Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-05-20
BREAKING THE ICE

When William Larker irrevocably
made up his mind to take Mary Kuchen-
bach to 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 Herr
man Larker the very thought of attend
ance upon such a carOusal, with its
round dancing and square dancing,
would have seemed almost impiety.
Henry Kuchenbach was likewise
member of that strict sect, but not quite
50 narrow in his ideas as his more pious
neighbOr. Yet to him also the sugges-
ton of his daughter being participant
in such frivolity would have met with
Scant approval
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
art-a genius compelled to remain dor
mant by the narrowness, the strictnesS
of his family's ideas. Many rainy
afternoon had he given vent to his de-
sire by swinging corners and deuX-et-
deuX-ing about his fathers barn floor,
with no other partner than a wheat
sheaf, and no other music than that pro-
duced by his own capacious lips.
1t was for this reason that when on
one beautiful July day William Larker,
attired in his best-a plain black frOck
coat. trousers of the same material
reaching just below his shoetODs, huge
derby hat no longer black, but green,
as u result of long exposure to the ele-
mentS, and a new pair of shoes we'll tai
loWed-stepDed into his buggy, tapped
his sleek mare with the whip and started
at brisk pace toward the kuchenbach
farm. his stern parent believed that he
was going to the great buSh-meetlng at
Bunkertown. twelve miles up the pike,
and was devOutly thankful to see his son
growing in piety, and when Mary ku-
chenbach, buXOm and rosy. wearing a
plain black dress, the somberness OF
which was relieved solely by a white
kerchief about the neck, and gray poke
bonnet, as became one Of her sect,
climbed up and took the vacant place
beside him. Henry Kuchenbach, stand
ing at the gate with his wife at his side,
called after them as the vehicle ratified
away: BE sure an tell Preacher Book
when he comes this way to stop IN an
get that crock o sausages we've be n
keeDin' for misSuS
And good Mrs. Kuchenbach threw up
her hands and exclaimed: Amt them
lovely pair?'
Yes replied the husband grimly, IAN
they've ben keepin' company six years
now an that there fellow amt never
spoke his mind.
Meantime the buggy sped along the
smooth road. the rattle of it's wheels,
the clatter of the slick mares hOOfs and
the shrill call of the killdee skimming
across the mea aows being the sole sounds
that broke the silence of the quiet cOun-
try. A mile was gone over and then
the girl said falteringly: ''B-e-e-I, amt
ct wrOngt"
William IN response hit the horse q
vicious cut with the whip and replied
EFT dom seem jest right ter fool EN-.
but you'll fergit bout ct when we git
dancin'.'
4 amt never ben ter one O. them pic
mics an [ feel afraid
Then there was silence between them
a silence broken only at rare intervals,
when one of the pair ventured some COM
monplace remark, which was always re-
Warded with a lacOnic reply of "1ais
or Yer don't say"
Up hill and down ratified the buggy,
following the crooked country road across
the wide valley. Over three low, wooden
bridges, then several miles up the broad
meadows that line the picturesque Juni-
alta it wendell its way, until at length
the green grove in the center Of which
lies the Blue Bottle spring was reached.
The festivities has already begun. The
outskirts Of the wood were filled with
vehicles of every iptiOn-buggies,
buckbOards, spring wagons, omnibuses
and ancient phaetOns.
The horses had been unhitched and
tied to trees and fences, ana were MUNICH
ing their midday meal of oats, gnaWing
the bark from limbs or kicking at the
up to the pursuit of pleasure. After
having seen his mare comfortably settled
at a small chestnut, from which she
began playfully tearing all the foliage,
and taken the lunch basket on one arm
and his companion on the other. William
Iarker 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. s.
ketS and tastefully arranging their con-
tents on tabecloths 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 ice-cream
vendors, about which were grouped many
elderly men discussing the topics of, the
day and exchanging greetings. and at
length arrived at the cente Of interest,
the dancing platform. he young
Dunkards joined the crowd, which was
watching the course of the dance with
eager interest.
vlOl, a violin and a cOrnet, operated by
three men in shirt sleeves. sent forth
wheeZy strains to the time of which
men and women, young. old and middle
aged, gayly swung corners and partners.
gallOped forward and back made ladies'
chains and gentlemen's chains. winding
in and out and then back and bow
ing, until William Larker and his COM
paniOn fairly grew dizzy. The crowd of
dancers was a heterogeneous one
There were young men from the neigh
boring county town, gorgeous in blazers
Of variegated colors there were young
farmers whose movements were not in
the least impeded by the somber, heavy
clothing. or the high-crowned broad
brimmed hats that they wore: there
were Il few particularly forward yOuthS in
bicycle attire, and three gay young men
from the neighboring city of Harrisburg.
whose shining high silk hats and dane
ing pumps made them the envy of their
more rustic companions The women.
likewise, in beauty and dress went to