Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-04-20

4he man of all others she wisheo W
avoid. ,,-
He had money, and traces OF a COL
lece education. Also, and further nc
fancled himself so greatly he suspecte"
womankind In general Of sharing MS
feelings. Worst Of all, he hated VIII
deadly malice young John Gio'er'
,n,oD whom Miss Benny had fixed her
mind and heart us her proper mate.
Young John was just getting foot-
hold In the lnw-but he was ambitious
MS Lucifsr.. Hence. -Benny's diplomacy
-sl,e knew nll things needs must have
| n becInning-young John with his ma
tive township behind him solidiy nau
more than an even chance OF gettihs
the county, and state. to have the
saIne mind. ,...,.,.,.
He knew what Hop-Light though,
of him-and returned the opinion with
interest. He had also an understand
ing as to Benny's inclinations ana
plans. So he ought not to have minded
in the least seeing her swinging down
the middle In the opening virginia
reel, nor the setting in Sir Roger de
Coverly, which walked general ap-
plnuse.
Mind it he did to degree that
made him rampantly careless. Torn
gowns, trOdden cOrns marked his
progress to such IN extent that there
was wide-eyed amazement and whis-
pers that he must somehow have got
more hard cider than he well could
carry. Benny knew the truth, but his
seeming mistrust Of her made her SO
furious she forgot prudence for time
and outdanced herself. Hop-Light. all
said and done, was certainly a fine
partner-he knew plenty Of old catches
fitting the tunes, and sang them with
gusto in a robustious tenor that set
the crowd clapping and laughing hard.
Slow jenkins even shouted. you're
'lected, Hop-Light, no matter what
YOU'RE runnin' fer" Hop-Light bowed
grandly; then. the dance ended, he
stood out clear Of everything crying.
"NOw for hornplpe! Say, Johnny.
you watch mel" to Glover.
A tnunt this. Johnny was abler In
head than heels. But he was pas.
prudence with anger. SO he stepped in
front of the hornpiper, saying with
curling lip: mo matter about the
split. Right now we'll have the
smack" suitlng the action to the
words, and sending Hop-Light reeling.
A clinch was the logical rejoinder.
Hop-Light did not make it. Instead
he caught balance. flung his arms
above his head, saying airily: bad,
bad boy; Have to tend to him later"
Back, forth. In, out, around, about
he leaped and flung. In perfect time
to the music and swapping his own
fingers. Benny was blind with rage.
ut both Of them. John should have
known better. Hop-Light should have
acted worse. She must somehow
intervene, 1t would never do to make
matters serious by taking notice Of the
blow.
1t must pass rs sportive or raise a
great scandal-one that would mean
Johns being forbidden the house.
Squire Jordan was hearty man. bur
had the strictest ideas of hospitality.
HOrse-play he did not mind-the H.
cense Of parings amply excused it.
But there might be vicious set-to
when the dance ended unless-sudden-
ly she had an inspiration-and darted
away to realize It.
Thus 1t fell out that in almost the
last flourish before the split Hop-Light
stepped upon an apple peel carelessly
flung ut his feet. From whose hand
none saw, or cared to know, but the
result was deadly. He slipped, stag
gered, tried to find his feet, staggered
again harder, and fell sprawling al
Nell Crabb's feet. Then be sure rOal
went up. Nell. poor dear, had pursued
Hop-Light faithfully ever since sh'
let down her frocks. Glow Jenkini
caught Hop-Light by one arm, Benn!
Jordan by the other; together the!
yanked him upright and thrust Nell'i
hand in his, crying: Before witness
es you've knelt to Nelly. Now kis'
her and she'll say yes"
"You, too?" John Glover, asked II
Benny's ear. She nodded. And 8,
there were pairings at the pairing.