The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-27

logs, with chimney Of clay, occupied
one side of small enclosure, surrounded
by waited fence. Here old Gilbert had
his garden, his tobacco patch and his
poultry yard.
''Plum' glad is ter git homer he ejacu-
lated "Befo' I goes up ter de greet house
I gwan hunt me aigg outen my own hen
nesses; pears lax l ain taste naire aigg
ter my notion sence l been gone"
Now, while old Gilbert was absent al
Sunrise plantation, several things had
happened to increase the coloners impa-
tience at Nicholas contentment in exile.
Ia the first place, a sudden and violent
storm had unroofed Mrs. Leonard
Thorne's house, SO that Miss Flora and
her mamma had been forced to take
refuge at Thorne Hill. This was very
pleasing to the colonel; for though heidi
not like his brothers widow, he was very
fond of his brothers young daughter.
Flora Thorne, besides being fair to see,
had the serene manners that he admired;
she danced with grace, she sang the
simple songs he loved, she was very do
mestic, and not in the least learned F."
1t 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 des-
tiny of gentleman planter. But since
Miss Flora had taken up her abode at
Thorne Hill, the colonel had made dis
covery that caused him much uneasiness.
That so pretty and charming girl should
have adorers was in the natural order of
things, and the colonel did not object to
the frequent visits of Miss FIora's ad-
mirers; but that Miss Flora should favor
any one of them all more than another
Nicholas being absent-was more than
Nicholas father could endure with equa-
nimity. Mr.. Aleck Gage was the one
among Miss FIora's visitors whose COM
ing vaxed the colonel, and increased his
eagerness for his sons 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 en-
gagged the coloners thoughts. He felt
that Nicholas under sentence of Danish
ment ought to plead to return home; he
was sure that Sunrise plantation must
have proved unendurable long ago; but
Nicholas was giving proof of more OBJ
stinate endurance than his father had
supposed him capable of. ''Confound
him for being so much like me!' the col
onel muttered, as he sat staring at the
thorny popinac, where the accustomed
hooking bird, rejoicing in the moonlight,
poured its unstinted song. In. the parlor
Flora was singing to AIeck Gage some
thing about moonlight and music, love
and flowers, and the colonel ragged like
the heather.
Old Gilbert's familiar greeting fell upon
his ear with soothing sound. Leaning
forward in his chair, the colonel deserted
dark visage just above the level of the
piazza floor. Hello! So your back at
last, you old runaway!' he said loosely.
And how is Nicholas"
"Mawse Nicholas is peart ez a cricket,
subj" Gilbert answered cheerfully, but
added Immediately, and with strong en-
phasis, Hits a mighty lonesome place,
tubbe shot"
''Ha! Nicholas finds it lonesomeg" the
colonel asked eagerly.
He amt complained none," old Gil
bert sighed. En- de craps is mighty
promussin'," he supplemented, adroitly,
though well he knew that the crops owed
none of their promise to Nicholas.
Suddenly he changed the subject. AL
though he still had it in mind to tell 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 try another course.
Whoa dis de tell me, mawster, down
ter de quarter, bout de storm done IN
rooted Miss Pauline's house?"
Yes" the colonel answered; didn't
you have a blow at Sunrise plantations"
''Tubbe sho, sub, what you mought call
a high win, the day after l got dere; but
de ain no damidge done. Miss Flora en-
her NAV, Miss Pauline, de is all safe?'
''Oh, yes, only out of house and home;
out of their own house and home, that
is. They've a home here, of course, as
long as they'll stay. l don't know how
long it may be about rebuilding. The
house is pretty badly shattered and Fur
nival is not to be found in Tallahassee.
He has a job somewhere, it seems"
''Mawse Job Furnival you is meanin',
mawster:' cried old Gilbert, excitedIy.
Bless yo soul, mawster, he is over.ter
E2en; seed him myself; had speech wild
him"
"What is he doing there:"
Il amt 'zactly made out ez he is doi1'
anythln' III ticker, sub" old Gilbert
uneasily. But I'm a-thinkin'
it mought be a-savin' you a sight O trou-
bic, mawster. if Mawse Nick wuz here ter
90 back en- 10th en- look after rebuiIdin'
Miss Pauline's house"
Exactly" exclaimed the colonel, with
4 feeling akin to gratitude I'll send
forthwith for FUrnivaI, and I'll have
Nicholas at home. Go round to the
kitchen and tell Dicey to give you a tip
top supper. Reckon you're pretty tired;'
"Aiddlin', mawster: thankee. sub, -
old Gilbert responded. with = sigh of in
finite relief.
Il didn't want ter 90 tell on Mawse
Nick" he said to himself. on the way to
the kitchen; mot ef hit wuz ter be hOlp.
En- thankful I am de Lawd is pinted de
way der git him forch home dout me 90
tel!in', praise be ter glory
The colonel called Tom Quash, and
gave him orders to take the double buggy
and two horses. and start for Sunrise
plantation early the next morning. carry
ing letter 20 Nicholas, and another to
JOB Furnival.
The two days that interviewed before
this messengers return were hard TO lie