Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-18

step to remark on the beauty Of two
full leayed and fruited apple trees
which grew almost at the Threshold,
one on each side. But to his surprise
his uncle scowled slightly and hurried
him into the house.
Only the CHEEKY voice of the ire
welcomed him. Herbert turned Ques-
tioningly to his uncle.
"Aunt? Is she well!"
Jonas Alwyn showed momentary
confusion before the boys clear
glance Then he said hastily:
"Well-oh, yes; but she amt to home
Jest now-won't be fer several days
Time sped swiftly. There was SO
much to see and to do! True. his I'M
cle's disposition varied from extreme
cheeriness to fits Of moody abstraction.
He proved to be so skillful cook that
he filled his nephew with wonder
"I'll bet aunt's pancakes don't beat
yours" he remarked one morning. his
mouth full of light cakes and strip
making the compliment trifle indis-
tinct.
Jonas started, then pushed away his
coffee as though something had affect
ed his appetite.
.They're sight better" he said so
gloomily that Herbert laughed out
right.
81 didn't think you'd be sensitive on
the subject, uncle. When she comes.
I'll tell her what you said. Have you
heard from her lately!'
mot to say lately"
'Alother thought she was here when
you wrote went on Herbert.
His uncle rose excitedly.
"Ye don't mean it," he declared We
hemently. NO; We don't mean it.
cause We don't know nawthin' about
It. But she amt set foot in this house
for eight year come next November"
Herbert rose, pale In his turn.
.sTm sorry" he faltered. II never
knew-mother doesn't know-that any
thing had-gone wrong"
"Everything's gone wrong" said his
uncle miserably. Suddenly he clutched
his nephew and hurried him to the
door, then down in the pathway, where
he faced him about before the two
fruit trees.
This one said his uncle, waving
his right hand much as il he were in
PRODUCING duchess "is Miranda Sweet.
and this one" a wave to the left and q
frown, ais Miranda Sour"
Herbert smothered desire to laugh.
"Oh! Named after my aunt?"
"Jest so! Them two are seedlin's.
an I planted 'em the spring she went
away. It's mighty queer that they
come true ter the names give EN-!
AS ter her goin'-that wuz misunder-
standin'. She's got prop'ty OF her own,
about ez much ez own, an she's
lvin' on it ten miles away. l amt
he choked little-"I amt seen her
sence that spring mornin' when she
am me had 1t out In the kitchen. l
watched her bunnit go round the turn,
an'-an' l amt heard word OF her
'cept what the neighbors let drop"
"Since she's only ten miles away"
said Herbert with all the straightfor-
ward confidence Of youth, II should
20 to her and tell her it was just q
misunderstanding"
"That's jest what can't do" re-
turned his uncle with extreme moodi-
ness. Every time start, an I've
started more'n onct. suthln pulls me
back. I do b'lieve it's Miranda Sour"
Miranda Souri,"
"When she went away, I named
them two seedlin's fer her-M Miranda
Sweet" his voice faltered, ito mind
me of how purity she looked the day
she an me stood up before the preach
er. She was the pink cheekedest and
softest eyed gal in the hull village
then.
81 named that tree Miranda Sour"
the old man went on doggedly, ito
mind me how set an contrary your
aunt kin be when she's a inclination
that away! That tree has got all OF
Miranda's aggravatinest ways = the
very way them leaves tiirt at ye is
jest perzactly like the fling Miranda
could give them skirts Of hern when
SIG was SWISalA past y go "0SAANAAA =
listen to reason"
Herbert hit Miranda Sour a sharp
blow with d stick.
81 wish worm would gnaw YOU l
wish a hurricane would blow you
down"
mo SIGH luck" said Jonas In tones
which expressed certain mournful
pride in his forecasting. NO SIGH
luck. She'll keep on a-growin', an
Miranda an me will keep on gittin'
furder an furder apart"
Herbert looked round furtiyely, then
sidled up to his uncle.
'Cut her down." he whispered, one
eye on Miranda Sour to see If she over
heard.
"Cut her down." exclaimed Jonas
angrily. Cut down an apple tree ez
cost me all that trouble! BY gum, I'll
do nawthin' of the kind! It's all yer
aunts fault that them trees is there,
an there they kin stay fer me-"
Preoccupied himself, Jonas never de-
tected the purpose throbbing in Her
bert's whole being nor even observed
the guilty glance that his nephew stole
at him when the boy asked with u.s.
I'll. A1tS {v~