Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-09-09
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UNDER THE F.;
APPLE TREE. F;
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We had wandered out into the orchard
together The air was full of the sunny
scent of apples They reached down al
luringly to us from the laden boughs
and every now and then one fell with q
thud that had the unmistakable sound OF
ripeness. | sought out pleasant spot
for Miss Nanlour, saw her comforts bly,
settled in it and then lay down at her
Ieet with happy sigh.
why didn't we think of this before?
said.
1T was who thought OF it. she said
You can't claim any of the credit.
No, the inspiration was yours. j am
grateful to YOU
You will soon get tired Of it," she
said.
Why" | asked. chow could l when
you brought meF"
Il will go away she said, IF you are
going to be foolish"
Il am not going 20 be foolish. Con
slider that have been packed in a close
room for an hour, with you at the other
side of it, and make some allowance foT
me now that freedom is won. An or
chard is one of the most perfect things
in the world-with you in it," l added.
She let this pass, picked up a fallen ap
pie and looked at it curiously.
Are you going TO eat it, l asked.
She tossed it away with pout. 1T 5
not ripe"
But you must eat apples in an or
chard. Let me get you ripe one. There
are some golden pippins over there.
Look
l pointed to great tree in front OF us,
the largest within sight. l had not the
remotest idea whether it was 4 golden
pippin or not. Miss VanlOur was GER
tainly not in position to correct me.
vet she looked at me with unfeigned in
credulity:
"How do you know it's a golden pip
pin?" she asked.
"Oh, any one would know that"
said. '-Shall | get you onet'
/ arose and moved over to the tree.
''Wait moment" she said. Il will
choose the one | want"
I saw her eyes travelling to the top of
the tree, and there they rested, for she
had caught sight of singularly fine and
beautifully shaped apple To practical
mind, however, it was obviously out of
reach. That, of course, was the one she
desired to have. She pointed it out to
me with elaborate care and, l thought,
was not careful to conceal her doubt of
my ability to get it for her. AS pre-
liminary l sat down again.
you want that particular APPLE" l
asked.
Certainly" she said. with an air of
grave conviction.
Il suppose you realize the risk! l
said. "If | attempt to climb that tree, l
shall probably fall and break my neck.
l have not climbed for years. To shake
the tree would not be fair to my hosts
apples"
/ looked at her from my couch in the
soft grass The gravity of the situation
did not appear to impress her in the
least. Indeed. She laughed and shook
a tsntalizing forehnger at me.
You offered to get me one" she said.
81 do not propose to withdraw my
promise, but l must fulfill it on certain
conditions"
A sudden idea had struck me. re-
membered that / had always been u
good shot and that my schooldays had
mainly been remarkable for my capacity
in that direction. My aim had always
been more accurate than my rendering
of Pro Bafbo.' 1t was Il gift hkely-to
be of some use at last.
WELL" she said, ''what are your con-
ditionsY
"If ! get that apple" l said, Il am
going to ask you a serious question, to
which you must give me a serious an
swer Is it bargain!''
She flushed quickly and considered for
a moment. She knew quite well what
the question would be, and my heart
throbbed audibly as waited for her re-
ply. When it came, her voice had Il
deeper note in it.
Il agree to your conditions" she said.
l got slowly to my feet again and made
a journey to the orchard wall, returning
with dozen loose stones of convenient
size. Miss Vanlour watched my proceed
ings with undissuised surprise
"What on earth are You going to do!'
she asked.
Il am going to knock down that apple
for you," / said.
81 thought you were going to climb up
for itr'
IF this method fails, will try the 9th
er," ] said. You see, if l fell, it might
be unpleasant for you, and also | might
not be in a condition to ask my question.
1 will try this first
| began with little practice. -Four
shots brought down two apples. Miss
Vanlour watched me with an earnestness
that the occasion hardly seemed to war
rant Then / sent three skirmishing shots
round the apple on which my fate de-
pended, just to make sure of the steadi-
ness of my nerves. The next two were
unmistakable wides, and l had to take.a
moments rest to reassure myself. | be-
gan to wish devOutly that had kept up
my practice in the only art in which l
was ever likely to excel. But the next
vindicated my supremacy in the neatest
possible manner. The apple fell within
six yards of Miss Vanlour's feet She
gave little exclamation as l ran to pick
it up. When l came back, she was stand
ing waiting for me. l held it out to her.
She took it from my hand and affected TO
examine it critically
.'Why, this is overriper" she said.
''I'm sorry, but perfect ripeness was
not one of the conditions of our bargain.
I am going to ask my question now
said
We were both silent for moment.
Miss Vanlour's easy confidence seemed
to have deserted her. She was even a
little embarrassed. For myself the sight
of her standing there with the apple in
her hand and Oil the brink of the fulfill
ment of her promise was so pleasing
that I could have wished the situation
might last longer. But | asked my
question. and later we consumed the ap-