Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-07-24
THE NECKTIE PARTY.


four Swaleville boys stood on the Will
lamette River bridge in earnest con
versation. These boys represented,
at least in their own estimation, the
aristocracy Of Swaleville.
The eldest, boy of seventeen, was
Percy Drake, whose father kept the
Drake Hotel, and was man Of conse-
quence. Ben Tyndars father had II
general merchandise store adjoining
the hotel. Harvey Ballard was the
editors son. But the crowning aris-
tocrat Of them all was Clinton Nc
Kinsey, a newcomer in Swaleville.i
1t was his father who had mysteri-
ously arrived in the town, as mysteri-
ously purchased the worthless farm Of
a shiftless farmer named Pete Morley
near by, and afterward laid it out in
building lots, calling it "McKinsey's
addition to Swaleville."
1t had afterward turned out that he
had got wind Of and anticipated the
building OF u railroad to Swalevlle,
und his timely purchase made him II
person of importance.
In the business development of the
place which followed the news OF the
coming OF the railroad, the improve
ment and establishment OF the
"church-house, which served as a
place of worship and general assembly
for all the religious denominations,
might have been neglected if the la
dies had not taken it in hand. They
began IA series Of fairs and festivals TO
raise money TO paint and refurnish the
unsightly building.
Swaleville had never known such n
round OF gaiety rs it had now. At
first the people gave literally, but
when all the new and taking things i'll
the way Of entertainment seemed eX
hausted, the "two-b bit pieces" came re
luctantly.
At this discouraging juncture Miss
Carlisle, the popular village school
mistress, offered to help the ladies get
up a "Necktie Social" 1t was ar
ranged that each lady who attended
should bring a lunch for two. and en-
close it in duplicate OF the tie which
she wore.
In t1tn IN, Ia Ian
kets or attractive parcels of some sort
were to be sold by auction to the gen
tlemen. Each purchaser was then to
share his lunch with the lady whose
duplicate tie came into his possession.
The ladies advertised the affair at
once, and the tagging interest Of the
people in the reconstruction Of the
church house revived.
1t was not only new, but it was Miss
Carlisle's plan. That counted for
much.
The boys on the bridge were talking
of this party.
Yes, of course we'll GO said Ben
Tyndal, 'only / hope the bidding
won't run high. don't want to make
a very big hole in my bicycle money"
I'll risk that, said Harvey. Faith
er says folks are desperately close with
their money. Every one wants to pay
subscriptions to the Hnformer in stove
wood or apples"
IF could find out which was Miss
Carlisle's lunch, I'd pay five dollars
before I'd let any one else get it, said
Clinton Mckinsey.
so would l, said Percy Drake. ut
would be money in their pockets TO
let the cat out OF the bag about her
basket some way. There'd be some
lively bidding if twas known"
That's the trouble with this sort OF
thing. Nobody knows, and everybody
goes-all the riffraff Fancy fellow =
having to lunch with one OF the Glass
girls for instance! 1t takes ones ap-
petite to think Of it
Clinton's nose went up in air.
"Or, worse still, with Betty Nor
ley -
4 chorus OF laughter followed this
suggestion Betty was the very un-
attractive and very uncultured daugh-
ter OF the worthless Pete Morley.
ooh. she won't be there said one.
I'm not so sure OF it. If she gets it
through her head what it's to be like.
and could make raise Of corn bread
and bacon enough for a lunch, think
she'd GO"
"She might stew one OF those big
pumpkins in her fathers late corn
field. They reserved the crop when
father bought the place said Clinton
McKinsey.
Hello cried Ben. Here comes
Mark Grannis. Wonder il he's going,
too?"
with Betty"
in his overalls =
Il say, boys" said Percy, hurridly,
and lowering his voice, I've an idea
for a regular lark It's about Mark
and Betty, and the pumpkin comesin.
You keep still, or else fall in with what
| say. when he comes along. I'll ex-
plain aftrrward."
"All right =
Mark Grannis's father was hostler
! and man-of- -all-work at the Drake Ho-