The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-11-01
THE AVERAGE NEW ENGLAND STO.
RY.
By the Modern New England Authoress.

u SA-N AHNNSAA @'o" hAVAOA Ohoos
Il don't understand it, and as she
spoke Patty's calm blue eyes looked up
from the potatoes she was peoling. sit
must be SO, for everybody says so, and
more than that saw him myself. "
''We all saw him." said Prue, with a
sigh. Prue was diminutive brunette,
much given to signing when the name
of Hillhouse Doane was mentioned. Il
know very well that all the red ears at
husking bee can't fall to one man.
That is forcgone conclusion. And
yet we have never detected him in any
thing"
''And no doubt you have watched
him carefully, Pruc," said Patty slyly.
Prue blushed, but made no response
to this purely maidenly dig. The two
girls had been fast friends since the
day when Patty, entering the little old
red school house, had found herself
considerably out of her element and
had taken her refuge in the new schol-
ar's stronghold-a flood of tears. Prue
left her seat on the hard and we'll
stained form and, putting her arms
around the little girls neck, kissed her
tears away and placed her beside her.
self for the rest of the day. Patty nev-
er forgot the service. They grew up
together, first in the affection of chill
dren, which ripened into deeper love as
they accumulated years, and now, when
Patty was twenty-five and Prue year
older, they were more like twin sisters
than two girls in whose veins flowed
the blood of different parentage. That
Prue loved Hillhouse Doane Patty was
compelled to admit to herself, though
not without u pang. 1t was the first Sc
cret she had ever withheld from Prue;
but away down in her pure little heart
there was longing for the time when
the tall, handsome, Drowned young
man should put his arm around her and
tell her that his life could never be per-
feet without hers.
''Let's all watch him tonight" sug-
gested Prue, with bright little smile.
''If we catch him and find out how he
manages it, Wen hold it over him to
his dying day"
She didn't say that she hoped to be
in position TO forgive him any sin
some day, but there was curious light
in her eyes, and as Patty saw it her
pretty head fell on her bosom and o
sob burst from her pure white throat.
''Why, Pattvn' exclaimed Prue;
lyon amaze me! What makes you sigh
sop
Nothing" replied Patty, looking up
with tears in her eyes. Perhaps 1
don 1 feel very we'll. "
TAere was huge time at Squire
CoHkln's that night. From all the
country round he had invited the boys
and girls TO. come and husk his corn,
and through the day there was much
tribulation in his house over the dough-
nuts and apple pies. So much SO, that
Mehitable, the Squire's daughter, had
more than once announced that the
supper must prove failure. But ev-
erythin@ appeared to turn out all right
in spite of her doleful prognostications
The biscuit were as light as Mehitable's
blonde hair, and the pie crust had
Hacked better than she had ever known
it to before. The doughnuts were brown
to a turn, and when she had walked
around the table for the hundredth
time, she looked upon aperfect display,
and yet there was a cloud on her brow
that was not supported by anything re-
miss in her preparations for the COM
fort of her guests.
Il hope he'll come" she muttered,
as she went to her little room under the
caves to dress for the evening.
Hope who'll come, Mitty?" de-
manded hoydenish voice at her ell
bow.
How you startled me, Charity!" she
exclaimed, rs she kissed the warm white
cheek presented by the laughing girl
who had surprised her soliloquy.
81 know who you meant" clamored
Charity, shaking her curls. "You were
thinking of Hillhouse, and l can set
your mind at rest, for he told me this
afternoon that he would be the first one
here"
SIS that the reason for your early ar
rival?" asked NIFTY, with smile. Then
seeing that she had hurt Charity's feel
ings, she put her arms around her young
friend and kissed forgiveness from her
rosy lips.
.'Where did you see him, Chat,
dear?" she inquired, apparently by way
OF keeping up the conversation, but
really to hear more about him.
1--WE have been in the woods all the af-
ternoon, and he was as stupid as an
owl. / don't see what there is in him
to set all you girls so crazy. Prue and
Patty and you live on what that man
says and does, while for my part, |
could get on just as we'll and not miss
born. But, say, NIFTY, how does it hap
husking bee? That's what wakes up a
little interest in him."
'.Does he?' asked NIFTY, raising her
eyebrows little, and trying to look as
though the question were new one to
her.
s'You watch and see if he don't, "
was the laughing answer, as the girl
flounced out of the room to examine the
orchard for apples, and the last seen OF
her she was in the top of the tree filling
herself up and throwing the fruit with
boys aim at the dog gambolling be-
low her.
Squire Conklin's barn was scene OF
wild merriment few hours later. Rosy
faced girls with dancing eyes crowded
around NIFTY, while strapping young
fellows buried themselves and the
squire in profound discussions about the
harvest, the church and kindred mat
ters of absorbing country interest. Hill
house Doane, the tallest and handsom-
est of the group, filed the barn with
his rich laughter, and as he looked
around to see who was there, he caught
the admiring glance of many bright
eye that never quailed under his smile.
For had they not all agreed in whispers
| to watch him that night? And to dc
! N Tnal- -,
| him?
Down before the great pile of ripe
corn they sat, each trying TO outstrir
the rest in shucking and talking at the
same time.
''See if he don't pull out the first rec
ear, Patty" whispered Prue. Ever
now, methinks, he is making ready"
Tally oner' shouted Hillhouse, a.
Prue spoke. And surely he had cap
tured the first red ear.