Catoctin clarion., 1910-02-03
Then he took her supbunnet from her
hand ana placed II On her mead.
''What have they been bot herring you
ahOuf ht,ri0vY

want me To. Hut just have to do II.
poppy: 1t would make n'e feei SO bad
II | didn't"
Spth's tace iOuked grave.
"WeIi, honey, Ne said soberly. did
you come away out here I" get me tO
ut you ti0 n thing after ! had told you
you couldnt!'
mo. poppy" she said. u Just come
to get you 10 make Georgia ana LI,is'.
any let me alone ana stop being mean
to me-
"Zouri. is II anything bad you want
to dor
NO. II amt
what IL II. honeyT'
Il cant tell yet. It's a secret"
"Wili yon tell poppy s"n,e une?'
'"ies. II you amt nleiln to lie. like
I.ous'any and Georgia.
He WAS silent. She slipped from the
fence and look his maud. ana they
started together across the tieids to-
ward home.
''Zouri. put on your sunh'nuet.
You'l catch coid.'
Zonri obeyed. Poppy" she said.
what did you and Uncle Joe &c, an
when you wanted to do anything?"
Seth started. joe had been in his
mind more than once thar day. be-
cause 1t was the anniversary Ut the
planting Of the stake. and Seth had
stood for half an hour by the side Of
the stake recalling the circumstances
connected with II.
mo. Zouri; Joe wasn't exactly mean
to me. ! reckon be was better'n |
was when 1t cumes to that
"Then | amt going to be mad with
him." she answered. aud 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.
"ls that fact. Zouri? Little Tenny
on crutches-all her life too! What IL
it was you. Zouriy'
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 word
to any one. Zouri put Oh clean dress
aud. hanging her sunbonnet on her
arm. started away OIL 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. Hut Zouri had never
been very brave about crossing the
pond. There was only Il narrow plank
way across. and II seemed 80 near the
water. and 80 many fishes aud noisy
frogs and other queer creatures lived
right under this plank. and the water
looked 50 quiet and dark.
When Zouri reached this point in
her journey she stepped moment. Il
little frightened. and was almost ready
to turn back and go home. But she
did not do this. She began to sing.
aud as she sang she ran lightly across
the plank.
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 little rise Of land the fig
ure of a 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. II that amt Seth's lit
tie Zouri." he muttered as he started
toward her.
mo: don't come yeti" she called
again. II amt ready"
He stopped aud stood waiting.
what ON the earth's brought Zouri
over herei Ill bet Seth don't know 1t.
That childs just the apple of Seth's
eye. Well, II she can get around him
there's something In her.
"Uucle Joe. are you listening?'
"Yes. honey; tulk on"
"Well, I've put 1t in that old hollow
tree down here When Im gone you
60 and get It. Goodby. Cncle Joe."
"Goodby. Zouri. Can't you wait
bitY
He watched her sunny little figure.
the clean. fresh dress. the dangling
sunbunnet and the soft dancing curls
IA she flew along toward home again.
We'll. | reckon IN nave to zee what
1t is." ne 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. ani then he drew 1t
out with Il shampfaced air.
Just one OF Zouri's jokes. ! reckon.
She'll think I'm an old fool to come
down here at all"
Then be leaned against the tree,
with one hand resting Oh Its trunk.
"Just four years ago yesterday since
Seth and | stopped speaking. aud this
In tue first time one OF his family's
been on my land. to my knowing. Not
another Que OF them would dare to
come but Nouri"
He shuttied around again to the hol-
low. Il reckon m try once more." ne
said.
This time he dropped upon his knees.
put his arm far into the opening aud
felt carefully around. He found 1t. all
crumpied aud not very clean. Then he
slowly opened aud read 1.-THE little
scrawi that had cost Zourl SO much to
write.
1t was like a message from Seth. and
all the old time love for his brother
came into Ioe's heart as be read Zou-
rIs valentine.
'I'm sorry Tenny has to go ON crutch.
es." Here was the great sorrow OF
Joe's life. for Ienuy WAS TO him what