The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-03-20
Old MAN GILBERT.
By ELIZABETH ". BELLAMY,
("KAMBA VHoRPE,~
Author Of "Four Oaks" "Little joan
f,d," Etc.

y
you music lessons. He was ill at the
hotel, and she took him away, and in
sisted upon his staying at her house.
She says it is her duty to take care of
him, because his family had shown her
some kindness or other, years ago; but
people don't 60 to that Mrs. SCOTS now,
not if they can help It,"
In spite of this statement Winifred
Thorne's heart was on fire to 60 to "that
Mrs. Scott's." She was sitting, the next
day, absorbed in this desire, when, hap
pening to glance up in the restlessness of
her impotence, she found her fathers
gaze bent upon her. She had thought
herself alone, and started slightly, red
dening with a sense of guilt she had not
felt before.
"What is the matter with me" she
asked, and smiled family.
Nothing; / see no fault in you, Wini-
fred" the colonel replied, with an an
swcring smile, followed by a sigh.
The tears rushed to Winifred's eyes.
All at once she comprehended that it
must be her duty to coniide in her fathers;
and with that impulsiveness which had
characterized her decisions of old, she
asked:
Father, aren't you going to see this
Capt. Fletcher, some time? He is Aunt
Winifreds friend, you know"
"What do you know about him. the
colonel asked, with searching glance.
did Mrs. Lorrimer tell you of his pres
ence here:"
"No, no; she told me nothing. l did
not know of his being here until yester-
day. But wish you would so to see
him."
''Do not ask that Of me, Winifred,"
said the colonel, frowning. "The bitter
ness of defeat is not yet over. My aunt
expects too much"
sit is not for Aunt Winifred's sake"
said Winifred, in voice that shook with
her intensity of feeling; sit is that he has
seen Brer Nicholas"
The colonel had been striding up and
down the room, but he stopped short
when Winifred said this, and seemed to
ponder the statement.
sit is quite possible that he may have
met-your brother" he said at last; "but
what does that signify? / attach no inn
portance to it."
"Oh, my father!'
The plaintive cry touched the colonel,
but it did not soften him. elbow did you
hear" he asked, gloomily.
"Mom Bee told me; and yesterday
asked Lottie and Bess about it, but they
know nothing; and Nom Bee knows so
little. Oh, go to him; he is dear Aunt
Winifred's friend, you know. Just once!
just once"
"Winifred, what does this mean? Do
you know this Capt. Fletcher the COL
onel asked, suspiciously.
mo, no; but I should be SO thankful
to see some one who has seen my broth
err" Her voice died away, choked with
tears.
The colonel went to the other end of
the room, and stood there, looking at
his daughter across the intervening space
in gloomy silence. ''It Is of Nicholas
she thinks always" he said to himself,
bitterly; mot of my wrongs"
"Winifred, why cannot you let by
cones be by-gones?" he exclaimed, at
last. 81 have given Nicholas up"'
"Oh, no! now Winifred entreated,
shrinking as from blow.
"You should know" the colonel con-
tinued, in hard and bitter tone, 'that
because you wished it, stopped to make
overtures to my graceless son-that
wrote again and again; but he refused
to respond and no W.
His voice shook, and he ceased alb
ruptly.
Winifred went to him and put her
hand on his arm. "You know where he
is, then?" she whispered. her face trans
figured with Joy ineffable.
Her father looked at her with burning
eyes, 81 know nothing of Nicholas
Thorne," he said, coldly. "For your
sake would have forgiven him. have
tried to find him, but he would not be
found-and now-my sole desire is to
forget"
There was that in his face and his
voice that touched Missy keenly. "Oh,
no, no, my father" she faltered piteously.
"To forget is DEATH and you love him
still"
But on the instant the colonel was
himself again. Ills fatal shyness made
him shrink from the very sympathy he
craved.
Yet would not Winifred be discour-
aged. "Try this once MORE" she en-
treated. "Hear what Aunt Winifred's
friend has TO tell"
The colonel frowned and shook his
head. II do not attach the slightest sig
z nificance to any chance meeting he may
have had with Nicholas. Pray let me
hear no more Of this" he said, coldly. 1t
enraged him to find his pretty daughter
taking the part of this northern stranger.
II will be the judge in this matter" he
declared.
''If should chance to meet him" said
Winifred, slowly, and with beseeching
eyes, II may speak to him--for Aunt
Winifred's sake? She was so faithful to
mo-"
"Therc is no probability of youl meet
ing him. her father replied. with cold
evasion