Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 June 1892 — Page 12

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THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 15, 181) 2 T W E L VE l'AUJSS.

OLD MAN GILBERT. By ELIZABETH W. BELLAMY, ("KAMEA THORrE") Author of 'Tour Oaks," ''Little Joanna," etc.

"Ths Pantinel" Is indebted to ths publither of Belford'a Monthly for the privilege of producing this fascinating orr.

CHAPTER IV. IN DCTY BOUXD. When tha young man had gone in, the elf-appointed detective rose tod crept near the rail-fence that surrounded the weed-grown yard; but the windows of ihis house were hang with curtains. "Drat 'em!" he crumbled. "Ev'y yuther house has riled me wid de sight o' tittles, en' dia one hides me fum eeein' Itter Mawae Kick. 'Spect hit's dat Martus "White crowd, playin cyards, en' bettin' high. Doan b'lieve he's gone ter Tex is. En Mawse Nick he means right, hut de temptation ia too strong. I gwan pintly tell mawster ter tek do boy outen iishyer place." Net finding another stamp convenient, Gilbert crouched down at the foot of a China tree, and, resting his back against the trunk, waited and watched, how leng did not know. But at last his Tigil was rewarded: the door opened, and Nicholas Hood forth in the moonlight. He was talking to some one within, but only his voice, not hii words, could be beard. Old Gilbert's devotion to the "fambly" Hade eavesdropping a duty. Creeping on is knees in the shadow of the fence, as near the gate as he dared, he crouched in one of the angles formed by the rails, and bent his best ear. aided by his curved Qand, to catch what Nicholas wad saying. And this was what he heard: "It is too glorious a night to lose ; let us have one little stroll in the moonlight." "Hit's a gal!" old Gilbert was almost betrayed into ejaculating aloud. "En' he orter be sayin' dat same ter Miss Flora!" It was a clrl. She came out into the moonlight that flooded the porch, a tall, slender, dark-haired girl, with a saintly face, and a voice like a flute. She said something the old negro could not hear, Tout he heard his young master's reply: "Of course the colonel will make a row at first. You see, Dosia, I hide nothing from you. But when they know all you've been to me how you have redeemed me from my wild life, oh, dear saint " What moro he Paid old Gilbert did not know : he had heard enough. He dropped fat on his face in a great fright. When he rose up Nicholas and the girl had paased down the street, arm-in-arm; the old spy could see them an they went. "Gret King!" he gasped. "Is I come all dis hyer way ter see maweter's son caawBter's onliest eon gallivantin wid one o' dem Furnivals? Sholy, sholy, Mawee Nick ain' gwan git tangled up wid dis po' white trash, 1 pray! Lawd! what I gwan do? 1 ain' gwan say nothin' ter Mawse Nick, ter go mek him rampin' mad; I'd a eight yuther mawster'd git mad wid me den rile Mawse Nick. Hit's mawster ter blame, keepin' de boy in dishyer lonesome place. Wish I wuz home now. Dere's all my money en' dat ole sow, drat htrl En' my Dominicker hen 'most ready to come offen her nes' Whey's my rumberilla? Lemme study whey is I leffum ! I eo sot on Mawse Nick I disremember whey I leffum." Sore disturbed, the old negro hastened back to the stump where he had pat down: the umbrella was not there. He retraced his eteps to the store, but the cherished badge of respectability wad not k be found for any search. "Well, well," he sighed, "ill-luck doan cuver come single-handed. Maybe hit's I sign dat old Furnival sow is rooted up tny money. Dey is might'ly in de way, 3em Furnivals, en' de bee' what I kin do beginat 'em is ter wraatle in prah." Thus communing with himself and jarrying a dejected head, old Gilbert tame, unawares, upon one of the citizens if Eden who was acting as patrol. "Halt!" said the man of brief authority. "Yes, mawater !" said old Gilbert, stopping short, and taking off his hat with one and, while with the other he fumbled in bis pocaet for his pass. "I's Kernel Thome's Gilbert, sub. fum over ter Leon, tome ter de Sunrise plantation. Mawse Nick wrotened me permission ter come up ler de sto' en' buy terbacker." The man held the pass up to the moonlight, and while he read old Gilbert scanned his face studiously. "Ain't you Mr. Job Furnival. sah?" he asked, with for more deference than he considered the Fnrniva's entitled to; but Mr. Job Furnival's daughter was honored by Mawse Nicholas' attentions, and that made a difference: it wad the part of wisdom, apparently, to koep on the good side of Mr. Job Furnival, and get all the information possible. "I 'members de favor of yo' pusson 'bout Tallahassee streets." "Ya-as, that's my name," said Mr. Job Furnival, with a hesitating drawl. Old Gilbert grinned affably. "Is yoa done quit Tallahassee, sub?" "Well, my wife's health war broke," said Furnival ; "an I got a job down this way, an' I bought a house an' lot cheap." After a pause he continued, "It war plum' lucky fur Col. Thome's eon thet ray wife tuk care on him when he got that stab o' Marcus White's knife. Marcus war the one ter blame, so he bdn' our kin we war boun' ter look after Nick Thorne, sorter. It war a close shave 'twixt him an' kingdom co o.e. an' I ain't adzack.lv got mv furgiveneES yit thet I ain't told the colonel nothin' 'bout hit. Bat Nick'lis. I reckin, is skeerder of the colonel then ever he war of the devil, an' he wouldn't let no letter be wrote, an' the doctor eaid doan fret him, an' so an so" "Yes, maw6ter," said old Gilbert. "It's larnt Nick Thorne one wholesome lerson, I reckin." "Yes, maweter," eaid old Gilbert again: his heart was very heavy. "An' I rickin, maybe, he'll walk a etraighter track, ef eo be the colonel war minded ter settle him permanent onter the Sunrise plantation. It's a good piece o' lan'." "1 dunno; I dunno nothinV said old Gilbert Ef Nick'lis war minded ter marry FnrniTal resumed hesitatingly. Old Gilbert waited respectfully for the sentence to be finished, but Job Furnival was only attempting a suggestion to the old negro's garrulity ; and as Gilbert main tamed silence, he walked away without further word. ' "He am' got no manners," old Gilbert muttered, aa he trudged along. "Mawster would a eaid good evenin', dough I is a po ole no 'count nigger. En' e'oosin1 mawster do settle Mawse Nick onter Sun rise plantation, is Mr. Job Furnival gwan boss de niggers? De mo' I argyfies, 'pears ter melak de trouble o du won is ac eumerlatin'. I gwan travel 'long back ter Thorne Hal jes ez quick ez I km git my pass." He could not get his pass until Nicholas had breakfasted, and then it was so long past the dawn that old Gilbert, in order to make a sufhciently early start, was obliged to delay yet another day. "iieckon it's time you were at home," said Nicholas. '"The hounds will be into yonr hen cests, ana the worms in your tobacco patch and the graojj in your garden. "Yes, Mawse Nick: I been here five rJ a'readr." old Gilbert shzbed. think

ing of Pan Furnival's wandering sow, and the hollow in the wood. "En' I'se had trouble in plentv; I'se los' my rumberilla." "Aha I" said Nicholas. "Then you may take mine." "No. Mawse Nick, no suh !"6aid old Gilbert, putting up his hands beseeching, while his face turned that ashen hue peculiar to the negro. "I ain't gwain tek yo' rumberrilla, nohow." "Dat I couldn' do," he said to himself, as he turned away. "I'se 'bleedred ter go home en' tell mawster what I is foun' out. But I ain' gwan tote his rumberilla, en' tote tales too." He eat him down under the work-ehed, chiding the lingering hours. "Fears lak Jashuay been meddlin' wid dat sun," he grumbled. But the sun went down at last, and when it rose acrain, the old man was well on his way to Thorne Hill. It was dark when he alighted at his cabin, which stood apart from the other negro quarters, and near the head of the lane that led from the back premises along the garden. The cabin, built of logs, with a chimney of clay, occupied one side of a small inclosure, surrounded by a wattled fence. Here old Gilbert had his garden, his tobacco patch, and his poultrv vard. "'Plum' glad I is ter git home!" he ejaculated. "Befo I goes up ter de gret house, I gwan hunt me a aigg outen my own hen-neeses; 'pears lak I ain' taste naire aigg ter my notion sence I been gone." Now, while old Gilbert was absent at Sunrise plantation, several things had happened to increase the colonel's impatience at Nicholas' contentment in exile. In the first place a sudden and violent Btorm had unroofed Mrs. Leonard Thome's house, so that Mies Flora and her mamma had been forced to take refuge at Thorne Hill. This was very pleasing to to the colonel, for though he did not like his brother's widow, he was very fond of his brother's young daughter. Flora Thorne, beside being fair to see, had the serene manners that he had admired; she danced with grace ; she sang the simple songs he loved ; she was very domestic, and not in the least "learned." It was the strongest desire of his heart that Nicholas should marry this pretty cousin, settle on the Ferndale place, three miles distant, and fulfill the dignified destinv of gememan planter. But since Miss Flora had taken up her abode at Thorne Hill the colonel had made a discovery that caused him much uneasiness. That so pretty and charming a girl should have adorers was in the natural order of things, and the colonel did not object to the frequent visits of Miss Flora's admirers; but tnat Miss Flora should favor any one of them all more than another Nicholas being absent was more than Nicholas' father could endure with equanimity. Mr. Aleck Gage was the one among Miss F-ora'n visitors whose coming vexed the colonel and increased his eagerness for his son's return. But how to recall his banished son without sacrificing his own dignity a point upon which he was superlatively sensitive was still the problem that engaged the colonel's thoughts. He felt that Nicholas under sentence of banishment ought to plead to return home; he was euro that Sunrise plantation must have proved unendurable long ago; but

Nicholas was giving proof of a more ob stinate endurance than his father had supposed him capable of. Confound him for bting eo much like me!" the colonel muttered, as he sat etaring at the thorny popinac, where the accostomed mocking bird, rejoicing in the moonlight, poured its un stinted song. In the parlor Flora was singing to Aleck Gage something about moonlight and music, love, otc. Old Gilbert's familiar greeting fell upon his ear with a soothing sound. Leaning forward in his chair, the colonel decried a dark visage just above the level of the level of the piazza floor. "Hello! So you're back at last, you old runaway !" he eaid jocosely. "And how is Nicholas?" "Maws Nicholas is peart ez a cricket suh, Gilbert answered cheerfully, but added immediately, and with strong em phasia, "Hit's a mighty lonesome place, tuobe sho : "Ha! Nicholas finds it lonesome?" the colonel asked eagerly. "He ain't complained none," old Gilbert Bigtied. "En de craps is mighty promusaun , he supplemented, adroitly, though well he knew that the crops owed none of their promise to Nicholas. Suddenly he changed the subject. Although he still had it in min 1 to toll all he knew, he found it very hard to make his report; he could not come at it through the medium of the crops, and he was fain to trv another course. "Wha' dis de tell me, mawster, down ter de quarter, bout de storm done onroofed Miss Paulines house? "ies, the colonel answered; "didn't you baye a blow at Sunrise Plantation?" "Tubbe sho, suh, what yon mought call a high win', the day after I got derej'but de ainf no damidge done. Mica Flora en her maw, Miss Pauline, de is ail eafe?" "Oh yes, only out of the house and home ; out of their own house and home, that is; they ve a home here, of course. as long as they 11 stay. I don't know how long it may be about rebuilding ; the house is pretty badly shattered, and Furnival is not to be found in Tallahas see. He has a job somewhere, it seems.' "Mawse Job Furnival vou is meanin' maweter?" cried old Gilbert, excitedly. Hlees yo bouI, maweter, he ia over ter Eden; seed him myse'f; had speech wid him." "What is he doing there?" "I ain't 'zactly made out ez he is doin' anythin' in 'tickler, uh ," old Gilbert answered, uneasily. "But I'm a-thinkin' it mought he a-savin' you a sight o' trouble, mawster, if Mawse Nick wuz here ter go back en fo th, en look after re buildin' Miss Pauline's house." "Exactly 1" exclaimed the colonel, with a feeling akin to gratitude. "I'll send forthwith for Furnival, and I'll have Nich olas at home. Go round to the kitchen and tell Dicey to give you a tip-top sup per. Keckon you re pretty tired; "Middiin', mawster; thaukee, euh," ol Gilbert responded, with a sigh of infinite relief. "I didn t want ter go tell on Mawse Nick," he said to himself, on the way to the kitchen; ' not ef hit wuz ter be holp, En' thankful I am do Lawd is pinted de way ter git him fotch home 'dout me go tellm . praise be ter Glory! The colonel called Tom Quash and gave him orders to take the double buggy and two horses, and start lor Sunrise planta tion early the next morning, carrying 1 letter to Nicholas and another to Job Furnival. The two days tnat intervened before this messenger's return were hard to be endured in patience; it was more than could be borne that Tom Quash returned alone. "Mix Furnival, suh, is a-lyin' at de pint o death," Tom explained. "En dat ocount Mr. Furnival he couldn't come jes yit." "And Nicholas?" eaid tho colonel, im patiently. "Mawa Nichola ia wrotened a note.1

said Tom Quash, fumbling in the crown of

ns hat. "He sont his ree-spec s en he can't como at sich short notice ; is got some matters ter sorter straighten, but'll be along atter a day or so." The colonel snatched bis son a note and read it eagerly, it was expressed in terms calculated to mollify an angry parent; but there was Aleck Gage in the parlor, tuni ng over the music while flora sang, and the colonel found it hard to be patient. Foui Quash did not tell how Nicholas etarrped and swore when he read his father's letter, and declared that Sunrise plantation was good enough for him. Tom Quash kept all this to himself, and pondered in his obtus brain. When Miss Elvira learned that Nicholas was coming home, she locked herself Mithin her room, took from a secret drawer the note she had received from ioxanna White, and read it for the last time. I hen she burned it, and having ac complished some extra pages of Bishop ken, went down to tea looking at least five years younger. CHAPTER V. FRIENDS. Three days later Nicholas arrived at Thorne Hill in his usual bright spirits, ap parently, and apparenely very happy to be at home. He brought the information hat Mrs. Furnival had died the night be fore, and that Job Furnival would report for work as soon after the funeral as pos sible. The colonel was quite willing that Fur nival should take his time; the main point was gained in haying Nicholas at home to turn Flora's music. But when Aleck Gage came an hour later, Nicholas was off with an ancient umbrella under his arm topav a visit to old man Gilbert. Gilbert was eeated upon the sweet-gum block that occuDied one corner of his learth, singing a vigorous hymn, while he worked at his round bottomed baskets. He felt in good heart; his pot of money was Eafe, and there had been no sign of the iungrv sow about the woods; his "Dotiinickcr" hen had hatched every one of her fifteen eggs, and his tobacco was thriving; moreover, Mawse Nicholas was sum moned home, out of harm s wav, and he had not been obliged to betray the young man's secret. "Well, tubbe sho," he commented, in a pause of his singing, "put off yo' lei' shoe when the pqueech-owel hollers, en' you'll ward offdezaator." Something darkened the davhght and he looked up, and behold! Nicholas was standing in the doorway. Supreme de light in this sudden, unexpected vision blinded his eyes, at first, to the faded um brella. "Why, howdye, Mawse Nick! Huh you do? Huh you do?" he exclaimed, grinning as he roue, and rubbing hid hand on his oenaburg breeches before he held it out in hearty welcome. "Fee plum glad ter nee vou !" Nicholas shook hands and sat down in the splint-bottomed chair, in the corner opposite the sweet-gum block. Then old Gilbert's eyes fell upon the umbrella and grew big and round. "ou is found him, Mawse Nick? Dat rumberilla?" And he btretched forth his hands with a chuculo of satisfaction. "Hands off! I've something to say first. cried Nicholas, with a countenance and voice bo unwontedly stern that old Gil bert felt his heart knock at his ribs. "Where do yo suppose this umbrella was found?" "I ain't nuver been able to recomernber, suh, whey I leffum," stammered old Gilbert, abashed ; but rallying his courage, he added, "ceptin' det I had him in Eden." "In Eden it was found," said Nicholas. et ill stern; "beside the horo-block that stands not far from tne gate in front of a house on the east of the cornfield." Nicholas paused. "Tubbe eho'r ejaculated old Ulibert, faintlv. He did not know what else to eay, Nicholas so tie id mm witn 1113 gut tering eye. What were you doing there de manded Nicholas, sternly. Old Gilbert looked at him and wa3 silent. "You are watching me!" cried Nicholas, with growing anger. "And now I want to know what tale you carriud to mv father?" "I wuz a-watchin' you," said old Gil bert, stoutly; "'cause my min' mii:iv me what you ueeded lookin' atter; but de Lawd Ho knows what I aint toted no tales ter mawster. I ies tor him what hit waz pow ful lonesome ter bunrise, en he d better fotch you home." Nicholas smiled. "There's vour um brella," he eaid, yielding the treasure to the owner s waiting hands. ion ve the soul of a gentleman, as I've remarked onco before." "I wuz fotch up 'long wid vo' gran'paw, Mawse Nick," eld Gilbert reminded him, with visible pride. "All de Thornea wuz gernmen." "White and black!" said Nicholast, and burät out laughing. Confound your old umbrella! If I had found out that you had carried tales to my lather I should have felt tempted to break it over your meddling old head. You leave me to manage my own aflairs hereafter, do you mind?" "Tubbe eho, Mawse Nich, 'ceptin' jes' dis young folks thinks ole folks is fools. 'epeciallv a po' no 'count ole nigger; but I gwan eav dis tor you. I'se toted vou onter my back when you wuz little, i'se roden you in dj fox-cyart, en' Fee trained you ter swim wid de holp o' gourds ; I'fo carried you a-hshin en a-possum huntin , en I se larnt yo fust manners. All dis, ' eaid the old man, with solemn, uplifted forefinger ; "all dis mek hit hukkom I gwan give you instruction now. Doan' vou comix yo'se'f wid folks what ain't yo' kind, Mawse Nick. I ain't r-avin nothin' beginst dem Furnivals, Mawae Nick ; but do ain't yo' kind." "You shut up 1" said Nicholas hotly, and strode away. "De Lawd een ns help outen da Sanktuiry," sighed old Gilbert "I'se pow'ful 'sturbed in my min' 'bout dat boy. Chilluns is WU83 en inonev. You kin hido dat away, ur you kin tote hit in yo' pockets; but yo chilluns you is gotter tote in yo' heart, en' sometimes de is a heavy weight, a heavv weight." Nicholas did not return to the parlor until an hour or so later, whon Aleck Gage was learing leaving under the colonel's auspices, one might say, for never since ho possessed a house of his own had Col. Thorne been so gracious in speed ing the parting guest. But if Col. Thorne flattered himself that the young gentleman's visits must now become less frequent, he was doomed to dis appointment. Aleck Gae did not return the next day, indeed, nor yet the next, as the colonel noted with secret satisfaction; but after these two days of absence, Miss Flora's persistent Jover reappeared and soon it was manifest that Nicholas's presence made not the slightest difference to Aleck Gage. For Nicholas had ordered his hor.se and ridden forth with his cousin's lover upon the first opportunity that offered after his arrival, solely to have it understood that ho himself was not in love with Flora. The joan4 men talked of indifferent things until they had passed out at the great gate that opened upon the road, then Aleck said, with a swelling heart: "It was very clever" he used this word in the Southern acceptation "very clever of you, Nick, to bave the field clear to me this evening." He was a little jealous, naturally, of Nicholas, but he wish yd to do his rival justice. "Monatroua clever 1" cried Nicholas:

and, with a boyish love ot teasing, he added : "I am what may be called a fixture,

you know." Aleck Gage frowned slightly. "But that needn't keep you awake o nights," Nicholas amended, the next moment, in a tone of sobriety bo aged that Aleck looked at him inquiringly. "My coußin Flora is not for me," Nichoas eaid ; "I shan't stand in your way." Aleck thought Nicholas tremendously magnanimous; he looked at mm witn an admiration and sympathy not to be ex pressed m words, lo give up all hope of Flora Thorne seemed to Flora's lover a mighty sacrifice. He made an effort to be magnanimous likewise "Tell you what, old fellow!" he exclaimed, impulsively. "iou stand lust aa good a chaace as your humble servant, ii you mustn't mind my saying it if you'd only turn a new eaf. Let us start fair and let him laugh who wins, eh, Nick?" "My thanks to you; 1 ve turned the leaf," said Nicholas, dryly; "and it makes no difference. Or, rather, he corrected in an undertone, and looking far over the fields toward Sunrise plantation, "it makes all the dillerence in the world." He rose in his stirrups and kissed his hand toward the distant prospect. Aleck stared. "I I don t understand you?" he stammered. "Well, this is no riddle, Aleck. Mind you, I'm not in Flo's confidence; but you keep trying; don't you back out for my coming." " iou mean there is some one else? Nicholas laid his hand on his heart. There is come one else," he said. His voice was tremulous with emotion; his whole aspect changed. 1 hope ehe is worthy of you, Nick," Aleck burst forth. Ho had great admira tion for Nicholas, In spite of his faults. Good heaven! exclaimed Nicholas, impatiently. "She is a million times too good for me! But that won't prevent my clinging to her till death us do part, lie uttered these last words reverently, taking off his hat and bowing his head. "He couldn t be worse gone if it were Flora herself," was the impression he made upon Flora's lover. "It's not magnanimity, after all." Then he asked, impulsively, and half in a fright "W hat will the colonel say 7" "Hh'11 swear," returnod Nicholas briefly and with a dark frown. Aleck had no doubt of it, but he didn't sav so. "The fact is," continued Nicholas, gloom ily, "I'm in a ticklibh position. My father always expects to have his own wav. He demands of me to marry my cousin Flora this was the drift of what he wrote me when he summoned me from Sunrise. And Flo' and I don't care a button for each other not in that wav. You'll really do me a service, Aleck, if vou'll go on as you ve begun; 111 help you out. One of these days, maybe. 1 11 have to ask you to help mo out. Nicholas cheered his horse and stretched forth his hand. "Count on me!" exclaimed Aleck, with fervor, as he clasped to proffered hand. Iain t magnanimitv, alter all, he mused with a certain satisfaction, as he rode his teparate way, "By George, it's the genuine, mighty God Cupid and there'll be the devil of a row !" CHAPTER VI. faim: heart. Nicholas rode back with a gloomy brow, but as he drew near the house he began to sing, with forced gayety, the popular refrain, "Tallahassee Girls," for he had caught a glimpse of his little sister sitting alone on the horee-block in the dim twi light waiting for his return. "Dear little sister," he sighed, even in in the midst of his singing, "if ehe were but nearer my own age !" Then ho varied the words of his eong, the better to suit the case: "Ob, my TaUabaaje girl, woa'tyou mount up with nip. And rids by the light of tbo moon?" L"p jumped Mieey, and stood on the horse-block, clapping her bands as she divined her brother's purpose. He was going to stop! He was going to take her 011 the saddle in front of him! Glorious Brer Nicholas! She climbed up nimbly as a equirrel. "There ain't no moon yet," she eaid with a childish giggle of supreme content." But we ain't afraid !" Oh, Brer Nicholas, I do love you so! It wa, perhaps, the twen ticth time ehe had eaid this since his re turn, three davs before. "How much do you love me?" Nicholas asked, with a great craving for love's sup port. .11U M HUT VJAJ tiDO U HAA MIC 1TUUU, Misy answered, with emphatic decision. "Oh. monstrous, cried Nicholas, so much moved that he was constrained to speak lightiy. "I suppose you couid un dertake to fight dragons for me?" "Dragons?" contemptuously. "I could fight the devil and all his works." "What in the world?" exclaimed Nicholas, with a burst of laughter. "Weil," said Missv, discreetly, "them's the strongest words I could use, bein' a girl. They re in the Catechism," she added, by wav 01 recommendation, or the Baptism. I forget which." "Missr, Missy, I'm afraid you're a sad pickle !" "I m goin to be very good now, since I've got you home. I'll do just everything to please you. I m all the eister you ve got." "Yes ! you're all the sister I've got! Oh, Missy, how I w:bh you were older." "Ii'm!" said Missy, not at all compii mented. "Then I'd be a young lady at the pianner, like my cousin Flora, always afraid of spoiling my clothes. Bound you would t get her to ride double, this-er-wav." "I shouldn't think of asking her," laughed Nicholas. "No." Missy asserted, comfortably, "I'm nicer than her." She was bitterly jealous of irlora. The family were at tea when the brother and eister came in, Missy clinging to Nicholas's arm. "How you do BDoil that child," eaid Mrs. Leonard Thorne. Sho disapproved of Misdy's "way" with Nicholas; in fact, fcLe disapproved of Miesy altogether. "No," said Missy, with a motherly air, "it s me what spoils him. The colonel frowned. "Flora," he eaid, "I wish you would undertake to smooth my little daughter." "Is she a flat-iron?" eaid Missy, pertly, stuffing her haudkerchief into her mouth. Nicholas and Flora exchanged glances and frankly smiled. "Winifred 1" expostulated Miss Elvira; but Mihey had eeen her brother smile, and ehe cared naught for her aunt Elvira. In the privacy of her own room that night Mrs. Leonard Thorne expressed the opinion that Winifred Thorne was born to be a mortification to her family, "fcue makes herself a perfect nuisance to Nich olas. "Oh, ma! Flora remonstrated; and seeing that her mother was bent upon talking about Nicholas, ehe began to comb her beautiful luxuriant hair over her eyes. "Not but that it's very admirable in Nicholas to be eo indulgent toward her. I always did justice to Nicholas's good qualities. He may have been a little wild, but what of that? All young men of spirit are restive under restraint. My brother-in-law, the colonel, demands per fection in his eon and heir as if he were anywhere near perfection himself." Oh, ma!" eaid Flora again. "You know uncle Jasper never was like Nicholas." "No, he never was, repeated Mrs, Thorne, with emphasis. "Catch Col. Thorne confessing hin follies and short comings, aa Nicholas has to me. That ia

what I call honorable, in the highest degree. It's what most young men wouldn't do under tho circumstances. I always knsw he would come out right in time.

And what a property he will have. Flora! Three fine plantations, besides the Ferndale place, to be divided between him and that little monkev of a Missv! Then your iunt Elvira will probably leave all she has to Nicholas; he always was her favorite. And Nick is so pleasant; he hasn't lost any of his bright spirits." 1 don t know about that, ma, said the more observant Flora, behind her brown tresses. "My cousin Nicholas hasn't Buch bright spirits as he'd like to have a body believe. Thev are too bright; and be is moody enough when he thinks nobody is noticing. And then " And then?" repeated Mrs. Thorne. all attention. "He is in another scrap. I fancv." said Flora, slowly. "There ia certainly some thing weighing on his mind." "Or his heart? suggested Mrs. Thorne. It afforded Miss Flora's mamma exqui site enjoyment to watch the progrees of affairs between Nicholas and her daughter. It was like a vivihed novel, and upon no account would she have been willing to eee this romance hurried to a precipitate conclusion with the music of marriagebells. It was quite the proper thing that the young lady should be coy and disdainful, denying her true feelings, and flirting with a rival, while the young gentleman distrusted his own desert, counterfeited gayety, and was a prey to gloom; all this was too delicious to be marred by incon siderate haste. Never had Mrs. Thorne Been devotion eo delicate as that displayed by Nicholas. Every morning, immediately after breakfast, he hastened away to see about the work on his aunt's house ; every noon he returned with suggestions for improve ments and conveniences that he detailed to Mrs. Thorne, with an internst and en thusiasm that took her vanity captive. Devotion to Flora's mamma was eure to be appreciated by Mrs. Thorne; it was the dream of ber heart that her son-in-law should bo in love with herself. Furnival was now at work upon the hon6e, and it pleased Mrs. Thorne to fancy that the impetuous Nicholas must worry the life out of that dilatory mechanic. Not that 1 am in haste to havo you leave us, aunt, you understand," said Nicholas, blushing, when rallied upon his energy in pushmg on the work. Mrs. Thorne thought she did under stand, perfectly ; it was out of the ques tion that JrJora should be married in any other house than her mother's. Furnival had been heard to Bay to Nicholas, "When a boy lak you takes a marryin' notion he stands fair to make a durned fool of himself." That Furnival, the carpenter, should presume to make such a speech to Col. rhorne s son, was immensely amusing to Mrs. Leonard Thorne. She tried to persuade Nicholas to tell her what had provoked it, but Nicholas only turned ecariet, and quickly changed the Bubject. W ben he was not with l urnival, Nich olas devoted himself to Flora, doing all that a voung man may to win a maiden lavor; lor he did ardently desire to win his cousin s favor that he might count upon her womanly sympathy. Missy raged over this state of things. Mirer Nicholas ain t no mo use to me than a eettin' hen," she declared. It re quired Glory-Ann's Strictest vigilance to keep the child from dogging the step3 01 the two young people. As for rlora, ehe was sorely perplexed. Nicholas had never been eo attractive to her as now. Alone with his pretty cousin, he abandoned all pretence to gavety, and gave himself up to a eadncss that was not without its fascination for a voung girl 3 heart; a:d tnere were moments when Hora hardly knew whether ehe preferred her cousin or Aleck Gage. And there was Aleck Gage coming every few days. "Wonder what makes him Buchafool?" was the colonel's unspoken comment, "Put it's Flora's privilege to keep him dangling. Nicholas did not quit the parlor or the piazza when Aleck came now, and he al ways made one of the party when a walk was proposed ; but when once they were out in the shrubbery. Nicholas disap peared. This was Missy's hour of triumph, when she pounced upon her brother, and bore tiimloff to inspect a bird s-neet, to carve her name in the bark of a tree, to make etchings with a thorn upon the leaves of the century plant. And this was als young Aleck 0 hour, when he waxed eloquent and confidential ; though never a hint would his sense of honor permit him to breathe of the glimpse that had been given him of Nich olas Thome's heait. In this state of things Flora was sorry for Nicholas, and angrv with him, too. uuen sue lancieu mat lie was upon tiie point of speaking but lacked the courage, which was, indeed, the case. She w ished he would epeak, that they might como tj an understanding ; and yet ehe dreaded to have him speak, knowing what wrath aud bitterness would follow upon her answer. Every member of the family, ehe was well aware, would take Nicholas part; ever v. bodv would blame her except Aleck Gage. ii jMcnoias would only do content to be a brother! And all that Nicholas desired was that Flora should be to him as a eisUr. CHAPTER VIL CONFESSION. The days went by; the moon that had lighted old Gilbert while he p!ayed the spy in Eden had waned and vanished, and the crescent that succeeded had expanded to the full-orbed glory of tho nights of June; the warm air was heavy with per fume, and vocal with the mocking-bird's rapturous song. These were nights no lover could afford to lose, and Aleck Gage did not fail to take advantage of them; time and again was he a visitor at Thorpe Hill when the colonel little suepected his presence, Nicholas and Flora would stroll out after tea, and after tea would Aleck arrive and join them in some remote alley of the ex tensive ehrubberv. His apperance was the eignal for Nich olas to retire and meditate in solitude a solitude that Missy did not now intrude upon. For Missy had invented a new amusement for these nights of June. With Amity as audience, and the wido scuppernong arbor on the confines of the vegetable garden to serve as a stage, ehe bad given ben-elf up to the fascination of private theatricals. The dusty volumes in the recesses 01 me dormer windows pup plied her quick fancv with material, and now ehe was Puck, now Ariel, sometimes tho queen ot 1 aerie, or again the ghost in "Hamlet," a favorite character that Iruze the blood In Amitv's veins: and not Infre quently she was her genuine self, raging agaioit her handmaiden s stupidity. All this was in preparation for a long-prom ised visit from Lottie and Bess Herry, with whose assistance Missy hoped to accomplish eometbing very delightful in the wav of histrionic art. No one inquired what the child was doing with herself during these moonlit hours; Glory-Ann, satisfied that her troublesome charge was somewhere with Amity, held her little court in the kitch en; the colonel and Miss Elvira and Flora's mamma talked on the back piazza, content to leave the young people the freedom of tha front premises. "Flora, my daughter, take your shawl," Mrs. Leonard always said; and it was Nicholas' privilege to wrap it around his cousin's shoulder, after which he drew ha

pretty hand within his arm and surely j there was abundant opportunity for him to speak, in the long walk, half way around the grounds. ! But Nicholas talked only of indifferent things, in a half-hearted fashion; and when they reached the gate where usually they met Aleck Gage just dismounting, ho would laugh and whisper, " 'See the conquering hero comes,'" and leave Flora blushing. It had eoemed to Nicholas that the wisest thing he could do would be to take his cousin Flora into his confidence; but whenever the occasion offered his courage forsook him ; his tongue refused its office. He had let Blip his opportunity many times before he realized that delays are

dangerous; but when once he began to feel this it was not possible lor mm to hesitate longer. He was sure that he could count upon Floras sympathy, at least, even if she could do nothing to aid him : and it seemed like an omen of good 1 fortune that, at the very moment when no began to feel so impatient to tell bis cousin ad, Aleck Gage should make his visit very much shorter tban usual, the cae ior w hich was, that Aleck and i iora had indulged in the luxury of a quarrel. Nicholas saw the angry lover etriuing down the walk, and did not hail him for a parting word. "Let him go!" he eaid. "For this once the sooner the better; ana he rose up quickly from the bench under the mimosa "tree and almost ran to seek his cousin. Flora was in the old-fashioned summer house, screened at the back by many mingling vines; the moonlight streaming through the wido archway in front re vealed her. seated with her hoad bowed down, her face hidden in her hands. "Flora! Hora! mv cousin! cried Nich- . At olas. ' w hat is the matter; A terrible fear beized upon him; could it be that Flora did not care for Aleck Gave? Or was she so dominated by her uncle's will that she dared not allow her heart fair play? But no Flora h.id a will of her own. What if her uncle's wish were her wish, too? All this rushed through Nicholas brain, as Flora sprang up and demanded, haughtily: How dare you come epying upon me. "I am not "epying upon you, Flora," eaid Nicholas, as he staggered back against the wall of the eumnier-house. "I wish to be your friend," he added, rallying himself by a supreme effort. He determined to assume that his cousin's prefer ence was for Akck Gage. "Do you mean to eay, cried Flora, with Btidden illumination, as she went to him and laid her baud on his arm, "Do you mean to say, Nick, that you won t ask me to marry you? M won t ask you to marry me, ricnolas answered, and smiled anything but a heart-broken smile, and yet it was eo sad . . . r-i 1 1 a bimie tnat flora was overwneimiogiy sorry for him. Oh, Nick! ehe cried, and clasped Mier hands around his arm and laid her head against it. "iou are a dear, good fellow. and I love you dearly, dearly; but you know if you were to ask me, I'd just have to sav 'no and then there would be a dreadful time. But if only you would take my part " "My deareet cousin! Uf course 1 will take your part. But then will you go halves and take my part? Nicholas asked tremulously, and with an uneasy laugh. "You know I will," eaid Flora, who was far from suspecting her cousin's meaning. "Why, I should be the basest ingrate not to stand up for you as if I were your eister." Nicholas put his arm around her, and just then the mocking-bird in the thick et betund them suddenly cea&ed Its song and fluttered through the foliage with a quick, thort, unrnelodious chirp. I trust it is not au omen of ill, Flora," said he, glancing over his shoulder, "that the bird ehou.d eo abruptly cease Its 6ong. I don't beiieve in onoens," returned Flora, impatiently. "I believe in my own determination." I was thinking of mvself," said Nicho las with an uncontrollable shiver, "not of you." He took both her hands in his, and looked in her face and smiled. But with you to take my part, you who can understand how love comes unbidden " "Yes, dear Nick," eaid Flora softly. "I can understand. 1 will always be on your side, whatever my uncle may eay." Mrlora was far from exulting in tne thought that her cousin loved her hopelessly, but ehe found i: exquisitely interesting to feel herself thus beloved. "I do not know how it 13 I cannot tell how it began," eaid Nicholas, with almost a eob in his voice, "but I love one who is so dear and beautiful and good." He dropped Fiora's hands and .clasped his own with intensity of feeling. "Lovelier! I3ut she can never please my father. There is my bitter trouble." It seemed to Flora as if she heard these words in a dream ; and yet she fully and instantly understood him as ehe never hitherto had understood him. Instinctively she recoiled from him ; it was not in the nature of the case that ehe should not feel resentment at this unexpected discovery that, after all, Nicholas had never been in love with herself; that his sighs and his sadness were, after all, not for her. "I hope, Nicholas," eaid she, with a little air of virtuous superiority, "I do hope you have not fixed your affections upon eome one beneath you?" "No," eaid Nicholas, lifting his head proudly ; "I have set my affections upon one infinitely above me in all that is lovely and of good report," he added with a bitter laugh. "And I love her with all the strength that Aleck Gage loves you, if that is any criterion," he continued, fast losing his self-control. "And, thank God, Dosia loves me." "Dosia Furnival?" cried Flora, clasping her hands, and drawing away from him by ft sudden, almost violent movement. "Cousin Myrtilla's protege? And you expect us to countenance her? Oh, Nicholas! Nicholas! You cannot be in earnest? You must break away, and at once, from all this." "I am in earnest," Nicholas answered. His face was palo ; his voice shook ; he was angry. "And as to breaking away Dosia is my wife, Flora; respect her." "Your wile?" Flora gasped, and sank upon the bench. "Ob, my uncle! It will break his heart 1" "it ought not to break his heart," Baid Nicholas, coldly. "She has saved his eon." "How will vou ever tell him ? How will he ever be able to bear it?'' Flora asked, bitterly. "Oh. Flora!', cried Nicholas, "it is my study by night and day how to break it to him. 1 love my father in spite of all; but Dosia is my very life! I dread eo his visiting his wrath upon her in any way. I would not bear to have her wounded I could hate bntoh! I do eo wish to have my father and my aunt Elvira all of you, welcome her." "Ther never will; we nover can," eaid Flora, bursting into miserable tears of distress and fright. Nicholas eat down beside her and put his hand on hers. "But you, dear Flora," he eaid, beseechingly, "you who know what it is to be tenderly beloved" Flora was touched. "What can I do, Nicholas ?" ehe faltered. "Oh, it is dreadful !" ehe Bobbed. "How could you" "Oh, Flora!" Nicholas broke in, "if you would try to make them understand, they might listen to you. She has been the saving of me. I wan going on in my bad course, reckless and defiant in my lonely exile; I fell into bad company over there at Sunrise; and there was a quarrel, in which I got a bad cut. Mv father knows nothing of it; but I ehould have died had it not Un for the Furnivals and Doeia,

Ah, if you really knew her! She is far superior to these other Furnivals; ehe is educated, and ehe is eo good. And, poof

girl, her mother has just died." flow could you marry in eecrei ; eaia Flora, with a touch of indignation ehe could notcurb. Her sympathies were entirely with her uncle. "I wi:l tell you w hy," said Nicholas, nettled ; "it was done in haste" "To be repented at leieure," sai l Flora, with a fresh buret of tear. "Oh, Nicholas!" "No such thing!" cried Nicholas, hotly. "You ehall know the truth, Flora. Until three days before 1 cams up from Sunriso, I had no thought of mairyimr Dosia without speaking to my father; but my father wrote to me and laid down the law you know what he has always wished. He insisted " But Nicholas, angry though he was, had it not in hint 10 tell hid cousin that he had been commanded to ask her in marriace, and that he had married suddenly the girl be loved, to escape obeying that command ; nevertheless, Flora understood. "It would have been usciesd," bhe eaid, st i illy. "Her mother was dying," Nicholas continued sadly, "and I did not know when I could go back to Do-ia; eo we were) married baside her mother's death bed. Of course it was intended to be kept a eecret for the present. Nobody knows except her father and the preacher whe married us; her mother died, as vou know." "It is a miserable business," siid Flora, with fresh tours. Nicholas sighed; hii anger was eihausted. "And I do not know what is to be done, Nicholas. Oh, it will make everything so unhappy for all of us. Is thoro no possible way to undo it?" "Ju6t Heaven, Fiora!" exclaimed Nicholas, recoiling. "What manner of woman are you? Undo it? Never, while I live! My father inu-tt bear it, all of you muit bear it, as such things may be borne. I am neither sorrv nor ashatned that Dosia is my wife; understand that, once for ail. And I 6hall tell my father now, as soon aa I can." "Oh, Nicholas, you might wait until ma and 1 are at homo Again," Mora entreated. "We could do no good and it would be so eo uncomfortable for us. You might show some consideration for us." Nicholas did not replv for some moments; when at last he epoke, it was to Bay coldlv : "I will wait; vou ehall not be called upon to take my part." i iora felt the reproach, but she felt it as a wrong. "You cannot expect ma and mo to be willing to be subjected to unpleasint scenes," she eaid; "and what could I do? Married to Dosia Furnival 1 Oh, Nicholas, it is as if you were dead !" "I dare eay it will result in my being ei good as dead to all my kindred," returned Nicholas, gloomily; "but that cannot make me regret that Dosia is my wife; nothing can make me sorry for that." And hii rose; he had eaid his last words. Fiora rose too; ehe felt there waa noth ing more to be s-iid. With one consent tho cousins went into tho house, each conscious of carrying a tell-tale face, and each shrinking instinct ively from the scrutiny that they knew awaited them upon their entrance. But just as they came in a scene was enacting upon the bnck gallery that diverted attention from Fiora and Nicholas. TO BE CONTINI ED NEXT WEEK. NIAGARA FALLS tXCURSION! ThnMditr, Julr SS, 189?, TU th Lik Erl & Wetteru R. K.-"Natursl Caa Uoult." On Thursday, July 2S. ISO'., the Lake Erie Western railroad will run their popular annual excursion to Cleveland, Chautauqua Lake. Buffalo and Niagara Falls at fobowiug very low rates, viz: Peoria 17.5.0 Fort Wayne -...$5.00 llloornioKtoii 7.W Muocie 5.00 Lafayette t.0 lonnervill 5.0J Michigan City fi.tXl Iluchvillr MO Indiauapolis 5.00 New Cattle 6.0) Tipton 5.tH Cuaibriil City.... 5.(0 Lima. 4.00 Fremont,- Ito tanduky, (4.UO. "With corresponding reductions from intermediate points. In addition to the above, the purchasers of these tickets will be given privilege ot special excursion side trips to Lewiston-on-the-Lake, including a steamboat ride on Lake Ontario, for 2 cent. To Toronto and return by Lake from Lewiston, $1.00; to Thousand Islands, $'.0O. Tickets for tha above eide trips can be had when purchasing Niagara Falls ticket, or at any time on train. Beside the above privileges, with that of spending Sunday at the Fal s, we will furnish all those who desire a fide trip from Brocton Junction toChautauouaLakeaud return FREE OF CHAlKiK. " Tickets of admission to places of special interest at or near Niagara Falls, but outeide the reservation, inc.udmg toil over the International Bridge to the Canadian eide, elevators to the water'u ele at Whirlpool Rapids on the Canadian eue, will be offered on train at a reduction from prices charged after reaching th Falls. Do not miss this opportunity to spend Sunday at Niagara Falls. The excursion train will arrive at Niagara Falls 7 a. m. Friday, July Lt IS.'-, and will leave tha Falls returning Sunday morning, Jnly 31, at 6 o'clock, stopping at Cleveland Sunday afternoon, giving an opportunity to visit the magnificent monument of the Ute President Garfield, and many other interesting points. Tickets will be good, however, to return on regular trains leaving the Falls Saturdav, July 30, for those not desiring to remain over. Tickets will also be good returning on all regular trains up to an i including Tuesday, Aug. 2, 1892. Secure your ticb t; also Chair and Sltepuvj Car Accomnwl'iti'mt, early. Those desiring can eecure accommodations in these cars while at the Falls, For further information call on any agent Lake Erie & Western railroad, or address C. F. Daily, Gen. Bass. Agent, Indianapolis. Ind. The Sentinel's Indiana Almanac; 25c JAPANESE CURB A. ae au4 compleU tren.-as oo"''"oi guppoMtonw O.ntm nt la Ciul , Uo ia Bo and 1M1; a'pouivs cura for Kitsrnal, lottrutl lUnd or Badln,? Uc.im. Cnroaie, itcentor. lIT litiT File. I i ruiir ner hcn known 'iL 81 p.-r bx,S o ior S3; wnt by mail. Whr iufter rrra thl terrible divine when a written guaranl-e 1 po itiir Kl with boxe. To refund tb niitier If not euret. Uuaraniaa ie.ued br F. Will rnUr, M W. Wshin,ton-9t. nd corner SoatU East-tit. nd Lioco'.n Line. l'yJ7 r'. "' r-iii. iia, r f- i ivt lm-it (-r Ourhvrt Xnfiuk - If 'Hlvr fr- I Ji;'. i '.: 1 ..il writ. i. iir. BUI by lU Lock: j um, i a. I CURE FITS! Wben I ur enre I do not mean merely to Up tbam for time nd tben Ure them return ain. I mean a radical cur. 1 bar v! the d reuse of FITS, LPI-LETSYorFAIAlXdSlClL"r.S3alife-!on tly. I warrant my roicedy to tar the worst caaee. Been others hara fiiiod 1 to roaeon for not now receiTUf a cure. 6eod at occe for a treatiae and a Fi aa Ifc tie of Biy infallible remedy. Cia Eiprei and Tort Offioa. ji. fi. BOOT. 2L C 53 Pearl Kt. N. T.

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