National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-05-23
UNDER THE APPLE TREE.

NDEK liE APPLE IkEE.
Slightly bent forward, her hands
y ca,ped IN her lap and her book living
n uuleedcd on the bench beside her,
Margaret Woodiord sat thinking. An
easier attitude would not have com
ported with the earnestness of her
thought. She did not even notice that
the rays Of the afternoon sun had got
beneath the outstretched limbs of the
apple tree and were falling full upoa
her
She had come out to the orchard to
read the story of the lives of those born
in an authors brain, and had come in
stead upon a new scene in the real
drama of her own lfe.
1t was certainly through no fault of
helstha Alfred Carson had there sought
her out and poured into her unwilling
oars the passionate story of his love
and begged her for ever SO little in re-
turn.
she had checked himagain and again
told HIM that she had no love to give
iAat she feared the capacity for love had
aied within her; been frittered away in
the miserable round of flirtations of
iashlonable society. OF course she said
she felt honored by the love of so good
and truea man would value his friend
ship, if she might still have it; but, for
his love, she could offer no return.
DO you love another?" he had
/ eagerly asked.
Il Nc, she said. .iesitatingly, and then
N more decldedl;, "No, | have many
4 iHen swho'n love and honoras friends,
hI' mere is none to whom | could give
tla. 1--we which would make us both
Ec1uttut.'
lheu came youths eager and eloquent
plea for hope-hope that some day the
devoted love he offered might find
return.
No. She said, firmly, and Alfred
ic.i toat the answer was final, and with
choking in his throat he turned and
went slowly down the hill.
And Margaret sat thinking. Now
mat She had spoken the irrevocable
"ofl, she qucried of herself why she
need have given it. Why not have said
yes as well?
Alfred Carson loved her. He offered
her homage no woman could receive
uAmoyed. He was good and kind had
wealth and social position. He could
nave kept her in the circles in which
she had always moved, and given her
'Ae Injuries custom had made neces-
saries.
NAynot have accepted him? Simply
t'4use she could no: love him, and in
S''Nctlyeiy revoltGd from the idea of
4 pending her whole life with him.
oAe pitled aim. But she did not fear
'ul' '4e Tound she had inflicted was
'ouu cure. She had lived too long in
h "orld aud society for that. She
"d sent other lovers away Just as
] o'oAeh' hearted as he, and had afterward |
coAgratulated them as happy bride
gTooms, while they stood beside their
4 p'uSilllig brides and wondered in their
nea['S how they could ever have loved |
'0,,'' heartless Margaret Woodford.
Leu such scenes were painful. She
- not coquette-simply a belle.
snocIe'y expected of her that she would
8IIN''Ie' and she smiled that she should
Nh tA1rmlng, and it was easy to obey
EI"l she should be brilliant, and she
Doue respondent, adding mirth to
8oe"uty, and wit to mirth, and she en-
81 yea her power.
4, Il ONE were dazzled, and would fain
come nearer, she made them feel
8& ""' ner bmghtness.was that of winter
"Sulhe, light without warmth, and
went away with heavy hearts, but
gomtorted themselves with the
4' that they had been dazzled with
ess 0iLIIe, LIy1,and and sought steadier though
no,. 9}rIlAant warmth elsewhere. She
Dctter, but was not weak enough
ko,,s F1eaA a delusion that gave them
nj d',l9 interview had stirred her deeply,
,,,',aI a" aaiIlh0Cyed her just little. She had
''L'ed to make this country visit n
= 5onIi o,I4 OF q, quiet and perfect rest. Why
H. "ii Jia Alfred Carson have remembered
Il oro] Y'9 invitation of her aunt's, and fol-
eu her She did not mind Ralph
4 ona in'"orth's coming. He knew the
&I ' ol rest, and would bother her
gi. no romance. Besides, he had
H., mere mere. He was like son in her
e95 Nehtworth's house, being her
/ IN Pa husbands favorite nephew.
orapP1 "pPll was pleasanter subject for
H. i5ia n. than the painful interview she
I JUS juSV passed, so she let herself think
as 'lif fni, She remembered when he, too,
hon 'IHI W oI romance, when he came back
blans Harvard s full of bright hopes and
kad h lor a brilliant future. He, too,
{eiyo39 9owed vy before her charms. and re-
hst tGu u the same answer Alfred Carson
kerv rss a. was when Margaret was in the
nj ! I hood OF her second year in society,
~ lkeenly alive to the lows Of her tri'
.honcb, reign. No, indeed, she had
Auief h, sue would not settle down to
kort5 nun, au5 drum life, with Ralph Went
Sotionsa ana help him carry out his odd
Societn OF doing good and reforming
''iety, and all that.