Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-02-28
APPLE GATHERING.
BY SHIRLEY BROWNE.

of tho delicate old china which had bo-
lon.cd to Grandmother Carstars, at
The apparition of tall, slight figure
with man $ ovcrcoat bu.toned in loose
folds around it. 50 that tho skirts nearly
touched the floor, mans boots pulle L
up over the pretty feet, and a felt hat
ciappcd, in cavalier fashion, on tho
back of tho head.
Clssandra Clr,tairs burst out laugh
ing.
Making a man of myself" said she.
'Psctty well done, isn't III"
NJ So Marietta stared harder than
ever.
"Is-it masqueradca" sho asked,
doubtfully.
"Docs 1t look like its No. CA,.
sandra answered, with spirit. "No;
I'm simply g~ing to gather my apples"
"Wicro is Benz"
Eat on his back with rheumatism.
And those apples must be markctcd at
| '"eei vi 'hS1 IL pun
"But, Classy"
ooh! | know beforehand all you're
going to say" declared Ct,sandra.
leaning, in a mannish fashion, with
her hands deep in her pockets, against
the edge Of the wooden man;cl. at
ism n woman's work. We'll, mean
to make it a woman's work. After all,
how does it differ from nuttng or
misletoc hunting. both of which are
supposed 10 be cmncntly feminine
ccomplishments' Old Jones is coming
hero to- morrow morning at five O'clock
TO take them TO Wcld:own. If they're
not gathered, of course they won bo
marketed; and those red hear. apnl.s
mean not less than twenty-five dollar,
to us, Polly"
Miss Marietta sighed. az wish
could help you, CASEY" murmurcd she.
"But am sure Doctor IIartords hirci
man would assist you if
Cassandra started away from the man.
tel rs if she had been stung by wasp
III, she repeated, brusQucly. "But
what comprehensive if, PoIly! I'd
cut oil my right hand she added,
''sooncr than to ask that man to help
us. That naughty, composed pink of
perfcction-.hat high 5rcl arisiocrat
that despiscs al women who-worN !"
''Is that the rcalon. easy, thnt you
gather your apples aftc: dart' That he
shall not see you'"
"No." sharply answered Cauy. But
Miss Marietta could see, in spite Of the
dusk, the quick scarlet mount to her
sister forehead. ~ gather them after
dark simply because don't want all
the village tongues 6 ossiping about me-
It's my business, and no one clse's, IN
less you. dear Polly" -knceiag a min
ute at her sisters sdc-''i,'s yours
Just as I'm our lu;iness-anl lal
business you find me, I'm af.aid!"
''But how do you know that Doctor
Hartford cntertains these very hostile
sentiments toward u,?"
81 know good many things, Polly,
that l cant give rhyme or reason for"
Classy answered., positively. Haven
seen him look Mt me when was wee l..
ing the onions and hu'king the pcasc9'
IA cat may look at king. Cas-!
said Miss Marietta, laughing in spite OF
herself. "Mayn't Doctor Hartford look
at Miss Cars tairs2"
mo-" said Cassandra, with staml
Of the small, COW hided foot-fo- sh,
had borrowed old Bcns farming outfit
for this occasion. "IIc may notr'
) And then sho took up lantern anc
box of matches, and went her way,
| flinging back kiss to the invalid sistc
as she did so.
1t was nearly midnight when she re
5 turned, flushed and radiant, her haze
eyes shining, her breath coming qu;cl
Q and fast. Miss Marietta, who has
fallen into lady like doze in front o
tho smoldering logs, started from he
S dream.
Goodness me, Classy! is that you9'
i said she.
'Yes." Classy was unbut:oning til
. old coat and shaking her feet out of tn
r cow-hide envelopes now stained wit
n the mud of the swampy orchard land
: "Havc you gathered the applcsa'
e Eyes. They're all in barrels, clos
y to the bars. ready for Israel Jones whc
l. he comes along, morrow morning
: Old Ben's nephew, n stout sailor la,
n just from sea, helped me got them in
IT We broke the lantern, but that didn'
sionify-thcrc was moon when tn