The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-18
EVENING STORY
In the Cove.
(By Martha McCulloch williams.

Intentionally late-much care and
thought and time had gone into her
splendors. Two full days her hair had
stayed in papers so that it might fall
in perfect ebon curls upon her white
shoulders. She had satt up past mid
night making the lace draped about
them 1t had been provoking-she
knew her eyes would show it-but the
thread had not come until the last
possible minute and she was bound to
show some part of all she had learned
at school
Half the cove had criticised her for
going to the school-the other half
Learning was a name, nothing more
fit for preachers perhaps, but for real
folk a waste and WEAKNESS. So, in
deed, she had found the book part
but doing things had been pure de-
light. Now, tho she had been in her
backwoods mountain home but three
months, the place began to look diff
ferent. There was actually a fence
about the yard, with stile leading
over it-a stile of hewn logs well laid
up. Jess had somehow coaXe1 Dad
and Buddy into making it, after prov
ing to them that fence was neces-
sary-a tight fence and strong-if she
was to have any luck with her chick
ems. not to say her garden.
They were placable giants, and cap
able or tlerce INDUSTRY Wnen Iney SO
willed. Both had expected Jess to
come home high and full of airs. At
first they had been almost sullen. But
certain Improvements in fare, in gem
eral comfort, conjoined to her COM
radely alertness, had worked on her
side. Moreover, she had not whined
nor fretted at coming back a year
ahead of time. Nam had died sud-
denIy-of course it was right that less
should care for her menkind. She
had set hands SO willing to hard and
heavy tasks heN mankind had fallen
into a way of hefping-rather shame
facedly, to be sure, but in ways that
made her wonder. Dad and Buddy
could not help but be proud of her.
This even before they saw her in
party array. There had been no
thought of mournnig-Mam had not
believed in ito the scandal of the
neighbors. Blacks for buryin'-let
the Twin wear rejoicin' clothes" she
had said. Jess wore them, beautiful
~. Her soft, dull red wooden frock
with its creamy lace frills became her
marvelously. Even without the help
of it. she was the handsomest girl in
the room. Buddy said SO to himself
his eyes the while ranging the throng,
which stared at her as barnyard fowls
might stare at a paroquet suddenly
strayed among them.
One did more than stare-young
Boyce from over at Lumberton,
stranger to the fCove, even to the
mountains. Heretofore he had watch
ed others play on plea of ignorance
Now as Jess was seized and led out
in the classic game of snap he thrust
himself eagerly forward, hoping also
to be snapped in. The game makes
man and maid stand facing, holding
hands. thus forming the stump
around which another man and maid
chase or flee from each other. Caught
the captive becomes part of the stump
thereby making the game highly fluid
Belleship was reckoned by snapouts
Notwithstanding which fact even the
plainest got at least one chance on
the floor. 1t was the victors privilege.
after placing the captive properly, to
snap thumb and finger at the next
choice, always swapping somebody of
the opposite sex.
Wild Maybe Dinny duly snapped
young Boyce. Tho she was nimble
as a weasel he caught her in five
rounds, but forebore to kiss her. as
he might under the rules of the game.
She got white with anger over the
omission, but locked steely fingers
with her laughing partner. Jess. re-
leased, started to walk, but Boyce
snapped her masterfully-and led her
chase, indeed. before she laid hands
on him. ''I'l never run from you in
anything else he whispered, his lips
almost at her ear. Buddy noted it
with darkling eyes. He was jealousy
careful of his sister-Boyce had the
name in Lumberton of being free with
the girls. That shouldn't happen to
Jess. Buddy watched hawklike the
progress of the game. Boyce held
Magpie's hands tight enough, but had
eyes only for jess, darting and circling
about him QlndinO MI
suit of Dan Dinny, Magpie's bachelor
cousin, who was so slow and bashful
he rarely came to a party.
Still he played the game-and for
all it was worth. Catching Jess at
last, he gave her a resounding smack,
wanted it when ye fetched me out
yere. All the gals does-seein' they
can't git kissed no otherways''
You'll take that back, my friend"
Boyce said thru set teeth. Dan grin
ned sheepishly "Meanin' the buss? l
don't keer, and she's willin'," he said,
podding toward Jess, who stood scar
let and angry.
Next minute Dan lay flat on his
back, seeing stars evoked by the i'm
pact of a scientific fist on the point
of his jaw. At the same second Boyce
was in the grip of a giant. Buddy
roaring out hoarsely: Understand,
I'm the fighter fer our family. You
come outside and let's settle things"
AS they moved to the door Dan got
up heavily, hate distorting his face.
With a whoOp he was after them,
brandishing the knife he had whipped
out of some hiding place-a murder
Gus blade whose handle already bore
two notches. No man moved to check
him. He had, to their minds, fair
and full cause of quarrel. Boyce, a
rank outsider, had chosen causelessly
to resent an old familiar privilege OF
their sport. He deserved to pay the
penalty of his rashness. All they
would do was to see he had fair play.
Jess knew what was in their minds.
Her own was suddenly illumined. She
had been sure she hated Boyce, but
there was no time for thought. Out
side a climbing full moon gave clear
light. weirdly supplemented by leap
ing flames of lightwood burning in a
big iron pot. and smolders of the
cooking logs little beyond Thus