Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-03-10

10 me-
"Zouri. is it an, thing bad you wan.
to do?n
No, it ain'tl"
What is it. honey?"
al can't tell vet; it's a secret
~Will you tell Poppy some timer"
"Yes. if you amt mean to me like
Lous'any and Georgia.
He was silent She slil ped from the
fence and took his hand, and they
started together across the fields toward
home.
"Zouri, put on your sunbonnet; you'll
catch cold.
Zouri obeyed. Poppy" she said,
lrat did you and Uncle Joe get angry
about? Did he treat you mean when
you wanted to do anyIhing?s
Seth started. joe had been in his
nind 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 il.
mo. Zouri; Joe wasn't exackly mean
to me. reckon he was better'n / was,
when it comes to that
Then l amt going to be mad with
him, she answered, and the sunbonnet
came off again. Anyhow, Tennes.
sees got to go on crutches all her life,
an I'm sorry" For once, Zouri was al
most crying.
rs that fact, Zouri? Little Tenny
on crutches-all her life, tool What If
it was you, ZouriY"
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
Setll's little States
Soon after dinner, without 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 narrow plankway across.
and it seemed so near the water, and so
many fishes and noisy frogs and other
queer creatures lived right under this
p.ank, and the water looked SO quiet
and dark
When Zouri reached this point in her
journey, she stopped a moment little
frightened and 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 little rise of land, the figure
of a man. He was standing between
her and the sinking sun, and a warm,
soft light shone over his face.
"Uncle Joel Oh, Uncle Joel" she
called.
Land sakes! 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"
He stopped, and stood waiting.
~What on the earth brought Zouri
over here? III bet Seth don't know i'll
That child's just the apple of Setlfs eye.
Well, il she can get around him, there's
something in her."
@Uncle Joe, are you listening?"
%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
bit?"
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.
SWELL, reckon I'll have to see what
it is" 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.
down here at all.
Then he leaned against the tree with
one hand resting on its trunk. @Just
four years ago yesterday since Seth and
stopped speaking, and this is the first
time one of his family's been on my
land, TO my knowing. Not another one
of 'em would dare TO come but Zouri."
He shufied around again to the hol.
low. Il reckon I'll try once more, he
said.
This time he dropped upon his knees,
put his arm far into the opening, and
felt carefully around. He found it, all
crumpled and not very clean. Then he
slowly opened and read 1.-THE little
scrawl that had cost Zouri so much to
write.
1t was like message from Seth, and
all the old time love for his brother came
into Joe's heart as he read Zouri's valen-
tine.
Elm sorry Tenny has to go on
crutches Here was the great sorrow
of Joe's life, for Tenny was to him what
Zouri was to Seth, and all her young
strength had gone. and left her patient,
suffering little cripple.
So he stood there and wept over Zouri's
tender words. @God bless her for send
ing it, he murmured.
As be stood there he heard her calling
from far down the road:
-Uncle Joel Oh, Uncle Joel"
He turned round and saw Zouri
running toward him. somewhat pale
and frightened. He stopped and held