Emmons County record., 1917-11-15
The E1uskiing
Bee
4
By Sarah E.telle Balloon

The husking bee was ut Its height
OF jollify and excitement when Ned
Dawson was lifted to the seventh
heaven of ecstncy. All the evening he
had moved about and made n show Of 4
stripping the long crisp ears Of corn,
with eyes only for Airline Woolson.
Three times she had brought to
view red ear and had been speedily
captured by her male companion.
Then, with pain and longing Ned had
seen kiss stolen from her dninusk
cheek.
Just now he was passing her. The
sent beside her was vacant She dart
ed n bright glunce us this shy, but de.
serving suitor ut distance. She
drew aside the skirt of her tasteful
merino dress invitingly. making room
for him.
"Oh, thank you'll" he almost gasped.
and amid his confusion upset the high
: basket between them. Then he nei-
vously set ut work Mt the basket to his
: left, so dnzed, yet happy, that he was
all ut sea.
; 'Why. you are helping the next girl
and she has Il partner" cried Airline,
with sweet trilling laugh. "This is
your husking basket l have found
: three red ears already"
FL wish they were all red ears"
stammercd Ned. and then ut the play
ful, yet seemingly chllding glance Of Ar
line he dropped his eyes, nbashed. She
forgave him by sitting up close to him,
n teasing curl about the corners Of her
merry lips.
IL am going to the dance up Mt
Bartley's Saturday evening"" he hap
pened to say, and halted there.
II hope you will have splendid
time" said Airline.
IF only had company" he began.
and bushed like school boy, and
felt the ordeal Of the moment too much
!, for him.
'There Is your sister," suggested
Airline heartlessly. II don't know bet
ter company anywhere than Ednu.
Oh. dear!"
"A red ear" rang out an excited
chorus.
"Catch her. quick. Dawson!" shout
ed his ncighbOr. "She runs like
fawn."
This time that was just whnt Airline
did. She was out Of sight by the time
Ned had crossed the threshold of the
j. big double barn doors.
"Coo-ee!" rang out her clenr, tanta-
lizing tones from covert. Then the
flashing edge OF her dress guided him
to thicket. Thence sight Of twin
king. aggrnvating feet led him to
where heap Of hny shut her out.
, Round and round the yard, with all
, It's numerous hiding places. he pur-
: sued. to find no further trace of her.
He came back to the bnrn and I'M
: obtrusively regnined his seat. Amid
the dancing that had now begun he
: was unnOticed. He looked eagerly.
? but vainly for Airline. His heart sank.
= "She did not want me to kiss her, but
, she let the others" he choked up.
Then his eye lit upon the red ear
, ut his feet that Airline had dropped
= in her flight. He durted Il searching
l glance all about No one was looking
Ned seized the precious reminder of
= bright smiles and dancing eyes. thrust
1t guiltily into his bosom. arose. went
: outside and started drearily for home
,. with muffled sob.
4 "It's strange, Airline" said Ned's sis
N ter confidentially. meeting her friend
on the street few days later. "but
\ Ned Is acting peculiarly. Mother sayi
4 he is in love. II he is. he keeps II
close to himself, but mother fOunt
some kernels Of red corn in his bed
Well, I watched, and what do yot
think1 Ned puts an ear of red corr
under his pillow every night. I saw
\ him take 1t of from the bureau las
; night and kiss It."
"Yes," she murmured, "he must hav'
met some girl at the husking bee VIII
struck his fancy"
Al "But 1t don't seem to make him yer!
y happy. Ned mopes around evenings
\ don't go anywhere and has written t
q friend in the city to find him pc
4 sition."
"Oh, he mustn't leave, Edna" crie
Airline, and then checked herself. II
\ I mean he shouldn't" corrected Al
Al line, blushing furiously. "He Is jus
y the incest young man In town."
\ Then Airline hurried away uncert
monlously. and turning corner. an
4 out of sight of Edna, she brushed he
eyes susplclously.
"Poor fellow! and 1t is frivolou:
y henrtless me who has done nll thl
N wicked HARM" she choked up. "Ol
y dear. and how can mend it?"
NJ Airline tried to, at uny rate. Sil
"A made it q point to stroll about tn
II streets where there was chance
= meeting Ned. Once she saw him
square distance. coming her way, m
VI set her face to look Its prettiest m
N most winning, but evidently Ned ha
noticed her and turned into sit
u lane.
II have broken his heart and
I despises me-" walled the unhapl