The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-07-08

Il named that tree aAlf9n0A 8o01l
the old a went on dosgsday, 81
mind me how set an contrary yo1
aunt kin be when she's q incllnath1
that away! That tree has got III
Miranda's aggravatinest wayS-t|
very way them leaves airt u " isJe|
perzactly like the ding Miranda COD
give them skirts Of her'n ale ~
swishin' past ye an wouldn't listen d
reason"
Herbert hit Miranda Sour q shaI
blow with q stick.
Il wish a worm would gnaw you.
wish a hurricane would blow ys
down."
mo SIGH luck" said Jonas In ton
which expressed a certain mournf|
pride in his f~orecasting. mo st|
luck. She'll keep on a-growin', n
Miranda an me will keep on gttt|
furder an furder apart"
Herbert looked round furt1vely, u.
sided up to his uncle.
Cut her down." he whispered, al
eye on Miranda Sour to see IL she ovt|
heard.
"Cut her down" exclaimed Jonas q
grily. "Cut down an apple tree e col
me all that trouble! By gum, IN 4
nawthin' of the kind! It's Oh n
aunt's fault that them trees Is thel|
an there they kin stay fer me-"
Preoccupied himself. Jonas never d
tected the purpose throbbing n I'D
bert's whole being nor even observ.
the guilty glance that his nephew etr|
at him when the boy asked with d
sumed calm if he might 60 fshing d
stead of accompanying Jonas totminl
"Jest as ye like" said hh une;s,
somewhat surprised. "Ain't no eo.1
fshin' round here. but I s'pose throa
in the line in the water II satisfy III
Herbert waited until his uncle hi
been gone a full half hour. Then
few around to the wood pile and seS
ed the az. his heart throbbing TO sun
cation. He hurried back to the fro
yard, glancing right and left The
was no nj in sight. He looked
Miranda Sour. the representative
'the ungodly." Yes. it was no fancl
her leaves rustled an inSolent ch;|
lenge. He sprang to her side andsul|
his az deeply in her new smooth baII
After that. the blows fell fast ai|
%furiously. In less than fifteen mil
utes she lay ~quivering and .si6Hing
the foot Of Miranda Sweet
With desperate strength be draee
the fallen n around to the heckyai|
sometimes in cold terror overhbdesI
sometimes with the same extaltattl
that Achilles felt in driving iar6qnd d
walls Of Troy. The funeral lpyrs
Miranda Sour was no easy 35tkf,
the day was hot and the limts fun
sap. but at last nothing. wss left
her save a few blackened pieces not
be distinguished as parts Of an app
tree. Then a tired but determin
boy put old Dobbin In the ancient btI
gy and drove up the road at d rate q
threatened an immediate smashup.
1t was 6 o'clock when Jonas retui|
ed. He was dusty, tired and hung
Then as he opened the gate he rubd|
his eyes-it could only be a vision! I
But certainly the vision had wall
arms. They clasped him around d
neck. and a face still good to look
was upturned to his own, and 1.-the n
beloved voice cried out:
kiss me. Jonas-right here. I'd
noww
"Mirandaw he sasped. and th|
brokenly. Thank God. oh, thu
Godw
Eyes. thank him." faltered Miriam
tears falling now. "An' hiS inst
ment was that blessed boy!sOh 1. Jon
he told me how you missed me
how you kept that beautiful aH|
tree in front Of the door to rememl|
me by"
Hot shame and fear dooded Jon
He glanced at the house and felt I.
rubbing his eyes again. for Of Miran
Sour not even a stump wasEleft WI
in sweet and placid humility. comic
ed with many apples and tremuls
with hints Of years Of happinsss.
randa Sweet shaded the doorway .
ingly.