The Irish standard., 1912-08-17
The man was silent for a moment,

The man was silent for q 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 long breath
Of relief.
Rather nervy. however," she com.
mented. forgetting that her grand.
mother abominated slang.
Evidently the young man had fin.
ished his carving for he returned his
knife to his pocket and cast glance
about the orchard. Seeing no one
about. he threw himself full length on
the soft turf and prepared for a 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, 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,"
"I!" The mans breathless ejacula.
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 II he were glad that he had
been watched for SO long time. Joan
blushed furiously Mt herself. then re-
treated behind mask of light fab
rication. II suppose you were going
to take some of the apple blossoms
for a wedding or something-so l
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 opt Of the branches of my
grandfather's tree" He climbed up
with a quick movement and placed
himself beside her before Joan could
gasp Indignantly:
Your grandfather's tree, indeed!
1t 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 tho crutch and gazed
back at her.
"In that case" he Informed her. ut
was your grandmother who Tilted my
grandfather because he lost all his
money and had to sell the Lambeth
estate"
"She did no such thing" retorted
Joan. "She gaZes at his miniature
every day in this world" She cast a
quick glance at him. II 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
he told me very particularly to look
| WI IulS lIee, WHICH lie SAlu DOTe In6
best apples in the whole orchard, al
so to look closely to see his initials
carved with those of tho only girl he
ever loved"
when the estate was cut up into
building lots" said Joan, tnking up
the thread of the story, "my grand
mother made bid for this especial
piece because It had that tree on It,
Il have carved my initials on it,
said Lambreth, "and they look bit
lonesome" His eyes met her appeal.
ingly.
"We will go in now and have ten
and a proper Introduction from my
grandmother, 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
apple blossoms"
Copyright. 1912. by Associated Literary
Press)
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