Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1919-05-15
A BLUNDER
BY LIZZIE M. PEABODY.
Copyright. 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper 6yndicats)

/ other without a sign Of recognition,
and Dolly DIS pretty face wore q puz
zled look as from her window shs
! gazed after each In turn.
Both were Of medium height, but
! Uncle Eds kindly blue eyes were fad.
| ed, he was thin, and his hair was
| snowy white, while Uncle Zske was OF
stockier build, his dark eyes were still
| bright and his hair was an iron gray.
"Why, they didn't speak" the girl
! gasped in dismay, and added softly.
.And they've always been such good
friends. / hate to think that they may
! be unhappy"
Sull thinking Of the veterans she
! was soon on her way to the FAR end Of
the village, and accepted Uncle Eds
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 post office was still unfolded, and
he appeared depressed.
She was troubled when Uncle Zeke
passed by and said softly, HE didn't
look up, Uncle Eb."
Huh ~ he snorted. HE doesn't have
to! ! don't care II he never speaks to
me again"
'NowI NowI Uncle EbI And you
have always been such good friends"
she said, protestingly.
After silence Uncle Eb spoke. II
know" he said softly. "And always
we have lived here side by side. We
began going to school the same day,
enlisted in the army together, and In
the same company fought side by side.
after the war;" he continued remi-
niscently, "Zeke ran little grocery
store and l cobbled shoes for living
until we settled down here to putter
around and keep hens" With a soft
little sigh the veteran paused. Who
ever first said that an old dog won't
learn new tricks?" be 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 Zeke. ! didn't.
But / missed old Rover, and somehow
couldn't feel so friendly again to-
ward the one who shot him. Perhaps
Zeke knew 1t. Anyway he sold his
poultry and went over to Wingfield for
while. You remember. DollyT
Che nallad ond he
when he came home again twas
toward night and 1 was out In my yard.
I was glad to see him, and he seemed
so friendly that l hoped for return
of the old happy times"
Again Uncle Eb paused and then
burst out wrathfully. "And that very
night that sneaking, revengeful,-weli.
anyway, that night he shot the major"
1.-THE major7" she asked. my cnt!" he ,
explained.
II thought you called him the cor .
poral," she said smiling. Uncle Eb /
HE wasn't a common I
cat" he declared proudly. Il taught
him many tricks. and the best ones
earned him welI-deserved promotions"
How Zeke would have roared at
some of Majors tricks" he said re-
yretfully. HE was great company,
Maize was" he resumed. He'd wait
patiently on limb of the old elm tree,
and on my return home he'd drop down
On my shoulder as / came through the
gate.
But are you sure Uncle Zeke shot
lim?" she asked.
"YesI BY the moonlight I had seen
Major In his yard a short time before
md when / heard the report of gun
ran to the window Of my unlighted
Dom just in time to see Zeke enter his
house. Then 1 went looking for my cat
Ind found him dead"
did you ask Uncle Zeke to ex-
,lain?" mot I. When he spoke to me
he next day I turned away. We've
lever spoken to each other since"
I'm very sorry" Dolly said. as she
'ose to go. land 1 wouldn't have be-
ieved 1t Of Uncle Zeke."
81 am provoked; but still 1 suppose
must run over - see him."
"Hello, Dollyl" greeted Uncle Zeke
is he placed chair for her. Il
bought you'd never get away from
Cd. He's some buzzer when he gets
tarted. All talk or no talk, Eb Ii,
lie said bitterly, and as full Of wilkins
IS an egg shell Is of yolk and white"
"Why do you think thatT she asked
Oddly. Hes more than friendly one
lay, and for no reason at all refuses
O speak the next or afterward," he
eturned holly.
Her blue-gray eyes flashed. You
hot his pretty black and white trained
at !" she cried That's news to meT
Ie said Think" she urged. The
light you came from Wingneld."
His face grew troubled.
"Was 1t Eds cat l shot that nightT
lie sighed as he said ruefully: ~
bought 1t was skunk after Eds
and I've been well punished
or my blunder.
"we are seventy-seven; and we've