The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-08-17
Eve and the Apple
X By Owen Oliver.
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l. cestor of mine. He would not aave
wanted the apple, he said. but for
Eve. That was exactly my case.
Eve lived at No. 50 and | at No. 81.
l am not sure where the apple lived.
but it was at one of the two. 1t hung
on high branch over No. 52's gar
den, but it fattened on the soil of No.
"a, for which | paid rent.
1t was Eve. of course. who called
my attention to it. l heard her voice
through the open window. She has
an attractive voice.
''Oh. look, mother!" she cried.
There is my apple"
Hush. dear! 1t isn't your apple at
all. 1t belongs to the people next
door"
HE isn't people," objected Eve. l
am a bachelor.
Anyhow. the apple is his"
as it?" She tossed her head. She
has a graceful way of tossing her
head. Then he shan't have it. Mr.
Layton gave it to me every year.
Mr.. Layton was my predecessor. ''You
know he always lent me his ladder tc
get it," l felt inclined to offer my
ladder there and then, but the time
like the apple, was not ripe.
AS the summer went on the apple
grew in size and beauty. Eve watched
the apple. and / watched Eve. She
was so nice to watch that l did not
offer her the forbidden fruit l re-
garded it as hostage for her regu-
lar appearance.
Look at its rosy cheeks, mother.
she used to say. teasingly. IF it gets
much bigger it must drop She
made motions expressing rapture.
Eve, DEAR" her mother protested
you know it isn't yours
1T would be if l had ladder"
Then she would give merry little
laugh. She has charming way OF
laughing.
The apple still hung on. however
and grew and grew. In the dusk oil
evening Eve tried to reach it with 4
clothes prop-at least it looked like
Eve. l knew it was a clothes prop
because she let it drop over my wall
and it smashed three panes of Gu
cumber frame. Next morning she
happened to be in the garden. SO
returned it with grave ceremony.
lin afraid it broke something,
she apologized.
Not in the least" I assured her.
III tell Mary Jane not to stand i,
up against your wall again." she prom
Used mendaciously.
After that the apple blushed more
furiously than ever. 1t was so ripe
that it was marvellous how it held on
| heard her say. She was proba bly,
unaware that | had climbed up one
night and secured it with fine wire
Next she tried knocking tennis ball.
a it. OF course. she never went with
in a couple of yards. I picked mp nine
balls next morning and restored them
to her.
II thought they were windfalls
from my apple tree" l said. and she
fled indoors.
81 believe he was laughing at me,
! heard her tell her mother. 'Now,
will have it,"
mo. no. dear! i forbid you tc
touch it. It's no use looking like that
Eve. I shall be really cross with
you"
When l came home that evening the
apple was still there, in all its glory
but when it grew dusk I noticed ma.
neuvers with the prop going on ono,
more. Finally l heard a cry of tri
umph. and the rustic Of her skirts as
she ran indoors. Then l went out
l climbed the tree, gathered abou,
a gallon Of apples, and sent them in
with q note.
Dear Madam: I trust you win accent
few apples from my tree overhaneing
your garden. as I notice that there is only
one upon your side.
Il have. however. special reason for de-
string that one. May enter your garden
TO gather 1t? Yours very truly.
FRANK NEWTON"
In few minutes Sarah Ann re-
turned with Mrs. Parker's thanks. and
an assurance that she would be
pleased for me to gather the apple
whenever l liked. So. after putting the