The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-12-16
The Pear Tree
~ HELEN EvERS
- isss western Newspaper rn,on

desk brushed his hair back frVin u
.iunliauS forehead aud glaace,l up im.
patiently.
"wen Dan" he asked. what IL II
tiis timer
"I..g par,irn sir" Ian said apollo
srti,ully. II know YOU asked not tc b.
interrupted Mr. Hammond but this
young lady"
Young LADY," the man NJ the desk
exclaimed his tone expressed exaspcr.
alton. Il asked 10 he guarded FROM
,uuns ladies. especially"
Il know Mr. Hammond" Dan has.
.-urd To- say. "and have guarded you
tcll but IT, your fame, reckon. Mr.
llnmm,~l that has got here before
YOU. nm yor brln' bach. aud all"
Dan. cried the master Of the house
tlrrcclS "w.i' you stop talking aud
lcu,S. me: was at most Interesting
Point IN my work"
"!iut this lady" Dan went ON un.
moved. Is different from the rest ~
EN-. she says she's got To see you "
'nly Tor a minute. 'un' she's the On.
Who moved into the little house next
'iuar."
Z his sudden changes ~ humor The
spustrr person" he said Il recoll'''i
auW that Louisa told me splnster
had taken the house. SHOW her In.
Ian. and lets get II over quickly"
The old serving man grinncd NJ he
>huiiied cut of the room white the
">pinisier person entered In n ~ur'
~ soft little rush and sat down In a
big study chair Profcsssr Clark Ham
mnnd stared fer u moment unblinking
H. the intruder was ~ different from
- hat she expected. She held huge
basket upon her knees n 81. waited.
almost trrpidantly. The "splnster per
son" from next door had more the ap
Isaruncr Of small hoy who had been
caught robblng ones orchard. which
vas nearer the truth than the profes
s"r knew She was. IN fact. petite
Nnn Norris. lately ~ the city
Won't you.' the professor asked
pleasantly. ALLOW me to relieve you
# that great basket"
Til. Young woman looked more
startled than ever; then rs the ros"
''"lnr flooded her cheeks she spoke
quickly
"you are going To be drendfully
angry With me Professor Hammond"
sh. said. "and I owe you an apology
You see. did not know that u was
your tree and stripped II completely"
II am afraid" the man said puzzled
that do not understand"
1T was" she answered steadily.
"yonr priced pear tree that ! robbed
the Que with which you have been
making experiments. ! thought 10 was
GA our line. ". have recently rented
M. hou~.. next door and I went out
pnr evening with some of the school
boys Ia help me. and We picked all
your pears"
4 Hight ~ pleasant "reminiscences
came To- the blue eyes. 1T was "a glori.
aus moonlight night" the girl added.
'nnd the pears we're small and sweet
~ sugar"
when old Mrs. Ryan told me next
day-Mrs. Ryan IL the woman who IL
going o. live with me h-re-that the
pear tree was on your property. !
I hal given away most ~ the pears
sent them 10 the city ] came from. tn
people there who do not often have
pears ar nice things To eat. aud the
rest canned"
Clark Hammond leaned back In M,
chair watching the various emotions
~ across the girls sweet face. III,
avn first "moti"n of chagrin and dl~-
appointment gave way suddenly To
sympathetic amusement.
And now" h- asked whlmslcally
what are you going to do about lti'
Il cannot uifer u pay for all th"s.
pears yet" the young woman answered
~ ii. removed the wrnppings Will,
he professor leaned forward incr.ju
iously g. inspect the contents " neatly
'ahrled lars.
These ARE m. spiced pears" the
,irI explained. Il hope-thai YOU viii
accept them"
She regarded her Offering ruefully
They are IN. very first that ! ever
,id NJ In my NE aud they turned on
T,l.ndldly" Her eyes were pleading
won't youf' She begged. lust n -
nri of peac. ufreringf"
There was something strangely Dis
,'nncerting In that blue-eyrd rrpen'ant
.nzs: II was Clark Hammond's turn Ia
hush and he emerged from the pro
ariure plcn sanity p.surbed.
"l'n tell yuu what" he agreed h"y
,hly. lust bring some pears eve.
vhrn.ver 7 alppen 10 feel that II
Ike them lam viii let you know
The girl laughed. II am proud az
as avn experiment" she said. then
asked hcsitailnsly. "Iiut what -.
,uursf''
"a suall matter" he generousl'
assured her
And one late fill evening Nan. enter
ing the professors dining rnom with
her ,gsh 90 pears. found there place
laid fer two
II hope" cars lirhnr"nd said with
urN di.hd-urr that YOU VIII sia
"a .parr tn. nnoiher lonely meal Z