Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-08-07

with its flaming halo against the
background of autumB-kissed lea~es,
was picture enough foruny man.
you love the garden" she hazard
ed, bringing her wandering gaze back
TO him.
"And everything in il" was his sup
plemented answer, as lie made a men
tai note that creamy skins blush near
er perfection than any other com
plexion can.
81 love its privacy" she commented,
pointedly.
"And its trespassers."
She began to wonder if IL were well
to nibble strange fruit, and whether
the domestic variety were not safer for
everyday consumption
"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 be a late one, was
the hospitable rejoinder.
II amused him TO see this interloper
so entirely at her ease in his domain.
Her quick ear detected a shade Of un-
conscious patronage in his tone.
She could not stand that; on her own
ground il was insufferable. Her
thoughts flew 10 the serpent. She
blamed herself for ever having let it
slumber. Hastily she reused it up and
took her leave with IL.
He eyed her retreat with dismay.
It's abruptness perplexed him till he
recognized the trail Of the serpent.
81 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 IL than
It's name began with "K," and ended
with an "E."
lie might have told her OF its origin
had he felt so inclined; also something
OF its true translation.
The circumstances were favorable
to discussion; by the end OF the morn
ing Eve was alive to the fact that for
bidden fruit had n taste that was easily
acquired, while Adam felt IL was fit
for the table OF an epicure.
The evenings post brought twin eN-
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
ly convinced OF the failure Of fireworks
as illuminations for Eden.
lie left her, swearing that every rcd
hnired woman had 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 waste around ruin. Eden no
longer, now the other was not there
"'TiE yours" he wrote at close Of
day. Eden without its Eve could be
no longer paradise"
"rhe garden was given first to Ad.
am" she had penned in her gen
erosity. Yours is the prior claim
leave 1t to you. Guard II well Fare
well. Farewell"
Her note came to hand on the even
ing OF the sixth day; all desire 10 visit
the garden now that she had gone was
dead
Its emptiness Knocked him; unlit by
her bright hair, IL lay In lonely shad-
ow, under a cloak Of silence drear as
death.
But on the morrow melancholy at
traction drew him thither. He chose
high noon, and hastcned to the apple
tree where first they met, possessed Of
a hope that she might coue 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 1t from him with an i'm
petuous motion, as he rounded the cor
ner OF the south wall, now a mass Of
tender green and blood red fruit.
But beauty of the picture was lest
upon him; all his eyes saw was "a slen-
der patch of purple. Viewed from
a distance, II might easily have been
mistaken for mass of clcmatis.
The fruit he had flung from him was
checked 10y the folds Of her gown. She
stopped to pick it up, aud rising, met
his glance, her own full of inquiry.
THE fruit of the tree Of knowledge"
he said answering her uuspoken
query,
"ls 1t sweet9" she tAltered.
"lt tasted to me ~ the bitterness
OF death a while ago" he said.
Once more she raised her arm above
his shining head, and pluckcd n gen
erous branch ~ the pNssion-pRiuted
fruit silently she held them out as
an Offering To him. A whisper broke
the silence of the garden.
APPLES Of love"
The words Aoated from her TO him;
II broke the spell 4 gentle love wind
rose, and, whispering to the garden,
woke the flowers. And the lost Eden
was restored To- them Chicago Trib-
uns.
within Hospital