The Era-leader., 1919-02-20

A BLUNDER
By LIZZIE M. PEABODY.


and Dolly DIS pretty face wore d p"~
zled look as FROM her Wlhoo" sn'
gazed after each i'll 'urn.
Roth were of medium height ou'
Uncle EDS kindly blue eyes were '"u.
oil he was thin, and his halr was
snowy white, while Uncle Zeke was oi
stockier build his dark eyes were sun
bright and his hair was an iron gray.
"Why, they didn't speak! the sif'
gasped in dismay, and added SoltlS,
"And they've always been such soou
friends. l hate to think that the! may
be unhappy"
Still thinking of the veterans sue
was soon on her way to the 1af enu VI
the village, and accepted Uncie w
cordial invitation to come ana Slt WIN
him on the tiny porch OF his little o'u
Weather-beaten house.
The newspaper he had brought lfoli,
the post office was still untoldeu' anu
he appeared depressed.
She was troubled when Uncle lehe
passed by and said softly, HE diunt
look up, Uncle Eb."
"Huh! he snorted. "He doesn't nave
to! don't care if he never speaks "
me again.
"Now! Now! Uncle Eb! AND you
have always been such good friends
she said, prOtestingly.
After silence Uncle Eb spoke. !
know" he said softly. "And always
we have lived here side by SIDE. we
began going to school the same dav'
enlisted in the army together, and 10
the same company fought side by slde.
after the war;" he continued reml'
niscently, "Zeke ran a little grocery
store and cobbled shoes for living
until we settled down here to putter
around and keep Eens." With a 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 Dy
going over to Zeke's and killing his
chickens"
"Then it 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. l didn't
But | missed old Rover, and somehow
l couldn't feel so friendly again to-
ward the one who shot him. Perhaps
Zeke knew it. Anyway he sold his
poultry and went over to WinSS:'".;! FOR
a while. You remember. Dolls@
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 Eb paused and then
burst out wrathfully. "And that very
night that sneaking, revengeful,-well
anyway, 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 Et
! Strengthened. "He wasn't common
cat" he declared proudly. Il taugh
Il him many tricks, and the best ones
earned him well-deserved promotions.
"How Zeke would have roared a
some If Majors tricks" he said re
gretfully. HE was great company
10 Maize was" he resumed. "He'd wal
1t patiently on a limb Of the old elm tree
e and on my return home he'd drop dow
N on my shoulder as came through tn
gate.
"But are you sure Uncle Zeke shc
~ him?" she asked.
10 "Yes! By the moonlight l had seel
" Major in his yard short time befor
m and when heard the report of a gu
!, l ran to the window of my unlighte
rsom just in time to see Zeke enter hi
~ house. Then l went looking for my ca
er and found him dead"
IS. "Did you ask Uncle Zeke to es
" plain?" "Not l. When he spoke to m
Tn the next day turned away. We'v
VI never spoken to each other since.
ss "Tm very sorry" Dolly said, as sh
OF rose to 60, "and l wouldn't have b.
n. lieved it of Uncle Zeke."
OF Il }m provoked; but still I suppos
Oh must run over to see him."
VI "Hello, Dolly!" greeted Uncle Eek
as he placed a chair for her.
III thought you'd never get away frol
eu Eb. He's some buzzer when he &c
"a started. All talk or no talk, Eb is
g. he said bitterly, land as full of whin
=. :" as an egg shell is Of yolk and white
~ "Why do you think that?" she aske
coldly. "He's more than friendly or
Wue W day, and for no reason at all refus
- ! to speak the next or afterward," |
e. returned hotly.
,.s I Her blue-gray eyes flashed. "Yt
~ ~ shot his pretty black and white train'
~ cat!" she cried. That's news to me
~ ~ he said Think" she urged. "Tl
=. night you came from Wingfeld."
Az uic foco uro,u troubled