The Opelousas courier., 1898-04-30
Elsa raid half. and thew promised not

Elsa paid half, and they promised not
to prosecute. Then we came up to
London, took another name, and she
wrote to you to break off the engage
ment. Since that time I've learned
very little. Nothing for a year."
"And what has Elsa done?'
"Typewriting. 1t hasn't provided
us with many Injuries. 1t isn't a
cheerful story"
"No!" assented Duncan, and it
cost him an effort to limit his answer
to that m~onosyllable.
Il suppose you don't think any the
worse Of Elsa"
II think as I have always thought
that Elsa's love is a gift beyond the
merits Of any MAJ on EARTH"
"Thank you. 1t is pleasant to be
$50 remembered!' And a soft hand
was laid on his shoulder.
Could it possibly be Elsa-his Elsa?
This girl i'll the shabby frock and rusty
black hat! This girl with the thin
hands, haggard face and tired eyes!
"Have you forge On &c all this
1iiC liz dohCb IL lCHStAs
II never forgenmy friends"
eve were something more tina
friends"
cit vas to save va pain"
"Pain!' And he laughed a little
bitterly. "Child, did you suppose
there was any pain in this world like
that Of knowing yt5u were in hiding
Without and he glanced around the
bare room-"vithout necessaries?
Do you believe anything could hurt
me as it hurts me to recall what you
were, and see what you are?"
81 have told her that a hundred
times. She should have left me to
myself"
!. "Husb, dcar!" And Elsa stopped to
Kiss her brothers. check. care you
tired?"
"Not more so than usual. Elsa, you
didn't let Mrs. Walsh sell the pic
ture:"
A crimson flush colored the girls
pale face.
"You don't want to look at pictures
when I'm here"
"No, I suppose not" he answered,
divining the meaning of her words.
"Duncau!" And there was a glad
ring in his voice as he saw the little
painting replaced in it's frame and
hung on q nail opposite his bed,
though he was too far on his way to-
ward the shadowy beyond to feel sur
prised that it had been brought back.
-Forget-Me-Not.
A TREE GROWING UPSIDE DOWN.
Old Apple Tree With Limbs in the Ground
and Roots in the Air.
John Meiner's distillery in Milwau-
kee has not been in operation for nine
years. 1t is an old landmark, and is
surrounded with the interest that
every old building in Milwaukee awak-
ems in the historian. The grounds
about it are covered with grand old
trees and rustic benches, and form a
little by-way nook whose existence
one would not suspect from the road
outside the fence at the south.
But the object of greatest interest in
this unique place is an old apple tree
that was planted % years ago, with
it's limbs in the ground and its roots
in the air, and which still'lives to bear
fruit and sprout branches where roots
should be and roots where twigs and
leaves should be, a curiosity to be-
holders.
Nh. Meiners was induced to make
the trial through an old German le-
gend.
When MI. Meiners planted his 25
apple trees they showed no signs of
life for a long time. Finally the one
still remaining showed a leaf, softened
by summer rains and expanded by the
sun, and with a great deal of are it
was nursed to q sturdy life. 1t grew
very slowly, and has not grown more
than two feet in height since it was
planted. It is now about four feet
high, with a trunk Is inches in diam
eter. The roots had a tendency to
droop, and it was found necessary to
prop them up with a trellis. Instead
Of growing vertically, they have ex-
tended horizontally in long, slender
arms. There are about 20 of these,
radiating in all directions. Each year,
as they grew longer, additional props
we're put underneath, and they have
extended along the trellis fiat, straight
as a ceiling, with little slender shoots
running at right angles and intertwin-
ilg with one another SO closely that
they afford some protection from the
rain to one who may stand under
meath. The top is circular in form, and
about so feet in diameter. The tree
has born fruit for about 20 years. The
fruit is of good quality, but the vari-
ETY. is not known by Mrs. Adolph
Meyer, daughter Of Mr.. Meiners, who
now occupies the old homestead with
her hus band and family.
Monthly.
The Boys Choice.
zone day during last October"