Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-02-05
SELECTED4 sT0RY..
ait III r 5sflf1
..ssg b5lejsA TALE OF TRUE LOVE- ss
, ~ =. u Nv ~ Ut
!, OR THE APPLE GIRLS TAL1sMAN.

pOMes years. ago Wneni ltWaS rambler
through the streets of Cincinnati, for tht
purpose of picking up trifes to interest thu
readers Of the local column of a city paper
I often purchased apples, nuts and candies
ola young girl who had a stand near thu
junction. of two business avenues yszeq
Il She was not handsome in the common &C
eeptation of this much abused word, but there
was an artlessness and yet winning grace il
her manner which convinced me that bel
station; in life should be above the one she
then Occupied. Her dress was invariably {
close-ftting pink calico one. felt that hel
parents must be very poor, and as I saw hel
day after day in the same attire, had my
suspicious that her wardrobe could not b
very extensive yet, as she always appeared
neat and tidy,i7i it, was amystery to me how
this striking neatness was secured, and why
there was not ever any variety in her appar-
ell. I saw that it was tasteful and becom-
ing, but I knew that the ladies are proven
bal for a love in the variety of dress, and !
had an interest in knowing why this simple
girl was so marked an exception.
have always delighted to study charac-
ter, either in high or low life, and I took il
upon me to investigate the pretty apple girls
popularity Her fruit was ever clean and
tempting, but often made purchases mere
ly for the sake offorming an acquaintance,
At length, known to her as a liberal patro n
she began to have less reserve with me than
when I first noticed her and finally was
emboldened to make inquiries in reference to
her family. tt was some time before she
conyersea freely, but by dint OF perseverance,
I learned that she lived with her mother in
a pleasant cottage on quiet street in the
suburbs of the city I knew the spot: its
attractiveness had often interested me, and
now became more curious than ever to hear
the story Of the apple girl in the pink calico
dress. -. .s,.4.,=>. - J!.-l g.. ~ 5zail
ventured to ask permission to call on hel
mother and make her acquaintance, under
the plea Of a love of birds and flowers, with
both of which the cottage was surrounded
[ did not receive the encouragement wished
but still was left to hope that my curiosity
might some day be gratifed As obstacles
to my purpose increased became more de-
termined, and I resolved to change my tao
tics. I could not. understand the girls dis
inclination to allow our acquaintance, to be-
come. in any respect familiar, but ! knew
that she would not dare to treat me rudely,
and, watching my opportunity one Sunday
afternoon, I addressed her as she stood a,
the street gate of the cottage, and as ad-
mired some flowers which grew in a bed near
the house, she could not escape, politely,
from the necessity Of inviting me to walk
through the yard Aecidently we met the
mother I had an invitation to enter the
cottage Of course I accepted with pleasure,
and, finding the mother inclined to be more
communicative than the daughter, I man.
aged to learn that they were French folks,
although they bothsspoke English remarka.
bly, we'll. The cottage parlor was furnished
plainly but elegantly There we're upon the
walls several pictures, aud upon the mante]
anupber Of delicate works of art, which
was satisfied could not have been purchased
by the limited earnings Of an apple girl T
Why young girl who II lived In sYHch
cottage, with SO much evident taste and Gull
tivation, should invariably wear pink cali
co dress, and sell fruit, nuts, and candies
on the streets, was to me perplexing in
quiry. There was web Of romance wcav-
ing around the mysterious apple girl, which
became more and more interesting, and ev-
cry day my resolution to unravel it became
stronger. There was SO much modesty in
the girls bearing at her .applestand-she
seemed SO much afraid of scandal, should
any converse with her longer than was nee
essary to make purchases-that there was
no way left for me to solve the mystery OF
her life but by visiting the cottage, Again
[ went without an invitation, and boldly
made known the curiosity which led me to
force myself upon there acquaintance. =. J..
The daughter laughed heartily, and said
gaily, eve have been just as much at fault
to understand yoar curiosity as you we've 10
reconcile our circumstances with our employ
ment !" 500
''Then we shonld be mutual confdents, ;" ]
observed, 81 have been very frank with
you, and hope yon will reciprocate:"
ssBut our relations are not similar she
archly replied. is's9We are not responsible
for your curiosity, but you for ours" il. b
ssWhy SO ?I cried. ae.. -, !, ~ sa .. ~.
-: =: was forced upon US. D sass
"Indeed, and was not mine forced upon
me, in such manner, too, as left me no
choice but to seek opt the mysttssrry hHt 4
truce to this bandying of words; you Will
not take advantage Of my frankness for any
other purpose than to reward it with fRll e *
plantations p
She looked at me moment, as if ques.
tioning my apparent honesty, and then SAID