Evening star., 1928-05-04


! storm ef the previous night had
been acconapsnied by high WIND
tbat had broken down the old
annie tree that stood on the line
between her place and old Mrs. polley's,
Unfortunately the tree had fallen upon
old Mrs, Polley's chicken coop, smash
ing in the roof and terrifying the hlgh-
bred fowls In consequence MIS- Folley
had visited Lois st an early hour ana
demanded nav for the coop. IF you
cont nav, IN, sue" cried the SpunKy
cid woman and went away switching
her full black skirts.
The tree in question had for many
wears furnished Mrs. Policy with all
The APPLES she needed for tartS ana
sauce. SO III a way it was as much hers
as Lois. So lois thought. still she
would have paid what Was reasonable,
II u-as only that Mrs. Policy demanded
8 ridiculous sum. far more than the
rlnhle-doun chicken coop had ever
been worth. and onH that LOIS coul0
not afford 70 pay.
At last she put on her hat ana Hur~
rie6 downtown 10 see Mr. SlgAor, the
old lawyer. who had been her father
closest friend. But Mr., Slgnor was out
Of town. No help there
"But Nr Balm next door, IS III, Salo
the voung clerk left in charge.
Lois thanked him and, going to the
next door III the long hall opened 1t
softly. She acted impulSlvely and
found herself in Andrew Baln'S pres
ence He turned from tbs window. out
of which he was gazing, TO greet her
q tall man slightly bald. with me
mouth and thoughtful eyes. They had
been SchoolnatSS, and little later
Andrew had paid Lois some attention
F~n fn -
away 10 school ana they had ceased TO
heed esch other, although they had
lived in the same town Cor 20 years
since then passing almost daily III the
street and exchanging caSua! greetings.
But now as they stood III each others
presence both manifested fair signs OF
enaharraSSnen and Self-conSciouSneSs
Lois was remembering the last time
Andrew had walked home with her. how
the old apple tree that had lust met
misfortune had breathed the fragrance
of its thousand blossoms upon the MOON
lit air. how Andrew had reached up
and bro'-an of branch for her. tax
l!ac :. Sprig from the branch 10 keep
in his hand, how shy and vistful and
young they had been. how inarticulate
with the spell of apple blossoms and
rlocnliGht 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 70
her. but Just as he started to speak
Higgins dog had started barking furi-
ously. breaking the enchantment. Upon
such little things as this rests the sue
cess or failure Of romance.
sit down. Lois-fine morning after
the storr-now what's wrong?" he
asked kindly
Lois told him. He laughed softly.
Mrs. Policy is NOT 10 be taken seri-
ready 10 fall down for the last two years
Don't worrv any more. Lois Send her
to me if she rcopens the subject"
Lois flushed with gratitude and tears
came TO her eyes. She arose. opened
her purse and laid a small bill upon
the desk before him He glanced from
It 10 her,
whats that for?" he demanded.
"Eour fee
Nonsense! I've done nothing to
earn fee and shall have no occasion
10 as far as Mrs. Policy is concerned!
Take your money" He put it in her
purse.
"You are very kind, Andrew" Lois
nlurmured. turning TO 60.
When again Mrs. Policy renewed
her argument Lois quietly bade her to
see Mr. Balm. Taken aback. Mrs. Policy
stared al her
You mean you've been TO q lawyer
about this?'.
'T've been 10 Andrew Balm and he
said was 10 send you TO him
Mrs Policy went home in a huff,
beaten. Yet although she was rich and
misery and Lois was poor, Lois re-
pented That was Lois way. She ran
across the old Eoman'S door with
Jar Of her best apple jelly. Mrs. Policy
loved to eat and the jelly performed the
perfect job OF pacihcation. Giving Mrs
Policy the Jelly made Lois think Andrew