The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-09-19

single gentleman who could afford
to send her present of so much worth.
She had vowed at first, never to wear
it but after awhile, when she found
that it looked so pretty upon her slen-
der, white finger, and improved her
| taper hand so much, she gave up, and
did not allow it TO go single moment
from her sight. And better still, she
used sometimes to press the dainty
circl to her lips, and then pout and
put on the haughtiest of all her ways
to make up for her foolishness.
So it was that matters went on be-
tween the proud, gentlemanly young
farmer and the brilliant, beautiful Kate,
until the affair of purloinipg the apples
was brought to notice. Kate could
not brook a threat, and when the
/ young farmers cartel reached her, she
headed the little group of her school
friends for second attack.
Kate looked very beautiful, standing
there in the clear, silvery moonlight,
holding up one white hand menacingly
towards her witching band of follow
ers.
SHAW, Kate, don't let's try to
keep still Let him chase US if he
likes, and see what he'll catch," sound
ed the pleasant, musical voice of little
Lucy Smiles. 81 don't believe I
shall drop another glove for him to
pick up, let me run ever so fast l
hope he was pleased with my name
stamped upon the wrist"
He didn't trouble himself much
about you, or your name, I'll wager
you, when he had Kate's dainty 'ker-
chief to wear next his heart. That
isn't the best of it there was a speci-
men of her handwriting upon one cor
ner of it, and if heiisn't as blind as a
bat he'll see who favored him with the
bushel- basket made out of cabbage
heads. Kate wrote the verses" re-
tourted Mary Prince, laughing and
clapping her hands.
Hush say, girls, you mustn't
run on so / don't want to be caught
without any apples" said Kate. $50,
speak low, if you cannot keep from
talking. We are almost there now. /
Hush !! see the ripe, yellow fruit glis-
tens in the moonlight |"
Kate tip-toed up to the little thick
ct of trees, followed by the hushed
group.
"After ell, don't believe there is
any use in keeping so STILL" she said,
looking around. at seems TOO much
like downright stealing, instead of
graciously condecending to test our
neighbors hospitality. So help your
selves dears, while I preside as well
as I can, in place of the gentleman
himself. No doubt he'll thank me for
it when-he gets chance p
" Perhaps after all he's hid right in
this thicket of trees, and when we get
to helping ourselves, as you say he'll
come jumping out here in the very
midst of u.s." suggested some one in
timid voice.
"Pshaw Don't fear, Hattie. Why
we'll frighten him to death in five min
utes if he ventures to show his head.
There, take this apple--and this-and
this. Catch them as fast as I throw
them That's bravel Stand out
where you are, and if you hear any
noise, why run p cried Kate, turning
again to the tree. Here, catch my
hat, and bring me some leaves! I'm
going to ornament my hair on this oc-
casion"
She twined the dark leaves in and
out her glossy braids, and then loop
ing a fairy white apron upon her arm,
commenced filling it with apples.
Zone for Ely Gray, two for dame
Elizabeth, three for little Bobby, and
that nice, big bouncer for me Thank
you, thank you, Mr.. Waters The
company beg nae to tender you on
their behalf their-their- what's
that, girls ?"
AS Kate spoke, there was little
cracking noise among the apple
boughs in the thicket at her back, and
before she had time to sound an alarm,
young Waters bounded out in the very
midst Of the frightened girls, who ran
screaming Justify, in every direction.
But could there have Keen an eye-wit-
ness to the comic scene, it would have
been very easily observed that the far
mer cared little about capturing any,
save their wild, reckless leader. Down
the long avenue Kate few like the
wind with the dignifed bachelor fol-
lowing closely after her. Faster. fas
ter she went, her long glossy braids
falling about her face and down her
shoulders-her light scarf, like ban
ner of rosy mist, floating out on the
breeze as she few along. Faster, fas-
ter Another moment past and she
was within a single leap of the wide
gate. But her pursuer was there be-
fore her, and like frightened deer
she sprang away in different direc-
/ tiOn Thpra wac another gate that