The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-04-21
THE EVENING STORY.
Miracle Of the Red Ear.
Copyright 1919. BY w. wsrner)

talked to her necessarily, or tried 10.
Polly, he thought. seemed rather In
different. Once he noticed her
glance across at him. But he seem
cd not to see. though he changed
color to his very ears.
All the boys were openly hunting
for red corn. and some Of them di.
rected significant remarks toward
Polly as they did so. But rule OF
the husking was that every ear
picked up must be husked and
thrown into a basket. This made
It fair for all. except that those who
husked the fastest had that much
better chance of discovering q red
ear.
But red ears were rare this night.
Ten bushels were shucked before
the finding OF the first. Then the
discoverer crossed over to q buxom
girl. smacked her loudly. and sat
down by her side, while the whole
room laughed and joked.
Joe felt his face burn. He never
could do cheap thing like that. no
matter II ne had a thousand times
the bravery OF Ivanhoe. II he found
red ear he would go quietly to the
girl--to Polly--sit down by her side.
and maybe inst touch her hand for
moment. Anything more in pub
lie would be an insult.
A little later the second red ear
was found. and there was another
changing Of seats.
Some time after that Joe saw
Polly give a little start and seem TO
hesitate. Thep she rose. saying she
was thirsty and must get a drink.
There wsre a dozen volunteers, but
she waved them back. saying she
would rather get the water herself.
As she passed Joe her foot caught
In a oornstalk and she stumbled
slightly. but righted herself almost
instantly. before anyone could jump
to her assistance. When she came
hack she seated herself q little apart
from the others. as II she wanted
more room.
Joe reached down for another ear.
and his fingers came In contact with
one already husked. He must have
dropped Il instead OF throwing Il
into the basket. Then. as he picked
up the ear to place IL in the basket.
his heart stopped beating n full min
ute. II seemed The ear was red.
How did II get there?
He quickly glanced toward Polly.
Her face had more color than usual,
and as he looked her own eyes were
nv erted. She had been watching
hin.
The old Joe died at that instant
Holding the red ear aloft he walked
straight 10 Polly, calamity raised
her hand 20 his lips. and kissed II.
Then he sat down on the cornstalks
by her side.
kiss her! Kiss herr" called some
, one.
Again Joe raised the little hand
to his lips. Il have" he said.
"Joe's . new one! Joes a new
one!" shouted other voices. Got
To give Us speech" Sing us a
song"
Joe did net hesitate. Throwing
back lis bead he sang as never he
had Mt home. as the robin does to
his mate In June. While the ap-
plause was the ioudest he was con.
scious Of a eight motion toward him
on the cornsta!ks. II was an acct
dent, OF course, but his hand slid
down over hers and pressed II slight
l.. and the little hand did not with
draw.
The rest OF the evening Joe did
hts part in storytelling and singing.
though not In SO boisterous a man.
ner as some OF the others. When
It was ever dozen boys surged to-
ward Polly. But Joe was already
there. MAY walk home with you.
Polly?" he asked.
"I'll be glad for you to. joe" she
answered frankly: then added In a
lower voice which none OF the 9th.
ers could hear, "You are 500 diff
ferent from them, Joe-nicer. I
mean"