"Oh, no! not on Hallowe'en," laughed Rosie; and just then a servant brought in a basket filled with ears of corn, and set it down in their midst.
"What's that for, Rosie?" asked Harold. "You can hardly ask your guests to eat raw corn, especially at this late hour? As a physician I must most emphatically enter my protest."
"Perhaps Rosie is benevolently trying to bring practice into her brothers' hands," remarked Herbert facetiously. "But we are not looking for that at present, but for fun—pure fun, that will bring damage to nobody."
"Yes, my dear brothers, that's what I am endeavoring to do," she returned in sprightly tones. "Perhaps you have not heard of the new game with ears of corn? You folks are all invited to be blindfolded, each in turn, and in that condition to draw out an ear of corn by which to foretell your future fate. A tasselled ear will promise you great joy, a big, full one good luck for a year. A short one will mean a gift is coming, a red or yellow one no luck at all."
"Quite a new idea," said Herbert, "and as there is nothing said about love or marriage, I suppose even engaged folks may try it; married ones also."
"Oh, yes!" replied Rosie, producing a dainty lace-trimmed handkerchief. "Eva, will you kindly consent to take the first turn?"
"If you wish it," returned Evelyn, and the handkerchief was bound about her head and she was led to the basket.
"I suppose I am not to choose by feeling, either, but just to take the first one I happen to touch?" she said inquiringly.
The others assented, and she drew out an ear.