Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-07-14
The County Fair
Cucumbers
BY NJ. QUAD
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Lit
erary Press
BY NJ QUAD

When Il was known that George |
Higgins, old bachelor, was paying his |
attentions to Lucy Smith, old maid. |
the people of Crowville said that IL |
would be a good match on both sides.
When it 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 n 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 as
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 Cupid's 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. 1t so hap
pened that Mr.. Higgins had made up
his mind to grow big cucumber for
the fair He had grown monster the
year before, but had not entered II.
And it 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. 1t
was one evening when they sat on the
front doorsteps in their happiness that
George mentioned the cucumber busi-
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"
81 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. l don't think we should COM
pete against each other"
30, cd n
~, but no decision arrived at.
Lucy, dear, ask this as favor Of
you" said Mr.. Higgins as he took her
hand.
George, dear, you can raise onions"
was the reply.
But l saved your life when you fell
into the WELL"
But the water wasn't over my head,
and believe could have climbed out
anyhow"
81 wouldn't have believed you were
so stubborn"
Nor L of you. I've always heard
you were open to argument and were
seldom in the wrong. Perhaps we
nave Ildue IL HlStdhe!
81 hope not, but it looks queer to
me that you stick out for cucumbers
the way you do"
And it looks just as queer to me-
George, do you think 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 l 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 he wen
til late hour instead Of keeping his
usual tryst. 1t was so the next even
ing and the next. Then 1t became q
matter of gossip that the engagement
was off.
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 off 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 1t didn't turn
out so. Deacon Swift drove into the
grounds with 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 aftel
awhile found themselves face to face.
Hes mighty mean man" exclaim
ed George.
Perfectly contemptiblev'
II feel sorry for you after all you
trouble"
"And for you"
ct want to pet eyan with tho deacon
and know of but one way. VIII 20,
help me?"
She took his arm, and they walke'
away, and next month there was
wedding. Some folks have to g
through just so much trouble to I'm,