CHAPTER IX.

Northern Advocate, 25 November 1893, Page 2

CHAPTER IX.

For weeks it had been apparent at San Marcus that a social event of unusual importance was impending. For weeks a flutter of expectancy had disquieted the feminine heart, displaying itself in animated gossip upon the street corners, in an alarming tendency to indulge in afternoon calls and a reckless uatronage of seamstress and milliner. There was much promenading in the single business street of the little village, indulged in so aimlessly as to give the observer the general impression of a rehearsal. But it was appar.ent--thfl.lv feminine cm-i---osity culminated at the river, "whither, over the level plain, the thoroughfare of San Marcus led, and to which locality the footsteps of the fair daughters were most persistently directed. Foremost among these lovely pedestrians -was Miss Bertha Maverick, with an eye like the flash of a bayonet and a profile decidedly aquiline. She could be seen on any pleasant afternoon, defying the admiration of the baffled sun with a parasol of pale pink and leading on, as it were, by this oriflamme of sentiment, the thronging cohorts of Texan coquetry. Three days of aimless pilgrimaging on the part of the San Marcus maidens, and all at once was seen the method of this vernal madness. Occasional horsemen began to be met with on the dusty highway. By degrees the number of these was augmented to mounted squads and groups, until at last their proportions reached those of a generoiis cavalcade. Of course ,this irruption of eligible manhood was the occasion of much indiscriminate flirtation, and there were many glances given and exchanged that boded ill for the future peace of mind of the parties concerned. Mischievous eyes challenged observation beneath dainty bonnets, and the tilted sunshade was eloquent of the warfare of CupirL , Need it be said u.::t bronzed and bearded faces accepted these overtures with more than equal frankness, that the fluttering handkerchief in every instance received the recognition of the raised sombrero, and that everywhere along this dangerously active highway there was a disposition on the part of either sex to halt frequently and look back? But once in town, these amorous advances of the sterner sex gave rise to reckless outlay of capital and a remarkable solicitude in matter of dress. Tho barber was put into requisition, and the d'jip.iviid for "b'iled shirts" and "store clothes'" threatened to exceed the limited supply of thoso articles.

Meanwhile notes in very erratic handwriting wero constantly flying about. Mr. Lariat, in conformance with a custom as absurd as unnecessary, was giving Miss Lone Star preliminary notice that ho contemplated the pleasure of calling upon her, and the latter lady wan responding that she would take pleasure in being at home in anticipation of that gratifying event. And so feminine vanity was flattered on the one hand and the manly breast disquieted for some days to come on the other by these rare opportunities for visiting, the dearth of worn upon the frontier rendering young manhood practically defenseless. And to facilitate this dangerous state of things th*e event of the ball approached, at which music and the dance— those destroyers of philosophy— were to finish matters and put the coup de grace to the general infatuation; Through the foresight of Bruce and Kernochan, the best room in the Half Way House had been engaged in advance for Kate and Edith. For themselves the gentlemen accepted with good humor such primitive quarters as opportunity afforded. On the morning of the eventful day they drove down to San Marcus in a light conveyance, reaching the little hostelry in time for dinner. Here they registered in the small blank book which answered for the usual hotel register, and Miss Stafford noted with some merriment that an entry made by Phil Kernochan on Christmas day, two years previous, occurred only four pages back. Here that lady's patrician nostrils were saluted with the odor of kerosene and frontier cookery, and after enduring the stuffy atmosphere and rheumatic appointments of her bedroom she came down to dinner with an amusement very similar to that with which luxurious people enter upon the enjoyment of a picnic. Doubtless by the time she had discussed this remarkable meal, eaten amid promiscuous society and overseered by the officious proprietor — who kept up a running fire of conversation with the myrmidons of the kitchen through along slit in the wainscot, and dealt his plates and appetizing dishes over the heads of his guests with great recklessness and liberality — the novelty of Texan hotel life- began to pall somewhat upon the young lady. I cannot say that Edith's appetite was improved, either by the panoramic view of hotel cookery -the wainscot afforded, or by the gentleman opposite, who ate molasses on his pie and supplied a very wide mouth with a very large knife, and a general suggestion that the unnatural size of this aperture was due to the hazard attending the experiment. Howbeit, the meal was endured, and perhaps in dread of dyspeptic retribution Miss Stafford proposed to Henry Bruce to take her for a short stroll through the town. To this the gentleman readily assented, and passing the long line of vicious and kicking saddle horses tethered in front of the hotel they joined the animated procession of strollers that idled through the main street of San Marcus. ' I leave to the imagination how much attention the fair northerner attracted, what admiring glances from under broad sombreros were cast after her erect figure and graceful carriage, and with what envious whispers of detraction the belles of the village remarked the faultlessness of her fashionable walking dress. But I must mention one incident of this afternoon walk. They had reached a point about half way -between the hotel and the river when a familiar voice caused Bruce to raise his eyes. Cynthia stood before him, looking very pretty and engaging from the becoming depths of a quaint poke bonnet. She was accompanied by an elderly man in the dress of an officer. He was nonchalantly puffing a cigar. Miss Bertha Maverick, escorted by a cownian of athletic build and awkward gait, was just behind her. A quick color mounted to Cynthia's cheek, and she bowed hurriedly to Bruce as she raised her eyes with a smile of coquetry to the man"at her side. A rapid interchange of hostilities passed between the ladies in a discriminating survey of one another's costumes, which was more expressive than words.,. Miaa J3eitha~Haverick, with supercilioas eyelids and defiant nestrils, re-enforced her less aggressive companion. Bruce, who was about to speak, noting at once the armed neutrality of all parties, raised his hat and passed on, but as he did so, he heard Miss Bertha Maverick remark in a high, metallic voice: "Thet's the stuckup piece you was tellin me about — eh, Cynthia? Well, ef I reckoned I was so powerful fascinatin, I wouldn't let every one know it whenever I met 'em. The airs and graces of thet fast-colored brunette is enough to natch'ally paralyze an 8-day kitchen clock." With the first shadows of evening public curiosity began to be attracted in the direction of a long, low structure, whose spacious outlines and shutterless windows showed black against the lighter sky. The building had been reared in the interests of Erin by a prosperous Hibernian, who rejoiced in the classic name of Ulysses Magindy and consecrated his. architectural efforts and poetic memories under the title of "Tara's hall," but the cynical Texan youth were wanting in reverence for Ireland's legendary past. "Tamer's hall" was the popular rendering of Mr. Magindy's poetic christening. Actuated by the same spirit of skepticism they pelted the edifice with mud and stones, and sent vagrant tomato cans on voyages of discovery through its ancient lights. Externally it was apathetic diagram of its owner's highly lacerated j feelings. But there were occasions when the importance of Tarrier's hall impressed itself even upon this derisive public. During political meetings, religious revivals and temperance crusades the hand of the vandal was staid. Among such intervals of immunity was the piusi-ut. The very rabble that had been most activo in bombardment now bestowed t ■ w.: selves in attempted renovation and repair. The spacious auditorium was swept and aired, the relics of barbarism wero removed, the drafts from the win-

iows effectually sealed by the intervention of cardboard, bits of carpet and ;ast oifhats, and oven the redeeming touches of putty and varnish were here, and there attempted. And when feminine taste was added to the rude but practical efforts of men it was wonderful to note tho transforming change — to see how the ravages of time and abuse yielded to a little well beBtowed decoration. On this occasion the San Marcus maidens had employed the garniture of hemlock boughs and gayly lolorecl muslin with telling effect, and the tallow candles perched everywhere seemed to threaten a general conflagration. ./. [TO BE CONTINUED.]