The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-01-18

| II prefer stolen apples" said she,
quietly and little sharply.
| This cry of the heart, and of the
stomach, which revealed the natural
fancy of the woman, recalled to my
mind the temptation several thousand
years ago. Without wishing to decry
Mother Ewes beauty, must say that
she could not by any possibility have
been so deliciously pretty, or SO en-
chantingly lovely as was my fiance as
she stood there gazing rapturously at
those apples.
The ditch Is not wide and the wall
is not very high" said my temptress,
who looked as demure and innocent
as nun. This was plainly an invi-
tation directed to my physical abil-
lies. 1t was as il she had said: "You
have long legs and strong arms; 90
and gather some apples for me.
comprehended her meaning at
| once, and | also comprehended that |
was placed in very delicate situa-
ton, because II | am an officer of
| Chasseurs, have distinct ideas in re-
gard to the ownership of property.
After due reflection / courage ouslv
informed my tiance that would not
steal any apples for her. =
"You are very gallant" said she in
a tone which plainly signifieu that |
was quite the reverse.
saw at once that was to be pun.
ished for this disobedience.
She turned her black eyes upon me,
and gave me q most disdainful look;
closed her rosy lips tightly together;
withdrew her arms from mine and,
in fact, she brought to bear upon me
all the cruel Vaccinations that n
lovely woman knows how to employ
in such cases.
On our way to the house, did nv
best to soften her, but without sue
cess
The dinner, during which she never
glanced in my direction, was a dull
affair, and as soon as it was finished
she started to leave the room without
showing the least sign of forgiveness.
precipitated myself toward the door.
however, and extended my hand for
the usual friendly clasp; but though
she allowed me to take her hand in
mine, her fingers did not respond to
my warm pressure; her little hand Law
limp and cold in mine, while her man
ner Indicated that she would have re-
fused me even this but for the people
present.
'Bertha! | murmured in a suppl.
eating voice.
Sir" she replied coidly, 81 love
apples-stolen apples"
After pronouncing those words nv
cruel love left the room and at once
took my departure and returned
home. Arrived there, threw myself
upon lounge and enjoyed the pleas
ure of going into terrible rage.
May the Lord pardon me, but l be-
iieve | swore like a sous-officer, so
furious was against my fiance,
against myself, against those apples
and against everything and every
body. How could promenade begun
SO happily end so disastrouslyP Is
the caprice of pretty woman of so
much importance? But was she alone
culpable? Was l not equally to be
blamed for having surrendered myself
In such servile manner to her despot-
ism that it was sufficient for her to
assume little displeasure in order to
torture me to this point? l felt that
l was a miserable coward. 1t made no
difference in my estimation that had
displayed bravery on the field of
battle. felt that was wanting in
true courage, especially the kind that
would prompta misused lover to re-
volt and shake Off the tyranny of two
beautiful eyes. In thinking of these
things | evoked in spite of myself the
face and form of Bertha. Fatal evo-
cation! How beautiful how seducinp
she appeared!
The dear little girl, she had had a
caprice, simple caprice, and had
brutally refused to crafty it.
And all of this trouble was on ac.
count of a few apples.
Would it be robbery to get those
apples?
One does not steal apples, he takes
them. One steals watches and purses,
And then, where would there be any
proof OF love on my part unless |
made an occasional sacrifice or did
something besides agreeable and pleas
ant things in order to crafty my
loved one?
"She shall have those apples" said
l, at last, rising to my feet, and since
she wishes it they shall be stolen ap.
pies.
1t was an unusually dark night aud
the wind blew in violent gusts asI
started on my GRAND.
In few moments | stood in the
street opposite the apple tree. With.
out q moments hesitation ! leaped
the ditch and clambered over the wall
into the orchard.
AT the instant raised my hand to
grasp an apple a very near voice
cried: You thief! There you are at
las,!"
As l peered into the darkness
whence the voice came, saw the
shining barrel of gun pointed at my
breast.
lnstinctively threw myself at my
assailant, who fired at the same mo-
ment, and | bore him to the ground.
at once relaxed my hold upon his
throat and springing TO my feet, | was
about to fly, when to my horror he
uttered deep groan, followed by
sound which, when once heard, can
never be forgotten-the death rattle
| lit a match and, falling on nv
knees, held it close to the PROSTATE
mans face. Great God, what
spectacle!
The face of an old man, with open,
staring eyes, his long white hair
bathed in blood, which flowed from a
gaping wound near his temple, was
what saw by the pickering light of
my match.
also saw close beside his head the
sharp and ragged point of large
stone and the cause of his death was
at once revealed to me-
The moving lights of several lam
terms in the distance warned me that
the report OF the old mans gun had
aroused his family and neigh bors,
and, at once losing all control over
myself, fed, like mailman, straight
before me.
At the end of n few steps brought