The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-03-13

OAoo L oAA'
In his college days a number of his
companions were in the habit of at
tending these rustic frolics, but it
CHANGED that he never had accompa-
MED them.
"What! Why, how funny! But I
forgot, you're not a farmer, are you?
Well, you'll have a chance to see
what hop-dance is like. I've asked
a few friends up from Hintonville,
and we are going in for grand good
time, aren't we, Sylvia? We are ex-
pecting you'll ask us to dance, Mr..
Rossiter."
"Dance!" cried Rossiter in be-
wilderment. Was the girl making
game of him? Apparently not, for
she seemed wholly in earnest.
Certainly" she said in reply to his
exclamation. "You dance, do you
not?"
Rossiter was compelled to admit
that he had danced.
"Then we shall feel very much
sighted if you do not dance now,
and if you neglect u.s." she added.
wont we, sylvia?"
"I am sure Mr.. Rossiter is not ac-
customed to slight his friends" said
Miss Densmore.
"But haven't danced in a number
of years, and" began Rossiter.
He had heard the gayeties of the
following night talked about among
a number of The younger pickers-
Mamie Becraft was in twitter over
them-but the gossip had meant
nothing to him. He dance! 1t was
absurd. Not that he lacked skill in
the art. Once he had been consid-
cred the most accomplished, part
ner who was welcomed by all whom
he sought, but that was in another
existence. He was surprised that
Miss Merton and her cousin proposed
joining in the free-and-easy rollicl-
ings of the hop-dance, but evidently
the two girls were bent on a lark,
and Miriam was doubtless eager to
show Miss Densmore all the phases
of the hop-harvest.
'You haven't completed your sem
tence," said Miss Merton. THAT
and does not mean because you
haven't danced in some time you
won't dance now, I hope"
The pole-puller glanced down at
his clumsy shoes and at his attire.
people don't wear their finery at
hop-dances," said Miss Merton.
And yet Kossiter woulu nuC prom.
ise. Much as he knew the pleasure
would be to him, this more intimate
and friendly association with the two
cousins, he had a feeling that theiI
gratitude prompted them to urge
him, and, moreover, he shrank from
meeting, in his coarse garb, Miss Mer-
toms Hintonville friends. The girls
renewed their attack the next morn
ing, but without avail.
I'm too rusty" Rossiter plead as
an excuse. 81 should be treading on
everyone's toes!"
1t CHANGED that afternoon that Miss
Merton had left the yard for a few
moments, and Miss Densmore was
picking alone. Rossiter was passing,
and she called to him.
'My cousin is sadly put out" she
said, because you are so obstinate.
She is very anxious, as you must
have seen, to arrange set by our
selves There are three men and two
girls coming from Hintonville, and
Jack CHATS Mr.. Parmelee, you
know can't dance all the time, for
he's got everything to look after.
Don't you realize how much you
could help out if you only would?"
This put the matter in quite diff
ferent light.
II will do what I can," said Ros-
sitter, simply. 81 didn't quite under
stand"
"Thank you," and her smile car
ried more real Joy to him than any
thing he had experienced, it seemed
to him, since he could recall.
Evening came, and all preparations
for the gayeties had been made. The
floor of the large hop-house had been
cleared and the room lighted with
lamps and lanterns. About the walls
festoons of hops had been hung, a
small platform erected for the musi-
clans, and seats placed for the
dancers when they were not on the
floor. Before eight o'clock the music,
two fiddlers and a celloist, arrived,
and soon the pickers from two or
three adjacent farms drove up in
large hop-wagons. Then shortly Miss
Merton's little party from Hinton
vile appeared, and by half-past eight
the dancing was in full swing.
Rossiter did not join in the merri-
ment at the outset, but stood in the
background near the door watching,
with not little amusement, the an
tics of some of the rustics. Several
men would occasionally launch into
sort of breakdown, and the sound
of their energetic efforts, usually in
excellent time, would be heard above
the combined shuttle of all other feet
and the rise and dip of the music.
SWANS grasped the waists of their
dulcineas, as they "svung partners"
and whirled them with gay abandon.
Though the attire of the men was
commonplace in the extreme, that
OF the women was as extraordinary
as 1t was varied. Bright colors pre-
dominated, and not a few of the
combinations would have been likely
to afiict the artists eye with an
acute optical disturbance.
The leader of the orchestra, If it
be permissible thus to dignity the