Holbrook argus., 1912-02-20

telling secrets to the trees" as Mamie called 1t.
 Ten or twelve years ago the silk gown which Grace wore had been amiliar to Mary, for Jennie had worn it that fatal summer when she won Jims love. Even now, with the gray in her hair, Mary felt the old pain fresh at the sight of the hated raiment Jennie had worn that very dress the night she delivered Mary's note asking Jim to meet her at the foot of the orchard under their par t1cular tree. where Jim had con- structed a bench and where they often sat on summer evenings.
 On that summer evening Mary had gone to the trysting place and waited with her heart full of love and joy But Jim did not come. and when. deeply hurt, Mary returned to the house, he was leaning over the front gate talking earnestly to Jennie Later Jennie told her that Jim had sent her a message saying that he had decided he had nothing particu- lar to say to her.
 See. Aunt Mary. isn't my dress full? It's lots wider'n Grace's.
 Maybe, 'tis, but my dress has got a pocket" rejoined Grace. "a real deep one. You cant get to the bot tom. Auntie. you feel and see if 1t has a bottom
 Absently Mary put her hand into the pocket of Jennie's dress. Her fingers touched something that re- sisted, and she reached again to draw out two letters-Jennie's love letters, no doubt But no She clutched them wildly. One was Jim's note to her asking for a meeting. She remem- bered she had hunted in vain for 1t after the evening in the orchard. But the other letter was her answer. and that answer had never been opened Jim had not received it.
 Suddenly hundred little incidents crowded to her mind that made It clear what part Jennie had taken in her life and Jim's. Then a rush of gladness came over her. How she had misjudged Jim!
 Mary could have laughed aloud as she thought of Jim and how she could make up to him for his years of puzzled wonder Then she looked at the little girls staring at her ab' straction and began to unfold plan that delighted them.
 When Jim Bomar came home from his afternoons work he could hardly believe the evidence of his senses. An immaculate kitchen gave forth the odor of such supper as only good housewife could prepare. In a swept and garnished living room his two girls were dancing about a pret- tily laid supper table. And beside the table stood Mary. his sweetheart, the woman he had always loved; Mary with a smile on her face and a light in her eyes as she stretched hand to Jim and said:
 q came over to stay to supper. Jim. Am I welcome?"
 The light in Jim's face was answer to that question even before his tongue stammered out eagerly 8 wei come in words.
 In the late twilight he went with Mary over the path that only the children's feet had pressed for so long a time and his eloquent eyes told the story. Silently they took their way along the fragrant path until Jim touched Mary softly on the arm and said:
 Mary. this is our tree. See. it is all in glorious bloom. Won't you sit down?"
 And the apple blossoms wasted their fragrance and their petals on two unheeding figures while the years of misunderstanding and pain were swept away to make room for the love that was to illumine all the future.