The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-27
EDening Story
The Red Ear.
By CLARIssA MACKIE


tIf you go to the husking bee. Ruth,
you must let me go with you,'' declared
Ruth's aunt. II don't approve of your
running around to parties with strange
young men,"
.'Of course it would be lovely if you
could go, Aunt Dell" said Ruth sin
cerely. but do remember, please thar
Hal is not a strange young man, but
a playmate and school <inate-I have
known him all my days"
"Yes-but 1 would rather you went
with me" declared sedate Miss Hen
derson, patting her smooth bands OF
graying hair with small white fingers
You know, my dear, that we Hen
dersons have never been accustomed
to attending all the village entertain
ments. and it is only lately that / nave
allowed you to mingle with them
'And I have had the hdppiest time
in all my life, auntie,'' smiled Ruth
wistfully. You have been so good TO
me since father and mother were
KILLED. an-so grateful and want
to please you"
you do dear. in everything-ex-
cept perhaps, your penchant for Haai-
1 confess that I am bit prejudiced
there. know Hal is a rising young
doctor and bound to succeed to his
fathers splendid practice here; never
theless, have always felt ar<antipat thy
for him ever since he was "a small boy
and broke some of my choicest plants
ana OIlC Qdy Witch ne was SAStAi-
ing cherries. I caught him in the tree
and ordered him down. He came. de-
fiant and angry-aS soon as ne
reached the ground he poured out the
cherries on the grass at my feet ana
ran away. / ran after hiIn-I had
small switch in my hand-but I STUN
bled and fell, breaking my arm-he
had the grace to como and hum bly
apologize without even the knowledge
of his parents and 1 did respect him.
IQ,r4 - m
if you married Hal Denton"
HE has, never asked me, AuDt Dell,
assured Ruth, her cheeks quite pink.
Miss Dell turned her eyes away
look in her darling's eyes, yet her
own pride and long-cherished dislike
of Hal Denton sealed her lips.
The party was given in Cyrus Plan
tain's enormous barn. 1t was to be
an old-time husking bee, barn dance
with a hearty supper served after
ward on the lawn. All the folks in
the village were invited-the minis
ters had read out the invitations in
the churches, a small sum was
charged for admission and the pro-
ceeds were to go to the wounded sol
diers. Miss Henderson and her pretty
niece We're among the late arrivals
and the huSking-waS in full swing as
they found their way to seats among
the sweet-smeiling heaps of corn.
Every one knew about the red ear of
corn-whenever one was found the
lucky finder had the privilege of
claiming kiss from some one else
that was the twentieth century YER
sion of the old custom. Miss Hender-
son had considered the posi- bility /of
the red ear falling to her lot, and
She had decided to bestow kiss upon
young Bobby Carew, her cousins
youngest child. As for Ruth-she
simply dared not think of what would
happen If her niece found the red ear
she hoped Ruth would think of
Bobby Carew as a safe escape from an
embarrassing situation.
Ruth was enjoying herself thoroly.
She had had a few breathless words
with Hal Denton and occasionally
their eyes met and spoke. but the
young doctor busted himself with the
other youths of the town and stripped
songs and stories. The fun and frolic
was at it's height. when q roar of
laughter from the others revealed the
tact that Doctor Hal had uncovered a
red ear of corn. He stood there
blushing furiously, his handsome face
smiling in> embarrassment. He hesi-
tated but moment, recovered his
composure and advanced toward the
corner where Miss Henderson sat
with Ruth.
The others watched breathlessly.
All of them knew that Hal was in
love with Ruth, and most of them
were quite sure that Miss Henderson
would frown upon the match; some
of them had heard that Hal was dis
liked by the aunt, and that a boyish
caper would no doubt cost him his
life's happiness. Hal knew it, too and
fought desperately to atone for his
childish misdemeanor. With q swift
glance at Ruth he passed her and
dropped gracefully upon one knee be-
fore Miss Dell Henderson, holding out
the red ear in its nest of creamy
husks.
"A small boy humbly apologized for
stealing your cherries, Miss Dell-and
a man apologies for the small boy!"
he smiled whimsically at her, and lay
ing the red ear in her lap picked up
her small unresisting hand and kissed
it reYerently.
f1o eI7o