The Penn's Grove record., 1882-07-01

How dare you ?" I cried. Oh III
never forgive you in the world-never
never I"
And then, half maddened by the
noisy laughter of the crowd, the dir
of jubliant voices, l tore myself from
Jonas Blake's OBTAINING hand, and
few out into the starry cold of the
outer air. Mrs. Jonas followed me.
"Olga, what is the matter? Come
back, child" she cried.
HE has insulted mel" l sobbed.
"Insulted you? Oh, what nonsense,
! Olga I" said Mrs. Jonas, putting her
arm around my neck. "He has paid
you the highest compliment a man
could pay to a M There's not a
girl in the barn TO night but envies
you, child. Don't you know what the
red ear means 2"
"No," said I, looking up with Won
dering eyes.
She laughed.
at means that the lucky finder
thereof is entitled to kiss the prettiest
girl in the room," said she. "It has
been his privilege from time immemo-
rial and in this it means that Walter
Mildmay thinks Olga Blake is the
prettiest girl in all that crowd of rustic
beauties"
"Olga, you are not really angry with
me?n
1t was Walters voice, close to me.
Mrs. Jonas made some exclamation
about the cake she promised to cut,
and slipped away into the darkness,
leaving us alone.
"Augry ?" I repeated. "Yes, / was
angry. l didn't know-no n had
told me"
about our rustic usages? But you
will forgive me, Olga?" t4 e
Ny presence of mind was slowly
coming back to me 1 drew my hand
from his.
"But you didn't seriously think me
pretty ?" said l..
do you want NE to say what seri
ously did think ?" he asked.
Eyes" said I, laughing. 1.-THE truth
now the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth"
eThen," said he, II thought you
was the sweetest, prettiest, most sctu-
ally perfect creature that Providence
aver madep
mot at ALL" I replied, demurely, II
am a stiff, ugly old maid. And If this
is the sort of girls they turn out in
Philadelphia, you prefer the country
I could see the color flood his face,
even in the starlight.
"Olga, did you hear that ?" he asked.
81 did hear it. Walter" [ responded.
81 was a fooI-a rash, indiscreet
fool |" he said. "Whatever my first
impression may have been, j think
very differently now. Dear Olga,
may / say all that is in my hearth"
"I think we had better go back to
the barn now" said I, quietly.
"And I think we had better not"
Walter, gently restraining me.
Listen, Olga. Even the most wretch
ed criminal that stands at the bar is
entitled to insist upon a hearing in
his own defense. Shall I be less ia
vored than he?"
"Well," 1 hesitated, 'if you have
really anything to say"
When we came back into the barn,
The husking was over, the debris was
all cleared away, and they were dane
ing to the rude music of the band
''Killarny," 1 believe was the air. My
cheeks were burning, my eyes shone;
my heart danced also TO the wild,
swaying music.
Mrs. Jonas looked keenIy at me.
"Ah," she said, ~ thought 1t would
be. You are-engaged ? / am so glad
for, for your sake and Walters, too"
"And so am l." said / quietly.
I am a farmers wife now, and live
In q little brown cottage near Sumac
Farm. And, %fancifully tied with blue
ribbon, over the parlor mantle, hangs
an a of corn-a red ar.
Aud Walter says that as long as
both of us live we shall have a yearly
husking frolic in the new barn we are
building.