The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-01-23

| want ME To. Rlt JuSt nave To 40 IL.
Doppy. 1t would make me feel so bad
| if | didn't
Seth's face looked grave
We'll honey, he said soberly, did
you come away out here TO get me to
| let you do Il thing after / had told you
you coudntY
mo. POPPY" she said. Il just come
to get you to make Georgia ana LOus'~
any let me alone and stop being mean
to me-"
"zouri. is it anything bad you want
| to dor
mo, it AIM"
what is it, honeyp
81 can't tell yet It's secret"
"Will you tell poppy some timeY"
Eyes, if you amt mean to Inc. 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 suubonnet.
You'll catch cold"
Zouri obeyed Poppy" she said,
what did you and Uncle Joe get an
CRY about? Did be 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
the stake recalling the circumstances
connected with it.
mo, Zouri; Joe wasn't exactly mean
to me- ! reckon he was better'n
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 Fer once Zouri
was almost crying
as that fact, Zouri? Little Tepny
on crutches-aIl her life too! What if
! it was you, Zourir'
There was no answer, and they
walked home. the rest of the way in
silence
st, Valentines day was clear aud
beautiful
Soon after dinner, without 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 Joe's was
not far beyond But Zouri had never
been very brave about crossing the
pond There was only narrow plank
way across, and ii 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.
Zouri was on Uncle JOe's farm now
not far away. As she went along the
roadway, looking to the right and left,
she saw on little rise of land the fig
ure of man. He was standing be-
tween her and the sinking sun, and
warm. soft light shone over his face
Uncle joe oh. Uncle Joel" she
called.
ST IsasA
tie Iouri" he nuttered as he started
toward her.
No; don't come YETI! she called
again. Il ain't ready
FMstopped and stood waiting.
WHAT on che earth's brought Zouri
over here? Iii bet Seth don't know it.
That ehild's just the apple of Seth's
eye Well. If she can get around him
there's something i'll her"
Uncle Jue. are you listeningf'
Yes. 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. Zourl. Cant you wait
bitT'
lie WhIcIleu @ueT SuuDJ IllltS uSuItS
the clean. fresh dress, the dangling
sunbonnet and the soft dancing curls
as she few along toward home again.
well. reckon I'll have to see what
IL is" 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 Zouri's jokes, I reckon.
She'll think I'm an old fool to come
down here at all"
Then he leaned against the tree.
with one hand resting on its trunk
Just four years ago yesterday since
Seth and | 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."
He shufIied around again TO the hol-