The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-06-12
In APPLE PICKING TIME
ssers1-rs-e
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 straighg 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 colonePs 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.
1t was three years now since he
had bought up the adjoining estate to
escape from memories of woman-a
very wonderful woman with cool
hands and smiling eyes who had mar
rled 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. 1t 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
rlpest 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 Monsieurs
| bride rein around the fence post, and
entered the orchard.
| Under the particular tree he paused.
Only vague outline of a figure in
blue oyeralls far up in the branches
rewarded him.
Need any help, old MANI" he asked
genially. You could get them easier
| with pole and 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 to get the Shepherd Sweet
ings in for father. Don't you want to
hunt ladder and help?"
So it 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.
7 Happy" asked Gwen once as he
:. leaned back his head and laughed
n over something. 81 never knew you
J. could laugh like that"
D Very happy" responded Inslee. 81
n don't see how l ever managed to over
!. look you in petticoats and discover you
: in overalls.''
S you don't like girls, do you?'
n Gwen was always very direct 1t was
e hard now to evade the look in hel
!. eyes.
}. Il can't bear Them" InsIee sale
frankly. Perhaps I'm rather afrait
of them. They are apt to be disturb
ing to ones peace of mind"
There must have been somebody
Gwen paused, cut careful slice from
the chicken, and went somebod,
= who hurt you some time to make yol
= feel like that"
Inslee smiled back at her, musingly
what else, witch?"
J. ooh, nothing It doesn't concern M
a one bit. anyway" said Gwen cheer
lily. only don't be so grumpy al
= the time. | need you for a neighbo
and good pal this year. I'm not &c
ing away"
a Mr.. Inslee did not answer for
= minute or two. He glanced up though
fully at the piquant face opposite.
"a I'm awfully glad you're to stay g
Green Pastures. The colonel and
% need feminine influence badly. D
- you mind including me?"
Gwennie applied herself strictly [
"A the serving of the lunch remains an
- avoided his eyes.
- won't I be disturbing?" she asket
Horribly so, thank heaven. Your
20 disturbing me now, Gwen. You're u
% setting the peace of three year
~ You're increasing my heart actiol
Gwen, and was told expressly by II
doctor when 1 came down here
avoid anything that was liable to i
crease the heart action"
~ 81 won't disturb it," Gwen answere
'e- placidly. I'm heart balm, just
Tx nice, quiet heart balm. Peter'll 81
le you if you do that"
au But Inslee did not notice Peter st
lo wheeling away apples. He had LITE
oh Ovens tanned little hand and locke
at it an instant through his eyeglass
as If it were the oldest curiosity, al
1 then held IL IN his line II vvoS N