The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1878-05-30
Farmer WHfers' ApPteS.

Farmer Wafers' Apl,ieS.
1t made no little stir in CranstOn
when it was TumOred about that far
mer Waters had been heard TO say, IN
the presence OF some twenty or more
persons, that whoever Ec had the
good luck TO find meddling with his
carly fruit he would treat in 3 man.
ner not over and above palatable. No
little stir, / say, it OccasiOnedi because
the good people Of the thriving pop
uIOus village, all wanted TO learn las
all such good people do) who the
trespasser upon the grounds OF the
richest man IN the village might be.
But In vain each man looked into
his neighbOr's face for some trace OF
guilt, and eyed askanee every rOllick-
ing yOungster that walked along the
street-nOthing could be learned oil
the unTuly mRrauders till at last the
villagers hiDted that the wealthy
bachelor was more frightened than
hurt, and that he only raised the out
cry 10 frighten thieves away from ms
pTenises; that no one would dare to
venture through the plantations, or
get within the shadow OF the old,
solemn, ghostly looking grange, for
the sake OF q few early apples.
But there was a little mystery about
the affair that the people Of Cranston
could not see through not that II
was so very deep and profound that
| il was prOof against all solution on
the contrary, it was the simplest mat
| fer in the World-Or would have been.
[ mean, IL they had only known how
to solve it. For that part it was just
| like any other puzzle. They could
easily conceive the possibility and
probability OF a wild set OF mlschieV-
Gus urchins, or frOiiCsOme young men,
and even a company OF unpTincipled
yagabOnds, disturbing the quiet ol
the farmers orchard, but further than
that their ideas could not find a way
Had thev been told in confidence thai
on the morning after the depreciation
there were innumerable tracks Ol
| tiny, dainty shoes upon the green
| turf and soft, brown soil OF the shrub
berry, that in one place was found q
small kid glove, and in another quite
3 bit OF cambria handkerchief, with
the name OF the owner delicately
] traced upon tho cOrner-had they
been told this, 1 say, they would have
better understood the quiet way IN
which the owner treated the robbery
and the profound silence which h'
Kept when the subject was discussed
in his presence. But they did NOT
know, and 50 they secuted at tn
whole affair, or at least as much as
lthey dare, when the richest and mos
honOred man in the village was con
cerned.
Bat, one day, when the little won
der had quite died out OF the village
TO those who knew 'tshe signs of tn
timesn there seemed s4l event OF SOM
Importance brewing. All day, in tn
old brick house opposite, the laugh
ling, mischievOus schoolgirls Wer'
knotted together in various places
chatting IN low, confidential tones
School over, the merriest Of the 10
sat down upon the green turf snd ben
their bright heads together, and salI
so many funny things, and made suct
number Of cOmical suggestions up
on the matter which they were dis
I Ell65IAks NAAaAL LlAG " LcAI eAAA -e@AAt1 w.
their laughter. Just over the wa
from the young ladies' academy tn
1.-THE stately house OF MIR. Water
cleaned out from the plantation anI
shrubbeTy that surrounded it-loOk
| ing SO royal and grand, so like SOM
old, ancient castle, with its archinl
porticos and snowy turrets, anC
about all so formidable and threaten
ing in its aspect, that none but q Sc
OF madcap schoolgirls would h2v
dared plan against its peace and quiet
But from the many rOguish glance
and bright suggestive smiles tina
were directed toward il during thu
day, it was quite evident that the old
mansion and its grounds were tn
subject of their thoughts ard plans
. At night the question was proved be
yond doubt for when the Villag
was still and quiet, and the nOOI
sailed clearly up the blue steep Of TIN
sky, pouring her rain OF silVery ligh
! upon the old grange, q strange pro
, cession Of reckless, merry lassies stOl
into the wide, old gate, that let
: through the principal avenue Of tn
! formal old garden 10 the coveted or
cbard.
For awhile as they wound along Tn
shady walk they were silent and eau
/ tiOus, hardly daring to breathe a sen
tence above whisper but each mo
, ment they gained courage, and be
= fore they had traversed through hal
: the grounGs their mirth got the bet
, ter of their fears and they laughingl.
!. Joined their daring leader in plan I
B. capture the owner il he should trOub
: lie them.
5 rrThen she that shall catch hin
E first shall have him." broke in ligh
musical voice above the buzz an
! laughter OF the party.
! "GOod, good" answered another
E "but that will be Kate Weston, on
Captain Kate, am sure, for she cal
: Out-run any girl in CranstOn. Why
girls, she goes il like a deer.n
"Hush, hush 80 Captain Kate turn
ed about suddenly as she spoke, sa
i held up one hand thTeateningly to tn
| party. "If you mention the old ogre
! name he'll be sure TO be out her,
a | Remember, his aprles are more preC
d ious than his gold, for like man
~ men, he thinks more of having hI
stomach well filled than his pocket.
How beautiful she looked, stsndin
! up there in the full, clear moonlight
u brilliant, daring Kate Weston TheI
h was q deal OF pride about her slende
$ wIlIowy fOrm-in the way she carrie
: her perfect head, flashed her gres
: hazel eyes, and curved her tempting
/; rosebud mouth. And now as sh
5 smoke of farmer Waters her who
face seemed to glow with an EXPIRE
sion nearly akin TO scOTn. For som
reason, no one knew what, she ha
taken a dislike to the great man
the village. Her fist impression
him was an unfaVOrSble one, she use
to say. When she met him one afte
noon as she Was returning from
: walk, he had stopped . friend TO as
,. about her, and that too in such s. lou
/, tone that she could not, had 81
K willed it, remsin ignorant OF what |
d was saying. She heard his cOmpal
n ion give her history in short, d.
tached sentences:
II "POor orphan-deiicately reared
r. well educated-veTy beautiful al
talented-prOud-li with poor 7
latiOns on the outskirts Of the VI
Iage," were the words that fell ups
- her ear, as she swept hsughtily
!. them.
After that she had been intrOduc
to the handsome, wealthy young Is
mer at the school picnic. She Ent
( that the presentation had first be
ne suggested by him and, though s
IA met his courteous, gentlemanly q
oi vances with a quiet, essy dignity,
he heart she WEs TepulSluB uiiu All
bn while.