The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-28
The EDening Story
The Colonel's Orchard.
(By Izola Forrester. !

and see those apples falling to. the
ground
why do you keep looking, then,
precious old dad?" asked Gwennie,
leaning over the invalid chair, and
wrapping her arms around the Col
onels neck. Cant I wheel you to
the south window where you'll see
the garden instead
Don't frivol with me, Gwen" an
swered the Colonel fussily. He always
called Gwennie's verbal fencing frivo1.
Those are the best apples on the
place. They're early Shepherd sweet
ings, great luscious, sweet beauties
that should be picked off the tree just
on certain day. Did you send down
after the Burdick boys?"
| Yes sir, and they can't come. Gone
over to work in the Sawmill at High
lands. Peter can't possibly do it alone.
He's SO wobbly now on his legs, ex-
pect to see him tumble over any time
at all. It's time you pensioned Peter,
dad. I wonder if 1 couldn't pick
them
'Ridiculous!" said the Colonel. 81
think / really could, though"
Gwennie frightened at the prospect.
Things were deadly dull at Green Pas
lures. There were only the Colonel,
herself, Peter, and Peters wife.
| Certainly on pleasant days the Mo-
hawk rode over to argue with the Col
one1, but he did not count. Gwennie
always called him the Mohawk. He
was so tall and straight like an Indian,
and his face, too, was not unlike one
with it's keen unblinking eyes, slightly
aquiline nose, and thick dark hair.
He never noticed the Colonels
daughter. 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. He had a.
vague impression of young person
with blue eyes and a good deal Of
blonde hair, very tanned complexion,
and a contralto voice, who seemed to
interrupt the general rhythm so far as
the Colonel and himself were concern
ed. He liked the Colonel. There was
no nonsense about him.
1t was three years now since he
had bought up the adjoining estate to
escape from memories of woman
who wouldn't have him. That was the
way he expressed it to himself. A very
wonderful woman with cool hands and
smiling eyes who had married his clos.
est friend later. He did not like per-
sons of the feminine persuasion any
more. Up at the big gray stone house
he went in for experimental chemis-
try, intensive farmin, orchid culture,
anything that would keep away from
him the memory of the woman with
the cool hands and smiling eyes.
Today. as he rode down the forest
road, the reins lying loosely on Mon
sieur's chestnut shoulders, 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,
and the air filled with the indescrib-
able fragrance of ripening Baldwins,
Peck's Peasants, Northern Spies and
all the toothsome procession. y
Apples brought back memories that
lay buried deep in his brain under all
the claptrap accumulation of the
grownup years. 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. e.....-... ..-.. f=1s-.-r-
There was a boy evidently hooking
apples in the colonel's best orchard.
and caught a distinct glimpse of a
climbing figure, yet it was with al
most a feeling of o1d-time conrade-l
ship that he dfSmountel, passed Mon
sieur's bride rein around the fence
post, and entered the orchard.
Under the particular tree he paused.
Only vague outline of a figure in
blue overalls far up in the branches
rewarded him.
Need any help, old MANI" he
easier with pole and a bag"
Just then the leaves and branches
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 a ladder and help?''
So it happened that all through the
long morning the two worked faith
fully together, unknown to the colo
mel. Old Peter Travelled back and
forth with wheelbarrow loads in bas-
kets, and tree after tree lost its pre-
cious burden.
When lunch time came, Gwen sent
for sandwiches and fruits, but Peters |
wife added various other things .jeI-i
lied chicken with truffles, the coIoneI's
own favorite lunch dish, and fresh |
mullins and preserves. They spread |
it out under the apple tree, Gwen
looking deliciously boyfsh and odd in i
her overalls, with her hair tucked up 1
into close braids around her head 1t /
was the first time in years that Stanley |
Inslee had felt the old time thrill of I
boyhood fun
''Happy?' asked Gwen once, as he |
something. Il never knew you could |
laugh like that
Very happy responded Inslee. |
II don't see how I ever managed to |
overlook you in petticoats and discov- |
er you in overalls-
You don't like girls, do you?" |
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 Pm rather afraid |