The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-07-04
Under The Apple Trees.
BY J.. Droos Van Hockoren.

9tioW aust marking the road, without
movement the leaves hung limp and
brown, except when the hot air stirred
them like restless bits of parchment.
a dust covered cart on the highway.
horse and master alike in their en-
deaFofs 10 compromise with sleep.
there was a world of regret in the way
Billy raised his forelegs, and his head.
At the CROSSROADS Dave drew the
rein sharply, to Billy's discontinue,
and his next surprise lay in the fact of
his being stopped IN front Of a cottage,
a strange little cottage to him, and
one almost hidden from view oy the
OYergrowth of tangled vines.
With laboring determination Dave
dismounted, and drew from under the
seat a square box. marked and re-
marked with foreign stamps and la
belc; then he re-adjusted his specta-
cles and read the inscription: Miss
Margaret Harway, Unionyllle, N. c."
Eggs and hominy!" Dave ex->
claimed, in lieu of a mightier oath.
what's coming to the old lady? Hain't
seen her on TO ten years; may be
she dc raid Of her complexion"
Dave softly to himself They
say tn is haunted; it's mighty
queer, herself with that slip of
girl"
BY this time he had passed the gate
which stood, by will or otherwise, hos
pitably open, stumbled through the
thick matted grass. and finally reached
the door. 1t was cooler there, for no
sunlight could penetrate the heavy To-
liage; the appreeiative spiders had
hung their fantastic drawn work
around the porch, while the musty
smell OF rotting timbers excluded the
sweeter odors natural to the country.
Although Dave tried to adjust his
rheumatic old knuclles to a mere tap,
the sound echoed and re-echoed
through the house as though intent
upon a hearing and presently The door
was opened, the rusty hinges creaking
and grooming in their unusual effort.
Whatever fear Dave may have felt
before, it was unmistakable terror now
that seized him and held him an I'M
willing prey, for the face that returned
his fascinated gaze was drawn and
haggard, and as colorles as marble.
The eyes-Daye never forgot to his
dying day that look of horror realized,
Of DEATH dead hopes and unutterable
woe
AT last! AT last!' she moaned. cat
last, to find rest Oh, God at last, at
last!" Then, without further ado she
dropped motionless at Dawes feet
Dawes kindly nature getting the bet
ter of his fear, he knelt beside the
PROSTATE woman and raised her head.
IF + had sup of water he said,
looking helplessly around.
But before be had come to any con-
clusion she made an effort to rise, and
with Dawes assistance slowly stood
upon her feet and leaned against the
wall trembling in every limb.
Suddenly from above came the
sound Of a quick step, then burst Of
song that died away in the distance;
but it seemed to excite the woman to
action.
"Quicll Quick!" she said, opening
the door Of a small closet put the
the motioning with her thin,
shaking hand toward the box
AS Dave did her bidding and drew
back, She took the key from the lock
and dropped it into her pocket, look
OF relief coming into her haggard face,
to be replaced the next moment by one
Of anxiety and fear. for from above
came again that voice, singing some
long forgotten song. With her finger
on her lips, she gently pushed the very
willing Dave toward the door Poor
ladyl it was a very gentle push, for she
was still shaken by the force of heI
emotions. As to Dave, he never
fufned when the door closed, not he!
with speed that indicated happy re.
lease. he hurried down the untrodder
path to the more cheerful company o.
Billy
Margaret Harway stood still where
he left her trying to recover hei
strength. then, cropping her way
toward door, opened it and vanished
within. Almost at the same momen
there came down the stairs "a youn;
girl OF some 20 years; she had win
sore face. out her full glory lay in tn
rolls Of beautiful hair piled high o.
her shapely head, and held in place b.
an odd shaped comb. One forgot f
emtioise the fashion in wonder at he
beauty.
.Godmother, did you call? I though
hsasd Godmother where az
gon
For 5 moment she stood irresolut'
t,sn with a shrug of her shoulders