The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-03-27

honey; but it gwan be a tough pull, I'm
skeered."
DIR. Lane now came in, rubbing his
hands, and Glory-Ann precipitately re
tired, TO give her attention to the supper
table, seeing that Miss Elvira was inca
pacitated.
SWELL" said the doctor, brusquely
''here's queer state OF things! Suppose
you've no idea who your guest Is? No
body less than that Yankee, Fletcher
whom your father declined to receive.
ODD, isn't it, that the colonel had never
even seen him? Good joke, ch. Miss
WinifredY"
But Winifred did not even smile. "Is
he badly hurt?" she asked, gravely.
'Pretty serious case;" and DIR. Lane
went into details that Winifred could not
understand. $50, you see, you may have
him on your hands for some time to
come, he continued, in conclusion. ''But
we'll save him, if we can, ell, Miss Wini-
fred, though he is Yankee?"
Winifred made no reply; but the col
onel, who had come in moment before,
said, a little stiffly:
1T is an unfortunate occurrence,
much to be regretted. We must hope
that the accident may have no untoward
ending"
"Look out, Miss Winifred!' cried DIR.
Lane, laughing.
Winifred was very angry. "There is
no occasion to say that to mew she re-
torted.
"Well, hope you won't find him an
insurmountably Objectionable guest"
said DR.. Lane, good humoredly. ''He is
friend of your aunt's, understand,
colonelY'
"Yes," the colonel answered, still with
stiffness; ''but under the circumstances
any man would be entitled to my hospi
tality, sir"
This was q sentiment in which Miss
Elvira fully concurred, though she. was
dismayed beyond measure when she
learned who was the guest an untoward
accident had sent to Thorne Hill. sit is
really great embarrassment" she Ia
mented to Winifred. "Of course, your
Aunt Pauline and Flora can'tcome to see
us now"
1T isn't matter of choice to have
Capt. Fletcher here" said Winifred, with
an impatient sigh.
''That is true" Miss Elvira agreed, in
a tone of relief. 1--WE had, indeed, no
choice; it was altogether providential."
This view of the situation she repeat
ed to Mrs. Theodore Scott, who called
the next day. 1t had been Mrs. Theo-
dore SCOTS deliberate choice to- have
Capt. Fletcher at her house, Miss Elvira
superiority.
Mrs. Theodore Scott, with heightened.
color, FASTENED to assure Miss Efvira
that she likewise had had no choice; she
had extended hospitality to this soldier
of the northern army from a sense of
duty.
81 know very well that people have
thought hard of me-" she said, tearfully;
''but the man was ill; he came to Talla-
hassee for his health, and here he was.
ill among strangers. And his mother
was my friend, dear Miss Winifred, she
addressing herself to the
young girl, as to a more sympathetic
listener; "whst could l dor
"You know best, Of course, Mrs.
Scott" said Winifred. coldly.
"Yes, she was my friendr' Mrs. Scott
with some asperity, feeling
that she had not received tho hearty in
dorsement she had hoped for from Win
fired. 81 was poor, friendless little
thing at school, and Adelaide Hardy,
who was a good deal older than 1, was
always my champion. And this was
not all; her father was rich and mine
was poor, and it was through her kind
ness and liberality that enjoyed adj
vantages / could not otherwise have had.
She is dead now, but l don't forget all
she did for me-"
''No," said Winifred, "you could not
forget that" She rose and moved rest
lessly about the room, and at last came
and stood beside Mrs. SCOTS chair; she
felt n strong, incomprchensible impulse
to stoop and kiss that lady, but she re-
sisted it.
''I am a southerner, and 1 have the
sentiments of southerner," Mrs. Scott
continued, with some excitement, "as
Capt. Fletcher knows; but receive him
for his d.nr mothor's sake; and this I
can say for him-he is gentleman"
"Of course" said Winifred, crisply.
"My Aunt Winifred's friend must be a
gentleman"
; IF it had not been for the war!" Mrs.
Scott exclaimed, with bitter sigh. "As
my husband says, Capt. Fletcher has
come too late for the old times, and too
soon for the new. Mr.. Scott, you know,
dear Miss Elvira, is such q sufferer from
that wound he received at Shiloh-hardly.
ever leaves the house, and the captain is
SO kind about playing chess with him.
OF course we avoid all discussions of the
war, and so ] would advise you to do,
Miss Winifred."
~ have no wish to discuss any subject
with him, except my brother Nicholas"
Winifred replied coldly.
CHAPTER XVII.
wINIFPED,c TuANKS,