The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-08-17
IN APPLE PICKIKG TIME
sy IzoLA FosREsTER.

Things wero deadly dun at Green
Pastures. There a only the colonel,
herself. Peter. and Peters wife.
Certainly on pleasant days the Mo-
hawk rode over to argue with tbs
colonel. but he didn't count. Gweunie
always called him the Mohawk. He
waa so tall and straighs like an Indian.
and his face, too, was not unlike q
with ita keen unblinking eyes, slightly
aqullIne nose. and thick dark hair.
lie never noticed the ~colonel's daugh.
ter. She was away most OF the year.
IL had not occurred TO him TO ask the
colonel anything about her. II was
enough that during July and August
she appeared and managed TO upset
some OF the regular routine OF life
for both Of them.
Il 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 a
ried his closest friend later. lie did
not like persons OF the feminine per
suaaion any more.
Today. as no rode down the forest
road. he was thinking OF apples. oddly
enough. II wal the season Of apples.
Every now and then he had passed an
orchard with trees hanging heavy with
fruit. lie caught himself thinking OF
his boyhood and OF a boy who had
loved to climb apple trees and nnd the
ripest OF the lot, and all at once he
stopped Monsieur in the road.
There a a boy evidently hooking
apples IN the colonel's best orchard.
lie 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 oyeralls far up In the branches
rewarded him.
Need any help. old man." he asked
genlally. you could get them easier
with a pole and q 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.. lnslee.
I'm trying to get the Shepherd Sweet
mss in for father. Don't you want to
hunt a ladder and help?"
I SO II happened hat 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 It's precious burden.
When lunchtiine came. Gwen
sent for sandwiches and fruits,
, spread Il out under the apple tree,
looking de~liciously boyish and odd In
: her ~overalls, with her hair tucked NJ
> into close braids around her head. II
|, was tho first time In years that Stan
ley Inslee had felt the old thrill ol
boyhood fun,
"Happy?" asked Gwen once as hi
over something. Il never knew yot
r could laugh like that"
$ Very happy" responded Inslee. ="
don't see how I ever managed to over
look you In ~petticoats and discover yol
. in oyeralls."
You don't like girls. do you?
. Gwen was always very direct. Il wa
hard now to evade the look In he
eyes.
Il can't bear them" Inslee sal
frankly. Perhaps I'm rather afrai
5 Of them. They are apt to be disturb
ing TO ones peace of mind"
There must have been somebody
II Gwen paused, cut a careful slice froT
IT the chicken. and went on-'somebod
who hurt you some time 10 make 80
feel like that"
Inslee smiled back at her. musingl!
what else, witch?"
= "oh. nothing. II doesn't concern m
y one bit, anyway" said Gwen chez
g fly. only don't be so grumpy q
& the time. | need you for a neighbC
and "A good pal this year. I'm not q
IN ing away"
In Mr.. lnslee did o answer for
10 minute or two. He glanced up though
~ fully at the piquant face opposite.
f. I'm awfully glad you're TO stay
Green Pastures. The colonel and
pc need feminine influence badly. I
~ you mind including me?"
~ Gwennie applied herself atrictly
RI the serving OF the lunch remains al
~ avoided his eyes.
st. Wont ! be disturbing?" she aske
Horribly so, thank heaven. You
disturbing me now, Gwen. You're 4
~ setting the peace of three yea
You're increasing my heart aetio
Gwen, and | was told expressly by I
doctor when | came down here
an avoid anything that was liable 10
yet cas- the heart action
ire 81 won't disturb IT," Gwen answers
nd placidly. I'm a heart balm, just
nice. quiet heart balm. PeterIl 8
es' you II you do that"
But Inslee did not notice Peter 81
wheeling away apples. lilo had lift
az Ovens tanned little hand and look
nlo at Il an instant through his eyeglasf
nd as II Il were the oldest curiosity, a
nd then held II TO his lips, II was Z
cool. II felt warm and human, and
= felt that she was absolutely rig
!, He had found heart balm.
Il
N