The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-09-23

with it's flaming halo against the
background of autumn-kissed leaves,
was a picture enough for any man.
"You love the garden" she hazard
ed, bringing her wandering gaze back
to him.
"And everything in it, was his sup
plemented answer, as he made mem
tai note that creamy skins blush near
err perfection than any other COM
plexion can.
81 love it's privacy" she commented,
pointedly.
And its trespassers."
She began to wonder if it were well
to nibble strange fruit, and whether
the domestic variety were not safer for
everyday consumption.
1.-THE door must soon be closed upon
them" she said.
"They must make the most of their
opportunities while it remains open,
then, but when will it be shut?
"When the apples ripen."
MAY the harvest he late one" was
the hospitable rejoinder.
1t amused him to see this interloper
so entirely at her ease in his domain.
Her quick ear detected a shade of UNI
conscious patronage in his tone.
She could not stand that; on her own
ground it was insufferable. Her
thoughts flew to the serpent. She
blamed herself for ever having let it
slumber. Hastily she reused it up and
took her leave with it.
He eyed her retreat with dismay.
It's abruptness perpleXed him till he
recognized the trail Of the serpent.
II hat your pets" he called after
her; "they leave sting behind"
Her quick wit marked the play upon
the word, and brought to birth smile
that bore her company upon her home
ward way.
The fourth day found them under
the apple tree talking glibly of the
fruit. She knew little more of it than
it's name began with *" and ended
with an &c"
He might have told her of it's origin
had he felt so inclined; also something
of its true translation.
The circumstances were favorable
to discussions; by the end of the morn
ing Eve was alive to the fact that for
hidden fruit had taste that was easily
acquired, while Adam felt it was fit
for the table of an epicure.
The evening post brought twin ex-
plantations and apologies from the rival
agents.
The fourth day was stormy; panic
fell on both their souls lest they should
lose their Eden. 1t had grown so dear
that neither could contemplate expul-
sion with any pretensions to calmness.
Once more the garden was the scene
of meeting; this time Greek met Greek.
She retreated, not beaten, but firm
~ convinced of the failure Of fireworks
as Examinations for Eden.
lie left her, swearing that every red
haired woman had a spice of the devil,
but he did not forget to add the re-
msinder of the quotation that put
that spice down as being worth all the
prettiness in the world.
The next day both learned of the
leisure of repentance. Alone they
walked within the garden. once so fair
Its charm had vanished. Again il
was a waste around ruin. Eden no
longer, now the other was not there.
Tis yours" he wrote at close of
day. Eden without it's Eve could be
no longer paradise"
"The garden was given first to AID.
am" she had penned in her gen.
erosity. yours is the prior claim
leave it to you. Guard it well. Fare,
well. Farewell"
Her note came to hand on the even.
ing of the sixth day; all desire to visit
the garden now that she had gone was
dead.
Its emptiness Knocked him; unlit by
her bright hair, it lay in lonely shad
ow, under a cloak of silence drear as
death.
But on the morrow a melancholy at.
traction drew him thither. He chose
high noon, and FASTENED to the apple
tree where first they met, possessed OF
a hope that she might cone to him
But disappointment ruled his day
Sadly he plucked the perfect fruit that
alas! had ripened all to late.
"The fruit of knowledge!" he said
bitterly surveying the golden ball;
then tossed it from him with an inn
petuous motion, as he rounded the cor
ner of the south wall now mass OF
tender green and blood-red fruit.
But beauty of the picture was lost
upon him; all his eyes saw was slen
der patch of purple. Viewed from
distance, it might easily have beer
mistaken for a mass of clematis.
The fruit he had flung from him wal
checked by the folds Of her gown. Sh,
stopped to pick it up, and rising, me
his glance. her own full of inquiry.
''The fruit of the tree of knowledge,
he said, answering her unspokei
query.
as it sweet?" she faltered.
at tasted to me of the bitterness
of death while ago" he said.
Once more she raised her arm allow
his shining head, and plucked a gen
erous branch of the passion-paintet
, fruit. Silently she held them out a
l., A L 1.