Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-01
CHAPTER VII.
Nine Silk Hats Cross a Stile.

A girl in d white sweater sat on a
stone wall and munched red apple; but
this is to anticipate.
I had made d wrong turn on leaving
the Prescott Arms, and l came out pres
emily near katonah village. | got my
bearings Of shopkeeper and started
again for 1IoDetield Manor, but the mid
afternoon was warm. and the hills were
steep. and as Miss HOLSTERS admira bic
cob showed signs of WEAKNESS l drove
into fence corner and loosened the
mares check. On sunny slope several
| hundred yards above the highway lay
an orchard, advertised to the Iarcenous
eye by the ruddiest of red apples. Not
in many years had ] robbed an orchard.
and I felt irresistiby drawn toward the
gnarled trees, which were STILL in their
old age, abundantly fruitful.
When I reached the orchard found it
quite isolated, with only fallow fields
scanned with stone fences, stretching on
either hand. \ spring nearby sent the
slenderest of brooks flashing down the
slope. There was no house In sight any
where, and the neglected orchard fiaunt-
ed it's bright fruit with pathetic bravado
drew down a bough and plucked my
first apple. tasted and found it good. At
my palate's first responsive Utilization
something whizzed past my ear. and, fol-
lowing the fight of the missile, ] an
apple of goodly size fall and roll away
into the grass. l had imagined myself
utterly alone. and even now. as looked
guilty around. no one was in sight.
The apple had passed my ear swiftly
and at angle quite un-Ncwtonian 1t
had been fairly aimed at my head. and
the law of gravitation did not account
for it. AS / continued my scrutiny of
the landscape 1 was addressed by
voice whose accents were not objurga-
tory. Rather, the tone was good-na
tured and indulgent if not indeed
trifie patronzng, The words We're these;
1t was then that. lifting my eyes. I
beheld. sitting lengthwise of the wall,
with her feet drawn comfortably under
her. a girl in white sweater, bare
no question of identity-it was the girl
whose head behind the cashiers grill of
the Asolando had interested me on the
occasion of my second visit to the tea
room. In soliciting my attention by
citing line of verse she had merely fol-
lowed the rule of the tearOom in like
circumstances The casting of the apple
at my head possessed the virtue of nov
city, but now that her shot was fired
and her line spoken she addressed her
self again to her apple. Her manner i'm
piled Indifference, but her unconcern was
that of trout not wishing to discourage
the fisherman, feigning a languid inter-
est in a familiar fly dropped at its nose.
say 1 pecked at my own apple but kept
an eye on her. She concluded her re-
past calmly and flung away the core.
II mentioned SOUP she remarked.
The courses are mixed. We have par
taken Of fruit. Are you fish, flesh, fowl
or good red herring?"
Daughter of Eve, I will be anything
you like. I'm obliged for the apple and
1 apologize for having entered Eden un-
invited"
It's not my Eden. Nobody invited
me. But it's not too much to say that
these apples are grand"
I'm glad we're both in the same boat
I'm a trespasser myself. 1 don't even
know the name of the owner. But if
you have had only one apple. two more
are coming to you, if you follow Alta
lanta'S precedent
Il don't follow precedents. and I've for
gotten the name Of the boy who threw
the apples in the race. 1t doesn't mat
ter. though: nothing matters very much"
Her hands clasped her knees. Her skirt
was short, and 1 was conscious that she
gard me with lazy curiosity. She seemed
younger than at the Asolando. Not more
than eighteen times had apples Redeemed
on the bough in her lifetime! She was
even slenderer and more youthful in her
sweater than in the snowy vestments of
the Asolando. Her hair, which in the
glow Of the lamp at AsolandO cash desk
had been golden. was today FURNISHED
from her forehead and tied with a black
ribbon.
Il quite agree with your philosophy |
Nothing is of great importance
$50 it's not your orchard?' she asked |
1.-The thought flatters me. I own no
lands nor ships at sea. I'm a chimney
doctor. and if necessary I'll apologize
for it,
You needn't submit testimonials: Ii
take the swallows cut of my own Chin ,
neys''
That requires deft hand, and I'm
sure you're considerate of the swallows"
You may come up here and sit on the |
wall If you care to. 1 saw You driving
in "a trap. I hope your horse isn't afraid |
Of motors: motors speed scandalously on
that road" (,
IL am not in the least worried about /
my horse. It's borrowed. AS you re- |
marked, this is nice orchard. 1 like it |
here"
'If you are going to be silly you will |
find me little inclined to nonsense
Shall we talk Of the ASolandO: +