Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-02
NO. 2s5.
THE RED EAR.

Malcolm gets here. The bovs are ready to
break their necks for her. We musn't let
her know how much this visit has been
looked for. 1t will make her too impor-
tant."
"They say there's lois of music in Lucy
returned Uncle Dorset. Everybody called
him Uncle Dorset. .'She's Just that trim
built, light-steppin' creetur her mother
was before her. What grand good times
we boys and girls used TO have together
when she was young"
Yes said his wife, with slight air of
injury. ''You and Horace We're both of
you smitten with Lucy Parkes. Everybody
knows that we'll enough ss ss
NO." replied Uncle Dorset, wagging
his good-natured old head, lit was Hor.
aces sister was after; but was always
willing to crack q joke with Lucy Parkes"
"Wal," said Aunt Dorset, the aggrieved
tone shading off little. sit always looked
as if it was nip and tuck between ycu ard
Horace
The old lady did not really mean i; ;but
the truth was she had always been little
jealous of her brothers vile, and now, al
most unconsciously. the feeling was trans.
ferred to Lucy Malcolm. She did not rel
ish the idea of her coming to Stockburn.
had done. She had not seen the girl for
five or six years; but report said Lucy had
grown to be pretty, arch, dark-eyed lit
tie witch, with spice of mischief in her
| composition that made her quite irresisti-
bic.
In the mild haze Of the autumn day the
Dorset boys were getting in the corn.
drawing with an ox-team the rustling
shocks to the barn: .
"The old swallow-haunted barn.
Brown. gabled, long, and full Of seams,
Through which the moated sunlight streams
I'VE will have a husking-bee when
| cousin Lucy gets here said Enoch Dor
| set, as he stood up on the load, pitchfork
in hand, his tall, well-knit form swaying
| little, and showing clearly, clad as it was
in comfortable flannel shirt and trowsers
of Jersey blue.
"Golly so we will." said his brother
Job from the threshing floor. IF cousin
Iu is as lively as they say she is. it will te
general training most of the time while
she stays
Job was not as good-looking as Enoch
His hair was lank and his face was sal
low; but there were funny lines round his
mouth, and he had dry way Of saying
things, and taste for drollery Of all sorts.
that made him a iayorite. He kept his wit
sharpened at Enoch' eApense and Enoch
was rather open to ridicule, for he had q
sneakipg fondness for hair-oil and fancy
neckties, and scented pocket handker-
chiefs, and secretly believed himself to be
the best-looking fellow in Stockburn.
"Hullo.'' said Enoch. standing still on
the load. with that easy sway of the hips.
and shading his handsome brown face
| with his hands. as he looked up the road
where it rose little, until the spiral Lom-
hardy poplars in front of Elkanah Ray
nor's house showed gaps of sky between.
| like parted fingers, and the old chimneys
| were nested in u power of fruit trees, yell
| low and rus set now. The road Gown which
Enoch was gazing was by no means "a
common country road The fences were
all of the best. and the foot-paths were
shaded by fine. stocky naples. that were
carpeting the wagon tracks with flecks of
| flame color. Every house in Stockburn
neghborhood was snug and neat, with
well-tod do air. 1t had the best school
house and church in the township, and was
what people called a 'crack" street.
'.Theres the stage coming round the
| turnpike corner exclaimed Enoch, as his
eyes followed clond of dust
cousin Lucy shouted Job. And he
threw down his fork and dashed to the
house, and in a minute more Uncle Dor
set, bare-headed, with his broad, good.
natured old face smiling all over, and little
bustling Aunt Dorset. with her cap-strings
| flying, hurried out into the front yard.
There was a face at one Of the window
of the Ranor farmhouse as the top-heavs
stage, with its six horses, and ilapping
| leather curtains, and piles of trunks
| strapped on behind, went crcaking past.
| The house was too much shaded for health
and the face was in shadow. 1t was u
young face, with an abundance of soft
hair, regular features, and large blue eyes
that ought to have been patient and low
ing; but there was an unnatural compress
sion about the lines of the mouth, that
made it look 4 little stern. Now, as the
stage passed quickly by, affording to the
watching eyes at the window glimpse
OF fascinating, girlish countenance.
lovely in its bloom, with Il little blue veil
tluttering from jockey hat, Nancy Ray.
nor's head bent down on her work, and il
seemed as though something said in her
, ear: "lle will love her; | know lie will
love her
So it appeared that Lucy Malcom's ar.
rival was causing some heart burning In
| Stockburn rei@hbol hood All uneon.
scious of Ibis, Lucy, the roundest, plump
est. merriesl htiic maiden ever seen
tripped out "t the stage when the driver
had brought his horses TO. There was a
pair OF spai king black eyes adorning her
rosy face, and her laugh rang out as clear.
as Il silver bell. Lucy hadvarious parcels,
bags and books. which She shed about as
such little mnxes will; and young man,
who had got down from the stage to us.
sist her in alghting, gathered them up
and handed them back. He was eyident-
y townbred man with white hands and
It downward look, and too little chin, and
Il carefully kept mustache. Lucy took
her things from him in pretty. petulant
sort OF way. giving him curt little bow;
and the moment they were all on the
ground. and she had her arms hugged
tightly round Uncle Dorset's neck.
Don't you mean to give me one OF
them, cousin Lucy?' inquired Enoch,
leaning in one of his naturally graceful
postures against the gate, as the kisses