The herald., 1915-01-14
DANCING FEET
Ey MARTHA M'cULLocH-
WILLIAMS.

Good morning." came over the wire
so shrilly, Lester knew the speaker
was angry or in trouble.
Commonly one meant the other
when Edith Norrys let herself go,
trouble came Of it.
DO yOu-happen-to know-one
Baldwin" she asked, the gaps be-
tween words showing how she was
fighting with herself
Il know two Baldwins-Dab and
Pony. Which is it you're out to
scalp" Lester answered.
He caught a gasp-then: Two!
Impossible, There isn't loathsome-
ness in the world to make two. Come
over right away, and let me convince
you--I feel like saying things no lady
like telephone ought TO carry"
Lester ran seven-eighths of the
mile between, but sauntered up to the
back piazza as though life held no
such thing as haste.
IT'S about Merrilee, Of course"
Edith began Why did Fate curse her
with that name besides giving her
feet that dance in spite of herr
Il am not Fate" Lester said re-
sentfully, as though she accused him,
his eyes the while twinkling under
doWncast lids.
Edith made a face at him. Nor
much of anything else, | fear she
said with a little toss. "Merrilee went
to the Street Fair yesterday let
her. Her people were all going and
SO wild over it, IL seemed cruel to
keep her at home"
Right" Lester iuterjected
She ran on unheedingly. Il thought
It was so safe-her mother and three
big brothers, to say nothing of the
rest.
But the chilluns, as she calls
them. took all the eyes Nam had TO
spare from the wonders of town-the
boys got TO pitching horse shoes, and
eating watermelon against each other.
Merrilee says she lost herself 'mongst
so many folks-that Baldwin-thing
found her-then what do you think
happened"
Tell me. Riddles bore me-" Les
ter said grinning.
Edith glared at him. Took her
into the public dance tent" she said.
by and by all the rest stopped to
watch her-then her shoes hurt her
he made her slip them off and dance
there before all that crowd, in just
her petticoat-her slip rather, one I'd
given her-pale blue lawn. Then he
threw money at her, a silver dollar!
That started all the rest--she was
pelted with it-dimes, quarters, one
gold piece even"
Good for Pony! 1t must have been
Pony; Dab Is the tight wad," Lester
interrupted laughing.
Again Edith glared Wait. The
worst is to come,' she said. The
man who flung the gold is an outsider
came with one of the attractions
those foolish town folk will bring in
for the fair. He got at Merrilee; got
at her people, too. The result is they
are ready to murder me because
won't let the child 60 on with this
wretch-as an added attraction to
his side show. Think! She's only
sixteen! l can keep her two years
longer-till she's eighteen, thanks to
goodness. / hesitated to have her
bound to me legally. Now I'm ever
80 glad of having had 1t done"
Better let her co." Lester began
straight to destruction" Edith flared
He shook his head, saying. mo
ITO the fulfillment OF her destiny
Here's her chance. To US it looks
smirched, even hazardous-but II
may never come again"
Il WILL" Edith said slowly. "Mer
rilee shall have her chance. Blu,
don't ask me not to hate that Bald
win thing"
Times whirligig does, indeed. bring
strange revenges. Two years later
Mrs. Joseph Lester. born Norrys, sal
beside her husband, leaning forward
over the box front, intent to miss nc
rhythm nor cadence of the dancer who
held big audience spellbound. Merry
Morn she called herself.
There's great marvel" Lester
said, nodding toward a man below
one beyond the middle age, rough cast
roughly clothed. yet radiating rugged
power. Nothing else would ever have
drawn AL Jenny from the Coye.
hope his coming means no mischief
For a second Merrilee was abso
lutely still, bathed in a rosy light thai
gave her the seeming Of flower poised
foySlkaying upon slender stem
slowly she dropped until hel
most touched the floor, came
with sidelong unfolding sway
land broke into pattering fairy step:
as though treading bending grasses
Fast, faster, faster, she moved, slid
into weaving and swaying. flung W
arms. then bending forward called
voicelessly through cupped hands. The
house rang with applause. but acros:
the tumult OF 1t came a keen musica
shrilling: LII gal. III gal, In
comm"
With the cry a rough-cast giant
hurtled himself over the footlights
caught Merry Morn in his arms, and
set her high upon his shoulder. She
never danced again, except with the
winds. the grass and the fairies. And