The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-12-02
Among the !
Apple Trees
Story Of Farm
Life
By CLIFFORD v. GREGORY
Copyright, 1910. by American -.
Press Association .
L I. (.
TCoNTINUED.1

tie fireplace in the guest chamber
and popped corn and roasted apples
and talked until the night was far
gone.
Gladys had a headache-an unusual
thing for her-the next day, so Mabel
hitched Mollie to the cutter and drove
Beth back to town. Harold came
down to the gate as he saw them
drive up. He lifted his cap in the
same old jaunty way. and the same
smile fingered about the corners OF
his mouth as be talked. but In many
other ways he was greatly changed.
He had grown and was superbly mus
cled. As he lounged against the gate
post with the careless grace of a
young athlete Mabel could not help i'd
miring him.
Yet there was u half wild. shifty
look in his eyes as if some secret was
hidden behind them that Mabel noted
with quick disapproval. His mouth,
too, when not curved upward in a
smile had an uncertain droop that in-
dicated weakness and a desire to be
led rather than to lead.
Where have | seer hat horse be-
fore?" he asked as he helped Beth to
the ground. "Oh. yes. | remember now!
Gladys rode her up to Uncle Grey's
one night about two years ago, and
drove her home" He hesitated a mo
ment. 81 haven't had a sleigh ride
this winter" be said. looking up at
Mabel with that comically pleading
look of his that seldom failed to get
him anything he wanted.
Does that mean that you'd like
one?" Mabel asked. IF it does Mollie
and | are at your s~ervice-that is, If l
may go along"
"Of course | want you along" he
said as he stepped to the seat beside
her. "a sleigh ride alone isn't much
fun
You've changed a great deal since
| saw you last" he went on after they
were out in the road again. II thought
you were Gladys when l saw you
drive up"
What u compliment" laughed Ma
bel. Don't you wish | were?"
Harold hesitated a moment. NO."
he replied; Il don't know that | do.
Gladys expects too much Of a fellow.
and she has such a way of making
him feel so deuced uncomfortable"
Maybe it's good for a fellow to feel
uncomfortable once in awhile" said
Mabel, looking at him gravely.
Harold shook his head. mot too I'M
comfortable he said. 1T may make
him reckless"
WAS that what was the matterp'
asked Mabel.
Harold looked up quickly. did
Gladys tell your he questioned.
Mabel shook her head. NO" she
answered, but | guessed. It's too
bad. but do you think things like those
that happened last term are going to
help it?"
"Of course not" Harold answered.
but what's the use of trying to be
anybody? | felt like l wanted to just
cut loose and have a good time and go
to the devil" he added recklessly.
And so you cut loose" Mabel inter
posed, land almost went to the fellow
you spoke of. But did you have a good
timer
"a good timer he cried. 81 was
crazy, and when | came to my senses
enough to realize what I was doing ]
hated myself"
Mabel sat thinking for a long time.
You are going back" she said at last
-"back to the same old crowd of fell
lows, the same old associations and
temptations. Can you-will you-keep
the promise you made your father and
mother and Beth?"
Harold caught his breath sharply. A
vision of the parlors of the Rau Ia
Snipsilon house rose up before him.
He could see the blue smoke curling
upward to join the haze that hung
over the heads of the excited forms
that hung over the card table, and he
could heal the sneers of the fellows
and their cries OF "quitter" as a boy
threw his cards into the fire and went
upstairs to study.
Then he turned and looked into the
sweet face beside him, the delicately
nodded. sensitive chin, the serious
mouth and then into the clear depths
of those questioning, trusting brown
eyes.
do you believe l CAM" he asked.
II know you can." she answered.
Then | WILL" he said.
The next semester was a repetition
of the first for Gladys and Mabel,
with more work. more achievements
and if possible more enjoyment
Gladys, with her self reliant, mas
terful way of meeting and settling all
problems that zane to her, quickly be-
came a leader among the girls. and
MabeI's quick sympathy and eagerness
TO be doing something for somebody
made her the confidant and adviser Of
almost every girl in the dormitory.
The weeks passed quickly and soon
brought June aud another vacation.
The clover had killed out the winter
before in the orchard, and as soon as
the girls reached home they packed
away their books and their college
dresses and. putting on their calico
aprons and broad brimmed straw hats,