s, and by perforated
stable-lanterns, swung on ropes above the heads of the dancers.

John, or Gill, as he was called, conducted Lizzi--for that was what her
brothers shortened her name to--to the end of the porch opposite the
musicians, who had seats raised above the floor.

Many of the guests were grouped near this platform, gathered around
Jacob McAnay and his wife; and Gill and Lizzi had the other end of the
porch to themselves. She leaned over the rail and looked at a star
twinkling near the horizon, which was made in the West for Three-Sisters
by a ridge that was precipitous and high.

"Lizzi," said Gill, "will you be my wife?"

"I will, John."

The shrill voice of Bill Kellar broke upon their ears.

"Cotton, Lizzi! cotton, quick! or there'll be no more dancing here
to-night."

Lizzi turned impatiently toward him.

"Never mind him; he's drunk," said Gill.

"Lizzi, the devil is here, and wants a dance, and if I don't get some
cotton for my ears, I'll have to give it to him."

"I must humor him, John," said Lizzi, and disappeared in the house.

There she encountered Gret Reed, Seth Reed's wife, who, knowing Bill's
eccentricities, had gone for some cotton when he first asked for it.

"I have it, Lizzi," said Gret; "your mother told me where it was."

"Just like you, Gret; always the first to do anything that is asked."

Gret took the cotton to Bill, who stuffed it in his ears. Then he
shouted, "Partners for the fifth dance."

Gill led Lizzi to the floor. She was very happy, betrothed to the man
she loved. How light her step, how graceful her movement, as the tall,
comely girl walked through the quadrille by the side of her promised
husband!

After the dancers were seated when this quadrille was finished, Bill
took Hunch aside and asked:

"Hunch, are you afraid of the devil?"

"Ain't afeard uv nuthin'!"

Hunch looked it. His wrinkled old face, with its expression of cunning,
and his disfigured form suggested that he was on intimate terms with all
sorts of evil spirits.

"The devil is here to-night, Hunch, begging me to play for him to dance,
and I don't want to hear him. That's why I put the cotton in my ears.
But I will have to play for him. He never lets me go without a dance
when he comes around. If I refuse to play, he gives me a lower-region
chills-and-fever that makes my bones ache and my flesh burn. But
to-night he will have to wait until the party is over; then I will play
for him. He