The Alaska prospector., 1904-06-23
Adam and Eve in
 the Orchard ~
TT WAS the fault of the agent, who
By EVELYN WELLS.


 sold the property twice over. 4 rambling ruin. surrounded by para disc in the Italian style. with terracec gardens and flight of stone steps. the bowers over which the roses threw their long caressing arms; place sun-fooded by day. but at night dim shadowland. inhabited by spirits tha; flew about in the guise of strange. mis. shapen birds-a garden fuli of incon gruities, for right in the heart of ii was planted an orchard.
 Fate must have looked on, smiling grimly at the jest. when both proprie- tors arrived simultaneously at the viii lage inn. full of the intention of res tor ing their ewly-acquired property.
 He had caught glimpse of the lady (the widow of rich landowner) the morning after his arrival, and from the first moment his artist soul had fallen worshiping before the flame of her red hair.
 But her first glimpse of him had been in the garden when te came across her standing beneath the apple tree. one arm outstretcaed to pluck tte resy fruit which from time inn err rial had held an attraction for heg sex.
 The glorious head, devoid of cover. ing, was thrown back; one long, rich strand of hair had flown like hin flame across the dim purple of Ter cotton gown. II was a picture tu D. toxieate, and calculated to tr'n a sl |. 1. youthful shoulders. He came towards her. greeting in every gesture 0. l. ou.stretrhed hands. ar' tie rrn W. ~d that cescri'eh the stiffness of Il q qar- Ten WIS "Eve." It came thii,i'~~ thrc"~h space, it arrested her a.to 2. tion ani 'rld her captive to h;n ir aston''hTe"; Tow did this stranger know her name?
 In her surprise sEe half responded to it. but convention raised f.. cad serpent-li!<c. Gnd e. shatcw-tS Q cs Mashed green with wonder and ins io- nation that a strcn~er should dare to intrude upon her privacy and address her in tEis familiar way.
 He saw the look and grasred tho situation. Quickly the explanation came:
 "A garden-and a woIaan-the ap- pies helped to heighten the picture hence the exclamation"
 A smile qnivered on her lips. He could have sworn he caught lurking merriment in these eyes; but again the serpent asserted itsnF
 ''I prefer my Eden Adamless." she said, sweening past him. with never so much as backward glance.
 He merely repeated the final syl'a ble of. his ne~-found name, maybe by way of not forgetting it.
 On the morrow they met again This time by the old white wall that faced the south. covered, vine-like, with tomato foliage.
 "ADples again. Apples of love" he said by way of greeting. as be pointe ed to the half-ripe fruit that nestled hid ing in its wall of leaves.
 She cast a curious glance at them. smiling at his use of the homely name.
 Green as yet" was the somewhat chilly comment as she gathered up her purple gown.
 "Ah! but they will ripen. All they want is time," he called after her.
 On the third day she discovered him with earth-stained hands busy in tie garden. She stood a while unperceived, a critical spectator. Youth sat lightly upon him. strength manifested itself in every movement; the whole was pleasing even to her fastidious soul. She forgot to resent the easy assur- ance that even while il piqued her att sracted her.
 Curios ity struggled with convention ality. The woman in her encouraged the former, so that its victory was an easy one.
 The serpent hid it's bruised head and vlumbered. Then:
 .'Are you the g6rdener?" she inter rogated.
 He scarcely noticed the insolence of the query; all he was conscious of was Eve had come, the garden suddenly was glorified.
 'Adam delving amongst the soil, he quoted, flinging his tool aside and sinking on the grass at her feet.
 The aptness of the quotation pleased her; his audacity disarmed her; she felt as if she were standing on the brink of the precipice called Excite ment. The serpent slept.
 ''Let it sleep on." aaid Eve. with youth racing through her veins. After all. what is the good of being in Eden if one does not taste the sweetness of forbidden fruit?
 The bank was tempting resting place; hunting in the orchard and by