The Jennings daily record., 1902-11-01

Sho oank Win ou tho EfacexuInee1 ~
: tall wohan on the grass and let her
gax0 wander lastly across the garden;
his view was not nearly so iar-reach-
Ing. The oval o1 her colorless face,
with its flaming halo against the
background OF autumn-kissed leates.
was . picture enough for any man.
"You love the garden" she hazard
ed, bringing her wandering gaze back
to him.
"And everything in It." was his sup
plemented answer, ~ he made . men
tai note that creamy skins blush near
or perfection than any other COM
plexion can.
II love its privacy" che commented.
pointedly.
"And it, trespassefs."
She began 70 wonder II it were we'll
60 nibble strange fruit, and whether
the domestic variety were not safer for
everyday consumption.
"The door must soon be closed upon
them," she said.
''rhey must make the most Of their
opportunities while Il remains open,
then, but when will it be shut7
"When the apples ripen."
MAY the harvest be late one. was
the hospitable rejoinder.
Il amused him 70 see this interlopef
90 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 insuRersble. Her
thoughts flew to the serpent. She
blamed herself for ever having let it
slumber. Hastily she reused it up and
took her leave with It.
He eyed her retreat with dismay.
1ts sbruptness perplexed him till he
recognized the trail Of the serpent.
II 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 It than
its uame began with "K." and ended
with an "E."
He might have told her Of fts origin
had he felt 50 inclined; also something
Of its true translation.
The circumstances were favorable
to discussions; by the end Of the morn
ing Eve was alive to the fact that for
hidden fruit had a taste that was easily
acquired, while Adam felt it was 1T
for the table Of an epicure.
The evenings post brought twin ex.
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 30 dear
that neither could contemplate expuf-
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 frm.
~ convinced Of the failure Of fireworks
a. illuminations for Eden.
He left her, swearing that every red
haired woman had a spice Of the devil.
but he did not forget to add the re-
mainder Of the quotation that put
that spice down az being worth oil the
prettiness in the world.
The next day both learned Of the
leisure Of repentance. Alone they
walked within the garden. once 50 fair
Its charm had vanished. Again i,
WAS q waste around ruin. Eden no
longer. now the other was not there.
"Tis yours" he wrote at close of
day. Eden without its Eve could be
no longer paradise"
1.-THE garden was given first to Ad.
sm," she had penned III her gen.
erosity. Yours IL the prior claim-1
leave it to you. Guard it we'll. Fare
we'll. Farewell"
Her note came to hand on the even
ing Of the sixth day: all desire to visit
the garden now that she had gore was
dead.
Its emptiness Knocked him: unit by
her bright hair, it lay in lonely shad-
ow, under . cloak Of silence dreaf a.
death.
But on the morrow a melancholy at.
traction drew him thither. He chose
high noon, and hastened to the apple
tree where first they met. possessed Of
. hope that she might come to him.
But disappointment ruled his day.
Sadly he plucked the perfect fruit that,
| alas! had ripened all to late.
1.-THE fruit of knowledge!" he said,
bitterly surveying the golden bali;
then tossed it from him with an i'm.
petuous motion, as he rounded the cor.
ner Of the south wall. now mass of
tender green and blood-red fruit.
But beauty of the picture was lost
upon him; all his eyes saw was a slen-
der patch Of purple. Viewed from
= distance. 1t might easily have been
mistaken for q mass Of clematis.
The fruit he had flung from him was
checked by the folds of her gown. She
stopped to pick it up, and rising. met
his glance. her own full Of inquiry.
"The fruit Of the tree Of knowledge"
he said. answsring her uhspoken
query. -.::>,.r
us it sweet7 she fa1tered.