I shall never forget Zebbie as I last saw him.  It was the morning we started home.  After we left the bench that Zebbie lives on, our road wound down into a deeper canon.  Zebbie had followed us to where a turn in the canon should hide us from view.  I looked back and saw him standing on the cliffs, high above us, the early morning sun turning his snowy hair to gold, the breeze-fingers of Pauline tossing the scanty locks.  I shall always remember him so, a living monument to a dead past.

  ELINORE STEWART.

XII

A CONTENTED COUPLE

     October 6, 1911.

DEAR MRS. CONEY,—­

...  I once “heared” Sedalia Lane telling some of her experiences, and she said she “surreptitiously stole along.”  One day, when I thought the coast was clear, I was surreptitiously examining the contents of the tool-chest with a view toward securing to myself such hammers, saws, and what else I might need in doing some carpentry work I had planned.  The tool-chest is kept in the granary; both it and the granary are usually kept locked.  Now the “gude mon” has an idea that a “wooman” needs no tools, and the use and misuse of his tools have led to numbers of inter-household wars.  I was gloating over my opportunity, and also making the best of it, when a medley of burring Scotch voices brought me to a quick realization that discretion is the better part of valor.  So I went into seclusion behind a tall oat-bin.  It seemed that two neighbors whom I had never seen were preparing to go to town, and had come to get some tools and to see if the Stewart would lend them each a team.  Now Mr. Stewart must be very righteous, because he certainly regardeth his beast, although he doesn’t always love his neighbor as himself.  He was willing, however, for friends Tam Campbell and Archie McEttrick to use his teams, but he himself would take a lighter rig and go along, so as to see that his horses were properly cared for, and to help out in case of need.

They made their plans, set the day, and went their ways.  As soon as I could, I made myself scarce about the granary and very busy about the house, and, like Josiah Allen, I was in a very “happyfied” state of mind.  There is nothing Mr. Stewart likes better than to catch me unprepared for something.  I had been wanting to go to town, and he had said I might go with him next time he went, if I was ready when he was.  I knew I would not hear one word about the proposed trip, but that only added to the fun.  I had plenty of time to make all preparations; so the day before they were to start found me with all in readiness.  It was quite early in the spring and the evenings were quite chilly.  We had just finished supper, when we heard a great rumbling, and I knew neighbors Campbell and McEttrick had arrived on their way to town; so I began to prepare supper for them.  I hadn’t expected a woman, and was surprised when I saw the largest, most ungainly person I have ever met come shambling toward me.