The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-10-15
"Where the Apple ReddenS. y

face. was Of white calico and be-
longed properly to n young brother.
Her pink cotton dress had paid re-
reated visits to the wash-tub. and, to
the critical eye. was nearing the peri
cd when yet another tubb4ng would
be advisable She would have said
che 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
very wisely put that also into words.
That's very prettily said," she
laughed. "No-don't go on. / am not
such hoyden but that know the
correct and only answer | only like
she nodded her mouth, her distract
ing mouth, TO pensiveness-"compli-
ments that might be true"
Mine all are, when addressed to
you,' he hastened to declare.
"Then they are more like bare state
ments Of facts than copliments, aren't
they" she smiled up at him, "and not
specially to your credit"
Greatly to yours he insisted,
''since your charms leave no margin
for establishment"
"Oh, that is sweetly said!" she
cried. Don't please, say any more,
for you cannot better that"
But l can't stand num-" he OBJ
5ected.
"You can sit in silence, though"
what do YOU mean?"
Last night, at dinner at your lady
loves side. was watching YOU
being opposite and with no one but
a brother to speak to myself, could
not help it. And you neither of you
spokc-at aEy rate, you didn't. SO
you see what you can do If you try"
ut was sEe-who had been trying"
he said, in mournfulness.
Had she? Poor yor-she looks a
little like that" She pulled herself
up with a pretty affectation of alarm.
What am I saying? Oh, beg your
pardon She looks as nice as can be
she can lie. 1t was you who looked
put out
81 had q reason to look it."
mo Doubt mean she must have
had some reason for letting you looK
it."
"She could not help being"
Poor thing-so weak? mean,
bound to such a tyrant!"
81 give her her own way in every
thing"
She flashed round on him with her
most provoking smile,
How horribly tame of you!" she
said. NO wonder she has lost inter-
est in her-your looks!"
after ALL" he said, II didn't fol-
low you out here to talk of her"
well then, suggest a topic-Im
only waiting"
While she still waited she looked
mp at the laden apple tree under
which they stood. She seemed to be
selecting, with the eye of a connois-
seur, but it may have been the blue
and white patches OF cloud-fecked
sky seen through the branches which
held her attention, He gazed at her.
He had been so gazing every availa-
BILE moment during the brief week he
had known her, and always with the
same sense of pleasure in the picture
she made. 1t was true she was only
the .half-educated, untidy, pleasure
loving daughter (the adjectives had
been supplied for him) of the improvi-
dent, comfortable farmhouse where he
and his mother and the girl he was
engaged to were 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.
Il came out meaning to pick-well
several, not hundreds quite of apples,
said she, "and I can't reach one"
There is something might do for
YOU" he said, selling his opportunity
or trying to seize it. For, try as he
would, neither could he reach an ap
pie.
II tell you what--that lowest branch
there; it has four beauties on it. II
you were to-" She looked up al
him, smiled, looked down again, pen
sively up at the coveted branch, with
sidelong glance like flash at him
and then down once more. But she
did not conclude her sentence.
''If you would let me--if you'd only
let me lift you up" he said, suddenly
inspired. you could reach them your
self. couldn't your"
"Ah! That would do 1t, wouldn't
III And l want them SOL"
"Then I may"
Certainly not! I'd rather-gC
without the apples!"
Il am much stronger" he said
How II ! seized you against youl
will?"
why, couldn't help that. could II
she asked. And the thing was don,
In less time than 1t takes to tell.
But she had only picked one apple
The. nearest. when his lady-love'
voice came to them through the treez
calling him by name. And there wa
= sharp note In her voice like tn,
taste Of an unripe applet which toll
fhom what she saw.