The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-10-13

that was not supported by anything re-
miss in her preparations for the COM
fort of her guests.
Il hope he'll come" she niuttered,
as she went to her little room under the
caves to dress for the evening.
Hope who'll come, MittyP' de-
manded hoydenish voice at her ell
bow
How you startled me, Charity she
exclaimed as she kissed the warm white
cheek presented by the laughing girl
who had surprised her soliloquy.
II know who you meant" clamored
Charity, shaking her curls. "You were
thinking of Hillhouse, and | can set
your mind at rest, for he told me this
afternoon that he would be the first one
here.
us that the reason for your early ar
riyal?' 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.
I'VE 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 well and not miss
him more than if he had never been
born. But, say, NIFTY, how does it hap
pen that he gets all the red ears at a
hu,king bee9 That's what wakes up a
little interest in him.
Does hep asked NIFTY. raising her
EYEBROWS little, and trying to look as
though the question were new one to
her.
You watch and see if he don't "
was the laughing answer, as the girl
iounced 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 gamDoIling be-
low her.
Squire Conklin's barn was a scene of
wild merriment few hours later Rosy
faced girls with dancing eyes crowded
around NIFTY, while strapp.ng young
fellows buried themselves and the
squire in profound discussions about the
harvest, the church and kindred mat
tiers Of absorbing country interest Hill
house DJaue, the tallest and handsom-
est Of the group. filled the barn with
his rich laughter, and as he looked
around to see who was there, he caught
the admir.ng glance of many bright
eve that never quailed under his smile.
For had they not all agreed in whispers
10 watch him that night? And to DO
that, was it not necessary 10 look at
him?
Down before the great pile of ripe
corn they sat, each trying to outstrip
the rest in shocking and talking al the
same time.
See if be don't pull out the first red
ear Patty whispered Prue. Even
now, metAiuks, he il making ready.
Tally oue"' shouted HiIlhouse, as
Prue spoke. And surely he had cap
tured the first red ear.
There was a profound silence for q
moment Then came burst Of mcrri-
ment, commencing with "Ons and
taperng oil into giggles.
II wonder who-bless me, if he
doesn't commence with Charity POST
and the girl telt lump arising in her
throat as she spoke.
For, be it known and understood
that the Young man who is fortunate
enough 20 find a red ear Of corn al a
Au,aing bee has q right to kiss all the
girls present, and if he be at all popu-
lar, he is closely watched to see with
whom Ac wi. begin the osculatory cx-
erci>n.
NIFTY, was not the only heart that
had .LG'nped rs he approached Clari-
", who sat still and paid no attention
to the nu0buy around her. Prue turn
rd her .agj with an expression # pain
on h"r face, and Patty bent lower over
the ear Der trembling hands were hell
ing II might have been an accident
that bee hNI selected Cnatty first but
they who loved him rs only pure wo-
men can love, saw something more than
chance in it, ana felt that if he were 10
select his wife that night, he would
take her 10 whom his eyes first turned
when he began TO kiss them all.
"A red ear, Chatty,n said he pleas
antlv. holding the ear out for her in
spection.
$50 see" returned Chatty, without
looking up
And I'm going to kiss you first, he
continued.
Il think not, ~ she replied calmly
Everyone looked surprised, but none
more SO than Mr. Doane.
"Why not Chaity?' he asked, ~
am entitled TO kiss all around, and
YOU should not resist"
you are il you get red ear by fair
means, said Chatty, gazing straight
into his face, But you did not get
that ear in that way
The young man colored deeply.
wv hat do you mean, ChattyW
81 mean that you came here with
your pockets full Of red ears prepared
topull them out and kiss US girls, "
said ChattN firmly "The rest may
permit IL, but for one, ! won'tr'
Had bombshcll burst in the barn
there could not have been greater con-
sternation than followed Chalty's ex-
I'D, 4 II