Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-02-05
The Capitals
Short Story
A BLUNDER
By LIZZIE II. PEABODY.
Copyright ISIS hy ths Mcclure News
paper syndicais.l

OF the Civil wax met ana pAAsSU e<S AA
other without sign 81 recognition;
and Dolly DIS pretty face wore q p.lz-
xled look as FROM her window she
Razed after each 10 turn.
Both we're Of medium height, but
Uncle EDS kindly blue eyes were fad
ed. he was thin, and his hair was
snowy white, while Uncle Zeke was q
gtockier 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.
Sun thinking Of the veterans she
was soon on her way to the Tar end Of
the village. and accepted Uncle EDS
cordial invitation to come and SIT with
him Oh the tiny porch Of his little old
weather beaten house.
The newspaper he had brought from
the post ONCE was stiIl unfolded. ana
he appeared depressed.
she was troubled when Uncle 1eke.
passed by and said softly, 'Ha didn't
look up. Uncle Eh."
HUH be snorted He doesn't have
tot don't care II he never speaks 70
me again"
Nov! Nowl Uncle Eb And you
have always been such good friends,
she said, protestingly.
After d silence Uncle Eb spoke. !
know. he said softly. And always
We have lived here side By side. We
began going to school the same day.
enlisted Id the army together, and n
the same company fought aide By side.
After the war;, he continued remit
niscentIy, Zeke ran little grocery
store and / cobbied shoes for q living
until we settled down here TO pntter
around and keep hens. With soft
little sigh the veteran paused Who
ever 6rst 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 bis
chickens .
Then 1t became 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
1 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 Wingneld for
while. You remember, Dolly r.
she nodded and he continued
sWhen ne came home again twas
toward night and was out In my yard.
was glad to see him, and he seemed
30 friendly that hoped for return
of the old happy times"
Again Uncle Eb paused and then
burst out wrathfully. And that very
night that sneaking. reyengeful, well,
anyway. that night he shot the major. !"
.The major7" she asked. My catl' be
explained.
II thought yon called him the cor
poral, she said smiling. Uncle I'D
Strengthened He wasn't q common
cat" he declared proudly. Fl taught
him many tricks, and the best ones
earned him well-deserved promotions. "
SHOW Zeke would have roared eli
some OF Majors tricks, he said re-
gretfuIly. He was great company,
MAZE was, he resumed. He'd walt
patiently on Limb Of the old elm tree.
and on my return home he'd drop down
on my shoulder as / came through the
pate.
4Bnt are you sure Uncle zeke shot
hin7' she asked.
Yesi BY the moonlight I had seen
Major Id his yard d short time before
and when I heard the report of gun
ran to the window Of my unlighted
room just Ia time to see Zeke enter his
house. Then I went looking for my cas
and found him dead. /"
did ron ask Uncle Zeke to ex.
plain? mot /. When he spoke to me
the next day turned away. We've
never spoken to each other since.
s-rm very sorry Dolly said, as she
rose to go, and wouldn't have be-
Iieyed it Of Uncle Zeke. =
Il am provoked but still suppose
must run over I'd see him"
..Hello. Dolly e greeted Uncle Zeke
as he placed chair for her.
thought you'd never get away from
Eb. Hes some buzzer when he gets
started. All talk OF no talk. Eb is, z
he said bitterly, .'and as full Of WhIms
as an egg shell IS Of yolk and white. Z
ssWhy do You think thatss she asked
coldly. He's more than friendly one
day, and FOR no reason at all refuses
to speak the next or afterward." be
returned hotly.
Her blue gray eyes flashed. Ton
shot his pretty black and white trained
cati,s she cried That's news to me r.
be said Think r she urged. The
night ron came from Wingdeld."
His face grew troubled
Tas Ii Eds cat shot that night rs
he sighed as he said ruefuIly #
thought 1t was skunk after EDS
chickens. and rye been vel punished
for my blunder.
nyVe are seventy and we've
travelled down the long trail together.
How rye missed Ed. no one WIN ever