DANCING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 124, 27 January 1883, Page 307

DANCING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

0h,7 Gkis, it was simply lovely !" They bad been waltzing, and the exclamation was made by a pretty little blonde to a weak-eyed youth, whose great trouble seemed to be in coaxing a piec*gSof gingery-looking down on his upper lip. Looking towards the door he espied a stranger, and walking over enquired his business. "Off! nothing," replied the intruder, "only we have' to. come to these places you know— it's just our style." "What are yer,— a reporter ?" "Xa-a-'s !" "Obseeter?" "Well, ya-a-sU^S'.QB&'-opMe inside, then,' replied Q-us ; and r ajsbjttle pf?Waike.r •was produced, to which our hero^^^Shiinsei^.. , to the extent of about three flngei^B^M^h^^ asked if; $ dance would be palat^^^^a^i^tlxdv unknown, glancing at his understanain^^wlilch. were ; encased in a pair of faded slippers said that

he would like just one, but Oh! never mind," rejoined the downy youth " I'll lend you mine." And suiting the action to the word, off came the boots, which were as quickly transferred to the other.— Grus, donning the slipuers, led him across the room, and introduced him to the little blonde, who engaged herself for the next dance, — a schottische. This ended, he craved a second one, and was granted a quadrille. He was in the midst of a desperate flirtation, when Ghis, who, had been eyeing the pair from the corner, now slippered up to them, and tried in vain to arrest the attention of the unknown. His efforts however, were bootless, and as a dernier ressort. pulled him on one side, and whisjjered — " Say ! I'm engaged for the next dance !" So am I, old fellow," was the reply; "how fortunate! we'll try and get vis-a-vis, eh ?" "But,-er, you have my boots, you know !" "By jove ! So I have, but you must wait until I have finished with them. I couldn't disappoint a particular lady friend of yours !" Words can hardly convey the rage of Ous, who had to look on and see the dance from a corner of the room, amidst the suppressed laughter of all, who were fully alive to the joke. He now swears that he will never again ask a stranger if he would have a dance.