The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-12-21

the tone OF fiutc and lddic tuning
up in the the barn loft was plainly
audible.
i had been helping Mrs. Jonas Il
put the icing on the big fruit cak'
which held the ring, and it was lat
when | came into the big, sweet
smelling, echoing barn, with IN,
black cashmere dress all sprinkleC
with cherry red bows, and q cluste
Of deep scarlet autumn leaves in m,
hair.
Here's Olga I" cried my Cousin
Jonas, cheeringlv. "Come here lit,
tie Olga, and sit by me, and I'll Civ,
YOU some ears to husk.
| laughed and nestled down into
the hay close at his side, and just al
this moment a storm of merry, rus
tic laughter on the air.
"The red ear the red ear !" they
cried in chorus, clapping their hands
and cheering vehemently. Walter
Mildmay has got the red ear.
looked up at Cousin Jonas in
bewilderment.
"What is a red ear ~ said.
Cousin Jonas laughed.
@What little greenhorn it's !.
''The red ear is"
Just then Walter Mildmay came
up and stood before me, the rich
maroon colored ear of corn in his
hand. He laid it down at my feet.
81 claim my privilege, Olga" he
said.
| looked up at him in amazement
IL don't understand you," said l.
The next moment be had stopped
over me, and, putting both hands
lightly on my shoulder, had I'M
printed kiss upon my astonished
lips.
/ sprang up feeling myself grow
scarlet. ] rubbed mp lips passion
ately with my handkerchief, as if to
wipe off the insult.
"How dare you" / cried ''Oh, |
never will forgive you in the world
never. never J"
And then half n.Lddened by
the noisy laughter OF the crowd
the din of jubilant voices-I tore
myself from Jonas Blake's detained
hand, and flew out into the starry
cold of the outer air. Mrs. Jonas
followed me.
"Olgan she cried, what is the
matter ? Come back child"
"He has insulted me :" | sobbed.
'Insuited you? Oh what non-
sense, Olga !" said Mrs. Jonas, put
ting her arm caressingly around
my neck. "He has paid you the
highest compliment aman could pay
a woman. There's not a girl in the
barn tonight but envies you, child
Don't you know what the red eal
means ?"
"No," said |, looking up at her
with wondering eyes.
Mrs. Jonas laughed.
at means that the lucky finder
thereof is entitled to kiss the pretti-
est girl in the room," said she. 1T
has been his privilege from time
immemorial and in this it means
that Walter Mildmay thinks that
Olga Blake is the prettiest girl in
that crowd of rustic beauties"
"0lga, you are not really angry
with me ?"
twas Mildmay's voice, close to
me. Mrs Jonas made some excla-
nation about the cake she had
promised to cut, and slipped away
into the carkness, leaving us alone.
Angry 2" j repeated. "Yes, l was
angry, but | didn't know-no one
had told me-"
about our rustic usage ? But
you will forgive me, Olga ?"
Nv presence of mind was slowly
coming back to me. ] drew my
hand away from his.
"But you didn't seriously think
me-pretty ?" ii asked.
"Yes," said laughing. "The
truth now the whole truth and
but the truth !"
"Then" he said, Il thought you
the sweetest, prettiest, most actually
perfect creature that Providence
ever made p
Not at all r retorted, demurely.
Il am a stiff ugly old maid" And
If this is the sort of girl they turn
out in Philadelphia, you prefer the
specimen"
/ could see the color flood his
face, even in the starlight.
"Olga," he said, did you hear
hat ?"
81 did hear it, Walter" Irespond-
ID.
II was fool-a rash. talkative,
ndiscreet fool p said he. "What-
,ver my first impression may have
been, think very different now.
Dear Olga, may / say all that is in
ny heart ?"
Il think we had better go back to
he barn now," said |, quietly.
And | think we had better not !"
"Well' | hesitated, IF you have
eally anything to say"
When We came back into the
,arn the husking was over, and they |
we're dancing to the rude music of
he band-"Killarney," | believe, |
vas the air. Ny cheeks were burn |
ng, eyes shone my heart danced, |
lso to the wild, swaying music.
Mis-. Jonas looked keenly at me.
"Ah !" said she, II thought how !
t would be. You are-engaged +? |
)h, am so glad for your sake, and !
Walters too p
And SO am !, " said !, quietly.
| am Il farmers vile now, and /
i've in little brown cottage near /
'umac Farm. And fancifully tied |
With blue ribbon, over the parlor |
Mantle. hangs an ear of corn--s red !
ar.
And Walter SAYS that so hong as
We both live we shall have yearly |
frolic in the new barn ae
re building.