THE NINETEEN ELEVEN
BECAUSE OF THE TREE Polly ~at on the top-most plank of the boarcl fence. gazing r:tpture at the Trt•t• bursting forth in pink and white with all the exuberant jo) of the ~~ ay-time. The ht·els of her diminutive kid pump~ heat a rythmic accompanimt•nt to tile Song of the Spring- which came from the tree, the earth, the skyeve rywhere. Oh. it was good just to be ali,·e on such a day! . \ncl then the t\:mptation came. came so quietly, so n:tturally. that it seemed to I 'oily it must always existed somewhere in the subconscious part of her being. ··\Yhy not?" ~he demanded in an-.wcr to the protest of t 11!' Still. Small \ oice. "l used to do it: and 'blood will tell," .\unt Henrietta says." .\t mention of .\unt I lenrietta the \'oice spoke again, still loudly. causing her to look quickly up the road to where a glimmer of white pillars could be seen through the trees. "1 hate lnidge-whist, and afternoon teas. and gossipy ole\ ladies who ·my clear· yo~t to death. and arc so interested in your welfare. . \nd 1 wont meet that \lr. lhlph Elbridge! 1f Aunt I lenrictta would not talk about him so much, and hint so insistingly at hi" t•\'idcnt eligibility, I might be ablt· to endure him . . \s it is. I had to run awa). There was no other escape." .\nd there Iter ey(.'s came back to the apple tree. It was made especially for climbing-that tree. Its branches grew low and rambling. It had never been pruned and trimmed like modern trees. This tree belonged to the past-and just for the sake of the past-"why not?" she said again. To hide up there among these fragrant blossoms and cool green leaves: to dream once more as she used to dream before . \unt IIenrictta came and took her awa\' from the farm and the boys. those dear. rough. good nature;! brothers of hers-it would be worth tlw scolding-s of a dozen "\unt llcnriettas. The beauty of the tree into:dcate<l her: its gnarled branches called irresistibly. She sprang to the ground. ga,·e a hasty glance up at the white pillars. then down the long. du-.ty road. No one was in sig ht. .\t the corner of the orchard another road joined this, 111
lrUNDRIW
Sf~VI':NTY-EfGIIT