The herald., 1911-11-16
The County Fair
Cucumbers
By NJ QUAD
By NJ QUAD
Copyright. 1911. by Associated LIT
erary Press.

Higgins, old bacneIor, was paying us
attentions to Lucy Smith. old maid.
the people Of Crowville said that II
would be a good match on both sides.
When II was known that there was an
engagement there were many earnest
congratulations.
Mr.. Higgins had little home Of his
own and kept bachelor hall. Miss
Smith had a little home Of her own
and enjoyed a small income. The prin-
cipals had known each other for years.
and love had come about through an
incident Miss Smith was at her well
one morning to draw pail OF water
when she leaned too far over the curb
and fell in head first. OF course az
soon as she could get her head above
water she began to scream. Mr.. Hug
gins happened TO be passing the house
and heard her and went TO the rescue.
She was very wet and very scared. and
In the excitement Of the moment she
fell on his neck and called him dear
George Mr.. Higgins was also some
what excited and the first thing he
knew found himself calling her dear
Lucy. After that Cupids work was
easy.
The marriage day had not been set.
but things 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 up
his mind to grow a big cucumber for
the fair. He had grown a monster the
year before. but had not entered It
And ii so happened that Miss Smith
decided TO DO that selfsame thing.
OF all the things IN her garden, which
she worked herself. cucumbers seemed
to 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
"An 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-
", but no decision arrived at.
Lucy, dear. / ask this as a 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 l believe l could have climbed out
anyhow"
Il wouldn't have believed You were
30 stubborn"
Nor 1 OF you. I've always heard
you were open to argument and were
seldom in the wrong. Perhaps we
have made a mistaken
II hope not. but it looks queer to
me that you stick out for cucumbers
the way you do"
And ii looks just as queer to me
George, do you think q knight Of old
would have been as finicky as you are?
No, sir-he would have told his lady
love to go right ahead and given her
all sorts OF encouragement"
But i 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 l want to
beat. When his hog rooted up my
garden last year he wouldn't pay a
cent damages, but told me to sue and
be hanged"
When Mr.. Higgins left for home that
night there was chilliness In his part
ing. He was still sticking on cucum.
bers. The question had become q
broad one. His whole future happi.
ness was at stake. He walked slowly
down TO the gate, hoping to be called
back and told that Lucy had relented
but there was no calling. She was
also realizing that the question had
broadened Next evening be went
down and sat beside the mill dam un-
Ill late hour instead Of keeping bis
usual tryst. 1t was so the next even
ing and the next Then II became a
matter Of gossip that the engagement!
was of.
As time went on the cucumbers
grew and grew. They grew by day
and grew by night.
And at last. when the day came that
their stems were cut and they were
carried OF to the fair on pillows. one
could detect no difference between
them. They were twins 1t was said
that the cucumber committee would
have split the prize. but it didn't turn
out so. Deacon Swift drove into the
grounds with a whoop and holler and
unloaded a 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 man. exclaim.
ed George
Perfectly contemptibler'
Il feel sorry for you after all your
trouble"
And for you"