The suburban citizen., 1902-12-06
HER BRIEF
HOUR OF TRIUMPH
ROMANCE OF THE HOP.FlELDS.
A ROMANCE OF TIE HOP.FIELDs.
BY MARGUERITE STABLER.

Sll tue ltulcIS on MOllle SlOe OF lne
field that Nolan's race was run. and
that Mollie had a new STEADY" from
"below," as the southern counties are
termed by the inhabitants of the north.
ern.
Nolan, his wrath cooled by nights
repose. became aware Of this fact wnen
he waited at the usual trysting place
by the first row of poles, and saw the
tan sombrero looming up in the wake
of the blue sun-bonnet. The rest Of the
day he was pursued by the cheerful
jibes Of his friends about being thrown
down for n city guy" Poor Mike
even his dauntless good humor went
down under their clumsy efforts at
consolation.
But Mike Nolan was not the only one
suddenly effaced from the girls tickle
memory. There were Pinny, and Spike
and Big Terry. into whose young and
susceptible hearts her black eyes had
burned big holes, now not even seen
when they passed her on the row.
The eyes under the sombrero lost
nothing of the situation. This little
girl was undoubtedly pretty after a
sort of wild-rose type. she certainly
was the only one in the field who could
help to make the long hot days en-
durable to him. Her eyes had a way of
widening when he talked to her, which
was highly agreeable to him, and he
spared no opportunity to produce that
effect. Her cheeks, too had a frank
little way of going pink k--sometimes
red-when the allusiOn was direct
enough-and altogether her open ad-
miration put fine gilt edge on his
self-esteem.
rs it possible you have never been
to San Francisco" he asked her, enc
day.
mo, I've never been there" she ad.
mtted, apologetically, but" she
FASTENED to add, in order to dispel any
idea Of rustlclty that admission might
have given, 1--WE been twice to Red
Bluff, and We live only nine miles from
Coon Creek"
Have you ever thought you might
like to live there" he pursued, reach.
Ing up to pull down q cut vine from the
pole. His glance was very direct this
time. and his tones full OF meaning.
II was pretty TO see her eyes and
checks glow with a deeper hue, so in.
tent was he on noting the effect be
could produce with the slightest touch
lie did noe wait for an answer. but
went on. Wouldn't you like"
But Just then the Sacramento train,
Numbered by on the tTcstl6. drowningN
his words. but not the look in his eyes.
And on the the heels of that. the noon
bell rang, at which everybody quit
work, ana they walked up to the set
tiemcnt together in silCnce-little Mol
lies feet touching the ground only in
high places. her foolish little head
way up in the clouds. the mans
thoughts miles away from the scene
about him. and the hope OF his heart
centred On getting on the varsity foot
bail team.
BY the end Of the season Miss Mol
lies social circle had narrowed down
to few more than her own family. and
one tall man. She had discovered her
tastes TO be Of the climbing variety,
and had reached the fatal conclusion
that not one Of her old friends at Coon
Creek possessed a particle of culture
or style. And when, before dispensing
Tor another year, the piclers prepared
to give a grand bail in honor of the
wlnd-up Of the hop-season. Mollie de.
termined TO show them the size Of the
gulf that now yawned between her
self and them.
These hop-pickers' dances are open
to every one, so there are not many
lines Of social distinction drawn. The
men exchange their bandana neck
'kerchiefs for stiff celluloid collars. and
the girls wash ont a sprlgged lawn
frock, and are radiant and ready for
the frolic But Mollie. with n reck-
less slash into her summers earnings.
burst upon the scene, on the eventful
evening. an animated billow Of frills,
and flounces, and furbelows.
AS the frolic progressed. the tall
follow with his sombrero under his
arm. watched the scene from the door
way with an amused wondering smile.
The big dining room that seated 500
hungry plckers three times a day had
been transformed in less than an hour
into n dancing hail. The tables had
been hoisteG to the ceiling by stout
bale ropes, where they were secured to
the rafters while the shelf that ran
the length OF the room on both sides.
was studded at regular intervals with
| empty bottles, into each Of which was
stuck tallow candle.
After the good old-fashloned CUSTOM
/ Pinny Smith, with a girl in a yellow
frock, led off the grand march. after
which there were polkas, quadrilles
schottisches, and dances his town bred
feet had forgotten or never learned
When his eye caught Mollles, he
crossed the room to ask her for a
dance. From the opposite doorway
Spike had started toward her at the
same time SHE held hcr fan--a gauzy.
! Rimsy thing that represeuted tho nrica