The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-02-04
HER SWEET APPLES.

4. DY o. u. a ROBERTs.
Autumn wss Just beginning to reveal
herself in the heart Of South mountain,
the gorgeous autumn Of western Nova
Scotia. Il WIS shout eht o'clock inthe
morning, and the air that gtreamed
lightly over the shoulders Of the hills
had most bracing SAVIOR. Mrs. Buolkler,
fkeGkled but cobkely and tall Young
woman, was just setting out for
twSeve-mile tramp 70 the litt1e settle
ment In the valley, where sAe hid to
return Q Aatiron and q pair Of wool
cards which she had borrowed Of an
obiiging neighbor.
Neighb6rs ID those days were few and
far between II the country districts Of
Novs Scotia. The great emptiness
created by the expulsion Of tho Acad-
lang had not yet been Allied up. For the
neighbors, It behooved them TO be
nefghborly.
Ms. Bucklcr was an untiring worker,
and her rare visits to the valley consti-
tuted her. only holiday. She had to
wG1k, Of course, a her husband had
no horse, and she had no ambition to
ride one of the faithful but extremely
deliberate oxen. And, indeed, matter
Of twelve miles seemed nothing Of con-
sequence to her.
eBe sure and get back before dark,
Miryl" admonished her husband, lesn-
ing meditatavely against the woodpile
as-he watched her lliSs the children for
good-by. = i'7iil t.s ..3fa' :
.'shoohi Steve, reckon you can put
the babies to bed all right for once.
can't you? II amt often get OF, and
whom do, like to make . good day Of
iA's srtTr 4 NJ = y
ut amt loolxin' after the children
that I'm thinking Of, 'Miry, as you know
right welll" replied Steve Buolxler,
earnestly. "But you know how thick
the bears srS ON the mountain this
year; and there IL NO manner ofioubt
TINT wa = woif bfush9S w me ii the
pasture night before last. II ain't safe
for you to be coming up through the
woods after dark all alone that way.
Stay all night, II you And 1t getting
latei" a fl
Duckler, stoutly. II may get back
afore dark; but II I don't I'll be careful
and carry light with me-"
These confident words she flung
back over her shoulder, a. she started
gayly down the rough woodland way.
Arriving in due time at the scttle-
ment in the valley, she did her errands,
picked up the news, and richly enjoyed
tho rare luxury of q gossip. Time went
al too quickly; and it was on the edge
Of dark ere she thought Of starting for
home. Then, of course, there were ve-
hement protests. Her friends urged
her to stay all night, picturing the per-
liz Of the journey, and representing that
her husband would never dream Of ex-
pecting her. But Mrs. Buckler, as her
friends always said, was very "set."
Putting aside all arguments. she started
out on her long and lonely tramp.
She had little to carry, but that little
was somewhat troublesome to manage.
It was an apronful Of sweet apples for
the children, treat which she knew
they would enjoy. Sweet apples were
then rarity in South mountain.
When at length Mrs. Buckler reached
the last house ON the edge of the val
ley, and found herself face to face7with
the long climb up the mountain she
felt compelled to acknowledge in her
heart that the night was very dark.
And she had yet nearly four miles to go,
through almost unbroken woods. In
those four miles there were but two
cabins to break the monotony Of the
way; and the further Of these was q
mile and half from her home. She
; hesitated moment, then went into the
house and asked for pine knot to light
her on her journey.
Here again she was urged TO stay; /;
but lighting her torch she set her face
resolutely to the mountain side. Az
she penetrated among the ancient trees
I the unsteady light Of the pine knot cast
strangely moving shadows, and mon
strous shapcs seemed to spring up and
disappear on all sides. For the frst
time she grew nervous, and felt an In
clination to glance over her shoulder,
This she presently conquered with
5 some scorn. Nevertheless, she could
not help Fastening her steps; and the
first cabin in the mountain had the air
Of refuge to her. a. she turned in to
get . fresh pire knot.
Here. too. abe was strongly pressed
TO end her journey for the night. But
now her ohstinacy was we'll aroused,
She Was nsttled at herself for having
falt afraid. u was vita something oi
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