The Price Of Apples

"Applcs! Applesl Applcsl hcre's your fine red apples, onl}' tlxpence a peck. Apples!" So (ried a rough, "green" looking country lad, long, long ago, In the days of the revolution, in a little Americim town that liiy nnder the British rule, and which at ili.it moment could liave noconimiinication with the men wlio were away at the fields of hattle. Aching hcaits were longiiiK tbr letters from beloved ones, and tuere were others who walted with more excitement, il wit h lesstenderness, fordlapatcb.es which were of great value, and which, as yet, no onc liad been found at once subtle and and brave enouirh tobring to tlicm. Everything was at its lowest ebb in the little town. Half the stores were closed ; those that were open did little business, l'eople were poor. It was hard to get the necessaries of life, for the armies dcTonred mach, and the farmers were few; they huil taraed their plowihare into iworda, Kvgii apples had been a luxury of late, and inany housewives ran to tlielrdoors is i he cry ran through the street, armed with supence and a big tindish-pan, while children held itp their treasured coin, and asked fira '"penworth,' or a "happenworth," and bcgged the lad to piek out "weet ones." It was plain that the cart would soon be errmtied of its rosy load, and the cry was, 'still tlicy come, wKen down the Street rosy and bright as usual, carne pretty Miss Dnily, 'Squire Devou's riauglitd', lier big liat shadiug lier eyes, her llowered skirt caught up over quilted petticoat, and her hijili buckeled slioes revealing just a frlimpse of her red clocked stockings; bl.ick ere on lier hands, and a little Indiau work basket hun; on lier arm; nround her neck a little gold chain, on which she Irnnkly wore, in full sight of everybody, the miniature of the youn captain whose wilV she would one day be ir' the Brltisb ballets (lid Dot stop the throbbing of liis ]);itriotlc heart ere the war was over. Dollv was full of hope; she was not one to despond, tboagh she loved lier soldier dciirly. Nim'i as stti sawtlie apple cart and the enfldferi gathêrfed atrout it, she padsed and spoke t a woman who was just cai-ryinj.' :ivay her pu rebase "Tour hushand wil] have soine of your flOOd api]c pies lcir liis Sun day dlnnej, ,Mrs. (ïnlilcu." she said. "What ripe, rosy pippin- they are - a rarity here juatnow. Look at the babics, how they bite into them, greey little pets." "Applrs, .Miss' Fine appjesIJOnly sixpence a peck," ( -ried Mie lad. "Apple! Buy iny line a))les, Miss1 They are alimist rone!" At filia addréas; Miss Dolly DeTon.to the surprise of all her poor neighbora, iis!c:l'1 of Indeling the boy ge lip to tbc house and gpeak t me oook abont his apples, lookea atliim, laugliiil mcnily, and walked toward the eart. "Tonr :ippleslook veiy tempting," she Baid, "hut I c.in't .Mllonl to buy miiv; J havent a penny. The war is making tincountry to thal my father has tumed mi-.i. I have no pocket money whatever. You'll have to givi' me some ajiples." "My-elt f fin too pooi to .'ivi' anything away, Miss," said tliebov; "bot í'll sell you all your basket will hold for three Uissc.-. TUere'i a bargain .'" "Oli myt" slirieked 'old Aunty Hlack. "The ImpudenoeP cried anothermatron. "WUy, man, that's Squiie Dcvou'h daughtêr- MÍ88 Dolly Devoii." Hut to llie astohi-bment of all, Dollv, inslead of BCreai g or laiiiting. or s:iiliui away in disdain, or rushing awBy In wrath to teil her father, Ucj.t her place by the slde Of the wagon. ''Three klam tor a quartof apples?" she said. "Vou ire very dear. llowever, I bare plenty of that soit of coin, il' it's taken in the market. Mimi, you inusn't cheal lile." -And instantly belore Ule oyes of all, she Jumped In the wagon, tbrew her armt abont Hie lad's licekled neck, and kisscd him three times on his freckled face. There ! there ! there P' she crioci. Her big nat, ter ruflfted itoeVm, her puflbd dreaa! hall bid liim as shc du) so, and when at last sne jumpcd down to the earth lígala, the lltüe erowd itood petrlfled wlOi amazement And the boy, red as a beet caughl the basket, Ulied t withred apples, and hamled it down to her. And on the instant, away Dolly sped, leavinjj the uomen to talk her over. Mise Deron todo tlmt? Miss Devon was a DOIB, Duld lliii.i;, u.i.l il., v Had ntwars thought so wel] of her. And what was thr n a hul like tliat to please B yming lady's eye, and wbat wonld the handsome captain say it ever the story were told to hlm? Meanwhlle Mlas Devon aped home, and bnrraed In at her own door, and locked it behind her, and Quttered away to the study where theaquire sat, paU and anxioug, and rtood befoiM lier father all flushed and Crembling. "ftpi," shr c-rit'd. "I have them- the dispatches they are so anxious tor. There they are, and a dear, precious letter frora myown Harry, myown brave soldier. The spy played his part well, and 1 Jamped into the cart and ki.ssed him before all the Ntannji wonion, and he slipped the papers Into iiiy baski't. as [ (lid 90. The British ofllcer was looking at me. I saw him. and he 8aid to his friend, 'What unbredlittle saTasrea these American girls are! You'd hardly bclicvc tbat a lady by position.' I I lieard him, but what do I care? I've served niy country '8 cause. I've helpetl you as nobody else could, and I'vi' got a letter from Ilarry. Wluit is a kiss to a frecktled soldier in disguise, with horrorstrickt'ii neiglibors looking on and the Englislimen grinnlng at me, when Tve broufrht a letter from my Elarry, and know I.. ' wi.ii. ...ivl love mtJ, ano wl'féïi n majbc I've helped towln a vlctory for onr owd oontinentais?" And wttile tlif tnwn was still in tnrmoll with the Kandal, and the apple vender drqve away, calling bis fruit tbr sak1, the dlspatcbas tbat won a vlctory for the Arnci'icans werr ranied to thcir dcslination in the innocent looking broad brimmed nat of Sqnire Devon, and Dolly sat reading her letter In the aatómn ranlight.