Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-07-22

Ell VT NllhNN'A oN Asi-l.
his uncle scowled slightly ana hurried
him into the house
Only the CHEEKY voice of the fire
welcomed him. Herbert turned ques-
tioningly to his uncle:
"Aunt-is she well:"
Jonas Alwyn showed momeutary
confusion before the boys clear
glance. Then he said hastily:
"Well? oh, yes. But she amt to
home jest now-wou't be fer several
days"
Time sped swiftly, there was SO
much to see and to do. True, his un-
cle's disposition varied from extreme
cheeriness To fits Of moody abstraction.
He proved to be so skillful a cook that
he filled his nephew with wonder.
"Ill bet aunt's pancakes don't beat
yours" he remarked one morning, his
mouth full of light cakes and sirup
making the compliment a tridc indiS.
tinct. v,-.-' ----- .~s..
Jonas started, then pushed away his
coffee as though something had aiTe IT,
ed his appetite
They're "a sight better" he said 50
gloomiIy that Herbert laughed cut.
right
Il didn't think you'd be sensitive on
the subject, uncle. When she comes
III tell her what YOU said. Have YOU
heard from her lately:'
Not ter say lately
Mother thought she was here when
You wrote" vent on Herbert.
His uncle rose eNcitcdly.
"Ye don't mean IT," he declared
vehemcntly. NO. We don't mean it,
cause We don't know uawthin' about
it. But she amt set foot in this house
fer eight years come next November"
Herbert rose. pale in his turn.
I'm sorry" he faltered. Il never
knew mother doesn't know that any
thing had-gonc wrong"
"EverythiuG's gone wrong" said his
uncle miSerably. Suddenly he clutchcd
his ncpew 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 a duchess. lis Miranda
Sweet" and this one, II wave to The
left and frown. lis Miranda Sour
Herbert smolhcred a desire to lnngh
"Oh. Named after my aunt:"
Jest So! Them two are secdln'S. an
planted 'cm the spring she went
away. It's mighty queer that they
come true ter the names | give 'em,
AS ter her goiu'-that wuZ a miSunder-
sJandiu'. shes got prop'ty of her own.
about ca much eZ | own. an she's
livin' ON it ten miles away. | ain't"--
he choked a little-'I amt seen her
sence that spring mornin' when she
an me had it out in the kitchcn |
watched her bunnit 90 round the turn,
an'-an' l amt heard n 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
90 to her and tell her It was just a
misunderstanding.
That's jest what | can't do" re
turned his uncle. with extreme moodi-
ness. Every time start. an I've
started moren onct, suthin pulls sme
back. | do b'licvc it's Miranda Sour"
Miranda Sour"
when she went away | named them
two seedliu's fer hCr-Miranda Sweet"
his voice faltered, ter mind me of how
purity she looked the day she an me
stood m before the preacher She was
the pink cheekedest an softest eyed
gal in the hull village then.
81 named that tree Miranda Sour"
the old man went on doggedly, "ter
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 flirt at We is jest
per2actly like the fling Miranda could
give them skirts of her'n when she was
swishin past ye an wouldn't listen ter
reason"
Herbert hit Miranda Sour a sharp
blow with "A stick.
Il wish a worm would gnaw you l