The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-29
TEE EVENING STORY
Paying His Debt.
By Carl JenkinS.)

The chemists gave it up long ago but
the answer is as plain as the tail on
dog.
There is only one ear of red corn to
every fifty bushels grown. When a
farmer heaps fifty bushels together
and holds a husking-bee, attended by
thirty or forty young folks, it is we'll
understood that the young man who
finds the red ear is privileged to kiss
any girl present.
ward, he will be led up to it whether
or no. 1t is called Cupids Rule and
must be obeyed. If the red ear lie
found by a girl she can't go kissing,
but she can conceal the discovery I'M
til she can slip it to the young nan
she prefers to be kissed by.
At Farmer Graham's husking-bee the
red ear was found by his son Joe. lie
turned pale as he saw the color of
it. He tried to hide it, but it was given
away, and the girl he kissed was Min
ME Davis. He did it blushing harder
then she did. Georges father chewei
tobacco in church, and his mother went
barefoot to camp meeting, but the boy
was almost too shy to buy a wash
basin from a tin peddler. That red
ear was the turning point in his young
life. He was told, even by his mother,
that he was destined to marry Minnie
Davis, and that he must set his mind
to it.
Almost with rope around his neck
he went accounting and had reached
the stage where he could talk of later
bugs and whippoorwills when along the
highway one day came a party of
gypsies. His mother gave them a Gus
tard pie to tell the young mans fer
tune.
THE girl you love will be false to
you as a wife" was the solemn in
formation. Your house will burn down.
Your cattle will die. You will at last
commit suicide by jumping down the
wellr'
That fixed George. He stopped court
ing and he didn't send excuses. 1t
wasn't case of jilting exactly. but
it was case enough to cause lots of talk
and wonder. The story got around
that George was conSumptive, and had
been told by tn doctors not to marry.
And then came another happening. A
fruit tree agent was taken i'll and was
at Farmer Davis's a month. During
that time Miss Minnie was his nurse.
In time he learned all about that red
ear of corn and the gypsy prophecy.
He also became aware that the mail
was forlorn. When on his feet again
he determined on a plan. The farmers
charges were so small that the agent
felt heavily in debt. He went over to
Farmer Graham's and got speech with
George and said:
Il have come to see you because
your case is like mine
Did you find red ear of corn when
you were young man.?
L plumb did, and I kissed a bonnie
maid"
And you fell in love?'
You bet"'
And you were going to ask the girl
to have your
Il was. 1 had the night picked out
and my boots all creased"
But Their didn't no gypsies come
along?"
Didn't, eh?'
And you had your fortune toll:"
almost whispered George.
81 gave 'em a blind calf for telling
itr'
They told me about forty times
worse than they did you"
But did you go ahead and marry
the girl?''
you bet your sweet life I did. and
she's made me one of the best wives
a man ever had"
And not a thing happened?
Yes! I found a pot of gold while
digging a cellar"
"Jerusha!'
There is only one point where our
cases differ said the agent. Her
folks were not mad at me. Mr.. Davis
and his wife would like to see you
hung, and at the same time they are
glad there was no marriage. They
YOU in the family. AS for Minnie, L
think she loves you, but she will do
as they say. You might possibly get
her to elope with you
But them gypsies."
'Oh. their prophecy won't count if
you elope.
Then I'll do it.''
DON'T say a word to any living
soul, but leave all the plans to me-
The agent was still making his tenn
%I,@ nar vicy fnr nd
after a private consultation with the
farmer and his wife the mother wan
dared out into the orchard where the
girl swung in a hammock and said:
Minnie, they say that that Graham
idiot is struck on one of the Bebee
girls.
DO you mean George?" was asked |
'tOf course
But don't talk that was about him:
He's as smart as any young man
around here,"
i've heard you say you believed in
the gypsies."
well. 1 must have been talking in
my sleep. If pa or me ever hear of
your even looking at the Graham
house as you ride by Wen be mad
huff to turn you out doors!'
II shall look if 1 want to- i
Then came the father, who stood
around and coughed for a spell, and |
then asked:
Minnie. did you ever meet Mr.. Scott
in the village?"
No"
Hes the cooper you know
Why, if that's the one, he's 60 years
old" |
''Sixty-three, dear"
And what about him?" !