The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1878-06-29
PROPOSING TO NELLY.


there wasn't nicer show of fruit
in Hereford than my two acres
held. 1t was my first full crop OF
fruit; never before had the trees
borne enough to give me any care
~ to loss, but now their lavish
supply filled me with all miser.s
anxieties. Not that l grew sud-
denly selfish, but for the first time
experienced the cares and respon
sibilities,of an owner of property
liable to danger. lsr a.
While / yet fingered, suddenly
heard voices. Turning, my eyes
fell upon two elf-hke little girls
standing by the bars of the in
closure, and peeping through at
my ,precions fruit. They did not
see me at first, and while they
chartered l had leisure to observe
them. They might perhaps have
been twelve or thirteen years old,
and both as pretty as pictures.
The tallest one was q little gypsy
like creature, with slender, sun
burnt limbs, thick black hair, all
tangled under an old straw hat,
and thin, dark, vivacions face,
lighted up by pair of coal black
eyes. The other was bareheaded,
and, as well as her companion,
barefooted; and such a mass of
snarled, golden hair as streamed
about her shoulders I never saw
before or since.
"Nellie," cried the black-eyed
little one, s.jast see those nice ap-
ples!"
Nellie, so called, stopped playing
with a great, sagacious-looking dog
which accompanied then, and
sprang upon the bars to the en-
trance to my orchard, where she
hung like vine. l cringed at the
sight of the little bare feet on the
rough wood, covered with "splin-'
ters," but the child did not seem
to be Inconvenience.
BY jjingol : she cried; faint
they nice, Mag?"
The romance of my youthful
beauties was spoiled, but l was
still interested.
"Who owns 'em p asked Mag.
Don't know; let's have some
: "Can't-theyT see us from the
house," was Mays laconic answer,
as she whirled a willow stick in
the air, and listened to the whir-
ring noise it made. .oaelL'-1as
"They won't tonight" replied
Nellie.
Here was pretty pair of plum
deres to contemplate-pretty ut
tie girls of a dozen years The
thought Of dogs, guns and traps
was Infamous in such n case. What
was to be done?
They won't tonight, Mag" re-
peased Nellie, dropping down from
the bars to place beside her COM
panion. Lets" she added, sig
nificantly.
Maggie went nearer to the bars,
and the two girls. putting their
heads together, talked in whispers.
AS they whispered and gesticnla-
ted, the great black eyes of Mag
suddenly fell upon me. and with a
start she alarmed her companion.
The little witches were about ran
ming away, but stepped forward
and addressed them:
Lets have some apples. girls"
said IT 2, g o = : - = s,
Two pairs of bright eyes scan
nen my face, aud then my dress of
coarse summer cloth "a pair of
overalls drawn over my pan,aloons,
for l had been at work in my gar
den. At last Nellie seemed to ar
rive at conclusion regarding my
identity.
we can't get them, she said,
ahyly.IaLJ I'D A
"The man what owns 'ena might
catch us, added Mag.
They evidently thought me some
rough fellow-their equal in social
position. Determined to have some
fun, said:
But he wouldn't see us tonight.
| know him, and he does not keep
any dog. We might nave nice
time tonight"
The girls looked at each other
and then at me. TIA
."They are prime apples" said
Nelly, apparently quite assured.
"The wall is awful low" added
Mag.
"Well, I'll tell you what We'll do,
girls. Tonight. about 3 O'Clock.