The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-01
CHAPTER XVII.
wINIFRED's THANKS.

><SS~ ~ sss ~ 49,
'You do not ETor0 ho,c much it means TO
Ple.n
After many weary days John Fletcher
at last was able to make his appearances
down stairs. Very pale and weak, tbs
ghost of his former self, he looked, as he
sat in the sunshine on the broad piazza
and Winifred's heart was in her throat al
sight of him. He was alone, and she saw
that now was her opportunity to speak tc
him of Nicholas; and yet she approached
him not without embarrassment, for she
could pct forget that she had refused to
speak to him under Mrs Lorrimer's roof
Neither could John Fletcher forget the
occasion when this young lady bad turn
ed her back upon him and marched out
of the room, emphasizeR- every step
with her small crutch as though she de-
sired to crush him, as possibly she did;
and now she ignored that proceedingi
He bowed his acknowledgements some
what stitfiy when she said, with an effort
to overcome a certain shyness: 81 am Sc
glad that you are able to be OUT" but
when, on a 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
WinifFed herself.
She looked at him with all her soul in
her eyes for the space of several seconds
before she found words, and then they
came almost in a whisper.
''Yo on 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 ALL
It 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 be 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 brother
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 Old" Winifred
said sadly, when he had ended "The |
war has made many people old in this |
part of the world. And If l 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-
ton that she should use the nergro term
"Brer' for Brother, " and an equally ire
sistibe irritation that so much feeling
should be lavished upon Nicholas Thorne
But he viii come back some blessed
day" she exclaimed. with n sudden |
change of tone. He Will come back,
and Daddy Gilbert with himl Poor old
Daddy Gilbert! How it must have
grieved him to forego his little posses
sions here; but he did it at nay 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 l must not tire you" she in
teTrupted herself. Il will go now"
Fletcher was glad she had spared riD
thanks. "If her hatred Is proportioned
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-Ann's house and en-
treated the old woman to make the wa1Iles
for supper; and Nom Bee grumbled:
''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
wafiies equal TO yours, Nom Bee, coa1ed
Missy. And Capt. Fletcher is down
stairs today for the first time; don't you
know he VIII be tired and hungry
''You is done put yo' wah feelins inter
20 pocket, is your" said Giory-Ann.
Glory-Ann was keeping her vigilant
ives very wide open at this time. In
Iced, Miss Winifred Thorne's probable
attitude toward the Yankee captain pro-
7oked surnnise on all sides. The situa-
ion was freely discussed BY Mrs. Leon
.rd ThoTne, who. of course. avoided
rhorne Hiu. but who was therefore the
,ftener at Mrs. Herry's.
dts dreadful state Of things she
aid, with complacency. elf that Yam
zee shonld lose his heart 10 Missy, that
wouldn't so much matter; serve him
light I'm thinking; but suppose Missy
houId take fancy to l1im?"
lit isn't supPosable" cried Bess, holly.
Eyes, it is suppoSable," Mrs. Leonard
Insisted. with obstinabs calm. There is
10 saying what Winifred Thorne may or
nay not do. She always was head J
trcng. you know; and she wouldn't i
are for her Eathers consent"
q am net 50 sure, as to that" Mrs. s
Kerry objected, chsritably. She al !
ways pays her father the most respectful {
reference" /
I'm glad you give it the right namer'
aid Mrs. Thorne. with n chilly little I
augh. 1--WE can't say she loves her {
atheT, as you've seen for yourself, $
Iousin Ayrtilla."