Bisbee daily review., 1906-03-11
Marietta Under
 The Apple Tree.
Br G~ne Stone.

 ton is not a young person. she has never struck me as extraordinary looking. and furthermore. was about to go out and talk to her"
 ''oh ho!" said my aunt, with the irritat- ing laugh of the married woman, who is in all but name nothing better than an old maid; 'so she has been there beforeg'
 ''she has" I said, been there before" often, no doubtT'
 Often" I said. with calmness.
 Tt Is only right. then" she said. that you should take me out and introduce me at once"
 ''I don't know that that Is quite neces- sary," began.
 Perhaps she is nto fit company "Auntie." put in Beatrice, in rsmon- stranc. I thanked her with a look
 What is her name7" asked my aunt, pulling herself up.
 .hee name" said, 'is Marietta"
 T didn't ask for her Christian name." she said. euttlngly. when she saw that had nnished; though doubtless 1t may sound very pretty In your ears"
 can't tell you any other" said I. with a. snseF. q think 1t would nave hay been been Sc more dsssst % to have. got rid of her before say uupt oounceu out or the room, ana ''rhe lady 1 said, was unknown to me 2 few weeks ago. She is Italian, believe, Is new living there with an elderly duenna. Naturally. l have tried to make her stay pleasant one went out to seek Marietta" said, as came in sight of the apple tree. it Is going to rain"
 She looked up at the sky.
 "Ah the clouds are there" I said thpm l told her about my aunt and Beatrice. Are you what you in England call en- 'To Beatrice? No certainty not, except In certain peoples imagination"
 RS Re,ySH yS1 wish [nrb,S to be engaged to hsE Then why,'' said Marietta" do you not tell her soT'
 She has never asked me" said I.
 Which is the window ?" she cried.
 pointed 1t out to her through the trees. Your aunt is watching us, I feel sure" said Marietta. You had better go"
 ''I feel" said I, that it is going to rain to-night. And If 1t rains tonight, It will der. the, apple tree; and then I shall come and find you. Remember, tomorrow morn- ing. I shall and,'' I said. with confidence. She turned away her head
 It Is very possible" she said. in low voice. that you may
 felt absurdly happy as I entered the
 
 ing her peace with me, and we passed a most harmonious day. In the night l woke and heard 1t raining. And the morning was wet.
 got breakfast over as soon as could, and then, without waiting for my aunt to leave the table. fed from the room out
 Ry Rf "Spse %as to aoI be an aathorzeS m I gsm. of hide.and-seek. It would not do. therefore, to ring the front door beu. So walked As opened the dining room door and put my face inside the room, heard an eE- ciamation. For the moment I saw only Marietta" said. "I have come to find you
 Then for the first time perceived the But Marietta was equal to the occasion. Never. in thinking of Marietta. do think of her with deeper admiration than when Look she said. turning 10 the eentlle- people we Enlish arei'' Even in my dis fish" caught my earl 'Mr. Barns6y had evidently heard that you, my husband, had arrived. and he comes immediately. through The gentleman looked the Italian for in fcred me. a Tt Is the custom" I explained. "tc psy3 these visits as early in the day as possible. Marietta said something to aim in Italian. With another bow. which included both of| breathless, to me. Ut Is unfortunate you came" she saidS hurriedly, he Is only here for a few hourz & I did not wish to be behind the fashiou| or you might have thought my welcome iG sincere. The gentleman bowed. Apparently thou4 he understood it. he could not speak B13<1 fish. which was, perhaps, fortunate for u&lS I interrupted sternly.
 ''Will you have the goodness to explain I< She looked as though she were abouf 4 defy me. but thought better of 1t. The1 suddenly she burst into tears.
 One glance at her face confirmed my &< picions. I had learnt the worst, and fI@. blow was crushing *1 Without a word I turned and left ker> Then I trudged home through the r4Hk c C q q c z. q c Q O 0 n-.L1 0 c 0 ee $.