The Ocala evening star., 1922-12-25

Christmas time IS the best time be-
cause it is the kindest time. Nobody
ever felt very happy without feeling
very kind, and nobody ever felt very
kind without feeling al least a little
happy. So. of course, either way
about, the happiest time is the kind
est time-that's this time. The most
beautiful things our eyes can see are
the stars; and for that reason, and in
remembrance Of One star. We set
candles on the Tree 10 be stars in the
/ house. So we make Christmas time
! a time of stars indoors; and they
/ shine warmly against the cold out
/ doors that is like the cold Of other
seasons not so kind. We set our hun
! dred candles on the Tree and keep
! them bright throughout the Christ
| mas time, for while they shine upon
! US We have light to see this life, not
: as a battle, but as the march Of a
mighty Fellowship! Ladies and gentle
men, thank your
/ He bowed to right and left. as to an
audience politely applauding. and,
! lifting the table and it's burden, with
| drew; while old Bob again set his
/ fiddle to his chin and started to scrape
| the preliminary measure of quadrille.
| Beasley was back In an instant,
shouting as he came: Take your
pardners. Balance ALI"
| And then and there, and all by him
self, he danced a Quadrille, perform
| ing at one and the same time for
| four lively couples. Never in my life
| have I seen such gyrations and capers
| as were cut by that i0ng-legged, loose
| jointed, miraculously flying figure. Ee
was In the widest motion without
cessation. never the fraction of an in
| slant still; calling the figures at the
| top of his voice and dancing them
| simultaneously his expression anxious
but polite (as is the habit of other
! dancers); his hands extended as if to
swing his partner or corner, or 'op-
posfte lady," and his feet lifting high
and Tapping down in an old-fashioned
step.
First four, forward and back!" he
shouted Forward and salute! Bal
ance to corners! Swing pardners
Gr-r-rand Right-and-Left! -
l think the combination of abandon
and decorum with which he per-
formed that Grand Right-andLeft"
was the funniest thing / have ever
seen. But didn't laugh at it.
Neither did Miss Apperthwaite, at
my side.
Now do you believe me?" Peck
was arguing, fercely, with Mr.. Schul.
! meyer. "Is he crazy, or amt hep
HE is" Grist agreed, hoarsely. "He
is stark, starin', ravin', roarin' luna
tic! And the nigger's humorin' him !"
They were all staring, open-mOuthed
and aghast, into the lighted room.
do you see where it puts us?"
Simeon Peck's rasping voice rose
high.
81 guess 1 dol" said Grist. I'VE
come out to buy a barn, and got a
house and lot fer the same money. It's
the greatest nights work you ever
done, Sim Peck!"
81 guess it isl"
"Shake on it, Sim."
They shook hands, exalted with tri-
| umph.
'This'll do the work" giggled Peek.
IT'S about two-thOusand per cent bet
! ter than the story we started to git.
| Why, Dave Beasley'll be in a padded
| cell in a month It'll be all over town
| tomorrow, and he'll have as much
| chance fer governor as that niger in
| there" In his ecstasy he smote Dow
den deliriously in the ribs. "What do
you think OF your candidate now?"
"Wait," said Dowden. "Who came
in the cabs that Grist saw"
This staggered Mr.. Peck. He
rubbed his mitten over his woolen
cap as if scratching his head. why"
he said, slowly-"who in Halifax did
come in them cabs"'
"The Hunchbergs? Where"
Listen" said Dowden.
"First couple, face out ~ shouted
Beasley, facing out with an invisible
| lady on his akimboed arm, while old
Bob sawed madly at "a New Coon in
| Town"
Second couple. fall in!" Beasley
wheeled about and enacted the second
couple.
Third coupled" He fell in behind
| himself again.
Fourth couple, if you please! Bal
ance-ALL II beg your pardon. Miss
Molanna. I'm afraid l stepped on your
train.-Sashay All"
After the "sashay''-the noblest and
| most dashing bit of gymnastics dis
| played in the whole Quadrille-he
| bowed profoundly to his invisible part
i ner and came to a pause, wiping his
streaming face. Old Bob dexterously
swung a "a New Coon" into the stately
measures of a triumphal march.
"And now" Beasiey announced. in
| stentorian tones. "if the ladies will be
so kind as TO take the gentIemen's
| arms. we will proceed to the dining
room and partake of a slight COLA
| tion"
| Thereupon came a slender piping of
| joy from that part Of the room
which had been screened from us by
| the Tree.
| screened from Us by the Tree
| "Oh. Cousin David Beasley. that was
the heautifulleSt Quadrille ever danced
| In the world. And now. please, won't
| you take Mrs. Hunchberg out 20 sup
| per-?