Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-06-06

ms view was not nearly so far-reach-
ing. The oval of her co1or1ess face,
with its flaming halo against the
background of autumn-kissed le~xes.
was picture enough for any man.
you love the garden" she hazal d.
ed, bringing her wandering gaze back
to him.
'.And everything i'm it" was his sup
plemented answer, as he made men
tai note that creamy skins blush near
er perfection than any other com
plexion can.
Il love its privacy" she commented.
pointedly.
"And 1 its trespassers."
She began to wonder if it were we'll
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 late one," was
the hospitable rejoinder.
1t 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 it was insufferable. Her
thoughts few 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.
Tfc IlrII n ne
recognized the trail Of the serpent.
81 hat your pets" he called after
her; ''they leave a 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
it's name began with ''K," and ended
with an ''E.''
He might have told her of it's origin
had he felt SO inclin 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
hidden fruit had taste that was easily
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. It 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 Examinations for Eden.
He left her, swearing that every red
haired woman had spice of the devil,
but he did not forget to add the re-
mainder 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 it
was waste around ruin. Eden no
longer, now the other was not there
"'Tis yours he wrote at close of
day. Eden without it's Eve could be
no longer paradise"
''The garden was given first to Adj
am" she had penned in her gen.
crosby. "Yours is the prior claim
leave it to you. Guard it well. Fare
well. FAREWELL
Her note came to hand on the even
ing of the sixth day; all desire to visit
the garden now that she had gone was
dead.
It's emptiness Knocked him; unlit by
her bright hair, it lay in lonely shad
ow, under cloak of silence drear as
death.
But on the morrow a melancholy at
traction drew him thither. He chose
high noon, and fastened to the appl.
tree where first they met, possessed O.
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.
''The fruit of knowledgei" he said
bitterly surveying the golden ball;
then tossed it from him with an i'm
petuous motion. a. 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 lost
upon him; all his eyes saw was slen
der patch of purple. Viewed from
distance, it might easily have beer
mistaken for 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, answering her unspokep
query.
"Is it sweet?" she faltered
ct tasted to me of the bitterness
Of death q while ma >, he Sn;d