Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-01-09

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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
rs course and size drew a long breath
Of relief. @
Rather nervy, however" she COM
mcnted, forgetting that her grand
mother abcminated 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 nc one
about, he threw himself lull length on
the soft turf and prepared for nap.
"I certainly hope he is not one OF
the seven sleepers." Joan thought
petr!antly, ",ny left foot is already
aslear-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 blinled his
eyes in the sunlight, then sat bolt up
right. His eyes, blue as the summe?
SKI, gazed up into the branches OF the
tree as if an apparition had suddenly
appeared.
"My foot is caught" cried Joan, &C
cusingly, land You did it,"
"I!" The mans breathless e1acula-
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 ha;
been watched for so long time. Joan
FLUSHED furiously at herself, then re-
treated behind mask Of light fab
rication. ~ suppose you were goirG
to take some OF the apple blossoms
for wedding or something's J
kept my eye on you," she finished,
lamely.
Not both eyes?" he questioned,
with a merry look. He was suddenly
serious. "But this is not getting
your foot out CT the branches of my
grandfather's tree" He climbed up
with a quick movement and placed.
himself beside her before Joan could
gasp Indignantly:
"Tour grandfather's tree, indeed;
It is my very own grandmcther's tree
and she did all her counting under il
on that very branch" Joan Informed
The young mans back, "but she didn'i
marry the man
He turned about, having extricated
her ankle from the crutch and gazed
back at her.
an that case" he informed her, "it
was your grandmother who Tilted nv
grandfather because he lost all his
money and had to sell the Lambrcth
estate" a
she did no such thing retorteG
jean. ''She gazes at his miniature
every day in this world" She cast Z
Quick glance at him. y know now,
she exclaimed. "you look exactly like
that miniature"
MY grandfather was very hand
some" laughed young Lambreth;
then growing serious again, he con
tinued: "When ne sent me to England
he told me very particularly to look
for this tree, which he said bore The
hest apples in the whole orchard. al
so to look closely to see his initials
carved with those of the only girl nc
ever loved"
when the estate was cut up into
building lots" said Joan, taking u
the thread Of the story, "my grand
mother made a bid for this especial
piece because it had that tree on it.
81 have carved my initials on It.
said Lambreth, "and they look a bii
lonesome" His eyes met her appeal
irgly.
1--WE will go in. now and have te"
and a proper Introduction from my
grandmother, and after that we vii!
discuss whose initials would lcol;
well entwined with yours"
"That discussion will be short
Come" he said. give ne your hands
Il want to help you down from The
apple blossoms"
! Copyright, 1912, by Associated Literar!
Press)
WOULD RETAIN Art TREASURE