The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-03
THE RED EAR.
rAE sroaY o. AAuskINa FRoL!o.
pY HrLES FoREsr eRAyEs.


mac Farm-red, rare October, with til
maple trees all dyed in scarlet, the wooc
land streams choked with dead leavei
and the nuts ripened on the chestnu
boughs; and | can well remember tn
thrill which went through all my veins 4
the sight Of the glorious country landscape
as the stage driver set me down on tn
doorstep, with my trunk and carpetbag
Just as the sunset, bursting through shielt
Of lowering cloud, blazed across the oil
house, painting its caves with orange light
and turning the small window-panes L
quivering tablets Of gold.
For had been born and brought up il
the city, and all this wide, wild landscape
colOred with autumn forests and scented
with dead leaves, was new and marvellous
in my sight.
"Do you like it, Cousin Olga"
Coquettish little Barbara Blake asked
the question, US she fitted to and fro, up
parently intent upon the arrangement o
lhesupper table, while all the time sht
kept bright eye on Walter Mildmay, who
sat by the light, mending defective spO
in the harness,
very much" l said, quietly.
Walter did not look up, but | could fee
hisquiet eye on me all the time, wondered
what he thought OF me. thought, uneas
lily, OF my dusty dress; my disheveled hair
the stiff, unbecoming linen collar which
had chosen to wear instead OF my lace irill
which best suited my face, Not that /
wanted him to admire me, but every wo-
man likes to appear to the best advantage,
and | was no whit different from the rest
Of my sex.
| was a Philadelphia shop girl. You see
there was no glamour OF romance about my
life, worked ior my living, like many
another, living quietly in sCant and forlorn
lodging, and felt sadly enough, that my lOt
in life was to be chrysalis' rather than u
buttertly's, until Fayal 4 Co, failed, and,
hearing that | was out OF employment, my
unknown cousins at SumaC Farm wrote for
inc to come and spend the winter with
them.
They welcomed me kindly after their
fashion. Uncle Blake gave me n kiss, and
remarked obviously that ~ didn't favor
any Of the Blakes that ever he knew oil"
Barbara; his daughter, wondered why |
looked so pale Jonas brought his pretty
young wii0-who had been u Mildmay-to
greet me; and her brother Walter, who was
boarding there, also shook hands politely
with me, and "hoped | should like the
country" in an indifferent way.
The fire OF the huge logs blazed and
cracked in the deep, smOke-blackened
chimney.plaCe, and tho leaves rustlcd
against the doorstep outside, and II cricket
chirpcd shrilly under the hearth, and It
was all 30 strange-so strange, yet SO rest
full!
After supper they left me alone. Mrs.
Jonas Blake went out to skim tho milk.
My cousin and his father vanished to at
END "DeestriCt school meeting" some
where. Walter and Barbara had been in
visible for some time, and after sitting
drcamily for while before the fire, rose
and went out into tho kitchen beyond,
vaguely DESTROYS OF some companionship
beside my own.
No one was there, but heard the sound
Of voices in the shed at the rear, where
Barbara was holding the light for Walter
Midway 10 sharpen some edged tool on
the grindstonc. Gnwittingly ! advanced
toward the door just in time to hear their
words:
"a still, ugly old maid, said Walter, in
"a little higher, Barbara,
please. 1ithat is the sort Of girls they turn
out in Philadelphia, prefer the country
specimens"
Stood rooted to the floor, feeling myself
grow hot all over. They went on talking
and laughing, but l did not hear word
they said.
Noiseessly ! crept back into the house,
up TO my own room, lighted the candle
md looked into the little muslin-draped
glass that hung above the home made
dressing table.
Still, ugly and an old maid Tho latter
certainly was not, at four-and-twenty,
Still, Knight bc--whO could avoid that, In
the presence OF utter strangers, surround.
ID by q domestic atmosphere that was ut
tery novel to me? And ugly--was l that?
looked into the glass to see hair banded
straight buck from pale oval face, eyes
heavy with WEAKNESS, checks quite color
less. Did he think | always looked like
that? He should see
So | went to bed and cried myself 10
sleep.
The next morning got up and dressed
myself with care. | brushed the soft,
crimped masses Of Jet black hair away
from my temples, and fastened q spray of
coral-rcd wild berries which had gather
ed by the roadside into 1t, and knotting
my loose scarlet necktie under my lace
collar, smiled to see the soft glow OF color
that was returning to my cheeks, the bril-
lance Of my eyes.
My dress was Of black cashmere, enliven.
ed here and there by scarlet ribbon, in.
stead Of the gray travelling suit had worn
the evening before, and II fitted me as II |
had grown into 1t.
~ don't think | am quite so ugly as ]
was last night" | thought. "But II Mr..
Mildmay don't like Inc, Of course / cannot
help it,"
So went down stairs, and Uncle Blake
stared at me over his spectacle glasses.
"NIerCy on us cried Mrs. Jonas
"NYhat las the girl been doing TO her
self?"
"Somc one must have changed her of
while she sleptl' said Barbara, running
up to me and giving me kiss.
Walter Mildmay said nothing; he only
drank his coffee.
I How enjoyed the next fortnight! The
weather was beautiful and balmy beyond
all description We had nutting expedi.
lions and boating parties, aud long walks
to gather brilliant autumn leaves. Al
night We sat around the blazing logs, and
on the few Eainy days, Mrs. Jones showed
me how 10 make butter, and Barbara took
me up into the great garnet, where there
were chests Of old relics, piles OF books and
papers, and all the antique belongings OF a
whole century Of Bikes.
But all this time Walter Mildmay kept
his quiet distance; and TO save my life,
could not tell whether he still thought INC
"stilT, ugly old maid" or not.
And then came the husking frolic.
The barn was all illuminated by can.
dies, stuck in tin scenes, nlong the sides-l
had never seen so wild and romatic a
sight. Mrs. Jonas and Barbara had beer
baking cake and buttering sandwiches al
day, while Uncle Blake had rolled barre
Of sparkling new cider close TO the barr
door. Merry laughter sounded, brigh
| -. ..,I To-, d, tt,,