The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-02
BREAKING THE ICE.

the great county picnic at Blue Bottle
Springs, he did not tell his father, as was
his custom in most matters To a straight
laced old Dunkard like Herman Larker
the very thought of attendance uLon such
a carousal, with its round dancing and
square dancing, would have seemed almost
impiety- Henry Kuchenbach was likewise
a member of that strict sect, but not quite
so narrow in his ideas as his more pious
neighbor. Yet to him also the suggestion
of his daughter being a participant in such
frivolity would have met with scant APP
prevail
But William was longing to dance. For
many years he had secretly and fondly
cherished the belief that he was possessed
of much Unborn ability in that aria genius
compelled to remain dormant by the mar
rowness, the strictnesS of his family's ideas.
Many a rainy afternoon had he given vent
to his desire by swinging corners and deux-
et-deux-ing about his fathers barn floor.
with no other partner than a wheat sheaf,
and other music than that produced by
his own capacious lips
1t for this reason that when one
beautiful July day William Larker, at
tired In his best-a plain black frock coat,
trousers of the same material reaching just
below his shoe tops, huge derby hat
exposure to the elements, and new pair
of shoes well tallowed-stepped into his
buggy, tapped his sleek mare with the
whip and started at a brisk pace toward
the Kuchenbach farm, his stern parent
believed that he was going to the great
bush meeting at Bunkertown, twelve miles
up the pike, and devoutly thankful
to see his son growing up in piety and
when Mary Kuchenbach, buxom and rosy,
-;x,
ness of which was relieved solely by a
white kerchief about the neck, and a gray
poke bonnet, as became one of her. sect,
climbed up and took the vacant place be-
side him, Henry Kuchenbach, standing at
the gate with his wife at his side, called
after them as the vehicle ratified away:
comes this way to stop in an get that
crock of sausages we've ben keepin' fur
And good Mrs. Kuchenbach threw up her
hands and explained: 'Ain't them a lovely
pair?'
Yes" replied the husband grimly, 'an'
they've ben keepin company six years now
an that there fellow amt never spoke
Meantime the buggy sped along the smooth
road, the rattle of dts wheels, the clatter
OF OF the sleek mare mares hoofs and the shrilI
meadows being the sole sounds that broke
the silence of the quiet country. A mile
was gone over and then the girl said fall
teringly: "B-e-e-ll, amt ct wrong?'
William in response hit the horse a vic
Et DOM m'a scene e Tn s r aeh fer fool
put you'll fergit bout ct when We git
an l feel afraid
Then there was silence between them-a.
one of the pair ventureds some common
place remark which was always rewarded
with laconic reply of "Yais'' or Yer
Up hill and down ratified the buggy, fol-
lowing the crooked country road across the
then several miles up the broad meadows
that line the picturesque Juniata. it wendell
it's way. until at length the green grove
spring was reached
The. festivities had already begun. The
hicles of every description buggies buck
boards spring wagons, omnibuses and an
Gent phaetons.
The horses had been unhitched and tied to
trees and fences. and were munching their
midday meal of oats. gnawing the bark
from limbs or kicking at the flies, while
p pssn nis or pleasure After having
which she began playfully tearing all the
foliage, and taken the lunch basket on one
liam Larker proceeded eagerly to the inner
portion of the grove, the portion from
whence came the sounds of the fiddle and
cornet.
They passed through the outer circle of
elderly women, who were unpacking baskets
and tastefully arranging their contents on
tablecloths spread on the ground-jars of
pickles, cans of fruit, bags of sandwiches
bottles of cold tea, and the scores of other
dainties necessary to pass a pleasant day
with nature. They went through another
circle of peanut, watermelon, lemonade and
grouped many elderly men discussing the
topics Of the day and exchanging greetings
and at length arrived at the center Of inter-
Dunkards joined the crowd, which YVES
watching the course of the dance with eager
interest.
An orchestra of three pieces a bass yioI
violin and a cornet, operated by three
men in shirt sleeves. sent forth wheezy
en-, young, old and midle-aged, gayly swung
corners and partners. galloped forward and
ack. made ladies' chains and gentlemen s
chains, winding in and out and then back
and bowling, until William Larker and his
companion fairly grew dizzy. The crowd of
dancers was a heterogeneous one.
There were young men from the neighbor-
ing county town, gorgeous in blazers of
variegated colors there were young farmers
whose movements were not in the least
impeded by the Sombre, heavy clothing, or
the high-crownad broad-rmmed hats that
forward youths in bicycle attire, and three
gay young men Iinm the neighboring city
of Harrisburg, whose shining high silk hats
and dancing pumps made them the envy of
their more rustic companions The women,
likewise in beauty and dress, went to 10th
extremes. Gaily Powered, airy calico, cash
mere and Bingham bobbed about among
shining, frigid Sarins and silks IS modest
as their owners in demeanor. Now in appar-
emily ineXtricable chaos now in perfectly
orderly form-six sets; now winding into a
dazzling mass of silk, calico, high silz Es is
and blazers, then out again went the dane
erS.
''Oh, ant ct grand exclaimed Mary
Kuchenbach, clasping her hands.
''Thets good dancin,' 1 tell yer,' her
companion replied enthusiastically.
She had seated herself upon a stump
and he was leaning against tree a few
feet away
Good dancin'. Jest look at them three
ceety fellers, with them high shiny hats, a
swingin' corners. Now ant they cut-in
it? Next comes ala man ALL Jest watch
em-them two in tn fur set tn way they
throw their feet-th gal in pink with tn
Teller in short pants and a striped coat
Now back. Thet there's dancin, / tell yer
Mary. Gents dozey-dough' next. Thet ERE
Teller don't call tiggers loud enough There
they go-bad in the set-thets better
See them ceety fellers again-swingin' part
ners. Grand chain! Good all 'round-no--
there's break. See tibet girl in blue sat
ng-she's turned too soon. Thets better
-tother way-bow yer cornerS-now yer
own. All over"
The music stopped and the dancers, pant
ing from their exertions. tanning and mop
ping. left the platform and scattered among
the audience.
William Larkers eyes were agow with
excitement. The opportunity of his life
had come. He was to dance to real music
with real flesh and blood partner after
ILL nf otto