Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-10-03
UNDER AN APPLE TREE


of seventeen. ON the first week OF III
eighteenth summer my troubles hc-at
| was boarding at my Aunt JerusiE
AIMS farmhouse How shall descrih
Belle Somers? 1t is useless task
The first time saw her fell vioienti!
in love with her The second time
declared myself.
Regal damsel" l began. ALLOW M
TO Introduce myself as David Shorter
at your service"
I'm very happy TO have the honor
but. young man. don't you think you
paternal ancestors made a slight mis-
take in your surname! They ought Il
have called you David Longer. | >houi'
think she said. l stood four feet II
my boots. which had been made WIFI
double heels 10 make me appear of q
respectable size.
Il beg your pardon. fair damsel.'
said /. dropping this time very arts
tically on one knee. Il assure you
have no wish but to serve you
She smiled on me most bewitchingly
Are you really in earnest:H she ask
ed. Would you do anything for me:
Most assuredly. my enchantress'
excla aimed delighted |.
We'll. my kitten has just run up that
tree yonder.' said she. pointing 10 an
apple tree at little distance. Il want
her very much If you will get her fol-
me. | shall then believe that you car.
for me-
The trunk of the tree was rough and
full of notches. so | had no difficulty
thus far. but just as | had raised my
self carefully up and was about to lay
my hand OH the cat the provoking little
animal took ii into her head TO give
me a longer chase and darted of
among the higher branches.
l followed. of course. and soon found
myself In the awfuIest snarl that ever
mortal got into. My face and hands
were terribly scratched, my coat, ad
justed with such care. torn and frayed
and my cap twisted every which way.
At last the little varmint crawled out
on one of the branches. and l. as n
matter of course. followed suit.
l advanced cautiously. and just "a
my hand touched her. crash, and down
went the branch. kitten aud myself she
falling underneath and uttering most
dreadful squeal as my knee pinned her
to the earth.
After laying still for a moment to
collect my scattered senses | picked
myself and the kitten up and. flushed
and triumphant, bore her to her mis-
treSs.
With a most bewitching smile Belle
held out her hand. l seized ii in my
own and. throwing myself on one knee
before her. cried out in passionate
tones:
"Oh. Belle. my love. my adorable
angel, Wilt thou bestow upon poor
trembling me this lovely hand:'
stopped at this juncture and. taking
out my pocket handkerchief, wiped the
perspiration from my brow.
Belle had her hands before her face.
and thought she was weeping.
So, rising to my feet. strove to take
away her hands and draw her into my
arms: but. to my surprise. she looked
up and. with merry little laugh. said:
"Oh. David. David. go and let Miss
Jerusha see how fascinating you look.'
"Oh. Belle will you not be mine?"
NO. David she replied. Il don't
think | will So be good boy and
don't bother me any more"
81 will ask no more now. dearest.
Take a week to think over it in and
keep your final decision until then. VIII
your
"Wen. yes" she said after a mo-
ment's hesitation. "Meet me under the
apple tree next Thursday. and | will
tell you then"
1t was useless to attempt to describe
that long. lonely week of waiting.
1t at last passed away. however. and
when the happy day arrived | was at
the place appointed
AS approached the spot slight rus
tie in the bushes told me that | was
waited for. and the next moment !
stood face to face with the lovely Belle.
David" she began before | could
speak. Il don't want to be your wife,
and therefore it's out of the question
Where is the wretch that has stolen
you from me-" / cried. and. seeing a
manly form among the bushes, | dash
ed forward.
haven't very distinct remem-
brance of what happened. All ! recol-
lect is that after a good many hard
knocks l found myself taken by the
neck and heels and pitched over the
fence where i landed on the grass.
l determined TO end my miserable life
as soon as possible. Then stole down
stairs for bottle of laudanum had
seen on the pantry shelf. with which |
determined to end my sorrows.
But. fearing TO light a lamp lest II
should disturb Aunt Jerusha. | got by
mistake a bottle of castor oil and took
an immense dose before / discovered
my mistake.
In a few days. however. / was up
again and learned that Belle had left
the piace.-New York News.