Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-06-14
II was late in October The skv wa,

was lS3 IN OctODef Ihe sky was
soft and hszy over the blue, blue sea.
The naples in the door-yard were red as
blood; the afternoons were warm and
mellow, but the evenings were frosty un.
der the beautiful harvest moon We had
not harvested such large crop of corn
for years, and father declared that he
would have an old-fashioncd husking and
invite all the young people from far and
near to join in the festivities. So great
preparations were made for the harvest
supper. The great barn was swept clean
and adorned with wreat,is Of autumn
leaves and evergreens, and hung with red
lanterns, and Jim Burrage, the fiddler
over at the tour corners, was engaged to
play for the dancing. Father said it made
| him feel young again to look forward to
such party, so he worked with will
until the whole place had a holiday bright
ness, and the whole village was full of ex.
element over the good times to be.
1t was as lovely an evening as ever hung
its silver moon over Plumtield, when the
great event came off at last, with its rosy
| lights, dim shadows and picturesque
crowd. Nearly all the girls wore bright
skirts or bright ribbons, all the young
men wore flowers in their buttonholes
But had no heart to enjoy it, and was
silently husking in a corner, when some
late corners appeared, aud among them,
TO my great surprise, Tom Babson; Lucy
Shelby was with him, of course looking
the very picture Of complacency.
| II forgot to tell you that Tom had got
home and invited him up" said father,
who was sitting near me.
| Tom seemed in no haste to speak to me,
and certainly was in no haste to speak
| to him as long as he was with Lucy. The
only vacant seat, AFTER the others of the
party were disposed of, however, hap
pened to be next to me, and he took it IN
an embarrassed manner, looking as
| though he had rather be anywhere else.
We exchanged a few commonplace words
| and then he devoted himself to Lucy, who
| was on the other side.
Great merriment prevailed. Red ears
were numerous and the pleasant prospect
Of supper and dancing were just ahead !;
but Tom was more quiet than his wont
and looked older and graver than when
saw him last, some three months before.
"Good gracious! there's something in
side this husk besides kernels Of corn,
| Just feel that knob" he said to Lucy,
handing her long, well filled ear
Perhaps it's like one of the ears from
the cornfield in the fairy story, where
they all contain gold"
"Sure enough" said Lucy. "Will
you give me whatever II isy"
Cant PROMISE" said Tom, laughing
ly, and he felt carefully inside the husk
and produced the missing ring.
90 Toni" gasped, forgetting, where
was, forgetting everything in my de-
light at seeing it once more. 81 lost II
the morning you gave it to me in the
cornfield; 1t was little loose for my
finger, but did not dream that it would
slip off. But how did IL come inside of
that corn huskS"
How, indeed" said Tom, looking
amazed, delighted and perplexed at the
same time.
| (" felt inside of every so many husks
to see If there was any corn large enough
for dinner. The sweet corn was late, and
we had nothing to set before all those
ministers. DO you suppose it could have
slipped off into one of them, thens"
That's it," said Tom, with an air of
conviction, though it's a mighty strange
thing, and no mistake. Ruth" lowering
| his voice to whisper, "should you have
worn the ring that night If you hadn't
lost itg Tell me quick, can't wait a
minute longer"
| "Oh, Tom! of course should have" /
replied brokenly.
! ''And have you changed your mindy 1t
will be poor sailing for me if you have. +"
| "No, Tom, only"
"Only whatg | am going to sail for
Liverpool next month, and must take you
with me
But what will you do with Lucy Shell
by?" whispered.
Nonsense!' said Tom, never made
love to her, and she'll be setting her cap
for somebody else tomorrow The Cap
tain told me that the ring was unlucky
after | bought it; the stone Is an opal, and
he said that opals were always so; but Pm
not superstitious, and l knew you Were
not, though thought wouldn't say any
thing about it, Are you afraid to wear II
nowy'
mo, am not afraid of it, though
believe that ii is charmed. How strange
that it should come back to you ia this
wayo'
" And I'm not afraid of any ill.luck that
isn't separation from you, and that doesn I
seem likely to be, now"
Tom had kept on husking all the time.
and very conveniently found red ear
lust then. had the benefit of the prize
and for the first dance the fiddler played
"The Sailors Wedding Susan Hdrtiy,
in Portland Transcript.
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