The daily Alaskan., 1911-08-18
The County Far
 Cucumbers
Copyright. 1911, by Asaoclsted Llt-
 erary Press.
By QUAD

When it was known that George Hugglns, old bachelor. was paying his attentions Co Lucy Smith, old maid, the people of Crowville said that it would be a good match on both sides. When it was known that there was au engagement there were many earnest congratulations.
 Mir. Hugglns had a little home Of his own and kept bachelor ball, 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 as soon as she could get her hcad above water she began to scream Mir. 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. Mir Huggins was also some what excited and the first thing he knew found himself calling her deur Lucy. After that Cupid's work was easy.
 The marriage day had not been set, but things were gliding along, when the l county fair committee came out with the list of premiums for the fall fair, ! still many weeks away It so hap pened that Mir 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 1t 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 hest Of any vegetable. It was one evening when they sat on the l front doorsteps in their happiness that l George mentioned the cucumber busi- ness and declared he would take the 1 premium over the whole county.
 'wby, George, I'm also going to raise one" was replied.
 "All right, but youn waste your Hme.o
 "I know I shant grew one over 6 foot long last year
 'gThat 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- Iy. but no decision arrived at.
 Lucy, dear ask this as favor of you" said Mir. Huggins 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 1 believe I could have climbed out anyhow"
 "I 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 a mistaken
 'T hope not, but it looks queer to ne that you stick out for cucumbers the way you do."
 And 1t looks just as queer to me. | George, do you think a knight of old would have been as hnicky as you arel l No. sir-he would have told bis lady love to go right ahead and given her all sorts of encouragement"
 But 1 want to beat old Deacon Swift. He has taken the prize on cu- cumbers for the last three years"
 And he's the very man want to beat, When his hog rooted up my garden last year be wouldn't pay a cent damages, but told me to sue and be hanged.
 When Mfr. Huggins left for home that night there was a chfliness in his part ing. Be was stlll sticking on cucum- bers. The question had become a broad one. His whole future happi- ness was at stake. Re walked slowly down 10 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 broadencd Next evening be went down and sat beside the mill dam un- til late hour instead of keeping bis usual tryst. IL was so the next even ! ing and the next. Then it 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 or to the flair on pillows, one could detect no difference between them. They were twins It 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 a whoop and holler and unloaded a cucumber that took tbe cake by ten points MT Huggins saw the unloading. So did Miss Smith. They were aware of each others pres Blce, but hadn't spoken. Now they