Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-04-16
T w Q
MIRIAM DAS
BY Clinton
Danserfield
Copyright, 1909, by the S. 5. Mcclure
Company

step to remark on the beauty Of two
full leaved 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 fire
welcomed him. Herbert turned ques-
tioningly to his uncle.
Aunt? Is she wellT'
Jonas Alwyn showed a 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'n bet aunt's pancakes don't beat
yours" he remarked one morning, his
mouth full of light cakes and sirup
making the compliment a trifie indis-
tinct.
Jonas started, then pushed away his
coffee as though something had affect
ed his appetite.
"They're a sight better" he said so
gloomily that Herbert laughed out
right.
Il 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 latelyT"
mot to say lately"
Mother thought she was here when
you wrote" went on Herbert.
His uncle rose excitedly.
"Ye don't mean it," he declared We
hemently. mo; We don't mean 1t,
cause ye 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.
"I'm sorry" he faltered. 81 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 if he were in
| PRODUCING duchess, ''ls Miranda Sweet,
and this one," wave to the left and
| frown, SIS Miranda Sour"
Herbert smothered desire to laugh.
ooh! Named after my aunt|
"Jest SOL Them two are seedlin's,
an 1 planted 'em the spring she went
away. It's mighty queer that they
| come true ter the names l give 'em!
AS ter her goin'-that wuz misunder-
standin' She's got prop'ty of her own,
| about ez much ez 1 own, an she's
| uvin' on 1t ten miles away. l amt
he choked a nttle-'I amt seen her
sence that spring mornin' when she
an me had it out in the kitchen.
watched her bunnit go round the turn,
| an'-an' / 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, Il should
go to her and tell her it was just a
misunderstanding"
| Ildl JCSI W udl Ndh wv ~
turned his uncle with extreme moodi-
ness. every time 1 start, an I've
started more'n onct, suthin pulls me
back. I do b'lieve it's Miranda Sour"
! Miranda SourT"
"When she went away, l named
them two seedlin's fer her-Miranda
| Sweet" his voice faltered, "to 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.
"I named that tree Miranda Sour,
the old man went on doggedly, "to
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 firt at ye is
fest perzactly like the fling Miranda
could give them skirts of hern when
she was swishin past ye an wouldn't
| listen to reason"
Herbert hit Miranda Sour q sharp
blow with a stick.
81 wish worm would gnaw you.
wish a hurricane would blow you
down."
''No sich luck" said Jonas in tones
which expressed q certain mournful
pride IN his forecasting. mo sich
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 II she over
heard
"Cut her downr" 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
berts whole being nor even observed
the guilty glance that his nephew stole
at him when the boy asked with as
sumed calm IL he might go fishing in
stead of accompanying Jonas to mill.
"Jest as ye like" said his uncle,
somewhat surprised. "Ain't no good
fshin' round here, but l spose throw
in the line in the water'll satisfy ye."
Herbert waited until his uncle had
been gone a full half hour; then he
flew round to the wood pile and seized
the ak, his heart throbbing to suffoca-
ton. He hurried back to the front
yard, glancing right and left. There
was no one in sight. He looked AT
Miranda Sour, the representative OF
"the ungodly." Yes, It was no fancy
Her leaves rustled an insolcnt chal-
ienge. He sprang to her side and sunk
his AK deeply in her new smooth bark
After that the blows fell fast and
furiously. In less than fifteen min
ptes she lay quiverlng and signing al
the feet of Miranda Sweet.
With desperate strength he dragged
the fallen one round to the back yard
sometimes i'll cold terror over hiS deed