Waterbury Democrat., 1902-09-19
Where the Apple Reddens
By L. PARRY rRUscorT.

TIER hair was windblown; her hat, l turned down and shading her bright face, was of white calico and belonged properly to a young broth CT. Her pink cotton dress had paid repeated visits to kthe wash tub, and, to the critical eye, was nearing the period when yet another rubbing would be advisable. She would have said she was horribly untidy-not fit to be seen; in fact, she said it. He considered, and rightly, that she was so exceptionally blessed as to look delicious in anything, and he wisely put that also into words.
 That's prettily said,'' she laughed. l ssNo-don't go on. I am not such a hoyden but that know the correct and ] only answer. I only like'-she nodded her mouth to pensiveness compliments that might be true." sSMine all are when addressed to you," he hastily declared.
 'sThen they are more like bare statements of facts than compli- ments, aren't they?,' she smiled up at him, s'and not specially to your credit.''
 Greatly to yours," he insisted, 'ssince your charms leave no margin for embellishments 90, that is sweetIy said!" she cried. Don't, please, say any more, for you cannot better that!'' ssBut I can't stand mum,' 2 he ob- jected.
 "You can sit in silence, though"
 .'What do you mean?"
 s'Last night at dinner, at your lady love's side. I was watching you being opposite and with no one but a brother to speak to myself, I could not help it. And you neither of you. spoke-at any rate, you didn't. So you see what you can do if you try"
 Tt was she-who had been trying" be said, in mournfu1ness.
 t.Had she? Poor you-she looks a up with a pretty affectation of alarm. 'sWhat am saying. o, beg your pardon! She looks as nice as can be-she can be. It was you who looked put out" ssI had reason to look it." ssNo doubt-I mean she must have had some reason for letting you look it.'''
 'sShe could not help"
 .Poor thing-so weak2 I mean, bound to such a. tyrant."
 q give her her own way in every thing.''
 l She flashed round on him with her most provoking smile.
 'How horrible tame of you!'' she said. .:No wonder she has lost inter- est in her-your looks!"
 ttAfter a1l,'' he said, 'sI didn't follow you out here to talk kof her"
 ssWell, then, suggest a topic-I'm only waiting.''
 While she still waited she looked up at the laden apple tree under which they stood. She seemed to be selecting, with the eye of connois- seur, sut it may have been the blue and white patches of cloud-fecked sky seen through the branches which held her attention. He gazcd at her. He had been so gazing every available moment during the brief week ne had known her, and always with the same sense of pleasure in the picture she made. It was true she was only the half educated, un- tidy, pleasure-loving daughter (the adjectives had been supplied for him) of the improvident, comfortable l farmhouse where he and his mother and the girl he was engaged to were. l staying as paying guests, but he saw no reason in this why he should not admire her for the qualities he did not need to have supplied for him. q came out meaning to say hun dred things to you," he said at last. "and cannot think of one.'' l ssI came out meaning to pick-we1l, several, not hundreds quite, of ap- ples,' said she, land I can't reach l one.'' M
 There is something I might do for you," he said, seizing his opportun- l ity, or trying to seize it. For, try as, apple.
 "I tell you what-that lowest branch there; it has four beauties on it. If you were to- She looked i up at him, smiled, looked down again, ! pensively up at the coveted branch, with sidelong glance like a flash at him. and then down once more. But she did not conclude her sem tence.
 ''If you would let me-if you'd only let me lift you up" he said, suddenly inspired, 'syou could reach them | yourself, couldn't you?" s'Ah! That would do it, wouldn't 1t? And I want them so!'' 'sThen I may?"
 Certainly not! I'd rather go without the apples!" T am much stronger he said "How if seized you against your wil1?''
 ssvVbv Toau17n,t ba1n that. eo,1ld