The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-09
IN APPLE PICKING Time
BY IZolA FORESTER.


per Syndicate.)
Things were deadly dull at Green
Pastures. There was only the colonel
herself, Peter, and Peters wife.
Certainly on pleasant days the Mo.
hawk rode over to argue with the
colonel, but he didn't count. Gwennie
always called him the Mohawk. He
was so tall and straighs like an Indian
and his face, too, was not unlike one
with its keen unblinking eyes, slightly
aquiline nose, and thick dark hair.
He never noticed the coloners daugh.
ter. She was away most of the year
1t had not occurred to him to ask the
colonel anything about her. 1t was
enough that during July and August
she appeared and managed to upset
some of the regular routine of life
for both of them.
II was three years now since he
had bought up the adjoining estate to
escape from memories of a woman-a
very wonderful woman with cool
hands and smiling eyes who had mar
ried his closest friend later. He did
not like persons of the feminine per-
suasion any more
Today, as he rode down the forest
road, he was thinking of apples, oddly
enough. II was the season of apples,
Every now and then he had passed an
orchard with trees hanging heavy with
fruit. He caught himself thinking of
his boyhood and of a boy who had
loved to climb apple trees and find the
ripest of the lot, and all at once he
stopped Monsieur in the road.
There was boy evidently hooking
apples in the colonels best orchard.
He dismounted, passed Monsieur's
bride rein around the fence post, and
entered the orchard.
Under the particular tree he paused.
Only a vague outline of a figure in
blue overalls far up in the branches
rewarded him.
Need any help, old man." he asked
genially. you could get them easier
with pole and a bag"
Just then the leaves and branches
parted. and he found himself looking
straight into Gwennie's laughing face
I'm not hooking them. Mr.. Inslee
I'm trying t. get the Shepherd Sweet.
ihgs III for father Don't you want to
hunt ladder and help?"
So 1t happened that all through the
long morning, the two worked faith.
fully together, unknown to the colonel.
Old Peter travelled back and forth with
wheelbarrow loads in baskets, and
tree after tree lost its precious burden.
When lunchtime came, Gwen
sent for sandwiches and fruits,
spread it out under the apple tree,
looking deliciously boyish and odd in
her overalls. with her hair tucked up
into close braids around her head. It
was the first time in years that Stan.
ley Inslee had felt the old thrill Of
boyhood fun.
Happy" asked Gwen once as he
leaned back his head and laughed
over something. Il never knew you
could laugh like that"
Very happy" responded Inslee. II
don't see how / ever managed to over.
look you in petticoats and discover you
in overalls.''
You don't like girls, do your"
Gwen was always very direct. It was
hard now to evade the look in her
eyes.
Il can't bear them" Inslee said
frankly. Perhaps I'm rather afraid
OF. them. They are apt to be disturb.
ing to ones peace Of mind
There must have been somebody
Gwen paused. cut a careful slice from
the chicken. and went on-"somebody
who hurt you some time to make you
feel like that"
1nslee smiled back at her, musingly.
What else, witch?"
"Oh, nothing. 1t doesn't concern me
one bit anyway" said Gwen cheer
lily. only don't be 80 grumpy all
the time. need you for a neighbor
and good pal this year. I'm not go.
ing away"
Mr.. Inslee did not answer for a
minute or two. He glanced up thought
fully at the piquant face opposite.
I'm awfully glad you're to stay at
Green Pastures. The colonel and I
need feminine influence badly. Do
you mind including me?"
Gwennie applied herself strictly to
the serving Of the lunch remains and
avoided his eyes.
Wont l be disturbing?" she asked.
Horribly SO. thank heaven. You're
disturbing me now, Gwen. You're up
setting the peace OF three years.
You're increasing my heart action.
Gwen, and l was told expressly by the
doctor when | came down here to
avoid anything that was liable to in
crease the heart action"
Il won't disturb it," Gwen answered,
placidly. I'm heart balm, just a
nice, quiet heart balm. Peter'n see
you If you do that"
But Inslee did not notice Peter still
wheeling away apples. He had lifted
Ovens tanned little hand and looked
at it an instant through his eyeglasses
as II 1t were the oldest curiosity, and
then held it to his lips. It was not
cool. 1t felt warm and human, and he
felt that she was absolutely right.
He had found heart balm.