The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-27
Gve and
En .TppZe

Eve and an apple overcame an ancestor
of mine. He would not have wanted the
apple, lie said, but for Eve. That was
exactly my case.
Eve lived at No. So and l at No. "a.
am not sure where the apple lived, but 1t
was at one Of the two. 1t hung on a high
branch over No. 52s garden, but it fat
tened on the soil of No. "a for which 1
paid rent
1t was Eve. OF course, who called my
attention to 1t. l heard her voice through
the open window. She mas an attractive
voice.
"Oh. look. mother?' she cried. "There
is my apple
Hush, dear! 1t isn't your apple at all.
1t belongs to the people next door"
He isn't people" objected Eve 1 am
bachelor.
Anyhow. the apple is his
Is it?" She tossed her head. She has
graceful way of tossing her head.
Then he shan't have 1t. Mr.. Layton
gave 1t to me every wear" Mr. Layton
was my predecessor You know he AL
ways lent me his ladder to get It," 1 felt
inclined to offer my ladder there and
then, but the time. like the apple. was
not ripe
AS the summer went on the apple grew
in size and beauty. Eve watched the ap-
pie. and l watched Eve. She was so nice
to watch that 1 did not offer her the for
bidden fruit. l regarded it as a hostage
for her regular appearance.
Look at its rosy cheeks. mother!' she
used to say, teasingiy. "'If 1t gets much
bigger 1t must drop" She made motions
expressing rapture.
Eve. dear" her mother protested,
''you know 1t isn't yours"
1T would be If l had a ladder" Then
she would give merry little laugh. She
has charming way of laughing.
The apple still hung on. however. and
grew and grew. In the dusk of evening
Eve tried to reach 1t with clothes prop
at least 1t looked like Eve l knew 1t
was clothes prop. because she let it
drop over my wall. and it smashed three
panes of cucumber frame. Next morn
ing she happened to be~in the garden. so
1 returned 1t with grave ceremony.
Tin afraid 1t broke something" she
apologized.
''Not in the least" 1 assured her.
'I'll tell Mary Jane not to stand 1t UP
against your wall again." she promised
mendaciously.
After that the apple blushed more fu-
riously than ever. 1t was 50 ripe that it
was marvellous how it held on, 1 heard
her say. She was probably unaware that
] had climbed up one night and secured
it with fine Wire.a
Next she tried knocking tennis balls at
couple of yards. picked up nine balls
next morning and restored them to her.
81 thought they were Windfalis from my
apple tree" / said, and she fled indoors.
Il believe he was laughing at me-" I
heard her tell her mother. Now, 1 will
have it,
mo, no, dear! forbid you to touch 1t.
It's no use looking Hike that, Eve. 1 shall
be really cross If you do"
When | came home that evening the an
pie was still there, in all its glory, but
when 1t grew dusk 1 noticed maneuvers
with the prop going on once more FL
nally ] heard cry OF triumph and the
rustic OF her skirts as she ran indoors.
Then | went out.
climbed the tree, gathered about a gaf-
lon of apples and sent them in with note.
Dear Madam-I trust you will accept
few apples from my tree overhanging
your garden. as l notice that there is only
one upon your side.
i have, however, a special reason for
desiring that one. May I enter yOur
garden to gather 1t? Yours very truly,
frank Newton
In few minutes Sarah Ana returned
with Mrs. Parker's thanks, and an as ur-
ance that she would be pleased for me
to gather the apple whenever 1 liked. 50,
after putting the ladder over the wall,
went round to their front door and knock
ed. was shown into cosy sitting room.
Mrs. Parker received me very pleasantly,
but Miss Eve was rather quiet. as a
young lady should be.
~"You will be surprised at my bo.hering
you about a single apple l said. THE
fact Is. L want 1t for some one who has
particularly admired It,"
'.We have noticed" said her mother,
with a side glance at Eve, that 1t is
singularly fine apple"
can exceptionally fine apple 1 agreed
at would be almost impossible to match
it,
picked It," Mrs. Parker confessed. Eve
said nothing. She appeared to have be-
come absorbed in a book.
"I'll bring 1t in at once" / promised.
went out through the French window and
ascended the tree. No one was looking,
so 1 gathered another fine apple from
my own side. When 1 returned Miss Eve
had disappeared
1T doesn't look quite so large off the
tree" 1 suggested, placing the apple upon
the table.
''No," said her mother, examining 1t
critically, 81 scarcely think 1t does; bat
It is very fine one"
Perhaps your daughter would like to
see it?''
"Ye-es" She laughed. II am afraid 1t
will make her feel rather env.ous," She
Miss Eve to come for a moment, please"
After a few minutes waiting. during
which Mrs. Parker discovered that we
had some mutual friends, and asked me
to call In there sometimes, pretty Eve re-
appeared, looking guiltily defiant
''Nr Newton wants you to see his ap-
pie, Eve, dear. Isn't 1t beauty?' Eve
flushe dand gave me swift glance.
"Yes," she said, hesitatingly. She SEEM
ed to be- studying the floor rather than the
fruit
at might be fellow to the one that
tempted Ever 1 observed, with smile.
She traced a pattern with her foot.
adam was also tempted.
"By Eve, I believe? 1 don't fancy he
wanted the apple much, did hep She
blushed again.
''You could not have a nicer apple than
this, anyhow" She rocked right at me at
last Her eyes said quite plainly. ''You
needn't tell mother" AS If l had any
such intention.
81 am glad you like It," said, because
I want to give it to you. II 1 may. 1 could
not help noticing that you admired It,"
'"rhere. Eve!" said her mother. II told
you that everyone would see that you
coveted it."
"I-I am sorry" she said, In subdued
little voice.
"Please don't say that or you will spoil
my pleasure In giving it."
"Then--I am sorry" She took 1t with
laugh
Soon afterward I went assuring Mrs.
Parker that l should soon avail myself
of her kind invitation to call again.
hope they did not hear me laughing when
got indoors.
The next day was Sunday. In the after
noon Eva sat under the shade of my ap-