The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-01-19
The RED EAR
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE

51S2S1S151S1S2S2S2 52S2S151S1S1S1St-
co. 1923. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate)
"If you go to the husking bee,
Ruth. you must let me go with you,'
declared Ruth's aunt. II don't APP
prove of your running around to par
ties with strange young men,"
"Of course it would be lovely If
you could go, Aunt Dell," said Ruth
sincerely, but do remember, please.
that Hal is not strange young man,
but a playmate and schoolmate-I
have known him all my days."
"Yes-but 1 would rather you went
with me-" declared sedate Miss Hen
derson, patting her smooth hands Of
grazing 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
have allowed you to mingle with
them"
"And 1 have had the happiest time
in all my life, auntie," smiled Ruth
wistfully. "You have been so good
to me since father and mother were
killed. am so grateful and 1 want
to please yOu.'
"You do, dear, in everything-ex-
cept perhaps, your penchant for Hal
1 confess that / am bit prejudiced
there. 1 know Hal is rising young
doctor and bound TO succeed to his
fathers splendid practice here! ney-
ertheless, l have always felt an an
tipathy for him ever since he was q
small boy and broke some Of my
choicest plants and shrubs one day
when he was stealing cherries. 1
caught him in the tree and ordered
him down. He came, defiant and
angry-as soon as he reached the
ground he poured out the cherries on
the grass at my feet and ran away.
I ran after him-I had a small switch
in my hand-but / stumbled and fell,
breaking my arm-he had the grace
to come and humbly apologize. But
1t would keenly dissapoint me if you
married Hal Denton"
"He has never asked me, Aunt
Dell" assured Ruth, her cheeks quite
pink.
Miss Dell turned her eyes away;
she could not bear to see that hurt
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
tains' enormous barn. 1t was to be
an old-time husking bee, a barn dance
with a hearty supper served after
ward on the lawn. All the folks in
the village were invited-the minis
tiers had read out the invitations in
the churches. small sum was
charged for admission and the pro-
ceeds were to go to the wounded SOL
diers. Miss Henderson and her pretty
niece were among the late arrivals
and the husking was in full wing as
they found the way to seats among
the understanding 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 Hen
derson had considered the possibility
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.
The fun was at It's height when a
roar of laughter from the others re-
vealed the fact that Doctor Hal had
a red ear Of corn. He
stood there blushing furiously, his
handsome face smiling in embarrass-
ment. He hesitated but a moment, |
recovered his composure and adj
vanced toward the corner where Miss |
Henderson sat with Ruth.
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,
md fought desperately to atone for
his childish misdemeanor. With a
swift glance at Ruth he passed her
and dropped gracefully upon one knee
before Miss Dell Henderson. holding
put the red ear in its nest of creamy
lusks.
"a small boy humbIy apologies for
stealing your cherries, Miss Dell-and
man apologies for the small boy!'
he smiled whimsically at her, and lay
ng the red ear in her lap picked up
Ter small unresisting hand and kissed
t reverently.
Miss Dell arose tremblingly to her
eet and turned as IL to fiee-she saw
3uth's frightened face, the Mortified
,lances of those who knew her as the
Dell Henderson and
he saw the innate honesty and man.
lood in Hal Denton's face.
Her stern face broke up into
remulous smile, and tears were In
Ter voice when she spoke. "a foolish
I'D woman Is sorry for acting so mean
nd petty, Ha1-and If a kiss goes
With the red ear you may give it to
nep She lifted her face and he bent
nd kissed her cheek, his glad eyes
neeting Ruth's-then, the orchestra
urst into money Musk" and Doctor
lal swung Miss Dell into the group
orming for the dance. +
AS for Ruth she danced 1T with
title Bobby Carew, but 1t was the
appiest dance of her life. After
Fard. of course, Hal took kiss from
er. but the red car had nothing to