Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-07-05
CHAPTER XVII.
wINIFRED'S THANKS,


"You do not knoU hop much Il means 10
me-"
After many weary days John Fletcher
at last was able to make his appearances
down stairs. Very pale and weak, the
ghost Of his former self, he looked, as he
sat in the sunshine on the broad piazzal
and Winifred's heart was in her throat al
sight of him. lie was alone, and she saw
that now was her opportunity to speak to
him of Nicholas; and yet she approached
him not without embarrassment, for she
could not forget that she had refused to
speak to him under Mrs. Lorrimers roof.
Neither could John Fletcher forget the
occasion when this young lady had turn
ed her back upon him and marched out
of the room, emphasizes every step
with her small crutch az though she de
sired to crush him, as possibly she did
and now she ignored that proceeding!
He bowed his Acknowledgements some.
what stilllv when she said, with an effor,
to overcome n certain shyness: II am SC
glad that you are able TO be OUT" bui
when, on sudden impulse and with
deepening color, she stretched out her
hand, he smiled as he took it and the
rudeness Of the past was forgotten. He
had been interested in Winifred's story,
but little was lacking to interest him in
Winifred herself.
She looked at him with all her soul in
lsr eyes for the space Of several seconds
before she found words, and then they
came almost in a whisper.
"You do not know how much it means
to me-" she said, 'to shake hands with
you, who have shaken hands with Brer
Nicholas. Tell me of him! Tell me ALI
1t is the nearest can come to him!"
Capt Fletcher had felt rather bored by
the interest his meeting with Nicholas
Thorne had excited, but now he was
moved to tell the story with a minuteness
of detail he had never yet bestowed upon
it. 1t was not that a beautiful young girl
was listening, with her wistful eyes upon
his face; it was the pathos Of her long,
unwavering devotedness of affection that
stirred his deepest, most reverent sym.
pathy-a pathos the more touching by
contrast with the fact that her brothers
affection for her had seemed to him to
have faded into a calm and ordinary
memory. But he could not tell her this;
neither could he tell her that Nicholas
heart was hardened against his father.
"My father is growing DID," Winifred
said, sadly, when he had ended. "The
war has made many people old in this
part of the world. And I--if do not
find Brer Nicholas, too, shall be old
old"
The captain was conscious of two dis
tinct sentiments on hearing her express
herself in this way-an irresistible irrita.
tion that she should use the nergro term
"Brer' for Brother" and an equally IRE.
sistible irritation that SO much feeling
should be lavished upon Nicholas ThorneD
"But he will come back some blessed
day" she exclaimed, with sudden
change of tone. "He will come back,
and Daddy Gilbert with him! Poor old
Daddy Gilbert! How it must have
grievcd him to forcgo his little posses.
sions here: but he did it at my bidding.
did not know that it would be for SO
long. ! was but child, and it seemed
an easy thing for me TO have my own
way. But must not tire you" she in.
terrupted herself. Il will go now"
Fletcher was glad she had spared him
thanks. IF her hatred is proportio ioned
to her love-" he said to himself, gazing
after her, with what intensity she must
hate Yankee And he laughed aloud.
In the dusk, that evening, Winifred
went out to Glory AIMS house and en-
treated the old woman to make the waffles
fAr and Mon, RaA ,yrnn,hlnl.
"Hukkom CLANCY can't cook ter suit
you here lately, Missy? Pears ter me
you mighty notionate all of a suddin'."
"Chaney can't, she never could make
wailles equal to yours, Nom Bee, coaxed
Missy. And Capt. Fletcher is down
stairs today for the first time; don't you
know he will be tired and hungry"
lyon is done put yo' wah feelins inter
yo' pocket is your said Glory-Ann.
Glory-Ann was keeping her yigilant
eyes very wide open at this time. In
deed, Miss Winifrcd Thorne's probable
attitude toward the Yankee captain pro-
yoked surmse on all sides. The situa-
ton was freely discussed by Mrs. Leon
ard Thorne, who, of course, avoided
Thorne Hill. but who was therefore the
oftennr at Mrs. Herry's.
"lts dreadful state of things" she
said, with complacency. IF that Yam
kee should lose his heart TO Missy, that
wouldn't so much matter; serve HIM
right IN thinking; but suppose Missy
should take fancy to himf
at isn't suppcsable!' cried Bess, hotly.
Eyes, it is supposable,' Mrs, Leonard
insisted, with obstinate calm, There is
no saying what Winifred Thorne may or
may not do. She always was head
strong, you know; and she wouldn't
care for her fathers consent"
II am not so sure, as to that" Mrs,
Herry objected, charitably, ''She al
ways pays her father the most respectful
Difference
I'm glad you give it the right name!'
said Mrs. Thorne, with "A chilly little
laugh, 1--WE can't say she loves her