The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-01
A NewYear S
House Party
BY JOHN R. MORRISON

turning point In my life. Every roOm
In the house was occupied, some OF
them by three persons. We had scarce
ly got together when We began So
ries Of practical jokes on one another
at which the girls were far more
adept than the boys. The very first
night the sheets In every fellows bed
were scOtched. and the next day at
luncheon there were cream cakes OH
the table filed with cotton provided by
the girls. One fellow swallowed his
cake. cotton and all. rather than con-
fess himself stung.
We sat up so late nights and some Of
ing that we were ready to fall asleep
ut any moment. One evening when
playing the game Of twenty ques-
tions" | was sent into another room
while the others chose something for
me to guess. There was no light In
the room where l waited, but there
was an easy chair. | sat down In the
chair and fell asleep.
was awakened by a kiss. | grab
bed a girl. but she got away from me.
though only after fierce struggle.
When l had once lost her 1t was not
easy to find her. though the rustling
Of her skirts was a disadvantage to
her. while my greater weight. render
ing my tread heavier. was constantly
betraying me- She lodged me for
some time. when all became quiet
Then suddenly l heard the door open
and close. Since the adjoining room
was also dark knew that the others
had turned off the lights to enable the
girl l was after to escape. The escape
having been effected. went to the
door to go out. found 1t locked.
1t was some ten minutes before II
was opened. and l Joined the others.
the room having been relighted. | cast
my eyes from one girl to another with
view to discovering who had kissed
me- The first girl looked at had a
scratch OF her nose. But the second
also had scratch. and the third. IN
deed. every girl was scratched. look
ed at the fellows and saw that they
were all lauSnlnS at me.
Now. among our guests there was
one girl for whom my heart had begun
to beat. | would have given q king
dom II had had 1t for proof that Ma
ria had done the kissing Whoever
had done 1t had doubtless been dared.
Whether my preference for Maria had
been noticed by the other girls and
when | was found asleep she had been
chosen to play the joke on me didn't
know II she had done the kissing she
certainly showed no evidence Of the
fact-that IL. any more than the rest
Of the girls-a scratched nose. But
there was one thing that led me to sus
pect her. While every other girl in
the room was keyed up to the highest
pitch OF mischief. their eyes dancing.
their lips. cheeks. every other feature
smiling. Maria seemed simply uncon-
cerned
AT a. IN. went to bed no wiser as
to the identity OF the ksser than be-
fore. But the next morning after hav-
ing dressed, noticing that needed to
change my handkerchief. jerked it
from the outside pocket OF my coat and
heard something land on the floor
STOPPING. | picked up stickpin.
1t at once occurred to me that during
the scuille Of the evening before the
Din had fallen from the lady's apparel,
probably from about the neck. and
caught on my handkerchief. Unfortu-
nately 1t was a very inexpensive arti-
Gle with an imitation pearl for a head
ana did not identify any particular
girl. realized the Importance OF keen.
ing my hnd secret. Going down to
breakfast | found that three different
girls wore pins that We're duplicates OF
the one possessed. They were the
most likely To he suspected. and among
them was Maria. Doubtless If there
had been enough such articles TO 90
round every girl would have worn n
suckplH rs well rs n scratched nose.
by anC by 1t occurred TO me that when
the p'h was In transit from the girl TO
my pocket it had made the scratch Oh
her nose.
me problem was now narrowed
down To three girls for doubtless the
girl who had done the kissing vos
among those who Wore pins. 1t seem
ed to me that | must make her betray
herself or the victory would be with
the girls | sat down to the breakfast
table, Ignoring my find. But while the
glrlS were rinSing their dainty fingers
III their finger bowls | said
IL have found something that belong.
cd To the girl who kissed me last
night"
Every girl expressed by her behavior
Keen interest in what ! said cXccpt
Maria, who took advantage of rjnsiup
her fngcrS 10 bend over the little n!ass
bowl before her. | made up my mind
mat | was getting warm" as the
children say i'm hide and seek. and con.
GUIDED on bold stroke continued.
"Non may think that Il little stickpin