The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-10-13

HER SUNB0NNET TO FALL BACK.
caught up and sent ringing across the
fields with the rhythmic fullness Of
three strong, cultivated voices, whose
owners were allowing their hearts and
Rntormulated thoughts to well up I'M
consciously to their lips and which
rose and fell and wavered under the
swift motion of the singers. AS it
finally died away and their speed
slackened somewhat one Of the riders
looked across at Catlin.
ITS shame to break up our outing
like this" he called.
81 know, but Aunt Beulah tele-
gaphed for US to come straight to
her country house."
Your rich auntr'
Eyes, the one l told you was going
to entertain us so lavishly at the end
of our trip"
"And introduce you to the multimil
lionairess?" grinned the other rider.
Precisely. The multimilllonairess is
devoted to my aunt, and my aunt Is de-
voted TO me. Ergo. we join hands
around the triangle"
But do you really mean that you
will marry her offhand r incredulously.
Il really do, Burke. A multimillion-
airess means multimillion cares less,
and the very fact Of my never seeing
her or her photograph adds the needed
tnge Of romance. But. hello" as there
came the dull thud of fall and then
"a faint call for help. somebody's
dropped from one of those apple trees
above the bank. Hurry, fellowsr
As they climbed the bank the call
was repeated, sounding very near. A
Few moments later they found an old
man lying down upon his back under
the first tree.
Much hurtT asked Catlin solicit
ously.
"N-no, / guess not" slowly and with
a long indrawn breath Of pain. "Just
Shook up considerable, l think, with
out any bones broken. But | expect
you fellows will have to help me
home"
OF course" Catlln looked around.
a short ladder was leaning against the
ree "That'll do very nicely" be said.
Here fellows. gather up all these
empty sacks and spread them on the
ladder to make 1t more comfortable.
NOW, sir" when all was ready, well
Llt you as gently as possible"
On, don't mind a little PAIN" the
o'a man answered. grimacing, however,
when they lifted him to the ladder.
It's the apples that's worrying me
most. I've been sending them or to
One nrm. at about this time, for forty
nine years. This would make fifty"
The firm will certainly overlook the
'np, hen," said Catlin consolingly.
Inc old mans face creased into
snliie. Il know, l know" he replied.
1hey won't mind, and the money part
uOes not matter. But when man has
uohe thing forty-nine years it's hard
lOr MN to miss the fiftieth. don't
suppose ought to have tackled the
apples alone. Hello, there comes Ger
III, She heard me call, guess"
"A TALL girl, with her face hidden by
unoohnet, was hurrying through the
Vrchard toward them.
on' uncle" she cried, with very
iuch distress in her voice, cit is you!
thought heard cry, but was not
u IRE Isis it very badr"
not SO very, think" the old man
answered. Just shakeup. Fortu-
ma these young men were near.
"ey VIII carry me to the house."
as she bent over him the girl al
,o"eu her sunbonnet to fall back. Cat
M was directly in front of her, and he
a"egnt his breath a little at what the
W. revealed. The girl was not merely
p.ee'y' as he had at first thought; she
was beautiful.
An hour later the three were stand
lawn. ~ sS " -
teil you, fellows" Catlin was say
"ie' ITS our duty to stay and pick the