The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-09-14
SHE THREW APPLES
BY c. 3. LEWIS.

a mile apart, which were probably |
happier than any other two.
One belonged to Miss Ruth Gordon
and the other to Clyde Belmont. Miss !
Gordon was a teacher in the public
schools of the city and had been in
vited down to The Cedars to pass the
month Of August with friends.
Mr.. Belmont was a junior partner
in department store and had three
weeks in which to take needed vaca-
ton.
At nine o'clock on that morning men
| toned Mr.. Belmont sat on the veranda
of manor house belonging to
friend and smoked a good cigar ana
heard the robins and bluebirds singing.
This was a novelty to him.
Miss Ruth wasn't on any verandn.
She was out in the orchard instead
wandering over the grass, which had
been dewy three or four hours before,
She felt like a young colt, and she al
most made up her mind to climb one
of the apple trees. She was visiting
her friend, Jane Craven. 1t was Jane
who led her into trouble. She picked
up apples and began to throw them at
tree, and, of course, Ruth followed
the example They were In a part OF
the orchard bordering the highway,
and such apples as missed the tree at
which they were thrown fell into the
highway.
There were plenty of apples on the
ground, for the worm had been getting
in his work during the hot days, and
1t was great fun. The girls were still
throwing when young man suddenly
appeared before them, coming from
the highway. He held hia punched
! handkerchief to his left eye nnd there
was a pretty fierce scowl on his face.
, Neither girl had ever seen him, and
they stood with apples In their hands
to see what errand he had come on.
A few minutes before this episode
Mr. Belmont had finished smoking his
cigar He did not feel like walking
out when the auto came around anc
4 he chauffeur said he was going to the
d village, four miles away, the junior
q partner made up his mind all at once
e that he would go along, and he took
g seat in an easy and contented manner
). He was enjoying the scenery and try
e Ing to drive the price of fall hats on
n of his mind, when bird came sailinl
+ out Of a tree at his face. That is, h
e thought it was bird, but when !
struck him in the left eye and fell a
l. his feet, he saw 1t was an apple-no
A yellow harvest apple good to eat q
8 any hour of the day, but a dried-uI
green specimen. 1t was solid. though
D and he felt that eye swelling In les
'e than q minute. 1t had been delibel
ately thrown at him.
is Mr.. Belmont wanted to know VIII
had thrown that apple, and the why
ID and wherefore Of it. He leaped froI
). the auto and penetr: ted some bushes
and 10, he stood before two good-lool
o. Ing young ladies', where he had el
I'd pected to find a farmland or two G
ihree bad boys. He was expected
er say something, and after recoverin
"a from his surprise, he stammered out
"Some-some one threw on appl
and it hit me in the eye"
Eyes, we were throwing apples +
or piled Miss Ruth, who stood neare
ut him. II threw one with all my Nigh
IS. It missed the tree and struck out, ar
or am very, very sorry"
"But he shouldn't have been passT
ak lust at that moment" protested II
at other girl, In rather impudent tones.
gh "Perhaps not" said Mr.. Belmont, b
Ing q little indignant.
oh
Miss Ruth. "You had a right on Il
on road, of course. l am afraid we we
very careless. Won't you come al
he nave the eye treated?"
III, II thank you, but-but-"
And Mr. Belmont got out of the
Jy walking back to the road and as
ing the chauffeur to take him back
ISIS his friends house, where he -four
treatment. That eye turned black al
he lue, and for the next ten days n
Belmont had something new to ca
- for. Then he rode out, and who shou
\ he meet but the two girls driving
an opposite direction in their au'
Miss Ruth looked her sympathy. s
asked half a dozen questions abo
that eye, and vowed that she cou
: never forgive herself. Why could
the apple have struck the chauffe
instead? There was little more ia
and then they drove on.
Once more before each one return
to the city the junior partner and t
school teacher met, and affairs pl
= crossed well with them. The black a
- blue left that eye, and it was as goo
looking an eye as the other. and be
eyes could see that Miss Ruth Cord
r had very pleasant personality.
wasn't three months later, and af
several calls at Ruth's house, that
junior partner made bold to say
Ruth. you extended your sympat
- for my black eye which you Great
That wasn't all the havoc you did Il
= day, however and I am going TO 9
you for sympathy for my wound
y heart"
!, And, Of course, Miss Ruth was We
49,