The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1890-05-23

gree. 1t ; what most young men wouldn't
do-uneter the circumstances. ! always
knew ne would como out right ii time.
And what property he Will have. Ilora.
Three fine plantations, besides the Form
dale place to hc divided between him and
that little monkey of q Missy. Then your
Aunt Evira will probably leave all She
has to Nicholas; hc always WAS her ia
vorite. And Mex j. 81 pleasant, lac hash /.
lost any Of his bright spirits"
81 don't know about that rua, said the
more observant Flora, behind her brown
tresses, My Cousin Nicholas hasn't such
bright spirits Us he'd like to have body
believe. They are too bright; and lac il
moody enough when he thinks nobody is
noticing. And then''---
And then" repeated Mrs. Thorue, all
attention.
He Is in another scrape, fancy" said
Flora, slowly. There is certainly some
thing weighing on his mind"
''Or his heart? uggcsted Mrs. Thorne.
1t afforded Miss Flora's mamma ex-
quisite enjoyment to watch the progress
of affairs between Eichoas and her
and upon no account would she have
been willing to sec this romance hurried
10 u precipitatc conclusion with the music
Of marriage bells. 1t was quite the proper
thing that the young lady should be coy
and disdalnfui, denying her true feelings
and flirting with rival, " hile the young
gentleman 6istrI!oted his own desert.
conntarfeited gayety, and Was prey to
gloom; all this was too delicious to be
Iaarrcd by inconstlerate haste
Never had Mrs. Thorne seen devotion
go delicate as that displayed by Nicholas
Every morning, Immediately after break
fast, he hastenei away to see about tho
work OH his aunt's house; every noon he
returned will suggestions for improve
ments aud eoncenlences that he detailed
to Mrs. Thorne, with an interest and en-
thusiaSn that took her vanity captive.
Devotion to Elora's mamma was sure to
bs appreciated hJ Mrs. Thorne, it was
the dream Of Ter heart Chat her spn-in-
law should be Ia loye with herself. Fur
niydl was now at work upon the house,
and 1t pleased Mrs. Thorne u fancy that
tho impetuous Nicholas natlst worry tic
life out Of that dilatory mechanic
Not tAat am III haste to h.ye you
leave Us, aunt, vou understand said
Nicholas, hlushing, when rallied upun
his energy Ill pushing on the work.
Mira Thorne thought she did under
stand perfectly. 1t was out of the aues-
ton that Flora should he married in any
other house than her mothers. EuruivaI
had be il heard tosay to Nicholas: When
4 boy Lax you takes Il narryll' notion lie
stands fair to make q burned fool Of him
self That Furnvai the carpenter,
should rresum. to make such speech
- Col. Thorae's son was immensely
amusing to Mrs. Leonard Thorne. She
tried to persuade Nicholas to tell her
what had provoked it, bat Nicholas only
tnrne'i scarlet ami quickly changed the
subject.
When he Yves not with Furnigal Mich
olas devote! himself 70 Flora, doing all
that a young man may to win malaen's
favor. for Ae did arientfy desire to win
his cousins favor that he might count
upon her womanly sympathy.
Missy ragged over this state Of things.
DtGI slGiDldS dlI no mo Use To mo
than d settln' hem" size declared Ii re-
ql,ired Glory AIMS strictest vigilance to
keep the child from logging tie steps Of
the two youns people.
As for Flora, she was sorely perplexed.
Nicholas had never been 81 attractive to
her as now. Alonawlth his pretty cousin.
he abandoned al pretenee 70 gayety, and
M -.
without its fascination for young girls
heart; and there were moments when
Flora hardly knew whethcraAe preferred
her cousin or Aleek Gage.
And there was AIecl, Cage coming
every few days. "Nonler what makes
him such /. fooI2' was the coionels I'M
spoken comment. But its Iloras priyi-
lege 10 keep him dangling.
Nicholas did not qult the parior or the
piazza when Ahck came now, and he
always made one Of tie party when a
walk WAS proposed; but when once they
We're out IL the snrubbery, Nicholas dis
appeared.
This was Misays hour Of triumph,
when she pounced upon her brother, and
bore him of to inspect a birds nest, To
carve her name ia the bark Of q tree. to
make etctings with thorn upon the
leaves of the century plant.
And this was also young Alexis hour,
when he waved eloquent and eontiden-
tial, though never 4 hiHt would his sense
Of honor permit hin To breathe Of the
glimpse thai had been given him Of
Nicholas Thoine's heart.
In this state OF things Flora was sorry
for Nicholas, and angry with him, too.
Often she faneiel that he was upon the
point Of speaking bnt lacked the cour-
aye, which was indeed tho case She
wished lie could speak, that they might
come to an understanding, and yet she
dreaded to have him speak, knowing
what wrath and bitterness would follow
upon her answer. Every member Of the
family, she was well aware, would take
Nicholas part: every body would blame
her except Aleck Gage. If Nicholas
would only be content 70 be brotherl
And all that Nicholas desired was That
Shn M - ~ i8fI