The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-06-29

ranch. Nice people"
"Sure are. An tn more tn merrier,
I always say"
In the room behind the store a man
stood where the first sound of Sonya's
voice had stopped him. The cigarette
he had just rolled hung unsealed In
his fingers. Until the girl had gone
out, until the last sound of her feet
on the boards had died away, until the
sputter and roar of the old flivver
lessened In the distance, he remained
so. Then he flung the cigarette into
refuse barrel and went on out the back
door.
Sonya Savarin loved the dances of
the region
Although liquid contraband flowed
freely, and the cowboys from the up
per country sometimes raised the raft
ers with their noise, there was some
thing elemental and very young about
these gatherings of the folk of the
lonely land. The sheep men brought
their wives and daughters, the whole
family. In fact, down to the littlest
ones, who slept in ranks on the wall
benches as the night wore on, and
everybody danced.
Serge Savarin and his womenfolk
came a little late, having to drive %
miles over roads that left a lot to
be desired, 1 and entered in the midst
of a number.
Sonya, in new dress, her dark
face sparkling already, laid her wrap
on Lila's shoulder and swung out on
the floor in the arms Of a perspiring
cowboy.
She met these people only at the
dances, but she remembered everyone
and danced with all who asked her,
providing they were not too far gone
in the common hilarity. If so, she
would merely laugh and shake her
adorable black head with its shining
curls and say gently, mo, Billy, I'm
too tired to hold you up. Come around
earlier next time"; or, you're silly,
Bob, just plumb silly. I think you're
lit"
T., And young Bob, weaving on his
booted feet, would tell her anxiously
that he washn't near drunk, but he
knew how she felt about it and didn't
blame her a bit, not a single bit.
Neither did he, nor anyone whom she
she was there to look at, the most
beautiful woman in all the country,
the highest-up, yet the sweetest to
everyone that a man could ask for.
Everyone knew Of her and her work
among the lowly. Her little fame was
sweet in the land.
So Sonya danced and laughed and
listened to the music of the violins,
the gay accordion, with her arm on
this lean shoulder and that, and was
extremely happy. She forgot the sor-
rows of the world and lived her youth
to its full extent. Forgot Rod Blake
and New York city and the man of
Lone Mesa, all Of which had troubled
her Of late.
Lila was dancing, and so was Serge,
and Babs was already dead to the
world on a bench in the corner, COW
cred with Lila's cape. The music was
waxing more "hot" and furious. And
by the door a man came suddenly into
her range Of vision, tall man, SLIM
hipped and graceful. He was in store
clothes, and the eternal cigarette hung
in his fingers, its spiral Of smoke as
cending in tiny stream, but she
knew him instantly. AS instantly the
almost terrible thrill shot through her
from head to toe, blurring her eyes
bit, catching her throat with little
pain.
Suddenly the music changed, some
one yelled paul Jones!" and the cir
cling couples broke like the colors in
a kaleidoscope. They strung out in
a huge oval, all holding hands, and
began going to the right in time to
the lively tune. A whistle blew, and
they broke apart, each man taking the
woman Immediately facing him at the
Whistles blast, and dancing on with
her. Whirled from this pair Of arms
to that, breaking step, catching 1t
again. suiting her step to each new
partners, the girl felt as If wave
of portent was bearing down upon her.
Something was going to happen
something terrible and wonderful
she was afraid and exhilarated as she
had never been in her life beforehand
here he was coming toward her in the
line. He danced as she might have
known he would, like the wind blow
ing in long grass-she could see him
sway as he weaved in and out in sal
aman-left"-and the whistle blew, and
he was here, before her. Her hand
was In his, his arm had gone about
her, they were drifting away together
and all the lights on the walls were
running together in a long blur.
Sonya held her breath and let 1t out
in long sigh, and felt suddenly the
trembling of his arms.
Then the whistle blew again, and
some one else had caught her hand,
and she was circling right once more
in the long oval.