The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-03-24

i Il
was going to do something you didn't
want me to. but l just have to do it,
poppy! 1t would make me feel so bad
II didn't"
Seth's face looked grave.
"Well, honey" he said soberly, did
you come away out here to get me to
let you do thing after had told you
you couldn't?''
mo, poppy she said. II just come
to get you to make Georgia and Lous'-
any let me alone and stop being mean
to me.''
'.zouri, is it anything bad you want
to do?"
mo, it amt" -5s==
'What is it, honey p
II can't tell yet. IT'S "a secret
'Will you tell poppy some time?'
Eyes, if you amt mean to me. like
Lous'any and Georgia.
He was silent. She slipped from the
fence and took his hand. and they
started together across the fields to-
ward home.
"Zouri, put on your sunbonnet.
You'll catch cold"
| Zouri obeyed. Poppy" she said.
what did you and Uncle Joe get an
cry about? Did he treat you mean
when you wanted to do anything?''
| Seth started. Joe had been in his
mind more than once that day, be-
cause it was the anniversary Of the
planting Of the stake. and Seth had
stood for half an hour by the side of
i the stake recalling the circumstances
connected with it.
''No, Zouri; Joe wasn't exactly mean
to me. l reckon he was better'n 1
was when it comes to that
'"Then amt going to be mad with
him." she answered, and the sunbon-
net came off again. "Anyhow, Ten
! nessee's got to go on crutches all her
life, and I'm sorry" For once Zouri
was almost crying.
els that fact, Zouri? Little Tenny
on crutches-all her life too! What if
it was you. Zouri?''
There was no answer, and they
walked home the rest of the way in
silence.
st. Valentines day was clear and
beautiful.
Soon after dinner, without a word
to any one, Zouri put on a clean dress
and, hanging her sunbonnet on her
arm, started away On her mission.
Seth had been watching her all day.
! He saw her start from home, but said
nothing.
| She reached the point where the
road crossed the head of the old mill
pond. She knew that Uncle Joes was
not far beyond. But Zouri had never
been very brave about crossing the
pond. There was only narrow plank
way across, and it seemed so near the
! water, and so many fishes and noisy
frogs and other queer creatures lived
right under this plank, and the water
, looked SO quiet and dark.
/ When Zouri reached this point in
! her journey she stopped moment. a
| little frightened. and was almost ready
to turn back and go home But she
did not do this. She began to sing.
and as she sang she ran lightly across
! the plank. zg
Zouri was on Uncle Joe's farm now
! and hoped to find him in some field
| not far away. AS she went along the
! roadway, looking to the right and left,
she saw on a little rise of land the fig
ure Of man. He was standing be-
tween her and the sinking sun, and a
warm, soft light shone over his face.
''Uncle Joe! Oh. Uncle Joe" she
! called.
'Land sakes, if that amt Seths lit
tie Zouri" he muttered as he started
| toward her.
"No; don't come yeti" she called
again. II amt ready
He stopped and stood waiting.
"What on the earth's brought Zouri
over here? I'll bet Seth don't know it.
That child's just the apple Of Seth's
eye. Well, if she can get around him
there's something in herr
"Uncle Joe. are you listening?"
eyes, honey; talk on
"Well, I've put it in that old hollow
tree down here. When I'm gone you
go and get it. Goodby, Uncle Joe''
"Goodby. Zouri. Can't you wait a
bit?'
He watched her sunny little figure,
the clean, fresh dress, the dangling
sunbonnet and the soft dancing curls
as she flew along toward home again.
"Well, reckon I'll have to see what
it isl he said.
He walked slowly to the edge of the
| field, vaulted over the rail fence and
crossed the road to where the old hol-
low tree stood. He stopped and put
his hand within, and then he drew it
out with a shamefaced air.
'Just one Of Courts jokes, reckon
She'll think Pm an old fool to come
down here at all.''
| Then he leaned against the tree,
! with one hand resting. on it's trunk.
"Just four years ago yesterday since
Seth and l stopped speaking, and this
is the first time one of his family's
been on my land, to my knowing. Not
another one of them would dare to
come but Zouri."