The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-04-25

! 70 unf
mo, IL ain'ti" :
What is it, honey7"
Il can't tell yet; it's q secret
'Will you tell Poppy some time1n
Yes, if you amt mean to me like
Lous'any and Georgia.
He was silent She slipped from the
fence and took his hand, and they
started together across the fields toward
home.
"zouri put on your sunbonneti youn
catch cold
zouh obeyed. Poppy, she said,
"what did you and Uncle Joe get angry
about9 Did he treat you mean when
you wanted to do aiiythingP"
Seth started. Joe had been in his
mind more than once that day, because
it was the anniversary of the planting
OF the stake, and Seth had stood for half
an hour by the side Of the stake, recall
ing the circumstances connected with It.
No, Zouri; Joe wasn't exackly mean
to me. reckon he was bettern ] was,
when 1t comes to that
"Then amt going to be mad with
him, she answered. and the sunbonnet
came off again. Anyhow, Tennes
sees got to 60 on crutches all her life,
an Pm sorry For once, Zouri was el-
most crying.
"Is that fact, zouri7 Little Tenny
on crutches-all her life, tool What if
it was you, zour9"
There was no answer, and they walked
home the rest OF the way in silence
St Valentines Day was clear and
beautiful There was peace between
Seths little States.
Soon after dinner, without a word to
any one, zouri put on clean dress, and
hanging her sunbonnet on her arm,
started away on her mission.
Seth had been Watching her all day.
He saw her start from home, but he said
nothing.
She reached the point where the road
crossed the head Of the old mill pond.
She knew that Uncle Joe's was not far
beyond. But Zouri had never been very
brave about crossing the pond; there
was only a narrow planlway across,
and it seemed SO near the water, and SO
many fishes and noisy frogs and other
queer creatures lived right under this
plank, and the water looked so quiet
and dark.
When zouri reached this point in her
journey, she stopped moment little
frightened aud was almost ready to turn
back and go home But she did not do
this She began TO sing, and as she sang
she ran lightly across the plank.
Zouri was on Uncle Joe's farm now,
and hoped to find him in some field not
far away. AS she went along the road
way, looking to the right and left, she
saw, on II little rise of land, the figure
of a man. He was standing between
her and the sinking sun, and warm,
soft light shone over his lace.
"Uncle Joel Oh, Uncle Joel" she
called
"Land salesl If that amt Seth's little
zouri," he muttered as he started to-
ward her
"No, don't come yet" she called
again. II amt ready
lie stopped, andistOva ---itino
"What ON the earth brought Zouri
over here2 I'll bet Seth don't know it'll
That childs just the apple of Seth's eye.
Well, if she can get around him, there's
something in her."
"Uncle Joe, are you listening1"
"Yes, honey-talk on"
well, I've put it in that old hollow
tree down here. When Pm gone, you
go and get it Good by. Uncle Joel"
"Good by, zouril Can't you wait a
bitP"
He watched her sunny little figure,
the clean, fresh dress, and dangling
sunbonnet, and the soft, dancing curls
as she flew along toward home again.
"Well, reckon I'll have to see what
it is, s" he said.
He walked slowly to the edge of the
field, vaulted over the rail fence, and
crossed the road to where the old hol-
low tree stood. He stopped and put his
hand within, and then drew it out with
a shamefaced air.
"Just one of Zouri's jokes. reckon,
She'll think Pm an old fool to come
down here at all"
Then he leaned against the tree will
one hand resting on its trunk Jus
four years ago yesterday since Seth ant
I stopped speaking, and this is the frs
time one Of his family's been on my
land, to my knowing. Not another on,
of 'em would dare to come but Zouri. "
He shufled around again to the hol
low. Il reckon I'll try once more, b.
said.
This time he dropped upon his knees
put his arm far into the opening, am
felt carefully around. He found it, al
crumpled and not very clean. Then h
slowly opened and read 1.-THE littI
scrawl that had cost zouri SO much t
write.
Il was like message from Seth, AM
all the old time love for his brother cam
into Joe's heart as he read Courts valen
tine.
"pm sorry Tenny has to SO o
crutohes Here was the great sorro'
Of Joe's life. for Tenny was to him wha
Zouri was to Seth, and all her youn
strength had gone, and left her patient
suffering little cripple.
SO he stood there and wept over zouri
tender words. "God bless her Tor send
: ing II, be murmured.
AS he stood there he heard her callin
from far down the road:
/ "Uncle Joel Oh, Uncle joel"
He turned round and saw Zoul
running toward him, somewhat pal
and frightened. He stopped and hel
open his arms, and she rushed into then
! Then be kissed her silently.
( II was afraid to cross the plank al til
pond, she said
/ "Never mind, zouri, he said, 1T
take you over the pond.
d He held her gently In his arm1 an
' carried her as easily as if she had been
baby.
1 "Did you get it, Uncle Joef" 81
{ whispered.
a Yes, honey. it was the best little le
ter that ever 1 had. How'd you happe
q to send it, zourip"
+ "Cause ! wanted to, after you told II