The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-26
THE EVENING STORY
The Forbidden Tree.

4
not for her life get used to this exuber-
| ant young thing. which never disputed
| her edicts, yet had it's own sweet VIII
| and way through a certain fine reSl1-
ence. Miss Mellen had not wanted
| flowers indoors-they messed Things
| dropping-sIle was the pattern of neat
ness. Therefore she had made excuse
| of not despoiIing the borders. Flowers
looked much better on the parent
/ stalks, she had assured Lila Besides,
| taking folk out to see them rather
broke up the formality of the early
| coming together By the time all the
women had exclaimed over peon1es,
/ bleeding heart, sweet williams and
columbine. to say nothing of envy1ng
! the promise of the richly budded rose
boughs, they had found their tongues
and were eager to be sOciable.
Lila had left the excuse no stem to
stand on. She laid down the blossom
sheaf signing happily, and saying: Il
found them in the pasture across the
stone wall-tree's there all to its lone
sone-so nobody can mind
Much you know! Miss Mellen cried
in agitation. "Why,-that's the tree
nobody is ever allowed to touch. 1t
was the last thing old Madam Winslow
planted-her son lets everything-fow-
ers and fruit-go to waste
-.Ot I am sorry! So sorry!' Lila
broke in. Il wouldn't-not for any
thing-I must take them straight
back
mo, wouldn't like that" Miss Mel
len said decidedly. Maybe he won't
notice-Hardin Winslow 1 mean. If he
never Knows
Butt shall know" Lila interrupt
ed her tone exactly that of her aunt's
niece.
Miss Mellen shifted softly the dell
cate fragrance. 1T does seem a pity
to throw them away-so sweet they
ar Ct10 T .T,
her. Il shall not throw them away"
she said. THAT would be cowardly."
Here the phone called insistently.
Miss Mellen answered. In a wink Lila
had gathered the boughs in her arms.
and was running down the garden. At
the boundary of it her courage faltered
she had yet to cross the paddock to
reach the stone wall. She had not vet
seen this so devoted son-but rumor
had painted him for her as somber al
most rude. Suppose he misunderstood
took her innocent ravagings as a bid
for his acquaintance! Men were so odd
about things-especialIy bachelor men,
rich and much pursued. Insensibly
her step lagged-by time she came to
the wall, she was hardly moving
therefore an observer some way off
might well think her stationary
Hardin Winslow was coming to see
the crab apple tree! She who planted
1T had been everything to him-mother
friend, comrade, barely sixteen wears
his elder. He had never ceased to feel
mad resentment that they had been
cheated of long years they should have
had together. She had been altogether
radiant, creature of whim and i'm
pulse Setting the tree thus lone was
typ1cal-she loved to dress and tricl,
out waste places. He should never
forget how, at the tree planting, she
had yisualized it slater-the4 awreatbv
dropping bodghs pink against the
lichened stones 10
Lila mad not really marred it-she
mad done. her ravagings gently-stiII
he missed certain very penduloI1s
poughsa whose tips had caressed the
wall. looking across it he cav in az
dazzle of early Sunshine. sometbin e
slim and youthful ambushed behind
an armful of bloom. The sight mada
MIN unreasonably angry. He plunged
along the path. saying sharply. "Ston,
where you standl I want to see Who
has dared''- "iio
The figure did not stop-instead If
scrambled m led up and over the wall almost
bowed, before him saving. III is WI" nni nea i
rayson-I didn't know-fndeed 7 did not
| am ann bringing back the flowers-of course
told me There I nafr a aunt Mt, Anne me
shut upon something like pa Sob OF W EeG 1RS
claimed claimed in her face, her voices. She She
f diroopsd even more painfully than the
lightly-with an insane desire thriliine him
to touch instead the bowed head Of the
Il am so glad to find YOU Lila went
on ofaTeiy: hitting her eyes after min
Sof wh hats a1 WinsIow asked
paused again.
That I. that YOU might think me just
lightly; Sol had to see you-to tell you
Never mind, cannot have you
sorry. Winslow said. smiling down at
neins she Red out the The branches to him
DOWN. '"'u 'he'h
Winslow lifted her burden, still smiling.
end said above it, Il think I should like |
them where You meant them to 60 Now
If you permit, I will carry them back for |
Thus it fell out that there was crab APP
pie bloom in masses all about the house |
gave a spread rarely when She did give give
one there was always much to talk over |
This time the decorations evoked more |
comment than even the thrice wonder |
Anne said no more than that it was all |
Dila's doing: she had a way of finding |
things out on the commons other folks |
mitted it had given her a turn to see |
Hardin Winslow. not merely bringing |
home the flowers. but helping Lila set /
them high and low
You are showing me how wicked one
said in Lila's ear. Hereafter I shall
give away many. many blossoms-there
will still be plenty for the bees and the
fairies. !
Lila haA smiled and blushed That
night her dreams were full of him. And
the sunshine somehow grew dull to her
when next day she heard he had gone
away indefinitely-his lawyers even knew |
not for how long.
Youth is prone to consultations. Lila got |
back her normal poise. and had a very
merry summer But whites she crossed the
paddock and looked at the tree whisper
ing very, very softly: I'VE miss hin-if |
he never comes back stopping there
with a quick blush. She was nineteen,
foolish and fancifu1. and chose |