The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-05-01
SATISFACTORY SOLUTION


and apple pies. dilapidated tramp,
dusty and tired, was awakened by
loud voices. AS he rubbed his eyes
he saw. seated on the grass not 10
feet away. a young man and girl.
Yes, Harvey" the girl was say
ing, petulantly. for the sun had evil
IDENTITY warped her spirits. that
may be the story you tell me, but
Mabelle gave me quite different
version of the affair"
Her companion was as cross as
she. We'll, of course. Alice" he
replied shortly, IF you think I'm
not telling the truth, there is moth
ing | can do about it. You ought
10 take my word against Mabelle's,
| should think"
SO the quarrel continued. The
cause was not disclosed. but it must
have been unimportant, for the
girls capricious fancy soon turned
to other topics. They laughed and
chatted gayly, as if there had been
no difference, but there was an I'M
dertone of irritation that constantly
threatened to break out again. The
man had a basket of fine peaches,
and as they talked they began to
eat them slowly. The tramp gazed
at it lOngingly from under the lilac
bush.
You ate and ate 3. and now
there is just 1 left said the girl.
you've been a good boy for a
while. so you can have this one"
But, dear, | don't want it," he
replied
We'll I don't see why. I should
think you would eat it when l Of
fered it to you first
But | don't want it."
Not even when I offer it?"
"No. not even then"
The girl was getting angry.
You're mean and selfish, Harvey.
not to take it when | ask you
But, Alice, my dear girl, don't
want the peach, and l won't eat it.
That's all there is to it," His face
too. was flushed.
You won't do anything for me
now" walled Alice. az, a
Nonsense NJ
We'll. | don't care; it's true. You
haven't been at all nice since you
met that horrid Mary Waters"
Alice" said the man. sharply.
you know very we'll that isn't
true" ~
The girl was now near tears.
Well, If you love me as you say
you do. you would do anything |
ask"
Il will do anything that is rea-
sonable" -
81 don't believe it; if you would,
you'd take that peach"
"Oh. come, come; this is foolish"
Alice stood up and threw back
her head Very well. sir. I've stood
as much of such treatment as
can. You will please take your
choice-you may either obey my
wishes in this matter or you will
leave me at once"
With that amazing speech she
stalked away, leaving her lover gaz-
ing at the peach. which lay on a
stump. But trivial as the matter
was, he, too, was obstinate, and, fol-
lowing her example. he walked off
in the opposite direction. The hun
CRY hobo under the liacs stared at
the luscious cause of the quarrel
Such delicate morsel had not been
within his grasp for weeks. He
crawled out, and, looking cautiously
to be sure that the young people
were still moving away, he captured
the prize and retreated again in his
hiding place.
Before he had arranged himself
comfortably, the man down the lane
suddenly turned and started back.
He soon reached the grass plot and
stopped. Astonished at ,ue disap-
pearance Of the fruit. he looked
around for it. While he stood there
the girl, looking over her shoulder,
saw that he had returned. Slowly
she, too, retraced her steps and
came back. When within sight OF
the stump she saw that the peach
was gone. With relieved laugh
she ran to her lover.
"Oh, Harvey" she cried. you've