The Van Buren press., 1898-01-08

persuasion further upon the subject
under discussion. Young Joe Hall had
got to come, and that's all there was
about it.
When the birthday morning dawned,
however, Len well-night forgot his yex-
alton in his enjoyment Of the presents
which were bestowed upon him. One
in particular delighted him. 1t was a
n.cely-cut cameo ring which bis father
had sent away 10 Cincinnati to obtain
No other boy-or girl, either, for that
lnatter-on the whole prairie possessed
such ring. Perhaps II Mr.. Ashton had
been a wiser parent he would not have
catered TO Lens vanity in this way.
Len was showing the ring to an ad-
miring group Of boys and girls, the
early arrivals at the husking party,
when Joe Hall arrived The husking
vas 10 be done on the floor Of the great
barn, where heaps of corn were already
piled, and Len and his friends were at
the door.
81 say. Lem" whispered one of his
eronies, here comes Pauper Joe. Why
does he come hereY'
"Pa made me have him." said Len,
scowling at his school-fellow. But he's
only come 10 work. | don't want him.
Joe was probably as sensitive as any
boy could be, and these words, which
we're said loud enough for him to plain
~ hear. cut him deeply. But he had ex-
pected something Of the kind. He had
at first demurred when asked by Mr..
Ashton 10 attend; but half dollars did
not grow on every bush-at least not a
Five Forks-so he bad agreed to help.
He pressed through a group IN the
barn doorway without word, found
pumpkin Ga number Of which had been
drawn from the field to serve as seats),
and set TO work at one end of the great
winrow of corn. After awhile the other
guests arrived, and the whole merry
troop gathered about the piles, each
squatting on pumpkin.
All his sehoolmates did not treat Joe
as meanly as Len Ashton; yet he felt
himself apart from them.
81 won't stay here forever" he
thought, bitterly, and he bent his head
over the corn TO hide the tears which
would come 10 his eyes. I'll go away
from Five Forks, as far as ever | can,
where people won't know | was ever
towns poor But I'll wait till learn
all Miss haywood can teach me, first
he added, COMPRISING his lips.
The youngsters worked well the first
hour; then, as Mr.. Ashton had foreseen,
the majority Of them got enough. They
began to play jokes, and more corn was
thrown than was husked.
"see here, Len, you'll lose that ring"
suggested Bob Murray, who sat beside
the young host.
The cameo ring was rather loose for
Lens finger, and as he flung an un-
husked ear across the barn floor it al
most slipped off his finger.
Here, III put It up here" said Len,
pulling off the ring and placing ii on
beam behind him. Don't you knock
IL off, Bob"
The fun waxed more furious. Every
one who happened TO husk red ear had
to pay forfeit, and the fagorite for
feiis among the boys was for the victim
te stand a heavy fire of ears of corn
from the opposite side Of the barn. Len
got a red ear, and underwent perfect
fasilade from the whole crowd. A mo-
ment later he uttered an excited cry.
"Now see what you fellows have
done!" he exclaimed, with almost
whine.
what is it?" asked Bob Murray.
THAT ring. It's gone!"
you've lost itY cried Bob.
I'll amt on that beam. | s'pose it's
been knocked down. Now, you fellers
turn in an help me to find it,"
But the cameo ring refused to come TO
light, although they searched thorough
Is. Len was almost in tears.
Every body solemnly disclaimed hav-
ing touched the ring; that is, every body
but Joe Hall. He seemed to take no in
tcrest in the matter, but kept steadily at
work.
Il tell you somebody's taken it, de-
cared Len, angrily. 1t amt here" Then
his attention was suddenly attracted to
Joe. Two or three others followed his
glance, and there were whisperings and
rods. SAY, Hall, have you seen my
rng?" he blurted out, insinuatingly.
NO" The answer came sharply.
81 believe you have!" exclaimed Len,
hia face ablale.
Joe sprang up furiously.
"You say I'm thief, do you?' he
cried, dashing at his accuser.
In an instant Len was down on his
back from the force OF the blow which
Joe delivered. Just then Mr.. Ashton,
attracted by the quarrel, appeared at
the doorway.
"What's this-whats this?" he de-
manded, sternly. "What do you mean
by such actions, Joe?" he asked
"He called me thief, and won't
stand that from anyone" declared the
boy. "Im going back to the farm.
You can keep your money, Mr.. Ashton.
You haven't got enough to hire me to
come here and be insuliedi"
He dashed out Of the door and hur-
ried back to the poorhouse, while Mr..
Ashton remained to listen to rather
highly eolored account OF the episode
from the excited boys and girls.
II Joe's life had been hard before this
incident it was doubly so afterward.
Len took every means to keep the flame
of persecution alive, and il was not
long before even Joe Halls determine
tion broke down under his school
mates scofIings- Much as he desired