The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-18
Euening Story
Pairing at a PAIRING.
81 MARTHA M'C. WILLIAl

year. Livery cfcnafd DOWeQ earInWaTu
with gay scented fruit, cider flooded
the cellars of the countryside, and,
young mountains of apple barrels lay
snug beneath the trees. Naturally the
making of apple butter grew common
piace-mNeh too usual to be turned
into a festival, as happened sometimes
in scant years. Still the younger ele-
ment had its innings; pairing bees after
the old fashion sprang up afresh,
with much laughter as parings were
dropped over the left shoulder to form
initial of the future partner All those
whose sweethearts came in the letter
S class had a reasonable hope of good
apple omen, since any well-conditioned
sound paring-and what other was
worth the casting ?-had a curl al each
end that in themselves automatically
formed the fateful letter.
The Jordans had the finest apples
and the prettiest girls round about.
Hence their bee, coming well toward
the end of things, was merry, crowded
and mighty industrious. The number
of knives flying round and round juicy
red or yellow fruit was something phe-
nomenal. There was rivalry, too, in
the output, as well as in the emptying
of the tubs that brought in the fruit
Benny Jordan, belle of the neighbour
hood, had her hands full escaping ali
the partners who wanted to team up
with her. She took refuge at last in
making the team four square. Thus
there was more excitement in the
racing as well as more glory in win
ming.
Benny did not want to beat every
BODY else. She was at once too cour-
teous and too crafty for that In her
own house she felt she must hold back
bit. There were three other bees
in prospect. At them she could let
her fingers fly their nimblest. So she
took for her teammates the Jenkins
lad. whose nickname was Slow, and
Nell Crabb, a lightning worker, If only
she wouldn't stop to stare so often.
These two would, she was sure, bal
ance nicely all that she herself ana
Roy Elton could do. Their gang
ought to come third, which was hlgh
enough to save humiliation, and low
enough to please the visiting helpers
without hurting victor feelings. MISS
Benny was, you see, something or a
diplomat. The way of it is to come
later. Just now all is apples and the
pairing and slicing thereof
The Jordans of course, had par
ing machine, but use of it would be
death to the fun of the evening so
knives flew like mad, slices fell in
cascade. the strings mounted in tor
rents upon the rods which were bear
ing them to the drying house. By II
O'Clock the last tubful had been turned
from beauty to use, the heap of Sc
lected parings was carefully put aside,
and everybody washed up, spruced a
bit and began devouring gingerbread,
pumpkin pie, thick sandwiches of ooz-
ing fairness and pickles of such splicing
they made an almost oriental atmos-
phere-
Coffee. hot. strong, clear as star
light, dark as Erebus, washed down
the Homeric- feast. Nobody was
ashamed of appetite--indeed the
champion eaters were prize guests.
cider, to be sure. was plentifdIly on
tap-but who wanted to smell, much
less taste it, after an evening all APP
pies? A flute, fife and fiddle were
straining to make music-at least
their players said so, each Wanting
his instrument. Since the three played
upon all occasions musical. the rivalry
betWiXt them was keen, even fierce.
When at last they struck up Money
Musk" the flute just half a. bar lag
gard-Benny had an inspiration. II
was to let the fateful peels choose
partners everybody to throw, and
those that made the same letter dance
together the first set and the last
This made a merry time, the music
going it's maddest while the choosing
went on. But Benny was caught in
her own trap-by order of the skins
she was vowed to Hop-Light Martin,
the man of all others she wished to
avoid.
He had money, and traces of a col
| lege education. Also and further. he
| fancied himself so greatly he suspected
womankind il general OF sharing his
feelings. Worst of all, he hated with
deadly malice young John Glover
upon whom Miss Benny had fixed her
mind and heart as her proper mate
Young John was just getting a foot
| hold in the law-but he was ambitious
as Lucifer. Hence Benny's diplomacy
she knew all things needs must have
a beginning-young John with his ma
| tive township behind him solidly had
| more than an even chance of getting
| the county. and state, to have the
same mind.
He knew what Hop-Light thought
| of him-and returned the opinion with
| interest. He had also an understand
| ing as to Benny's inclinations and
plans. So he ought not to have
minded in the least seeing her swing
ing down the middle in the opening
Virginia reel, nor the setting in Sir
Roger de Coverly, which walked gen.
| eral applause.
| Mind it he did to a degree that made
| him Fampantly careless. Torn gowns,
trodden corns marked his progress tn
such an extent that there was wide
eyed amazement and whispers that he
must somehow have got more hard
cider than he well could carry.
Benny knew the truth, but his seem
! ing mistrust or her made her SO furi-
Gus she forgot prudence for a time
| and outdanced herself. Hop-Lfght, all
said and DONE was certainly fine
| partner-he knew plenty of old
catches fitting the tunes, and sang
/ them with gusto in a robustious tenor
that set the crowd clapping and laugh
| ing hard. Sow jenkins even shouted,
You're 'lected, Hop-Light. no matter
what you're runnin' for" Hop-Light
| bowed grandly; then. the dance ended
/ he stood out clear of everything cry
| ing, Now for a hornpipe, Say,
Johnny, you watch mel" to Glover.
A taunt this. Johnny was ADLER In
| head than heels. But he was past
pruden with anger, so he stepped in
front of the hornpiper, saying with
curling lip: mo matter about the
split. Right now Wen have the
smack" suiting the action to the
words, and sending Hop-Light Keeling
A elinch was the logical rejoinder
Hop-Light did not make it. Instead
/ he caught balance, flung his arms