Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-01-12
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
THE APPLES

able frame of mind In which idle
young men begin to fancy that they
are already blase. During the three
years that had elapsed since he left
college he had done nothing more labo-
rious than travel. He had an old.fash.
Toned reverence for women, but he be.
gan to be conscious of an involuntary
heresy that included the whole sex
except his mother. Equipped by ma
ture and training to shine in society,
he had begun by running the whole
gamut of its possibilities and ended
by believing that there was nothing
in It," His healthy imagination and
disciplined mind, and, though he didn't
admit II even to himself, he was com.
ing to the belief that the only satisfy
ing occupation for a wise man of vigor
and ambition is work. He was coming
to regard himself so seriously that II
became quite impossible for him to
think of women without a smile of
depreciation. One by one he had put
hundred to the test-his test-and his
well considered verdict in each case
had been: There's nothing to her"
He had now spent whole summer
in Glare, a quasifashionable resort in
the fruit region and had catalogued
and "double.crossed" every woman he
had met there. Then, just as he was
about to leave for the city. he saw
young woman who set him thinking.
She was brunei and beautiful without
the aid of any tricks of fashion. Her
personality so dominated both milliner
and modiste that Owen. connoisseur
that he was, didn't know how she was
attired. He saw her walking along the
street with a speed that was swift with
out haste, and as he watched her face
he felt something of the old alteration
of his salad days coming into his eyes.
At the corner she stopped to talk to a
brown-faced wife, and as owen passed
them he heard her say: I'm going
tonight, Mrs. Krauss. Will you see
me off? oh, thank you. It's the IL
o'clock. I'm so disappointed" That
was all he heard. The voice was as
gentle and penetrating as the lumin.
Gus eyes. He moped all afternoon. but
took the bus for the IL o'clock train.
She was In 1t with Mrs. Krauss when
II called at the hotel. Conkling sat in
the far corner and tried to see her
face in the half.light. She was talk.
ing. Il just hate to leave without
those apples" she was saying. They.
re out at Skaters place-seven miles
the best, the only good crop I've seen
this trip. But the hateful old thing
wouldn't sell them or even give me an
option unless planked down $50. No;
Monday will be too late. saw Peale
& Seeds buyer up at the hotel today.
He's securing Michigan for apples, and
he'll have Skaters before | could get
back"
Don't worry, Miss Pauline" said
the other woman. I'D loan you the
money If had 1t. Perhaps II you hur-
ry back"
oh, no! ] know how quick that 9th.
er buyer isl could just cry"
And as they neared the depot Conk.
ling saw her crushing her little hand
kerchief into ball between her
hands. He got out first, aware OF an
absorbing desire TO be of service to
Miss Pauline. She had alighted and
said good-by to her friend before he
had collected sufficiently his wits to
help her out of the bus. He was awed
by this fascinating woman, because he
now knew that she had better excuse
Tor living than lawn parties and cotil.
Ions. He knew hdr name was Pauline.
that she was lin trade" and in trouble.
As. he stood there watching her she
gasped: my valise!" and ran
TO the end of the platform. He was
quickly beside her, his hat in his hand.
u left my valise in the bus" she !
said. Would you, could you"
He was gone like a lackey, and in
.wo minutes she was taking the little
travelling bag from his hand. Thank
you very much, Mr.. -"
"Conklng," he said.
MY money was in II. don't know
how to thank you. Goodness, here
comes our train. Are you going" :
rs this yours too? found 1t in the
bus" And he held out little red ap. =
pie. But she laughed little sadly and
'aid: "You may keep it, Mr.. Conkling.
Are you going on this train?" She
'aised her voice and spoke close to his
'ar so that he might hear above the
Kissing engine.
No" he said, putting the apple in
lis pocket and helping her up the
teps as the train groaned away. She
lowed again and he held his hat in his
land till she was out OF sight Then
lie went to the hotel, counted his mon.
" and got the night clerk to cash
lraft. In ten minutes he was sitting
n hired buggy driving through the
light to Skaters farmhouse, seven
niles away. He got there at midnight i,
nd reused the Dutchman, who came
o the door with light in one hand
nd shotgun in the other. Conkling