The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1912-10-24

The man was silent for moment
then he began very calmly to carve
his initials in the bark OF the tree.
The blood in .Joan's veins took NJ
its course and she drew long breath
OF relief
Rather uervy, however" she com
mented, forgetting that her grand
mother abomnated slang
Evidently the young man had fin
knife to his pocket and cast a glance
about the orchard. Seeing no one
about. he threw himself full length on
the soft turf and prepared for nap.
Il certainly hope he is not one OF
the seven sleepers," Joan thought
petulantly, my left foot is already
asleep-Oh-h," She uttered a half
cry and tried to drag her foot from
the crutch of the branch into which
she had pressed it.
The young man below blinked his
eyes in the sunlight then sat bolt up
right His eyes, blue as the summer
sky. gazed up into the branches of the
tree as if an apparition had suddenly
appeared.
MY foot is caught cried Joan, &C
cusingly, "and you did it,
II The mans breathless eiacula-
ton brought the color to Joan's
cheeks. She frowned
Besides he continued, you have
been trespassing for the last half
hour
A slow smile dawned in the mans
eyes, as if he were glad that he had
been watched for so long a time Joan
blushed furiously at herself, then re-
treated behind a mask of light fab
rication Il suppose you were going
to take some of the apple blossoms
for a wedding or something
kept my eye on you she finished,
lamely.
mot both eyes?" he questioned,
with a merry look. He was suddenly
serious. But this is not getting
your foot out of the branches of my
grandfather's tree He climbed up
with quick movement and placed
himself beside her before Joan could
gasp Indignantly
Your grandfather's tree indeed!
It is my very own grandmother's tree
and she did all her counting under it
on that very branch" Joan informed
the young mans back, "but she didn't
marry the man.
He turned about, having extricated
her ankle from the crutch and gazed
back at her
I'm that case ne informed her, lit
was your grandmother who Tilted my
grandfather because he lost all his
money and had to sell the Lambreth
estate"
She did no sucn thing" retorted
Joan. She gazes at his miniature
every day III this world" She cast a
quick glance at him. Il know now"
she exclaimed, you look exactly like
that miniature
MY grandfather was very hand
some,' laughed young Lambeth;
then growing serious again, he con-
tinued when he sent me to England
for this tree, which he said bore the
best apples in the whole orchard, al
SO to look closely to see his initials
carved with those of the only girl he
ever loved
when the estate was cut up into |
building lots said Joan, taking up |
the thread of the story, my grand
mother made a bid for this especial
piece because it had that tree on it."
Il have carved my initials on it,,
said Lambeth, "and they look bit
onesome." His eyes met her appeal
ngly.
I'VE Will go in now and have tea
md a proper Introduction from my
and after that we will
discuss whose initials would look
we'll entwined with yours"
"That discussion will be short.
Come he said. give me your hands
Il want to help you down from the
lpple blossoms"
Copyright. 1912. nv Associated Literary
Press.)