time she came in, but everyone stopped at once, completely lost in
amazement, and she had the floor to herself. This was what she wanted,
and she immediately commenced to dance wildly and furiously, as though
she was possessed, rolling her big eyes and laughing to show the white
teeth. Gradually she quieted down to a smooth, rhythmic motion, slowly
swaying from side to side, sometimes whirling around, but with feet
always flat on the floor, often turning on her heels. All the time her
arms were extended and her fingers snapping, and snapping also were
the black eyes. She was the personification of grace, but the dance
was weird--made the more so by the setting of bright evening dresses
and glittering uniforms. One never sees a dance of this sort these
days, even in the South, any more than one sees the bright-colored
turban. Both have passed with the old-time darky.

Of course we recognized Mrs. Barker, more because there was no one
else in our small community who could personify a darky so perfectly,
than because there was any resemblance to her in looks or gesture. The
make-up was artistic, and how she managed the quick transformation
from ball dress to that of the plantation, with all its black paint
and rouge, Mrs. Barker alone knows, and where on this earth she got
that dress and turban, she alone knows. But I imagine she sent to
Virginia for the whole costume. At all events, it was very bright in
her to think of this unusual divertissement for our guests when
dancing was beginning to lag a little. The dance she must have learned
from a mammy when a child. I forgot to say that during the time she
was dancing our fine orchestra played old Southern melodies. And all
this was arranged and done by the quietest woman in the garrison!

Our house was upset from one end to the other to make room for the
dancing, but the putting of things in order again did not take long,