Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-28
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
A BLUNDER
By Lizzie NJ. Peabody

DIVERTowN'S two remaining vet
~ Grams of the Civil War met and
passed each other without a sign of rec
ognition and Dolly D's pretty face wore
n puzzled look az from her window she
gazed after each in turn.
Both we're of medium height, but
Uncle Eb's kindly blue eyes were raced,
he was thin, and his hair was snowy
white, while Uncle Zeke was of stockier
build, his dark eyes were still bright
and his hair was an iron gray. why,
they didn't speak T. the girl gasped In
dlsmay, and added softly, And they've
always been such good friens | hate
to think that they may be unhappy"
| Still thinking of the veterans she was
| soon on her way TO the far end of the
village and accepted Uncle Eb's cordial
invitation to come and sit with him on
| the tiny porch of his little old weather.
| beaten house
| The newspaper he had brought from
| the postoffiCe was still unfolded, and he
appeared depressed.
She was troubled when Uncle Zelie
passed by, and said softly, "He didn't
look up Uncle Eb."
Huh" he snorted. "He doesn't have
to! ! don't care If he never speaks t."
me again"
!
said protestingly
After a silence Uncle Eb spoke. "I
know" he said softly. And always we
have lived here side by side. We be-
gan going to school the same day, en-
listed in the army together, and in the
same company fought side by side.
after the war" he continued remi-
niscently,. "Zeke ran a little grocery
store and cobbled shoes for living
until We settled down here TO putter
around and keep hens" With soft
! little sigh the veteran paused. Who
ever first said that an old dog won't
learn new tricks?" he inquired resent
fully.
! "Rover surprised us both one day by
going over to Zeke's and killing his
chickens"
"Then 1t became a habit but the day
he killed four of Zeke's best pullets
Zeke lost all patience and shot him.
Don't think | blamed Heke. l didn't.
But I missed old Rover and somehow
| couldn't feel so friendly again toward
the one who shot him. Perhaps Zeke
knew 1t. Anyway, he sold his poultry
and went over TO Wingfield for while.
You remember, Dolly"
She nodded and he continued:
when he came home again twas
toward night and ] was out in my yard.
] was glad to see him. and he seemed
so friendly that | hoped for return of
the old happy times"
Again Uncle l;b paused and then burst
out wrathfully: "And that very night
that sneaklng, revengeful-well, any
way, that night he shot. the Major"
The Major she asked. "My cat" he
explained.
II thought you called him the Cor
poral," she said smiling. Uncle Eb
straightened "He wasn't common
cat" he declared proudly. II taught
him many tricks, and the best ones
earned him well-deserved promotions" b"
"How Zeke would have roared at
some Of Majors tricks" he said regret
fully. "Ele was great company. Male
was" he resumed. He'd walt patiently
on "A limb of the old elm tree, and on
my return home he'd drop down on my
shoulder as | came through the gate.
Then he'd snuggle under my chin and
when | opened the door he'd jump down.
ON the long, lonely evenings, too, he'd
be there, cuddled close to my foot, and
purring while ] read. There are many
he said. The girl leaned toward him
and gently patted the veterans hand.
But are you sure Uncle Zeke shot
HIM" she asked.
Yes By the moonlight had seen
Major in his yard a short time before
| ran to the window of my unlighted
room just in time to see Zeke enter his
house. Then. ! went looking for my
cat and found him dead"
'Not l. When he spoke. to me the
next day I turned away. We've never
spoken to each other since" "Im very
sorry" Dolly said, as she rose to 20,
and ] wouldn't have believed it of
Il am provoked but still I suppose
| must run over to see him."
Hello. Dolly greeted Uncle Zeke az
- placed chair for her. II thought
1ou'd never get away from Eb. les
eJme buZzer when he gets started An
talk or no talk. l;b is," he said bitterly,
and as full OF whims as an egg shell is
Of yolk and white"
why do you think that?" she asked
coldly. He's more than friendly one
day, and for no reason at all. refuses to
speak the next or afterward,' he re-
turned hotly.
Her blue-gray eyes flashed. ."You shot
his pretty black and white trained cat ."
said "Thlnk !" she urged ''The night
you came from Wingfield !"
His face grew troubled
Was, it Ebs cat l shot that night"
He sighed as he said ruefully: Il
thought 1t was a skunk after Eb's chick
ems; and I've been well punished for my
blunder
I'VE are seventy-seven: and we've
travelled down the long trail together.
How I've missed ,IGb, no one. will ever
know unless Eb does" = he added
thoughtfully. Hastily he patted his
pockets, His pipe and TOBACCO pouch
and then I'll tell him III get a cart
load OF kittens and train them all for
him IL he says So" he said eagerly.
Uncle, Eb saw them comings their
faces alight with happiness; and raised
ing plant raises itsels at the coming OF
the blessed rain.
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