Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-01-27
TWO AND A
PLUM TREE

They had been standing beneath the
plum tree when they quarreied, or
rather, when they parted.
They had set out for the plum tree
with the full intention OF gathering the
great purple damsons which weighted
its branches, but when finally they
stood in the long shadow which the
tree made in the afternoon sun dam.
sons were the last things in the world
of which they thought.
Betty. scarlet TO the roots of her cop
per colored hair. withdrew all censor
ship from her tongue and said things
which she would have Indignantly dis
claimed had any one repeated them to
her an Sour later. Jerrold listened
silently. but In his eyes was a strange
look which she had never seen before.
when in the midst of the TRADE she
paused for breath. he had turned sud.
denly on his heel. and with curt
''goodby" cast over his shoulder-much
as n bone would be thrown 10 stray
dog. Betty thought--he. had vaulted the
low fence and gone wrathfully across
the pasture.
Betty watched him until clump Of
scrub oak hid him from view. Then
she sat down with her bhck against
the trunk of the plum tree and thought
1t all over As she thought angry
tears came 10 her eyes, coursed down
her cheeks and splashed impudently
on the hands clasped tightly In her lap.
01,n - .
tree had reached the fence. and the
breeze coming in from the water made
her SILVER. She rose and turned hei
face toward the scrub oaks behind
which he had disappeared.
''You left rather abruptly. Mr.. Jer.
rold Neil she said between her white
teeth, ''ans you may stay away as
worth crying over" she added as she
brushed away her tears.
Neil next morning sat on the veran-
da of the casino, solemnly rolling and
smoking innumerahle cigarettes, which
utterly failed TO bring him the peace
of mind he sought. Catboats with
trim white sails were darling to and
fro in the bay. and each one suggested
the joys of a morning sail with Betty.
But the memory of the parting at the
plum tree was still strong within him.
A wretehed hour dragged past, and
be gave up his vain attempts to inter
est himself In the columns of the morn.
Ing paper. He flung away his clga
rette and, getting TO his feet. strolied
down the gravel path.
TIN fool he unused. 'and brute.
/ needn't have left her In that fashion
BY George! I'll go over to the plum
tree and get some of those damsons.
III send EN- up to her by Tom. She'll
understand"
Mr.. Jerrold Neil strobe across the
fields whisting gay aria. He emerged
from the clump OF scrub oak in the
pasture and made straight for the
plum tree. As he spIed the tree one
note of the aria was prolonged into Il
whistle of surprise. Against the base
of the tree was stepladder, and
among the branches he caught mo
mentary fash of white muslin Then
he resumed the aria. quite as IL this
delightful bit OF information had not
been vouchsafed to him
He took down the stepladder, folded
1t up and calmly sat down on It, Some
thing suspiciously like gasp OF dis
may came from the branches above his
head, but 10 this he gave no heed.
With his chin In his palm he sat ON
the stepladder and sighed ponderously
before he began 10 muse aloud
"'Tis strange" said Mr.. Jerrold Neil
beneath the plum tree" tits passing
strange how the human heart viii al
ways seek the scenes OF its aftiiction.
1t was here we quarreled"-
sigh. "She said-O Lord, what didn't
she say? If I'm all she made me out
she's well done with me''-sighs ad
libitum.
He drew out pipe and filed and
lighted it. By vigorous putting lie
managed TO send quite a respectable
cloud of smoke up among the branches
A little choking cough rewarded his
efforts. and it was with difficulty that
he restrained a chuckie. Presently
wee, small voice crept down from the
branches:
"Mr. Neil,''
Neil started violently.
"Ah," he said. my trouble has
brought on Authorizations. Methought
heard my own name. Twas Betty's
voice, but far too small and weak"
"Mr. Neil.' This time the voice was
loud and clear.
There it goes again. cried Neil
surely Betty's, yet she always called
me Jerry. with such pretty accent"
Jerry, you-you wretche' came the
voice. accented TO the queens taste
''oho!" said Neil. so it's really you.
| eh?"
"Yes-no. Don't look up. Jerry,
please put the ladder against the tree.
| rhan ua liz acvoco thu ras+,,rc a,a a..