The Ely miner., 1928-06-29
APPLE
BLOSSOM
TIME
O-s-O-s-O-~OS~<>O-s-O-s-O.
GO by ID. j. Walsh,
OlS WORTH was In trouble.
The storm of the Dreyious night

OlS WORTH was In trouble.
The storm of the previous night
L. had been accompanied by a
high wind that had broken
down the old apple tree that stood
ON the line between her place and
old Mrs. POley's. Unfortunately the
tree had fallen upon old Mrs. Polley's
chicken coop, smashing in the roof
and terrifying the high-bred fowls. In
consequence, Mrs Policy had visited
Lois at an early hour and demanded
pay for the coop. If you don't pay
I'll sue," cried the spunky old woman
and went away switching her full
black skirts like an angry tail.
The tree in question had for many
years furnished Mrs. Policy with all
the apples she needed for tarts and
sauce, so in a way ii was as much
hers as Lois. So Lois thought. Still,
she would have paid what was rea.
sonabie. 1t was only that Mrs Policy
demanded ridiculous sum far more
than the tumble-down chicken coop
had" ever been worth and one that
LUIS NOuIu uO( dllOIu u
AT last she put on her hat and hur-
ried down town TO see Mr.. Signor, the
old lawyer who had been her fathers
closest friend. But Mr. Signor was
out of town. No help there.
But Mr. Balm, next door, Is in,"
sale the young clerk left in charge.
Lois thanked him and, going TO the
next door in the long hall, opened it
softly. She acted impusively and
found herself in Andrew Bain's pres
ence. He turned from the window.
out OF which he was gazing, to greet
her-a tall man, slightly bald, with
fine mouth and thoughtful eyes. They
had been schoOlmates, and little
later Andrew had paid Lois some at
tentiOn for short time. Then he
had gone away to school and they
had ceased to heed each other, al
though they had lived in the same
town for twenty years since then,
passing almost daily in the street and
exchanging casual greetings. But now
as they stood in each others pres
ence both manifested fair signs of en-
barrassment and self-consciousness.
Lois was remembering the last time
Andrew had walked home with her,
how the old apple tree that had just
met misfortune had breathed the fra
GRANGE of its thousand blooms upon
the mOOnlit air, how Andrew had
reached up and broken off branch
for her, taking a sprig from the
branch to keep in his hand, how shy
and wistful and young they had been,
how inarticulate with the spell of ap-
pie blossoms and moonlight. Andrew
was remembering how Lois looked
that night in blue dress like the one
she was wearing now and how he had
come near proposing to her, but just
as he started TO speak Higgins dog
had started barking furiously. break
ing the enchantment. Upon such lit.
tie things as this rests the success or
failure of romance.
'Sit down, LOis-fine morning after
the storm-now what's wrong?" he
asked kindly.
Lois told him. He laughed softly.
Mrs. Policy is not TO be taken seri-
ously. That old chicken coop has
been ready to fall down for the last
two years. Don't worry any more,
Lois. Send her to me if she reopens
the subject"
Lois flushed with gratitude and
tears came to her eyes. She arose,
opened her purse and laid small
bill upon the desk before him. He
glanced from it to her.
whats that for?" he demanded.
''Your fee"
Nonsense I've done nothing to
earn a fee and shall have no occa-
sion to as far as Mrs Policy is con-
cerned. Herel Take your money"
He put it In her purse.
"You are very kind, Andrew" Lois
murmured. turning to go.
When again Mrs. Policy renewed
her argument Lois quietly bade her
20 see Mr.. Balm. Taken aback Mrs.
Doley stared at her.
"You mean you've been to lawyer
about this?"
'Pve been to Andrew Balm and he
said | was to send you to him."
Mrs. Policy went home in a huff,
beaten. Yet, although she was rich
and misery and Lois was poor. Lois
repented. That was Lois way She
ran across to the old wOman's door
with jar of her best apple jelly.
Mrs Policy love to eat and the jelly
performed the perfect job of pacifica-
ton. Giving Mrs. Policy the jelly
made Lois think Andrew might like
some sand she filed a small basket
and again sought his Office.
AS before he sat staring from the
window. His delight in the gift was
genuine.
s1'll buy a loaf of bread anG have
snack in my room some night when
I've sat up late reading" he said,
holding the glass up to the light ad-
miringly. 81 suppose this was made
from the apples off the tree that
broke down-well, 1t looks good to
~ Is ESAE -!