Gemmen an' ladies, took yer places," he added in a stentorian
voice; "I ax yer' sideration fer bein' late, cose I had 'portant
business; now,
"Bow dar, scrape dar;
Doan hang about de doah.
Shine up ter de pretty gals,
An' lead 'em on de floah"--
his fiddle seconding his exhortation with such inciting strains
that soon there was not a foot but was keeping time.
Suky observed that the musician had eyes for her only, and that
toward all others he maintained his depressing superiority. In
vain did Mandy lavish tokens of favor on "Mister Johnsing." Jeff
did not lose his sudden and unexpected indifference; while the
great ring glistening on his finger added to the mystery. There
were many whispered surmises; but gradually the conjecture that he
had "foun' a heap ob Linkum money" was regarded as the best
explanation of the marked change in his bearing.
Curiosity soon became more potent than Jeff's fiddle, and the
"'freshments" were hurried up. So far from resenting this, Jeff
put his violin under his arm and stalked across the improvised
ball-room to Miss Suky, oblivious of the fact that she had a
suitor on either side.
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