Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-04-02
M OH l. T. Ny.
a Tale Of True Love;
PIE APPLE GIRLS TALlsMAN.

" SAS PNA
pose of picking up trifes to interest the road
ers of tho local column of a city paper, I Of
ten purchased apples, nuts and candies, of a
young girl who had a stand near tho junction
of two business avenues.
She was not handsome in the common con.
ception Of this much abused word, but there
was an artlcssness aud yet a winning graoe
in hor manor which convinced me that her
station in life should DO above the ono she
then occupied. Her dress was invariably a
close fitting pink calico one. I felt that her
parents must be worry poor, and as I saw her
day after day in the same attire, I had my
suspicious that her wardrobe could not DO very
extensive; yet, as she always appeared neat
and tidy, it was a mystery to me how this
striking %neatness was secured, and why there
was not every variety In her apparel. I saw
that it was tasteful and becoming but 7 know
that the ladies are proverbial 70. q love in the
variety Of dress, and I had an interest in
knowing why this simple girl was so marked
an exception.
I have always delighted to study character,
either in high or low life, and l took it upon
mo to investigate the pretty apple girls pc.
o~uliarity. Her fruit was ever clean and temp
ting, but I often made purchases merely for
the sake Of forming an acquaintance. At
length, known to her as a liberal patron, she be-.
gan to have less reserve with mo than when I
first noticed her, and finally I was emboldcned
to make inquiries in reference to her family.
1t was some time before she conversed freely,
but by dint of perseverance I learned that
she lived with hsr mother in a pleasant cot
tagc on a quiet street in the suburbs of the
city. | knew the spot; its attractivcness had
often Interested mo, and !. now became moro
curious than ever to hear the story of the up.
plc girl in tho pink calico dress.
! vcnturcd to ask permission to call oHNher
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 tho encouragement [ wished, but
still was left to hope that my curiosity might
some day be gratificd. AS obstacles to my
purpose increased, 1 became moro and more
determined, and [ resolved to change my tao
tics. | could not understand tho girls dis.
inclination to allow our acquaintance to be-
come in any respect familiar, but l know that
she would not dare to treat me- rudely, and
watching my opportunity ono Sunday after
noon, l addressed her as she stood ct tho
street gate of tho cottage, and as I admired
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. Accidcntly VIC met the mother. I had
an invitation to enter the cottage. OF course
l accepted with pleasure, and, finding the
mother inclined to be moro communicative
than the daughter, | managed to learn that
they were French folks, although they both
spoke English remarkably wcll. The cottage
parlor was furnished plainly but elegantly
There were upon tho walls several pictures, and
upon the mantle a number of delicate works of
art, which / was satisfied could not have been
purchased by the limited earnings Of an apple
girl.
Why a young girl who lived in suoh n cot
tagc, with SO much evident taste and ~oultiva.
ton, should invariably ware a pink calico
dress, and sell fruits, nuts, and candies on
tho streets, was to me o pcrplexing inquiry
There was a web of romance weaving around
tho mysterious apple girl, which became moro
and moro interesting, and every day my rcso.
luton to unravel it became stronger. Thorc
was 80 much modesty in tho girls bearing at
her apple stand-she seemed so much afraid
of scandal, should any converse with her
longer than was necessary to make purchases
.--that there was no way left for mo to solve
the mystery Of her life but by visiting the
cottage. Again I went without an invitation,
and boldly made knawn ska curiosity which
led rle to force myself upon sheir aoqaain.
tsacc.
The daughter laughed heartily, and said
gaily, owe have been just as much at fault
to understand your curiosity as you were to
reconcile our circumstances with our employ
.ment."
Then we should be mutual confdents,"
l observed, 81 have been very frank with
you, and hope you will reciprocato."
But our relations are not similar" she
archly replied. "We are not responsible for
your curiosity, but you for ours"
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