Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-19
1t was then that. lifting my

1t was then that. lifting my -
beheld, sitting lengthwise of the N'Sl-
with her feet drawn comfortably -
der her, girl In a white sweat -
bareheaded, munching an apple. Then
was no question of identity. 1t was
the girl whose head behind the cash
ier's grill of the Asolando had inter-
ested me on the occasion of my Sec
ond visit to the tea room. In soliciting
my attention by reciting a line of
verse she had merely followed the
rule Of the tea room in like circum-
stances. The casting of the apple at
my head possessed the virtue of nov
city. While l tried to think Of some
thing to say 1 pecked at my own APP
pie, but kept an eye on her. She con-
cluded her repast calmly and flung
away the core.
Il mentioned SOUP" she remarked.
The courses are mixed We have
partaken of fruit. Are you fish. flesh,
fowl or good red herring?'
Daughter of Eve. will be any,
thing you like. I'm obliged for the an
pie. and ! apologize for having enter
ed Eden unlimited"
It's not my Eden. Nobody invited
me. But it's not too much to say that
these apples are grand"
I'm glad we're both in the same
boat. I'm trespasser myself. don't
even know the name of the owner.
But If you have had only one apple
two more are coming to you if you fol-
low Atalanta's precedent"
II don't follow presidents, and I've
forgotten the name of the boy who
threw the apples in the race. 1t
doesn't matter. though. Nothing mat
ters very much"
Her hands clasped her knees Her
skirt was short. and | was conscious
that she wore tan shoes. She con-
tinued to regard me with lazy curl
osity. She seemed younger than at
the AsolandO. Not more than eight
cen times had apples redeemed on the
bouGh in her lifetime. She was even
slenderer and more youthful in her
, sweater than in the snowy vestments
of the Asolando. Her hair. which in
, the glow OF the lamp at Asolando cash
/ desk had been golden, was today bur-
nished copper and was brushed straight
back from her forehead and tied with
. black ribbon.
81 quite agree with your philosophy.
Nothing is OF great Importance"
$50 it's not your orchard 2" she asked.
; THE thought flatters me. own no
. lands nor ships at sea. I'm a chin
ney doctor, and if necessary I'll apollo
gize for it."
You needn't submit testimonials
} take the swallows out of my own
+ chimneys."
That requires deft hand. and I'm
. sure you're considerate of the swal-
lows"
You may come up here and sit on
J the wall II you care to. 1 saw you
driving in a trap. hope your horse
isn't afraid Of motors. Motors speed
scandalously on that road"
: II am not in the least worried about
my horse. It's borrowed. AS you re-
marked. this is n nice orchard. 1 like
it here"
'If you are going to be silly you will
find me little inclined to nonsense"
shall we talk OF the Asolando? l
: haven't been back since 1 saw you
there, and yet-let me see, isn't this
your day there?"
She seemed greatly amused, and
, her laughter rose with a fountain
like spontaneity and fell. a splash of
musical sound, on the mellow air of
the orchard. She had changed her po-
stion as Joined her. sitting erect and
kicking her heels lazily against the
wall.
Mr. Chimney Man. something terri
, Die happened just after you left that
afternoon. was bounced, fired-I lost
my job"
Incredible! I'm sure it was not for
any good cause. l can testify that you
we're a model of attention-you were
surprisingly discreet. You repealed me
II the most delicate manner when
minated that should come often on
:, he days that you made the change"
THE sad part of It was that that
vas not only my last day. but my first!
had never been there before. except
. tor nibbe now and then when / was
IN town. But | couldn't stand it. II
was like being in jail-in fact, think
Jail would be preferable. But I'm glad
: | spent that one day there. They dis
.. pensed with my company because re
marked to one of the silly girls who
are making the Asolando their lifework
that / thought the English pre- Ra
phaelites had carried the dish face
> rather too far. The girl to whom ut
tered this heresy was so shocked she
dropped a teacup-yon know how brit
!, tie everything is in there-and | came
,, home. You were really the only ad
venture | got out of my day there
And / didn't find you entirely satisfac
:, tory
Thank you. Francesca. for these
i condolences. And having lost your pc
sitiOn you are now free to roam the
hills and dream on orchard walls
Your scheme Of life is TO my liking.