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Show 101 One night, while most of the men were off riding on the range, they met at the home of Nora Ross (wife of "Uncle" Andrew). They got ready for their supper and Nora said nobody should eat until they went up and slid down the bannister. She had quite a high stair with a curving bannister. The ladies didn't know that her brother was in the upstairs for the purpose of sleeping, but had been eavesdropping on their unladylike activities. Aunt Zole, who went through her life in a state of hysteria, was the last woman down. Al, the brother, had donned a voluminous white nightgown and a tasseled nightcap, and he came sliding down after Aunt Zole. She screamed and flew under the table. It took their combined entreaties to convince her that the very devil himself was not after her. Her fright, coupled with that of the other ladies, had such a dampening effect that it broke up the party. At least once, Mama was elected in the role of town peacemaker. Minnie Hopkins and Ann Bohn, dear friends, had a falling out over their respective daughters, Iva and Vilate. Vilate had borrowed and worn one of Iva's dresses and returned it with perspiration marks under the arms. When this was pointed out by Iva, Vilate swore that the dress had been received in that condition. "It couldn't have! " insisted Iva. "I don't perspire. " The mothers were dragged into the argument and had such a war of words that they completely ran out of that commodity and both girls and mothers went on a "not-speaking-to-you" marathon. In about a |
