The suburban citizen., 1900-05-12
EVE and
an APPLE.

wanted the apple, he said, but for
Eve. That was exactly my case.
Eve lived at No 90, and at NO.6 %,
I am not sure where the apple lived,
hut it was at one ofthe two. 1t hung
on high branch over No SOS gar
den, bat it fatted on the soil OF No. "a,
for which paid rent.
II was Eve, of course, who called
my attention TO it. heard her voice
through the open window. She has
an attractive voice.
"Oh, look, mother!" she Dried.
"There is my apple.
"Hush, dearl 1t isn't yoHr apple
at all. 1t belongs to the people next
door"
HE isn't people" objected Eve. I
ana bachelor
Anyhow, the apple is his"
"Is lt?" She tossed her head She
has graceful way OF tossing her
head. "rhen he shan't have it. Mr..
Layton gave it to nae every year "
Mr. Layton was my predecessor "You
know he always lent me his ladder to
get it.. felt inclined to offer nay
ladder there and then, but the time,
like the apple, was not ripe.
AS the sumner went on the apple
grew in size aud beauty. Eve watched
the apple, and L watched Eve. She
WAS so nice to watch that / did not
oael her the forbidden fruit / re-
gsrdsd it rs hostage for her regular
appearance.
''Look at its rosy cheeks, mother"
shs Used to say, tessiHgly, 'lf it gets
MpSh bigger it mast drop" She
made motions expressing rapture.
Eve, dear, her nothcr protested,
"yoH know it isn't yours
cit would be if / had ladder "
Thsh she voud give a merry little
laxEh. She has charming way OF
laughing.
The apple still hung on, however,
aRd grew and grew. In the dusk OF
evening Eve tried to reSch it with a
clothes prop-st least it looked like
Bve. | knew it was clothes prop,
because she let it drop over my wall,
ana it smashed three pRnss of n
edeamber frame. Next morning she
happened to DO in the garden, so l
retained it with grave ceremony.
"I--pm afraid it broke something,
she apologiZed.
'FNot in the least, l assured her.
'I'll tell Mary Jane not to stand it
Hp against your wall again" she
promised meHds0iously.
After that the apple blushed more
furiously than ever. 1t was so ripe
that it was marvellous how it held on,
/ heard her say She was probably
unaware that had climbed up one
night and secured it with fine wire.
Ne1t:sh tried knocking tennis balls
at it. OF course, she never went
within couple of yards. picked
mp AiAo balls next morning aud re-
stored theA to her.
81 thought they were WiRdfals
from my apple tree, l said, and she
Aed indoors.
81 believe he was laughing at nae,
] heard her tell her mother. "Now,
L Will lave it.
'No, no. dearl 1 forbid you to
toaoh it, It's no use looking like that
Eve. shall be really cross if yoa
do.
When / came home that evening the
apple was still there, in all its glory,
bat when it grew dusk ] noticed
maaeuyers with the prop going on
oRcs more. Finally heard cry of
tiamph, and the rustic of her skirts
as she ran indoors. Then / went out
/ climbed the tree, gathered about
a gallon Of apples AID sent them in
with note.
Dear Madam trust You will
accept few apples from my tree
overhanging your garden, as 1 notice
that there is only oRe upon your side.
81 have, however, a special reason
for desiring that one. May enter
your garden TO gather it? Yours very
truly, FRANK NEWTON.
In few minutes Sarah Ann re-
turned with Mrs. Parker's thanks, and
an assurance that she would be
pleased for me to gather the apple
whenever liked. SO, after putting
the ladder over the wall, went round
to their front door and knocked. l
was shown into a cozy sitting-room.
Mrs Parker received me very pleasant
ly, but Miss Eve was rather quiet, as
young lady should be.
"You will be surprised at my
bothering you about single apple, y
/ said. ''lhe fact is want il for some
one who has particularly admired it. "
"We have noticed, "said her mother
with side glance at Eve, 'that it is
a singularly fine apple.
"An exceptionally fine apple" I
agreed. st would be almost impos-
sibIe to match it.
81 should like to see it when you
have picked it," Mrs. Parker con
fessed Eve said nothing. She APP
pomsd to have become absorbed in
hook.
GIT1l1 l,f,c - =, Ut ,Nrnrn,e.1