set to his partner with the same step; and a very curious step it was. He brought his right foot close behind his left and with
 it performed precisely the motion of the thumb in cracking that insect which Burns has immortalized; then moved his right back, threw his weight upon 1t, brought his left behind it, and cracked with that as before; and so on, alter nately Just so did Bill Kemp, to nail. Bob Simons danced for all the world like a supple jack Cor, as we commonly call
 it, supple sawney'D when the string
 is pulled with varied force at intervals of seconds; and so did Jake Slack Davy Moore went like a suit of clothes upon a clothing-line on a windy day; and here was his antitype in Ned Clark. Rhoda Nobles swan through the reel Ike cork on wavy waters, always giving two or three pretty little perch-bite "diddles as she rose rose from coupee. Nancy Ware was her very self Becky Lewis made a business of dancing-she disposed of her part as quick as possible, stopped dead short as soon as she got through, and looked as sober as a judge all the time; even so did Chloe Dawson. l used to tell Polly Jackson that Beckys coun- tenance, when she closed a dance, all ways seemed to say, Now, If you want any more dancing, you may do it your self"
 The dance grew merrier as it pro- gressed: the young people became more easy in each others company and often enlivened the scene with humorous re- marks. Occasionally some sharp cuts passed between the boys, such as would have produced half dozen duels al city ball; but here they were taken as they were meant--in good humor Jim John son. being a little tardy in meeting his partner at a turn of the reel, '.l 'ax par don. Miss Chloe,'' said he; Jake Slack went to make a cross-hop just now, and tied his legs in hard knot, and l stop ped to help him unite them! A little after. Jake hung his toe in crack of the floor and nearly fell. Ding my buttons, said he, If l didn't know I should stum- ble oyer Jim Johnson's foot at last! Jim, draw your foot up to your own ena or the reel" (Jm was at the other end or the reel, and had, indeed, a prodigious foot)
 Towards the middle of the day many of the neighboring farmers dropped Tn and joined the squire and myself in talk ing of old times. At length dinner was announced It consisted of plain fare, but there was a profhsion of it. Rough blanks. supported by stakes driven in the ground. served for a table at which the old and young of both sexes seated them selves at the same time. I soon recog- nized Mrs Gibson from all the matrons present. Thirty years had WEDughtssreat changes in her appearances but they had left some of her features entirely nn- impaired Her eye beamed with all It's youthful fire; and. to my astonishment, her mouth was still beautified with a full set of teeth, unblemished by time The rose on her cheek had rather freshened than faded, and her smile was the very same that first subdued my heart; put her fine form was wholly lost, ana Witn 1t all the grace of her movements. Pleas ing but melancholy reflections occupied my mind as l gazed on her dispensing her cheerful Inequalities. l thought or inc sad history of many of her com panions and mine, who used to carry light hearts through the merry dance. com nared my after life with the cloudless days of my attachment to Polly. Then was light hearted, gay, contented ana happy Inspired to nothing Dut good name a good wife and an easy com petence The first and last were mine al- ready; and Polly had given me too many little tokens of her favor to leave doubt now that the second was at my command. But I was foolishly told that my talents were of too high an order to be employed in the drudgeries or a farm, and I more foolishly believed IL. forsook the pleasures which I had tried and proved, and went In pursuit or those Imaginary joys which seemed to en- circle the seat of fame. From that mo- ment to the present my life had been little else than one unbroken scene of dis aster. disappointment, vexation and toll. And now. when I was too old to enjoy the pleasures which I had discarded l found that my aim was absolutely hopeless, and that my pursuits had only served to unfit me for the humber walks of life, and to exclude me from tire higher The gloom of these reflections was however. frightened in a measure by the promises of the coming hour, when I was to live over again with ars Gib- son some of the happiest moments of my life
 After nasty repast the young people returned to their amusement, followed py