Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-07-07
oack. I do b'lieve it's Miranda Sour

mack, do b'lieve it's Miranda Sour"
miranda Souri,"
when size went away l named them
two seediin's fer her-Miranda Sweet,
his voice faltered. ''ter mind me of how
purity she looked the day she an me
stood up before the preacher. She was
the pink cheekedest an softest eyed
gal in the hull village then.
Il named that tree Miranda Sour"
the old man went on dOggedly, ter
mind Inc how set an contrary your
aunt kin be when she's q inclination
that away! That tree has got all OF
Miranda's aggravatinest ways-the
very way them lea,es fiirt at We is jest
perzactly like the fling Miranda could
give them skirts of her'n when she was
swishin' past We an wouldn't listen ter
reason
Herbert hit Miranda Sour sharp
blow with Il stick.
II wish q worm would gnaw you. ]
wish a hurricane would blow you
down"
NO SIGH luck" said Jonas In tones
which expressed a certain mournful
pride in his forecasting. mo SIGH
luck. She'll keep on a-growin', an
Miranda an me will keep on gittin'
furder an fllrder apart
Herbert looked round furtively, 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 an
grily. Cut down an apple tree eZ cost
me all that trouble! BY gum, I'll do
nawthin' OF the kind! It's all yer
aunt's fault that them trees is there,
IN there they kin stay fer me-"
Preoccupied himself, Jonas never de-
-ected the purpose throbbing In Her
oert's whole being nor. even observed
he guilty glance that his nephew stole
1t him when the boy asked with as
;umed calm if he might go fishing in
tead of accompanying Jonas TO mill.
Jest as We like" said his uncle.
somewhat surprised. "Ain't no good
ishin' round here. but s'pose throw
n the line in the water III satisfy ye."
Herbert waited until his uncle had
,een gone a full half hour Then he
lew around to the wood pile and seiZ-
d the AK. his heart throbbing to suffo-
alton. He hurried back to the front
ard. CHANGING right and left. There
vas no one in sight. He looked at
Iiranda Sour, the representative of
the ungodly." Yes. it was no fancy
Ter leaves rustled an insolent chal-
apge He sprang to her side and sunk
lis AK deeply in her new smooth bark.
After that the blows fell fast and
| ties she lay Quivering and signing at
he foot of Miranda Sweet.
With desperate strength he dragged
| he fallen one around to the back yard.
| ometimes in cold terror over his deed,
ometimes with the same eXultation
hat Achilles felt in driving around the
| walls of Troy. The funeral pyre of
| Miranda Sour was no easy work, for
| he day was hot and the limbs full of
| zap. but at last nothing was left OF
Ter save few blackened pieces not to
| De distinguished as parts of an apple
lree. Then a tired but determined
| BOY put old Dobbin in the ancient bug
| " and drove up the road at a rate that
threatened an immediate smashup.
1t was o'clock when Jonas return.
ID. He was dusty. tired and hungry
Then as he opened the gate he rubbed
his eyes-it could only be vision,
But certainly the vision had warm
rms They clasped him around the
neck, and face still good to look or
vas upturned to his own, and the old
beloved voice cried out:
kiss me, Jonas-right here. righ
1ow."
"Mirandaw he gasped, and the1
orokenly, "Thank God, oh. thanl
Iodr'
Eyes. thank him. faltered Miranda
tears falling now. AN his instru
nent was that blessed boy. Oh. Jonas
he told me how you missed me an
now you kept that beautiful appl
rec in front of the door to remembe
ne byr'
Hot shame and fear flooded Jonas
he glanced at the house and felt lik
tubbing his eyes again. for of Mirand
Sour not even a stump was left. Will
IN sweet and placid humility. comfort
ID with many apples and tremulou
with hints of years of happiness. NJ
randa Sweet shaded the doorway 10y
ingly.
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