Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-10-04

ple-f ihereS any lett. she laugned.
The girl he was engaged to had
seen it all. she said. and forthwith re-
nounced her right to that connection.
she seemed to have seen even more
than all, considering what il amount
ed 10 when she went owe: it in words
Low tastes and the society of the ill
bred, she told him. would be his ruin.
Then she tossed him over to ruin, de
claIing she would have none of him.
You are free" she said Thy nc
means for the first time). land
know exactly how you will use your
freedom"
Il hope you'll have the opportunity
OF using yours as WE'LL" he said, stung
into retort at last.
Il might have known" she cried.
"Oh. what | have been saved. Every
fresh face"
so few faces are fresh" he said;
and that was really unkind, for she
had a sallow complexion.
Il am not going to argue it any
MORE" she declared. having talked the
subject bare. Co"
And he went. But he was a gentle
man, and previous to going he had
tried his best to soothe her annoy.
ance. even to frankly owning that
from her point of view-she had cause
for il. He had tried to close his ears to
the echoing voice. his eyes to the
laughing face. of the girl he had left
under the apple trees. He did all he
could to shut out the sweet, sudden
vision Of freedom, of release from a
captivity which had always irked him.
II was not his fault in the present
that his past faults were accounted
objectionable. He only went when
he was certain that he was powerless
to rerivet his chains.
He was not a poetical young man,
but some verses the lady who had
relinquished him was fond of quoting
came to him as he wandered back TO
where the cause OF the mischief ESQ
he devoutly hopedD still awaited him.
He waited. on his part, until he was
quite certain that she was there, until
he stood in front of her, and then he
repeated verse out loud:
Where the apple tree reddens never
pry-
Lest we lose our Eden, Eve and l."
so. she has sent you adrift?" said
the girl. seated under the apple tree.
But Ewes all right"
He flung himself beside her.
Ewes all right" he echoed. God
bless her! You haven't finished the
apples?"
"No--you're just in time. Here's
whole one left" and she passed it
10 him. That's the prettiest SIDE"
she said, pointing; you may bite it
there"
Really"
1T seems a ceremony BETTING the
occasion" she said.
There" he said, as he handed the
bitten apple back to her. But knew
what was good for me the moment /
saw it, before / ate of the fruit
You are not keeping very close to
the original" she said.
Eve is all right" he repeated.
Dear. love you. Am IL"
He bent towards her. They were
~ NiOSO tHG SHSitCI O1 Tic Olu
apple tree that she could hear his
heart beat; he could hear hers.
Her cheeks were redder than the
apples, and there was a strange new
note in her clear voice. Wait" she
said; Il thought | could deceive you,
but I can't. saw her there before
let you-seize me-"
He did not speak.
Il know she does not love you; she
almost said so. She said things about
you TO me she never could have said
if she truly loved you. 1 believe she
loves someone else better. must
not tell you why think it, but l do"
Still he did not speak.
Il knew felt sure-that you did
not properly love her."
She waited a moment. Can you
forgive me?" she asked. very softly.
IF love prompted you?"
Il suppose that was it," she admit.
ted. Love and apples. The Sketch.