The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-07-06
The County Fair
Cucumbers
BY NJ. QUAD
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Lit.
erary Press
By NJ. QUAD

| aItenuonS TO Lucy Smith. old maid.
the people OF Crowville said that II
would be a good match on both sides.
When it was known that there was an
engag cement there were many earnesi
congratuia tons.
MIR. Higgins had little home OF his
own and kept bachelor hail. Miss
Smith had little home Of her own
and enjoyed a small income. The nrin
cipals had known each other for years.
and love had come about through an
incident Miss Smith was al her well
one morning to draw d pail OF water
when she ieaned too far over the curb
and fell in head first, OF course as
soon as she could get her head above
water she began to scream Mr.. Hug
gins happened 70 be passing the house
and heard her and went to the rescue
She was very wet aud very scared. and
In the excitement OF the moment she
fell on his peek and ca He'd him dear
George. Mr.. Higgins was also some
what excited and the first thing ne
knew found himself calling her dear
Lucy. After that Cupid's work was
easy
The marriage day had not been set.
but Nings were gliding along. when the
county fair committee came out with
the list of premiums for the fall fair.
still many weeks away. II SO hap
pened that Mr. Higgins had made w
his mind to grow big cucumber for
the fair He had grown a monster the
year before. but had not entered II
And 1t 50 happened that Miss Smith
decided to do that selfsame thing.
or all the things In her "a rden. which
she worked herself, cucumbers seemed
70 do the best Of any vegetable. II
was one evening when they sat on the
front doorsteps in their happiness that
George mentioned the cucumber bust
ness and declared he would take the
premium over the whole county.
why. George, I'm also going to raise
one" was replied.
"All right, but you'll waste your
time"
II know shan't. | grew one over
a foot long last year"
That won't be- enough this time. ]
think you'd better grow squash or to.
matoes. don't think we should com
pete against each other"
The matter was argued good natured
ly, but no decision arrived at.
Lucy, dear. l ask this as favor OF
you" said Mr. Higgins as he took her
hand.
George, dear. you can raise onions
was the reply.
But saved your life when you fell
into the we'll"
But the water wasn't over my head
and believe could have climbed Out
anyhow"
Il wouldn't have believed you were
so stubborn"
Nor Of you. I've always heard
you were open to argument and were
seldom in the wrong. Perhaps we
have made mistaken
Il hope not. but 1t looks queer to
me that you stick out for cucumbers
the way you do"
And 1t looks just as queer to me
George, do you think knight Of olo
would have been as tinicky as you are
No. sir-he would have told mis- lad.
love to go right ahead and given bel
ali sorts of encouragement"
But / want to beat old Deacon
Swift. He has taken the prize on Gu
cumbers for the last three years"
And he's the very man | want t.
beat When his hog rooted up my
garden last year he wouldn't pay
cent damages, but told me to sue ano
be hanged"
When Mr.. Higgins left for home tina
night there was chilliness in his part
ing. He was still sticking on cucum
bers. The question had become
broad one. His whole future happi |
ness was at stake. He walked slowI,
down to the gate, hoping to be Gale,
back and told that Lucy had relented |
but there was no calling. She wa
also realizing that the question hat |
broadened Next evening he wen
down and sat beside the mill dam un |
til late hour instead OF keeping BIZ |
usual tryst. 1t was so the next even |
ing and the next Then 1t became |
matter OF gossip that the engagement |
was Off.
AS time went on the cucumber, |
grew and grew. They grew by da, |
and grew by night.
And at last. when the day came tina |
their stems were cut and they wer, |
carried Off to the fair on pillows. on,
could detect no difference between
them. They were twins. 1t was saio |
that the cucumber committee would |
have split the prize, but 1t didn't turn
out 80. Deacon Swift drove into the
grounds with a whoop and boiler and
unloaded cucumber that took the
cake by ten points. Mr. Higgins saw
the unloading. So did Miss Smith |
They were aware of each others pres
ence. but hadn't spoken. Now they
began to edge around nearer and after
awhile found themselves face to face
Hes a mighty mean manr' exclaim-
ed George.
Perfectly contemptibler
II feel sorry for you after all your
trouble"
And for you"
II want to get even with the deacon,
and know of but one way. win you
help meT