The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-11
UNDER THE APPLE TREE.

At first sight you might have thought
1t was huge mound of snow, but when
you drew nexr you discovered it was an
apple tree so thicklY trimmed with en-
erald leaves and pink and pearly bios
SONS as to entirely conceal the rough
gnarled limbs
This dapple tree was Trudie Gray 5
favorite resort, and there, on this lovely
May day, she sat, light blue shawl
wrapped about her. Trudie always
liked to wear this shawl-it was so be-
coming to her golden hair, azure eyes,
and complexion that resembled the
dainty apple-blossoms
Yet, in spite of this pink-and-white
prettiness, Trudie was no weak, lacka-
daisical creature Beneath her soft ex-
terror burned fire of earnestness and
ambition, energy and discrimination
Her aunt Lurel1a, who had reared her
from early youth, called her wilful and
headstrong; but that was because Tru-
die had refused to marry a man whom
she had never seen, notwithstanding the
fact that rumor declared him an Adonis
for beauty and Solomon for wisdom,
TO say nothing of certain other pleasing
attributes of dead-and-gone heroes.
Grandfather Crague had seen him,
been conquered by his charms, and had
conceived the absurd notion of uniting
the two branches of the family. Ac-
cordingly he had left the property to
Irudie on condition that she should wed
this distant cousin. Trudie had prompt
ly refused both spouse and money, and
Aunt Lurella was filed with awful
wrath thereby; the result of which was
that Trudie, left to her own resources.
was obliged to take care of herself, and
this meant that she was without many
things besides chaperon. Bread and
clothes must be earned, and nothing
dismayed, Trudie set sturdily to work
Although the pen is considered poor
weapon with which to brighten away
the wolf from the door, she chose it.
Perhaps her choice was unwise; per-
haps it wasn't; anyhow, she hated sew
ing and teaching, and she loved scrib-
bling, and surely the work we put our
heart in is the work we can do most
successfully. Added to a poetic imagi-
nation, and taste for dramatic s1tIa-
tons, she had enough good Judgment
to keep her flights of fancy within the
bounds of good sense.
And this was fortunate, for where
dreamy idealistic person would have
ing defeats, I'rudie winked back the
tears, clutched her stubby little pen and
set to work, never relinquishing Gtera-
ture-although, like Jordan, it sis a
hard road to trave1t'' And, as we all
know or ought to know, perseverance
always conquers, and after awhile
checks began to come in place of the
writing declined with thanks
On the day we present her to our
reader, she had gone down to the old
apple tree to write an article that must
be posted the following morning. But
somehow, the thoughts usually so ready
hung back in the dusty corners OF her
brain, and would not come forth and
exhibit themselves as well-behaved, re-
spectacle ideas ought to do. She thought
of all sorts of TOPICS lovers quarrel.
q family jar, a mysterious murder,
ghost IN an old grange, a runaway
horse. damsel heroically rescued from
a bull-dear, dear! what hadn't she
thought of? But everything seemed
trite or commonplace.
Trudie bit her pen and pulled nerv-
ously at her yellow eIlrls. How could
she write with all the witchery of the
fresh new spring about her, wooing her
senses with balmy airs, lovely flowers,
and bird-songs?
Trying to shut from her eyes beguil-
ing Nature, she buried her face against
the rough bark of the tree, and with
closed eyes industriously tried to think
of subject on which to write.
please, miss, may / trouble you to
tell me where ] can get q drink OF
water?''
Up went the golden head, as Trudie
gazed with startled eyes st the intruder.
Now If our reader supposes that the
caller was some bandboxy youth, who,
strolling hither, had CHANGED to discover
our heroine, and, won by her beauty,
was ready to drop down upon his knees
and offer heart and hand, he is mis-
taken.
On the contrary the new conner was
biped called tramp.
He was tall, well-buiit young man,
wearing q pair of brown overalis; coat
patched with so many different colors
that it resembled Joseph's celebrated
garment; a straw hat, through whose
torn crown peeped tuft of black curly |
hair; these, with q pair of worn-out,
dusty shoes. completed his costume
Now, Tr,Idie WASH afraid Of O. barking
dog, squealing mouse, horned cow,
a lightning-rod agent. or a sewiggs-u1a- |
S@-Af&N AAAeSAl, bd3 61tG WIS tkAi tsi-A w q
tramp. And SO it was with some little
tremor that she answered:
There is q well over there under that |
tree, and cup hanging on . chain
near it.
..Thank you,'' replied the tramp, and
he tsrned to go: then he paused, and |
Inquired respectfully: ''Ia this Bijou
Cottage ?''
somethingin his pronunciation struck
Trudie. The butcher, baker, and can
dlestielz maker, as well as most of the
9ther Inhabitants of Linton, victimized
her pretty cottage by ealing it By-.Ioe
Cottage. Strange that this unSempt
ramp should give it It's righttni and
meloelicus French sound.
Thus wondering, she answered his |
question In the Affirmative.