The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1920-08-05
A BLUNDER
sy LIZZIE M. PEABODY.

gazed after each in turn.
Roth were of medium height oa'
Uncle Eds kindly blue eyes were lau
cd he was thin, and his hair wa
snowy white, while Uncle Zeke was VI
stockier build, his dark eyes were SUI
bright and his hair was an iron sla ,.,
why, they didn't speak" the l sni
,asned in dismay, and added softly,
"And they've always been sucn soos
friends. hate to think that theS m"'
be unhappy" she
Still 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 WIN
him on the tiny porch Of his little olo
weather-beaten house.
The newspaper he had brought from
the most Office was still unfolded, anu
he appeared depressed.
She was troubled when Uncle Aeks
passed by and said softly, HE dldn'
look up, Uncle Eb."
"Huhr' he snorted. HE doesn't nave
tot / don't care if he never speaks 10
me again"
"Nowl Nowl Uncle Ebl And you
have always been such good trienos'
she said, protestingly.
After a silence Uncle Eb spoke. i
| know" he said softly. "And always
we have lived here side by side' we
began goingsto school the same oay'
enlisted in the army together, and IN
the same company fought side BY sioe'
"After the war; he continued reml'
niscently, "zeke ran little grocery
store and cobbled shoes for living
until we settled down here to puttef
| around and keep hens" With soft
| little sigh the veteran paused. Who
ever first said, that an old dog wont
learn new tricks7" he inquired resent
fully.
"Rover surprised us both one day BY
going over to Zeke's and killing MS
chickens"
mThen It became q 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 I missed old Rover, and someho"
, couldn't feel so friendly again 10
ward the one who shot him. Perhaps
Zeke knew it. Anyway he sold Dis
, poultry and went over to Wingfeld fol
! a while. You remember, DollsV
She nodded and he continued:
"When he came home again 'twa'
toward night and was out In my yaro
, I was glad to see him, and he SCENE
{ 10 friendly that / hoped for q return
Of the old happy times"
! Again Uncle Eb paused and the
. burst out wrathfully. "And that YER
i night that sneaking, revengeful, --wel
q anyway. that night he shot the major.
n "The major?" she asked. MY catl" b
q explained.
!. II thought you called him the col
{ poral," she said smiling. Uncle y
!. Strengthened. HE wasn't commo
q cat" he declared proudly. Il taugf
le him many tricks, and the best one
y earned him well.deserved promotions
II "How Zeke would have roared
"a some of Majors tricks" he said r
1t gretfully. "f1e was great compaR
b. Maize was" he resumed. He'd wa
10 patiently on limb Of the old elm tire
If. and ON my return home he'd drop dow
u, on my shoulder as I came through Il
To- gate.
ID. aBut are you sure Uncle zeke sh
him?" she asked.
. "Yes! BY the moonlight had De
no Major in his yard q short time befo
II and when heard the report OF 8
ies I ran to the window Of my unlight
MS room Just In time to see zeke enter
Tie house. Then I went looking for my
me and found him dead"
~. ibid you ask Uncle zeke to
'u' plain?" "Not /. When he spoke to
. .cA the next day / turned away. We
JUG never spoken to each other sine
au "Tm very sorry" Dolly said, as
an rose to 60, land I wouldn't have
=. lieved 1t of Uncle Zeke."
luii 81 I'm provoked; but still ! supp
the must run over to see him." /.
he, '.Hello, Dollyw greeted Uncle q
Inv . as he placed chair for her.
y. thought you'd never get away II
On. Eb. He's some buzzer when he
~ started. Ali talk or no talk, Eb
JON he said bitterly, "and as full Of VIII
as an egg shelf Is Of yolk and viii
ite' aWhy do you think thatf' she as
Ing coldly. "He's more than friendly
on day, and for no reason at all reft
ae' to speak the next or afterward,"
I'M, returned holly.
'ain Her blue.gray eyes flashed. :"
rll.' shot his pretty black and white trail
'au' cat!n she cried. "That's news to N
tns he said "Think |" she urged. 81
!" : night you came from Wtngfeld."
His face grew troubled.
OF "Was 1t Eds cat I shot that fiigl
am He sighed az he said rdefully: