Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-03
NO. 2s6.
Tales aud Sketehes.
THE RED EAR.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY. I

|
the measles" said Uncle Dorset, one
morning, as he broke one open, decorated
with number OF yellow eyes,
81 made them, DEAR" said Lucy, look
/ ing so penitent. .'You know I've been
brought up in dreadful ignorance; bu,
| now l am learning 10 cook, for expect
to marry poor man-perhaps farmer
And she cast such a glance at Enoch that
Aunt Dorset took the alarm. That same
forenoon, while Enoch was down in the
Evans lot. mendng a piece Ct fence to
keep Squire Brigham's cattle out, his
anxious mother appeared. with her apron
over her head.
'Look here, Enoch,H said she; ..the
neighbors have got it round that you are
| going to make match with Lucy Malcolm.
| wouldn't be quite so pertickerler toward.
her, If | was you. never turns out well
for first cousins TO marry -
| 1.-The neighbors may just mind their
own business, said Enoch, angrily, as be
hammered away at board.
| Tut, tut returned his mother, who
had temper OF her own. ut takes
flirt to catch fiirt; and shouldn't Won
der if you and Lucy were we'll matched.
TO speak plain. don't think you have
treated Nancy Raynor right; and the day
may come when you will find out what a
true heart is worth
In spite of all this, Aunt Dorset liked
| the creature. Lucy compelled liking from
those who did not wholly approve Of her
She was disorderly and upsetting, and
shocked the old lady's ideas Of method
and regularity but still she would bear
more from her than anybody else. Job
liked Lucy's spirit of fun. She was not
too big to play tomboy, and to follow the
boys into the field and ride home on load
of pumpkins looking Ike a little queen
amid her golden treasures. She had seen
Nancy Raynor in the singers seats al
church, of a Sunday morning; but that
was as near as the two girls had ap-
preached each other. In response to
Lucy's teasing, Aunt Dorset had invited
the neighbor's daughter to tea; but on the
afternoon of the day appointed Nancy had
sent to say that she must be excused. on
account of a bad headache. Job COM
forted Lucy by saying that Nancy would
surely come to the husking bee; but Nan
cy, as she lay awake nights. with the
sell that she would not 60 and witness tha,
girls triumph. From her place of van
tage by the window, with her face look.
ing pale and her breath coming fast she
had watched Enoch pass by in the NOON
light. with Lucy clasping his arm and gaz.
ing up in his face, and she almost despised
herself because she could not see 1t un-
moved.
Enoch was bewitched with Lucy, but
the bewitching did not 60 very far. He
was young man who had q very good
opinion of himself, and his constancy had
not been developed. He liked to have q
number of girls fond of him; and he
thought it was rather fine thing to cool
off toward flame as he had done toward
Nancy Raynor. Still, with all her innocent,
pussy-like ways, Enoch distrusted Lucy.
He caught her sending billets privately to
Mddletown by the farm hand, Zeke; and
he had not forgotten her adventure tn the
stage coach.
The preparations for the hnsking-be
were almost complete. and Lucy was wild
with delight. The big barn was to be
nicely Illuminated, and the supper of
pumpkin pie, doughnCts, and cider, to be
spread in the kitchen, after the good, old
orthodox fashion. Afteward the great
barn floor was to be cleared, and fiddlers,
engaged al Middletown, were TO play for
dancing.
| Two days before the husking-bee wa.
to come off, Lucy made Job an apple pie
bed. Job meant to be even with her, and
the next afternoon he called up the stair.
way:
"Cusin Lucy, don't you want to take
ride behind Brown Bettyp''
Lucy was of course delighted with the
proposition. So she stepped to the win
dows and peered through the blinds and
there was Brown Betty hitched to the sui
ky-a light, airy thing, that looked as IL
made of cobwebs, with the tiniest of back
less seats hung in the middle. Lucy ap-
preciated the Joke, and, while Job ran
back to the carriage-house to get his coat,
she slipped down stairs, unhitched Brown
Betty, and was off down the road like
flash.
| 80, massa to us - screeched Aunt Dor
set, running to the door. That child
will surely get killed. She don't know
nothing about driving, and the mare a
| skittish as colt.
Job dashed out of the carriage-house.
looking crest-iallen enough. '.She's
plucky little piece of baggage" said he.
land there's no use trying to get ahead
of her. Don't worry, mother Lucy Is
able to take care of herself
There certainly was sweet little cherub
| sUlncNu bP Ntoit. W iio iOohCu out iOt
audacious Lucy. In an hours time she
came back, with demurely wicked CLEAN
in her eye. Brown Betty had evidently
been put through her PAGES. Lucy threw
down the lines with professional air.
and ordered Job to give her nag some
water. "lor she is as dry rs a contribution
box she added; land | would like to
know who is a little sulky now
Lucy explained, later, that accidentally
she had met Mr.. Allen, the young man
who was polite to her in the stage. In
return for turning her horse round. she
had asked him to come over to the husk
ing-bee.
The night OF the husking- bee had come
and Milton Raynor was backing his
boots at the back door OF the farmhouse.
aren't you going over to Dorset's to-
night p he inquired of his sister.
mo, am not
Now. would, if were you. Nancy.
1t don't look well for you TO stay cooped
up here at home. Folks will begin to sav
you are love sick.
| ICONCIuDED OK rOI.RrU plcr