Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-10-14

mis- face grew stern. He turned 10
Shanfo, and his suddenness left the
young couple breathless.
Shanlo, / know why you are here.
Now, don't ask me! l cannOt-will
not, consent to your marrying Alice:
1t is settled now. Stay and make us
a visit, but nothing more. l ask it
of you as a guest in my house that
there be nothing more between you"
Alice, shivering with the shock,
saw the hidden lines of strength
emerge through the mildness of her
lovers face II will respect your
wishes, SIR" he answered quetly,-his
words carrying far more than their
dictionary meaning.
Without a word, her father rose
and went out.
In pain-filled silence, the two chat
ted. but the ache in the heart of each
broke through their lips at last.
1T is ng-unreasonable, dear"
she. cried at last in fearful anger and
despair
'Sweetheart, l know, but we must
hope and pray to change his mind.
Now, we must part-good night"
She fingered, sWaying mot even
Not even good night kiss.
Sweet dreams"
Shanlo did not go the next day, be-
cause she could not bear to have
him. Instead, he went to Il dance
given at the country club pavilion.
Her father went, too.
Her father, one of the gaycst in
the old set, took a whim to have the
old people dance one of the old dances,
by name the "Nancy Lee" All went
Well except the orchestra leader; he
was stuck for a tune-too old fash
Toned for him. In despair, with cOu-
pies in place, Clyburn looked about
and saw Shanlo speaking to the lead
err who handed the violinist a fiddle"
and sharp strains broke on the silence.
With yelp of JOY at the first notes,
CIyburn caught his partner, and the
| dance was on.
The dance was about to end. Then
suddenly the music changed into a
dreamy, tender, slow tune. Alice
saw her fathers gay, excited face
| change; sober and then quicken; and
she saw him cross the hall and dPaw
onto the floor a gray-hair2d woman
an old sweetheart of his in a golden
| long ago.
Other gray-headed couples swung
| out and others. And. while the rest
Of the young people looked on with
mingled amusement, wonder and adj
miration, one girl watched with tears
in her eyes. Never had she seen her
! father so rapturously happy-danc-
ing again an old dance of his youth
with a girl he had once loved.
The dance ended. He came up to
her, the harshness gone from his
face. In place of it an almost boy
ish enjoyment touched with n bit of
sadness. He nodded to the direction
Of Shanlo. "He is some fiddler little
girl; some fiddler"
Her heart beat Quickened at the
words, and then caught its slower
rhythm. His mood was the mood Of
moment.
An hour later, over tie cigars,
Shanlo saw the strong face, still
wearing the sternness of his race,
but kinder, turn to him. 'My boy, [
was a bit hard on you. Now, say,
give up your fiddling except now and
then. I'll give you place in the
business, pay you $40 a week to start.
Stay here, and later on, Why-We can
see about Alice"
ShanlO said quietly, 81 make four
thousand a year now, and shall make
more"
"FOur thousand q year fiddling-
what are you talking about?"
The violnist proved his statement
in few words. Clyburn drew on his
cigar with heavy puffs and repeated,
"Four thousand dollars fiddling and
more coming. Humph! No, | guess
you do not want that job. 1 suppose
you do want Alice Wcll-you can
have her."
He went to the hall and called her.
She came wondering, but he said
nothing as he went by. She stood
looking at Shanlo.
Shanlo smiled and opened his
arms. "Now for that goodnight
kiss!" he said with a slight waVer in
his otherwise steady voice; and with
a quick cry of glad understanding she
| came to him.