Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-10-23
THE BIG RED APPLES,
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

II wanted only an hour of sundown
the crisp yellow sundown of Octo-
ber, when the roads are carpeted with
red leaves, and the chestnuts are
dropping stealthily in the woodland
haunts. Lois Tafton looked uneasily
toward the sky.
"Do make haste, Tim" she said to
the hired man, or we shan't get
through tonight. And | can't spare
another afternoon, and father wants
the oxen tomorrow and the day after"
"Nine barrels o. Big Reds" said
Timothy Perkins, who felt himself in
all respects equal to his employers
daughter, and to every other young
woman in the state so far as that
went. "Wcll, l don't call this ERE
such bad job, Aud every one as
smooth as satin and sound as nut.
Them ought to bring four dollars a
arrel, bcin' table apples is so scarce
this year"
"Four dollars barrel! Nine times
four is thirty-six," enumerated Lois,
pausing with both hands full of rosy
apples. "Oh, Tim, if | thought |
could make thirty dollars out of my
apple tree"
"To buy a weddin' gownd, eh?'
chuckled Tim, hcisting a barrel on the
rear end of the OK cart.
Lois frowned But, after all, if the
whole village was gossiping about
Ellis Harland's very evident attentions
TO her, how could she expect Tim Per-
kins to restrain his free American
tonguo2
Just then there was rustic in the
yellowing woods on the other side of
the stone wall; a light figure in a
faded seersucker gown scrambled
aigRlEu VIII Viii atlYYu JUMP Sfa' IN the midst Of
the apple barrels.
"Oh, what a splendid load of
apples !" cried Lofty, the schoolgirl of
the family. "And only three barrels
of horrid, gnarly, little cider stubs on
the Newton pippin tree that father
gave me. | never would have chosen
it for mine if I'd expected it was go
ing to fiat out SO. Say. Lois, give me
half your crop, won't you? I'd do as
much for YOU. Do Lois!"
81 can't, child'' Lois answered alb
sently. need them all myself"
"Well, a quarter then" pleaded
Lofty, pushing her wild hair out of
her big, sea-blue eyes. "Say, you
might let me have that much, Lois p
"No, Lofty. | can't. Take care
Tim, that barrel isn't far enough on.
Don't you see the load don't balance?
No, | say Lotlyg Don't tease"
81 guess I've loaded up bar'ls of
apples afore you was born,1 sulkily
commented Tin.
"You're mean, stingy thing, and
| hato you'll" sputtcred Lucy, stamp
.1ee SiSsf'g eSsiiSf'g the
autumn leaves, and shaking her fist at
the impassive back of Lois head.
"And I'll be even with you yet, see if
Pm not. Oh, you'll be sorry you were
SO par parsimonious!" !"
And she iounccd away like wrath
full wood-nymph into the golden
of the high-road.
ooh, Miss Ferrand, beg your par
don! ] didn't know you were there.
Did ! quite knock you oyer?"
Lofty stood overwhelmed with
shame and conlpunctiop. In her self
absorbed velocity she had nearly run
down Cara Ferrand, the pretty Young
school-mistrcss, who was leisurely
strolling along the road nnder the red
leafcd rain of the rustling maple
trees.
Hiss Ferrand laughed. Lofty was
rather fayoritc of hers. in spite of
her freaks and capriccs.
"Oh, mol" said she, strengthening
The coqucttish little sailor hat that she
wore. "You arc not quite such levi
'thsn as you think. Rut if | were
you, wouldn't rush through the
woods .ikc Q race-horse until I was
sure there was no one coming in tho
opposite direction. But look at that
evely western sky! Oh, if | only
could paint i'll And Eve got nv
water eolors in q box here in my sat-
incl, only the treo boughs fail so low
mi that zIgzas fencc shuts off the
're:iicst pert of .hc horizonl"
"lhcrc's tho cid deserted mill,
'ssped Lofty, with sudden oblique |
isht sashing across her gray-blnc |
yes, "only few l.undrod rods down |!
be roadi Up in Ito second story you
oHld get loyo'y view
$50 / couldl" cried Miss Ferraal. |
why didn't think of it before? Is
hat Lois gathering apples? Oh, Lois |
von't ycu come down 10 :he clL mill |
Nth me before lhissiovciy liquid gold |
AIDES out of the sky::''
Lois Inclined hsr head rather stiffly. |
"Gooa.syen;sg, Miss FerrandI |" said |