The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-26
THE EVENING STORY
Under the Apple Tree.
(By Catherine Coope.

| Joan sped down through the riot of
flowers to the foot of the garden
path; there, she stopped to catch her
breath before continuing on through
the hawthorne lanes that led to the
fruit orchard. Her wide garden hat
had slipped from it's nest of spun
gold ringlets and her heart beat joy
ously with the pulse of spring.
She stood for a moment poised I'M
der the old UNCOVERED arch that adj
mitted her to the orchard and drew
in long breaths of delight. The great
gnarled trees were weighted with
blossoms and the air was heavy with
the sweetness of their perfume.
Joan made a swift dart and with
the agility of a squirrel climbed into
the topmost branches of her favorite
| tree. There she sighed happily, then
| laughed at the shower of pink and
white petals that her ascent brought
down.
Now 1 am monarch of all 1 sur
vey,' she told herself gleefully, and
settled herself in the secure seat the
gardener had made for her.
Because their orchard was only a
sixteenth part of the original orchard
that had been the pride Of the one
time Lamberth estate, 1t was not
walled in, but merely inclosed by
hawthorne hedges. Joan regretted
that necessity had called for divi-
sion of the property, yet she rejoiced
that the lot which her grandmother
had purchased possessed the most
beautiful tree in the entire orchard.
She gazed out over the vista OF
pink and white, and from her high
perch could see the various winding
| lanes that divided the properties.
Suddenly she leaned forward, her
eyes focused upon a figure that was
moving about among the private gar
dens.
He must be trespassing," was
Joan's mental comment. 81 have
never seen him before
She watched him intently, half out
of feminine interest for a masculine
person and half because of the Pc
culiar actions of the man. He stood
quite still for moments at a time, ap-
parently gazing at the wonder of the
orchard, but suddenly he would dart
toward a specific tree and make nu-
merous circuits about its base.
Joan began to fear for his sanity
and for her own safety. Certainly
his actions were not those OF an
evenly balanced man. She felt rea-
sonably sure that neither an insane
nor a sane man would catch sight
of her in her bower of thick foliage.
but her heart beat rapidly.
You never can tell" she told her
self, what any man is likely to see-"
With considerable trepidation she
watched the man drawing gradually |
nearer and nearer to her retreat.
Would he or would he not venture
within her grandmother private or
chard? Joan felt reasonably sure now
that the trespasser was mentally un-
balanced.
He is coming I'M" Joan caught a
sharp breath and drew up into the
branches of her tree. He seemed to
catch sight of the great tree the
moment he stood within the arch and |
made straight for it. AS he came !
forward, Joan again drew a quick
breath. The man was undoubtedly |
good to look at and his shoulders
were big and broad. He had taken
head of thick, red-brown hair. Joan's |
grandmother had miniature of a |
man with just such a head of hair.
The girl in the tree-top sighed,
partly because she felt a strong de-
sire to drop twigs down on the good
looking young fellow whose wander
ings had brought him into her gar
den.
but 1 do not dare" she told her.
self and realized that her fear of
the man had vanished. II suppose
his eyes are brown" Joan decided.
She leaned forward cautiously and
watched him prowling about the foot
of the tree. Suddenly he threw him
self down on the wide bench that
encircled the tree.
Discovered" she heard him mutt
ter and peered down to see him draw
a great knife from his pocket. lie
it about and the blood IN
loans veins stood still. He opened
the eviI-Iooking blade and ran his
finger along it. Joan gripped the
branches to keep from tumbling head
long out of the tree.
The. man was silent for a moment,
then he began very calmly to carve
his initials in the bark of the tree.
The blood in Joan's veins took up its
course and she drew a long breath of
relief.
Rather nervy, however, she COM
nented, forgetting that her grandmoth-
er abominated slang.
Evidently the young man had fin
shed his carving for he returned his
znife to his pocket and cast a glance
about the orchard. Seeing no one ]
about, he threw himself full length on
he soft turf and prepared for a nap
'I certainly hope he is not one of
he seven sleepers,' Joan thought
oetulantly, my left foot is already
She uttered a half cry
md tried to drag her foot from the
'ruteh Of the branch into which she
lad pressed it. i
The young man below blinked his
Eyes in the sunlight. then sat bolt up
light. His eyes, blue as the summer
ky, gazed uD into the branches of
he tree as if an apparition had sud
ienly appeared.
MY foot is caught" cried Joan, ac-
land you did it,"
''Il" The mans GREATNESS ejacu-
alton brought the color to Joan's
.heeks. She froWned.
Besides" she continued. you have I
,een trespassing for the last half
lour.' ]
A slow smile dawned in the mans I
yes, as If he were glad that he had
,een watched for so long a time. Joan .
flushed furiously at herself, then re- /
reated behind u mask of light fab e
ication. ct supposed you were go
ng to take some OF the apple bios j
sons for wedding or something's q
kept my eye on you" she finished, c
ame1y-