Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-05-03
How NOhy Found the Turkeys Nest.

Did you ever do what ZeRobia was do
ing that spring morning? Of course
you can not answer this until you know
what she a0ds doing. She had received
her instructions from her mother, and
was running bareheaded, when she was
called back.
"Are you going off in this hot sun
without your bennets" mamma asked,
with reproach in her tone. YOU'RE al
ready as freckled as turkey egg. I'll
fasten this sunbonnet on you SO that
you can't get it Off"
She pulled two locks of Zsnobia's tow
colored hair through the eyelet holes in
the upper part Of the bonnet crown;
then she combed the two locks into one,
and this she braided. The plat hung
down over the bonnet skirt like whip
lash.
Now mind you mustn't let her know
you're watching her. You'll have to be
very cautious and quiet"
"Yes, understand" said Noby. 81
must keep all the time out of her sight.
l know which way she always goes. She
goes into the woods back of the peach
orchard. I'll watch her till 1 find where
she's hid it,
Then Noby ran across the yard and
climbed the fence into the peach orch
ard. She passed under the trees in a
lettering way, looking wistfully up
among the branches, thinking that, per-
chance, she might find peach with q
soft cheek. Little goose! 1t was only
the other day that the tree was all pink
with the tender blooms.
But beside the vague hope of finding
an eatable peach, there were memories
which made her steps lingering. These
trees running along the fence corners
bore those magnificent white plum
peaches. large AS a goose egg and juicy
as tomato. And then Noby recollect-
ed that she squeezed teacup of juice
from one last summer.
But suddenly she heard sound which
reminded her of the business with which
her mother had commissioned her. She
went hurrying toward the woods, keep
When she reached that which divided
the orchard from the woods she stop
ped, and made reconnaissance through
the crack Of the fence. There she dis
covered with heart thrOb the lndiyid-
ual she had been instructed to watch.
She mot Noby-the other one was
of tall, slender build, 1.-THE and grace
full. Her dress was handsome steel
gray, blotched with white. 1t was of a
fine, glossy texture, worn so short as to
reveal the trim ankle and her stately,
though cautious step. The head, as No
by perceived, had a forward peise, in
listening attitude; the ear was turned to
windward, while the keen eyes darted
with suspicion here and there. The
girl detective crouched in tie fence
corner till her victim, as if satisfied that
she was not followed, went forward, yet
very cautiously, into thicket.
Then Noby, who was slender little
thing, crept through crack between
two rails, and lay down fiat on the
ground, except that she kept her head
slightly lifted and her eyes turned to the
thicket. After little while, she went
cautiously forward on her hands and
knees to stump, behind which she en-
sconced herself for another recOnnois-
sance.
On this side and that, over the top of
the stump, Noby strained her eyes. 81
don't see her," she said. Then the de-
tective got to her feet, and tried to 60
over quietly to a tree near by; but it
seemed as though there WIS dry twig
wherever she set her foot down.
Her seeking was all in vain, so she
went back to her mother and, half cry
ing, reported her failure.
"She's got such long, slim neck. and
such tiny head" Noby complained,
"that she can put it up and see through
the little specks of cracks in the bushes
while she stays hid; and you can't tell
her neck from stick or 4 limb when
you're little way off. Why can't you
let her lay and set and hatch out in the
woods? She'd tote her young ones
home"
"The varmints would find out her
nest" said Mrs. Hits. land eat her eggs,
or if the eggs should escape they'd eat
the young turkeys. III send Gorilla
with you tomorrow to watch her to the