The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-29
BY CATHERINE COOpE.


path: there. she stopped to catch her
breath before continuing on through
tho 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 un-
der the old iVy~coyered arch that ad-
United her to the orchard and drew
in long breaths of delight The
great gnarled trees We're weighted
with blossoms and the air was heavy
with the sweetness Of their perfume
Joan made a swift dart and with
the agility OF Il squirrel climbed into
the topmost branches of her fayorite
tree. There she sighed happily, then
laughed at the shower OF pink and
white petals that her ascent broughs
down.
Now. T am monarch Of all / sur
vey," she told herself gleefully, and
settled herself in the secure seat the
gardener had made for her.
Because their orchard was only q
sixteenth part OF the original orchard
that had been the pride of the one
time I.amberth estate, ii 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
porch could see the various winding
lanes that divided the properties
Suddenly she leaned forward, her
eyes focused upon o figure that WAS
moving about among the private gar
dens>
"He must be trespassing,' was
Joan's mental comment. have never
seen him before.
She watched him intentIy, half ont
of feminine interest for a masculine
person and half because OF the pc
cuifr actions Of the man He stood
quite still for moments Al a time, APP
parently gazing at The wonder Of the
orchard, but suddenly he would dart
toward specific tree and make num-
erous circuits about Its base
Joan began to fear for his sanity
and for her own safety. Certainly
his actions were not those of an even
" balanced man. She felt reasewl bly,
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 terT." 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's private or
ehard Joan felt reasonably sure now
that the trespasser was mentally un-
balanced.
He is coming int Joan caught IA
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 d quick
breath. The man was undoubtedly
good 10 look at and his shoulders
were big and broad He had taken
off his cap and the sun shone on a
head Of thick, red~brown hair, Joau's
grandmother had a miniature of a
man with just such a head Of hair.
The girl In the tree-top sighed,
partly because she felt q strong de
sire to drop twigs down on the good
/ looking young fellow whose wander
I ing~ had brought him into her
garden.
But I do not dare she told her
self and realized that her fear Of
the man had vanished. Il suppose
his eyes are brown" Joan decided.
She leaned forward cautiously and
watched him proving about the foot
Of tht. tree. Suddenly he threw him
self down on the wide bench that
encircled the tree.
s'DIscoyered'" she heard him NUT
ter ANA peered down to see him draw
fbrar1ttisi1etf IL about ard the blood IN
Joan's veins stood stiIl, lie opened
the evil-lookirg blade and ran his
finger along 1t, Joan gripped the
branches TO keen from tumbliug
headlone out of the tree
The man was silant for r moment,
then he began very calmly IN 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
mented. forgetting that her grand
mother abominated slang.
Evidently the yoEug man had fin
ished his carving for he returned his
knife 10 his peck ct and east d glance
about the orchard, Seeing no one
about, he threw himself full length on
the soft turf and prepared for I, 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 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. gazcd mp into the branches Of
the tree as If an apparition had sud
denly appeared.
My foot is caught" cried Joan,
accusinRly. and you did 1t"
II" The mans breathless ejacu-
lation brought the color TO Joans
cheeks She frowned
Besides" she 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 time, Joan
blushed furiously at herself. then re-
treated behind a mask Of light fab
rication. II supposed you were going
to take some OF the apple blossoms
for a wedding or something-so ! kept
my eye on you" she finished, lamcly.
Not both eyes," he questioned with
a merry look. He was suddenly
serious. but this is not getting your