aughingly remarked
Abby Patterson to Abner Dudley that evening as they sat side by side in
the long line of busy shuckers. "See how William Hinkson, Jed White and
John Smith are working; and look how swiftly Thomas Miles is reducing
his heap. I do believe he will win the contest."

"He may, for all of me," was Abner's smiling rejoinder; "I'm well
content to be among the laggards, so long as you are sitting near me.
Besides, the prize is not one I should dare claim."

"Is there a prize?" asked Abby. "I did not know that; this is the first
shucking party I ever attended. What is the prize to be?"

"A kiss from any girl the winner may choose from among the shuckers, I
believe," Dudley answered demurely.

"Oh!" murmured Abby, blushing warmly. "I now understand."

"The girl of my choice," Abner added with a meaning glance at his
companion, and with a decided emphasis upon "my," "is far too refined
and womanly to permit my taking such a reward. Hence, I do not aspire
to be a champion shucker, nor a fortunate finder of red ears of corn."

"It is rather difficult, is it not, Betty," he continued presently,
with a humorous twinkle in his eyes, as Miss Gilcrest came across to
where he and her cousin were seated, "to find the logical connection
between the championship as the fastest corn-shucker, and the privilege
of kissing the girl of one's choice?"

"The custom isn't founded upon logic, but solely upon the consent of
the parties," was Betsy's ready rejoinder; "and who but a pair of old
sobersides like you and Cousin Abby would sit here discoursing on
'logical connections,' while all this fun is going on? 'Logical
connection,' indeed!" she exclaimed merrily, with a saucy toss of her
curls.

"At any rate, those hilarious folks over yonder certainly appear to
care but little as to whence the custom originated or upon what
principle, logical or otherwise, it is perpetuated," Dudley added,
nodding towards the center of the barn, where a number of noisy boys
and girls were circling around Thomas Miles, who had just won the
championship, and was now claiming his reward from the lips of the
blushing, screaming, struggling, but by no means displeased, Mary Hitt.

"It is wonderful, isn't it," Abner continued, as Betsy danced away,
"how Betty always contrives to evade taking part in those detestable
kissing games, and yet maintains her popularity with all those boys and
girls? She's a rare combination--self-willed and impetuous