River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-06-14
THE SQUIRE'S APPLES.

| had been heafu JO say. IN the presence oi
some twenty or more persons, that whoev-
er he had the good luck to find meddling
with his early fruit, he would treat in a
manner not over and above palatable.
No little stir, say, it occasioned, because
the good people of the thriving, populous
village were keen TO learn Jas all such
good people are) who the trespasser upon
the grounds of the wealthiest man in the
town might be.
But there was a little mystery about the
affair that the people of Cranston could
not see through Had they been told, in
confidence that the morning after the
depreciation there were innumerable
tracks of tiny. dainty shoes upon the
green turf. and soft, brown soil of the
nursery; that in one place was found a
small kid glove. and in another bit of
cambria handkerchief. with the name of
| the owner dclicately traced in the corner
had they been told this. say, they
would have better understood the quiet
way in which the gentleman treated the
robbery. and the profound silenc which
| nc kept when the subject wa discussed
| in his presence.
But one day when the little wonder had
quite died out in the village, to those who
\ knew :" the signs of the times there
seemed an event of some importance
brewing All day, in the old brick acad-
envy, the laughing, mischievous girls were
knotted together in various places, chat
ting in low, confidential tones.
For awhile as they wound along the
shady way they were silent and cautious,
hardly daring TO breathe sentence
above a whisper; but each moment they
1 gained courage, and before they had
traversed through half the grounds their
mirth got the better of their fears, and
they laughingly joined their daring lead
ers, in plan to capture the squire il he
! troubled them.
The one that shall catch him first,
shall have him." broke in light, musical
voice, above the buzz and laughter of the
party.
Good, good" answered another, but
that will be Kate Weston; our Captain
Kate. am sure, for she can outrun any
girl in Cranston. Why, girls, she goes it
/ like a deerr
"Hush, hush," captain Kate turned
about suddenly as she spoke, and held
one white hand mp threateningly toward
the party If you mention the old ogre s
name he'll be sure to be out here. Re
member, his apples are dearer to him
than his gold-for like most men he
thinks more of having his stomach well
filled than his pocketbOok."
How beautiful she looked, standing up
there in the full, clear moonlight-bril-
liant daring Kate Weston.
"Pshaw, Kate. don't lets try TO keep
still. Let him chase MS if he wants to,
and see what he'll CATCH" sounded the
pleasant musical voice of little Lucy
I Smiley. :" don't believe / shall drop
another glove for him to pick up, let me
run everso fast. 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 Hates dainty 'kerchief to wear
next his heart. That isn't the best of it
| there was a specimen of her handwriting
upon one corner of it, and if he isn't as
! blind as bat he'll see who favored him
with the bushel-may- basket made out OF
| the cabbage heads. Kate wrote the ver-
SEES" retorted Mary Prince, laughing and
| clapping her hands.
Hush, say, girls; you mustn't run on
| so: | don't want to be caught with any APP
pies. If | have to run, / prefer to run
on a full stomach. So speak low if you
cannot keep from speaking. We are al
most there. now. Hush! see the ripe,
yellow fruit glisten in the clear moon
light
Kate tip-toed up to the little thicket
Of trees, followed by the hushed group.
After all, don't believe there is any
use in keeping so still" she said, looking
| around. :" 1t seems too much like real
out-and-out stealing, instead of graciously
| condescending to test our lordly squire's
| hospitality. So help yourselves, dears,
while preside as we'll as | can in place
of the gentleman himself No doubt
he'll thank me for it when-he gets a
| chancem
perhaps, after all, he's hid in this
thicket of trees and when we get to help
ing ourselves, as you say, he'll come jump
ing out here in the very midst of us" sug-
gested some one, in a timid voice.
:. Pshaw-dont fear, Hattie! Why, we'll
scare him to death in five minutes if he
ventures to show his head. There, take
this apple, and this, and this. Catch
them as fast as / throw them. That's
brave, Stand out where you are, and il
Won hear any noise. why. rum" cried
Kate, turning AGAIN 10 the Tree. = Herc
catch my hat, and bring me some locust
leaves I'm going to ornament upon the
OCCASION
She twined the dark leaves in and out
her glossy braids, and then looping heI
white apron upon one arm commenced
filling it with apples.
"One for ELY Gray, two for dame Liz
abeth, three for little Bobby, and that
nice, big bouncer for me- Thank you
thank you, Mr.. Waters! The company
beg me to tender you, in their behalf
therr-there-W What's that, girls ~
As Kate spoke there was little crack
ling noise among the apple bOughs, in tn,
thicket at her back, and before she hac
time to sound an alarm, Squire Waters
bounded out in the very midst of thu
frightened girls, who ran, screaming lus
tily, in every direction. But could ther'
have been an eyewitness to the comica
scene, il would have been very easily oh
served that the squire cared little abou
capturing any save the wild, reckless
leader Down the long mall Kate flew
like the wind with the dignitied bachelo
/ following closely after her. Faster, faster
she went. her long glossy braids falling
about her face and down her shoulders
her light gray, like banner of rosy mist
floating out upon the breeze as She flew
! along. Faster, faster. Another momen
passed and she was within single leal
of the wide gate. But the squire WA
, there before her, and like a frightened
, deer she Sprang away in a different Oh
rectiOn. There was another gate that le'
I - l. n. l..
like lightning she shot toward it. Blu
oh, horror of horrors lit was locked fast
she turned about again, but the squir
was close upon her track, and there wa
no hope of escape for her. Painting AM
| trembling she stood silent until he cam
up to her.