Prayer In a Dance Hall.
When the three horses crossed the finishing line, covered with sweat
and foam, LeMonde and Ketcham soon brought their mounts to a stop. Not
so the monster dwarf. Fearing that the crowd might do him personal
injury he rode the black horse directly to the stable. He was almost
beside himself with rage and disappointment. He ground his teeth
together, and froth showed upon his lips. His face was hideous in
expression. He shook his fist in the direction of the race course, and
cursed the victorious horse and rider with terrible oaths.
To Sam Wiles, who had come up, he said: "Anudder chance will come. I'll
git even wid dat proud aristocrat yit. I'm goin' to git back all de
money I lost today, and mo' too."
A different scene was taking place near the grand stand. When George
LeMonde, with flushed face and bright eyes, dismounted from his horse,
he was at once surrounded by an admiring crowd who showered him with
congratulations. They praised his skill as a horseman, his coolness
in a time of danger and emergency, and his good nature under great
provocation. Many were the admirers of Velox. They patted his
shoulders, stroked his head and commented on his beauty of color and
form. The horse took it in good part, and seemed to consider it a
proper tribute to the steed who won the race.
Among the rest who shook George heartily by the hand was a stout,
broad-featured man of about forty, who was dressed in a good suit of
blue jeans and wore what was uncommon in those days, a large diamond
pin in his shirt front. His name was Costello Nebeker, and he was a
tavern keeper on a country road not many miles away. The girl with a
white dress and shapely arm whom George saw as he flashed past the
grand stand was Stella Nebeker, the sixteen-year-old daughter of this
tavern keeper. She came forward, and in a happy way congratulated him
upon his success. They had known each other for some time; for we are
sorry to say, George on various occasions, having been at the tavern
with some of his young friend, had indulged in the liquors which
Nebeker kept for sale. While at this tavern George had become
acquainted with Stella Nebeker, and she soon found a place in his
affections. She was comely, vivacious and sensible, fond of society, a
natural leader among her set, having most of the accomplishments
furnished by the schools and social gatherings of their neighborhood.
Nebeker said to George in his loud and hearty way: "LeMonde, today you
have covered yourself and horse with glory, and incidentally have put a
good many dollars into my jeans pocket. Now you and your friends must
celebrate this victory by a layout (feast) and dance at my house. Next
Saturday will be moonlight, and Stella and I will invite our friends
and you must ask yours to come, and we will have a jolly supper, and
wash it down with some first-class Kentucky whisky, and wind up the
meeting with a party dance."
George agreed to this proposal; and after bidding the tavern keeper and
his lovely daughter a kind adieu, he departed to the stable, whither
his faithful servant, Mose, had led his horse.
Costello Nebeker lived about ten miles from Mr. LeMonde's plantation in
rather a rough and hilly country. For a number of years he had kept a
public house; and as his place was the only one of this kind for many
miles around, and as it fronted on a much-traveled county road, he had
many customers at his bar and guests in his tavern. His house was a
large frame structure, the lower part of which was used for a bar and
lounging place and the rear for a dance hall. On the second floor were
several sleeping rooms, some of which were occupied by the keeper and
his family, and the rest were prepared for travelers.
The sky was clear and the woods beautiful on the following Saturday
evening. As the sun began to hide his brilliant rays behind the noble
hills covered with regal forests, and the moon, nearing its full, was
already throwing a silvery light over the scene, those invited to the
supper and dance were making their way, some in buggies along the main
road, but most on horseback, coming down hills and across valleys, all
moving to a central point, the tavern house.
It is not our design to dwell upon that feast, which consisted of most
of the good things then in season in Kentucky, but to come at once to
the dance and to a striking incident which occurred there.
Rather late in the evening, after dancing had been going on for some
time, Jasper Very rode up to the tavern. He had been on a long
preaching tour, and was tired and hungry. When he had dismounted, he
asked the proprietor if he could lodge there for the night. Mr. Nebeker
politely told him he could stay, but he was afraid he would not enjoy
himself very well, as a dance was in progress. Jasper then inquired how
far it was to a suitable house where he could put up for the night, and
was told seven miles. He felt in his present condition that this was
too far, and said that if the tavern keeper would treat him civilly and
feed his horse well by his leave he would stay. This was promised him,
and Very dismounted and went in. He quietly took a seat in one corner
of the room, and the dancing continued. While musing upon many things
and wishing in his heart he could do those people good, and having
finally made up his mind to ask the privilege of preaching there the
next day, he was surprised to see a beautiful and ruddy young lady, who
was no other than Stella Nebeker, walk gracefully up to him, drop a
handsome courtesy, and pleasantly, with a winning smile, invite him to
dance with her. Jasper Very in his life had been in many strange
situations, but this was an experience unlike any he had hitherto
passed through. He could hardly understand his thoughts or feelings,
but in a moment he resolved on a desperate experiment. He arose as
gracefully as he could, with many emotions crowding upon his mind.
Stella with much grace moved to his right side. Jasper grasped her
right hand with his left hand, while she leaned her left arm on his
right arm. In this position they walked on the floor.
The whole company seemed pleased at this act of politeness in a young
lady shown to a stranger. The colored musician began to put his fiddle
in the best order. Jasper here asked the fiddler to hold a minute, and,
addressing the company, said: "Friends, for several years I have not
undertaken any matter of importance without first asking the blessing
of God upon it, and I desire now to ask God's blessing upon this
beautiful young lady, who has shown such an act of politeness to a
total stranger, and upon the whole company."
Here he grasped the young lady's hand tightly and said: "Let us all
kneel down and pray." With this he dropped upon his knees, and began
praying with all the power he possessed. Stella tried to get loose from
him, but he held her tightly.
This unexpected act threw the whole company into excitement and
disorder. Stella seized by an emotion which she could not control, fell
upon her knees. Some of the dancers kneeled, some stood, some sat still
with curious looks upon their faces, while others fled as in terror.
The fiddler ran off into the kitchen saying: "Lord a marcy, what de
matter. What's dat mean? Prayin' in a dance hall! Dis beats anyting dis
niggar ever saw."
Jasper Very continued to pray with loud voice and great unction. Some
soon began weeping softly, others cried out aloud in their deep
feeling, and some asked God for mercy. After a while Jasper arose from
his knees and commenced an exhortation, after which he sang a hymn.
Stella Nebeker was so affected by the service and by the deep
convictions of her heart that she remained for a long time prostrate on
the floor, crying earnestly for pardon. This strange meeting continued
nearly all night; and when it was ended, fifteen of those dancers had
obtained pardon for their sins. Stella was one of them, George LeMonde
was another and the tavern keeper was a third. From this dance room a
great revival spread throughout that part of the country.