Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-08-11
Story of n COurfshln.

"Come-come," said Mr. Gray, ''you have been
moping there long enough, nephew, forgetting man.
ners and every thing else Here the apples wal
ting, and no one to hand them round, fer when once
get settled in this easy chlir''-here the good wom-
gave smiling survey of her ample person. which
certainly overfowed the chair at every point leaving
all but ridge OF the back and the curving arms quite
invisble-"it isn't very easy thing to get up again
Now hustle about and while we old women rest our
selves you and Julia, there can try your luck with
the apple e-seeds.
I remember the first time ever surmised that Mr..
Gray had taken notion TO me once when we
were at an apple-cutting together down in Maine.
Somehow MIR. Gray got into my neighborhood when
ranged round the great basket Of apples I felt
my cheeks burn the minute he drew his seat so close
TO mine, and took out his jack knife to begin work
He pared and quartered. ! never looked up but
once-then his cheek was redder than mine, and he
held the jack-knife terribly unsteady By and by he
got noble, great apple, yellow as gold and smooth
as baby's cheek ] was looking at his hands side
wise from under my lashes, and that he was par
ing it carefully, as if every round of the skin was
strip of gold. At last he cut it off at the seed end
and the soft rings fell down over his wrist and took
the apple from his fingers
Chow" said he, in Whisper bending his head
little: and raising the apple-peal carefully with his
right hand, I'm just this will be the first
letter of the name love, as am that we are alve.m
He began swiftly whirling the apple peal round his
head the company were all busy with one another
and was the only person who the yellow links
fuIfeILHS IlS Hedu once, tWIce, three times
Then he held it still moment, and sat looking right
into my eyes. held my breath and so did he
"Now," says he, and his breath came out with a
culver, what If it should be your name 2"
did not answer, and we both looked back at the
same time Sure enough it was letter S. No pen
made one more beautifully. Just as | expect
ed says he and his eyes grew as bright as diamonds
Just as l expected That was all he said
And what answer did you make him. aunt ?'-
asked Robert OTIS who had been listening with q
flushed face. ''What did you say y?'
81 didn't speak word, but quarered on just as
fast could. AS for Mr.. Gray, he kept pairing, and
pairing, like all possessed thought he would never
stop pairing, speak word more. By. and by he
stuck the point of his knife into an apple, and un-
winding the skin around it, he handed it over to me-
1t was red skIn remember, and cut as smoothe as
a ribbon.
"'I shouldn't bit wonder if that dropped into a
letter G. says Mr.. Gray. Suppose you try it.
"Well. | took the red apple skin, and whirled
| three times around my head, and down it went on
to the floor, curled up into the incest capital G that
| you ever set your eyes
"Mr Gray, he looked at the letter. and then sort of
sdewise into my face. s, G., says he, taking up the
apple-skin and eating it, as if it had been the first
mouthful of a thanksgiving dinner. How would
you like 10 see them two letters of silver tea
| spoons -
Il reilly believe you could have lit candle at nv
face, it burned so but couldn't speak more than If
| Id been born tongue tied"
: But did you never answer about the spoons %
asked Julia
We'll, yes, believe did, the next Sunday night,
said the old lady, demurely smoothing her apron.
/ THE CRoPs We understand that the prospects
/ f.. -oo1 a1l d.