Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-07-05

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had here,r said old Gilbert, with . re-
gretful sigh; sbut hit b dat busted down,
en- dat growed up. En- es for DAT muei.
hit wuz short lived muel fur de money;
hit TUX n died in less n six months"
"I1l give you q deed 70 the house and
land. making IL yours for life,' said the
"weil, tubbe sho, you kin spare dat
much," said old Gilbert complacently.
EN- ef dat's yo' will en- pleasure, maws-
ter. why--1 pass my cawnscnt."
How much an acute sense Of his own
advantage. how much Of affectionate
fidelity and the power Of habit, went to
the making of this consent It is impossi-
BILE to say.
''As to the price of the mule" contin-
ued the colonel, ''tnerc is the money Just
as you left it," And he tossed the bag Of
coin to old Gilbert, who grinned and
twisted with mingled embarrassment
and satisfaction. "But I would like to
know how you contrived TO convey it to
me, and how you contrived to convey
yourself nwayy'
and glanced at Missy, who said, as the
quick blood mounted to her forehead:
at was me managed it!'
Her father looked at her with smile
of sad perplexity.
"Hit wuz jes' det she wuz no sot on
Mawse Nick, tubbe sho!'' old Gilbert ex-
planned. as he Rugged the remnant of his
savings. "'Ceptin had done los track
of him, wouldn't nuver have come back
bedout him, long o my promuss ter
Missy. But what po no count Niger
can't manage, sh'oly a man o. gumption,
lax mawster, kin 70 shortly bring ter
pass"
"Oh, my fatherr' Winifred exclaimed
"You will bring him back2 And life
will be sweet once more, and we can for
get the war"
1--WE will see,' the colonel said, and
sighed. He had not the heart to remind
her that there was no certainty that
Nicholas still lived
"Well! wellr' said old Gilbert, with a
subdued chuckle, as he slipped down
from his perch on the box. "Ef l amt
been 'stonished outen my manners at
gittin homel How is Missle-virey, tubbe
sho?'
"She is well, and she will he so glad to
see you," said Missy. "Come to the
house and you shall have Christmas
dinner. After all, this is not such a sor-
rowful Christmas day."
Yet she wiped away the tears as she
went.
Old Gilbert's appearance at the "gret
house" created hubbub of excitement
that penetrated to the room where John
Fletcher sat in moody meditation. Five
weeks had he been a guest at Thorne
Hill and his immovable resolve was
taken; he would go on the morrow; he
would run any risk rather than remain
longer under this roof. now that he knew
the fate that threatened him.
But on the morrow John Fletcher was
again an invalid. He had contracted a
chill from exposure to the night air, and
for some days following he was serious
ly i'll; but though the coloners courtesy
never tagged, and Miss Elvira was
prompt with kind attentions, his inn
patience to be gone increased with his
illness.
Col Thorne perceived this state OF
mind with extreme annoyance. He hao
accepted this northerner as he might
have accepted decree of fate, but he
never forgot that Capt. Fletcher was his
guest, and he would fain have had hin
feel at ease.
ut is dull house, dull house," ht
repeated, with deep sigh, as he sat be
side the sick mans bed one morning. H.
looked strangely worn and haggard. II
though he was, John Fletcher noted th'
change wrought in Missy's father sine
old Gilbert's return. His dignified sci
possession seemed to have deserted him
and no talked with an absent air, as j
thinking aloud. young people requir
gayety," he said. "My daughter mus
go away for a few days; she dwells to-
much upon her brother" Then, with al
instant and naughty change of manner
as though he repented the momentar.
weakness, he interrupted himself: "But
sir, disturb you, and DR.. Lane advises
perfect quiet
The colonel had spent an hour in tn
sickroom that morning, but of all that h
had said John Fletcher understood onl.
this, that Missy was going away; that h
should see her no more. His reason, hi
pride, his sense of "the eternal fitness o
things assured him that this was best
but more than ever did he now desire b
leave Thorne Hill.
Continued nert Saturday