Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-02

terms l told where l had seen it drop and
again we carefully covered the ground.
The ball was lost myEterously and I'M
accOuntably lost!
After a hurried consultation we decided
ttiat our only course was confession TO
MI hargrave. the superintendent. For
the sense Of security that lies in numbers
We sought him in body. each pledgine as
sistance in paying for the ball
He received our doleful tale with a hearty
laugh; lie said he was glad of it, wished
they had all been lost. He was opposed to
tne1n from the first. and wouldn't have tht.
ball replaced for any consideration; but he
suggested that we devote the PROMISED as
seSSment to the West African mission fund
Whicf ne cons idered much more sensible
ana christian investment for our pennies
will P' '"
As the dew had begun to fall. and it
would be quite late by the time some srot
nome the elderly members proposed re-
turning There was no moon but IL was a
beautifully clear starlight night. and n cool
uae"Ae had sprung up with the setting of
many. who now discovered for the first
tirne what long and busy day it had been
" hle the men ana boys were "hitchin'
up the girls huddled together on the
Dehches IN the dark, and sang Rock of
Ages. Nearer. My God. to Thee" ana
Home. Sweet Home" The music Of Their
sweet young voices trilled beautifully
through the green aisles of the grove ~
ihS away gently in the distance to the ac-
COMPARTMENT of rustling leaves
Presently there came a sound of ,n,,HIad
mooipeatS, ana ono after another the
teams doomed dinly in tho obscuritv
The horses trod softly the Garnet of daod
ieS'VeS which had been Accommodating since
uhhumbered ages before Columbus sought
me assistance of the beautiful young Span
lsh queen to enable him to discover This
great country of ours. From the bancbor
came choruSeS of sweet girlish voices-"Is
mat you Ben. Charlie. Hiram Zeke?'' and
30 on. Ana from the outer darkness per-
lips te'ty voice would reply, Come,
marTn where be ye?'
After much busting. and piepIinp and ,
thousand and one good-byes and Remember
mes to so and so, the throng got under
way. win the exception of here and there
4 parting salute shouted from one wagon
70 ahother. nothing more was heard but
inc CHATTER of hoofs, as the intellipent
horses hasiened each In the direction of its
own corn crib. - 40
once more in the privacy of our buggy
we INDUCED in the gossip which seems The
natural outgrowth of such gatherings Car
RE was not above the feminine weaknass
oL crltic'Sh; and taught. no doubt. by
,hat species or instinct which preserves the
lower animais-invariably indorsed her
opinions. hei
declined her invitation to come in. II
Ias so late She thanked me prettiiy for
me Gays outing; | declared the obligatio
TO be all on my side: we babe each otber
SooN night. and / drove home the most
perfectly seaf-satis4ied young fellow in the
state. And why not? I had passed the
most ENJOYABLE day Of my life in the com
pany of the acknowledged belle Of ~.
ridge. bad the fastest horse and the
nnest buggy. ah-well-I wasn't the worst.
looking follow in the crowd myself So
ended this peashntest of days, and Carrie
Stsnwood and I were fairly entered on .be
old routine travelled by so many millions
IN the past. to be So eagerly sought nv,
millions in the future ~