Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-16
THE UNION PICNIC.

terflan descended Eett ,ement below the Penn
sylvania city would have been asleep, but
when Sam Schraader, his daughter, and
Henry Ncrhawk drove up the road the bust
ness of the day had begun all along. They
met two neighbors with their market wagons
on their way to the city, and one with a load
of bone phosphate already returning from
the near factory. Women were opening their
front doors or drawing water in quiet com
mencement OF their long days work.
Ii was August. a little later and an ex-
cessiye heat would dawn. Even now, before
the sun had risen, it was damp rather than
cool along the dew wet road. Schraader had
his hat off, and wiped the perspiration from
his broad face. Schraader's was a peddler's
wagon, with an umbrella over the seat, which
was not meant TO accommodate three. Schraa-
der's large bulk was deposited in the laps Of
his daughter and Henry Nerhawk, with dis
comfort to ALL But Henry was one Of the
family. He had been a neighbor all his life,
and he was TO marry Mary Schraader when
ever their tranquil, unhurrying minds should
agree upon il; he was past 80 and she 70. and
IL had been for several weeks arranged that
they should on the day of the Union Sunday
school picnic at Hunts grove, twelve miles
away, give Henry a lift, for Henry was going.
Schraader had today a new stock OF tin
ware and small merchandise he sold, and he
and Mary. who helped her father ON his
buster trips, had made an early start. But
Henry had been ready and waiting He was
as pleased 10 30 to the picnic as ne would
have been twenty years back He sat with
a primneSs that characterized him, a slim
form in a suit Of white linen and a broad
brimmed white hat with green lining. His
face, clean shaven and guileleSs, shone with
his happiness in his coming treat Hewould
attain his wish by walking seven miles and
twelve miles back that night, but in his
bright anticipation the cost was small The
simplicity OF his soul looked out from his
honest blue ewes.
Nobody spoke as they drove on. They had
lived their lives together till their informa-
ton was all but identical, and their ideas.
This, added to their rustic slowness OF tongue
made II likely that when Henry came to see
Mary Sunday evenings they would main
tain uubrokeu silence from beginning to end
Of the interview, nor feel anything but Sc
rene content; and they jagged on now unem-
barraSsed, In the Calmness OF that thorough
mutual knowledge which Is the surest prom
ise Of married happiness, the tinware keeping
up a drowsy rafting. When they reached
the turn which separated them, Henry got
down.
Its going 20 be hotter n twas Yesterday.
You better take 1t slow Schraader said. and
Mary turned her serious face, broad, like her
fathers and plain, aud looked after hIrn as
he trumped on alone
He took OFF his hat in the shade Of the
woods, ON both sides thick aud dark and vi
brant with Wild sounds, and walked brisklv.
He was almost aghow with his bovish eager
ness. He had so early start that he thought
be should get there in time to miss none OF II
The rustling grove was thickly bordered
with the vehicles which had brought the bic
nickers hither. or the latter there were in
the neighborhOOd Of "a thousand NominalIy
it was the yearly union picnic Of the Sunday
schools OF half dozen neighburing villages.
but the Sunday schools brought with them
the settlements almost entire.
Henry sat on "A fallen tree in the thick OF
the scene. He nal been almost the first ar
rival Now It was IL. and the picnic WIS
well under way. Thus far be had enioyed
every moment He had Travelled round the
grove, watching the constant arrivals; now
and then ho had embarrassed and hitched
the horses Of women who had come without
men, and had taken one TO the watering
trough. He had looked on at the erection of
the various vendors stands, and had watched
the assembling OF the ministers OF the con
gregations on the Platform, before which ran
few squire rods of board benches. Now
there had been full activity for an hour. A
merry -gD-round was IN operation, the re-
freshment stands were gaining patronage.
and up and down, IN and out, round and
round wandered the thousand picuickers.
To Henry II was marvellous scene. He sat
with his hands on has knees and his lips apart.
unconscious OF ali but his simple, half bewil-
dered entertainment.
Two girls had been for some time strolliug
back and forth before him with arms inter
twined. Henry had seen them arrive, with a
dozen other girls and youths, in the bottom
Of an evergreen trimmed lumber wagon. A
couple of the latter ranged after them at a
distance, exchanging occasional insinuating
sallies, but for the present held at bay with
pert, conscious Independence, the forerunner
OF the full and giggling surrender intended.
They had looked at Henry as they passed
and repassed him, breaking with the litter
ing- which marked their youth into whIs-
pered ridicule.
whats he gawping atfn
Goodness knowsn
Looks a. though he were stuck there don't
her
81 guess he is. Dave said he'd been setting
there since O'Clock this morning"
They Uttered ia unison Dave was one of
the pursuing youths
I'D like 10 know il he can stir. / guess
I'll see said the other. She nudged her
companion, tossed her head daringly. and as
they came opposite him dropped her handker-
chief
lie looked at her, pleasantly smiling. He
had thought they might be speaking of him.
and wondered what they We're saving. Now
they were standing lettering, their eyes upon
him, and as his own Travelled from them 10
the handkerchief and back again, he got ND
and picked It up. But neither took il.
Its LIS said its owner.
lyon know better; you dropped il your.
self Lii retorted with "a stified shrek.
did p she demanded She threw up her
chin, with bright eyes upon him.
II didn't see he answered, stiu smiling.
He stood strnight, with his feet close to-
gether, rs was his won't and looked at her
She was tall girl of fifteen, red-cheeked and
plump. She wore white dress. with trim
innings OF embroidery, and a blue sash and
hair ribbon, from which her hair fell in those
round curls which tells of rags over night
black rubber chain and bracelets did duty
for jewelry.
'Oh, well, III take it," she said. and stood
swaying herself and twisting it around her
iinger From the two boys passing them
came loud coughs and whistle
''Well, should think you had better he
said Lii, snickeriug. Let me
you To Miss Scott
Miss Scott bobbed her head. II don't
know who he is, though she said. At last
she was impressed and sobered by his unsus-
pcious sincerity, and she took "a backward
,tep.
He stepped after her involuntarily. His
'nile had spread till his artless face WAS
flight with 1t. lie had been there alone SO
ong that now, though he had known no lack
Iefore, he was made happy by this aeauaint-
'noe. The girls blooming young face, too.
TIRED and dazzled him He could not bear
hat she should go.
"Nerhawk'" he said; my name is Yer
Iawkp
lie saw that several couples-stiff, awk-
YARD, gawky-were walking about arm in
rm The idea that came to him startled
nm and sent the blood TO his face. He took
m his hat and t.-,... - IL. IL.