Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-11-23
The Husking
Bee
By Sarah Estelle Balloon

t5t233s$:'::::'
Icopyright 1917. Western Newspaper Union-)
The husking bee was at its height
of jollity and excitement when Ned
Dawson was lifted to the seventh
heaven Of ecstacy. All the evening he
had moved about and made a show of
stripping the long crisp ears of corn
With eyes only for Airline woolson.
Three times she had brought to
view q red ear and had been speedily
Captured by her male companion.
Then, with pain and longing Ned had
Seen kiss stolen from her damask
cheek.
Just now he was passing her. The
seat beside her was vacant. She dart
ed bright glance as this shy, but de-
serving sutton at a 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 ner-
vously set at work at the basket to his
left, so dazed, yet happy, that he was
all at sea.
"Why, you are helping the next girl
and she has a partner" cried Airline,
with a sweet trilling laugh. "This is
your husking basket. have found
three red ears already"
IL wish they were all red ears"
stammered Ned, and then at the play
full, yet seemingly childing glance of Ar
line he dropped his eyes, abashed. She
forgave him by sitting up close to him,
teasing curl about the corners of her
merry lips.
IL am going to the dance up at
Bartley's Saturday evening"" he hap
pened to say, and halted there.
II hope you will have a splendid
time" said Airline.
''If I only had company" he began,
and blushed like a school boy, and
felt the ordeal Of the moment too much
for him.
"There is your sister," suggested
airline heartlessly. 81 don't know bet
ter company anywhere than Edna.
Oh, dear"
"a red carp rang out an excited
chorus.
"Catch her, quick, Dawsoni" shout
ed his nelghbor. "She runs like n
lawn"
This time that was Just what Airline
did She was out Of sight by the time
| Ned had crossed the threshold of the
big double barn doors.
"Coo-ee" rang out her clear, tanta-
| LIKING tones from covert. Then the
flashing edge Of her dress guided him
| to thicket. Thence sight of twin
king, aggravating feet led him to
where a heap of hay shut her out.
Round and round the yard, with all
its numerous hiding places, he pur-
sued, to find no further trace of her.
he came back to the barn and I'M
obtrusively regained 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
at his feet that Airline had dropped
]
glance all about. No one was looking.
Ned seized the precious reminder Of
bright smiles and dancing eyes, thrust
II guiltily into his bosom, arose, went
outside and started drearily for home
with a muffled sob.
"It's strange, Airline" said Ned's sis,
ter confidentially, meeting her friend
hn cfr lou LOT fh,,k
Ned is acting peculiarly. Mother says
he is in love. If he is, he keeps II
close to himself, but mother found
some kernels Of red corn in his bed,
Well, l watched, and what do you
think2 Ned puts an ear of red corn
under his pillow every night. l saw
him take 1t off from the bureau last
night and kiss It,"
Airline looked sedate, almost solemn.
"Yes," she murmured, ''he must have
met some girl at the husking bee who
struck his fancy"
"But 1t don't seem to make him very
happy. Ned mopes around evenings
don't go anywhere and has written to
n friend in the city to find him a po-
sition."
"Oh, he mustn't leave, Edna" cried
airline, and then Checked herself. ~
I mean he shouldn't" corrected Ar
line, blushing furiously. "He is just
the incest young man in town."
Then Arllne hurried away uncere
moniously, and turning a corner, and
out Of sight Of Edna, she brushed her
eyes suspiciously.
"Poor fellowi and 1t is frivolous
heartless me who has done all this
wicked HARM" she choked up "Oh
dear, and how cap mend itf"
Airline tried to, at any rate. She
made 1t point to stroll about the
streets where there was chance Of
meeting Ned. Once she saw him 1
square distance, coming her way, ant
set her face to look its prettiest ant
most winning, but evidently Ned hat
noticed her and turned into side
lane.
II have broken his heart and h,
despises me-" walled the unhappy
Airline.
Two days after that Airline saw Ned
with bowed head and wretched mien
pass the house. He disappeared wher,
stretch of woods began. She fol
lowed him.
Ned came to u fallen tree, took on