The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-03-13


his arm.
The next day came Lottie and Bess,
with their grandmother; like Nom Bee,
they came in a hired hack, for Mrs,
Henry had been glad to sell her carriage
and horses.
Cousin Myrtilla looked old and worn,
the more SO, perhaps, that she nc longer
INDUCED in the coquetry Of dress. Her
granddaughters were young ladies now,
and it taxed her straitened to
the utmost to furnish their simple ward
robes. But Lottie and Bess carried light
hearts in spite of empty purses. They
rejoiced over Missy, and they reioiced
also over her New York outfit. These
sisters had gloried in wearing homespun,
but now that the wal was over they were
not proof against the attractions of silks
and velvets, and Missy's pretty dresses
offered such brilliant suggestions for
making over certain old finery their
grandmother had stored away.
But the cut of a sleeve, the a adjustment
of a flounce,, could not riyet Missy's in
terest while her heart vas burning to
learn whether, by any chance, her cousins
knew anything of the stranger who had
met Nicholas.
sob, take all tho things home with
you," she said, impatiently. "But tell
me this, have you mct-Imean, do you
know anything about a stranger from
the north And Winifred faltered
forth the information Glory-Ann had
given her.
Lottie and her sister exchanged glances,
but did not speak.
"You are ! ping something from
me-" cried Winifred.
"He was in the Yankee army" said
Bess, with chilling brevity. "We don't
know him." And again her eyes sought
her sisters.
"But about his meeting with Brer
Nicholas?' persisted Missy.
"Well, Missy, you know if cousin
Jasper don't concern himself about it,
there is ~ reason why we should" said
Lottie. and she would have talked of
something else; for her cousin Nicholas
had long ago faded out of her interest SO
completely that she could not divine the
strength and the fervor of Missy's devo-
ton. But Missy would not allow the
subject to be dismissed.
"What is his name::" she asked.
"Why should / trouble myself about
his name?' said Lottie, impatiently.
"Is there any way for me to see himY'
persisted Winifred, desperately.
"Winifred Thorne!" cried her cousins
in chorus. 1.-THE enemy of your coun-
try? Surely you would not speak to
him?"
"If he can tell me anything of my
brother | would go down on my knees
to hint" Winifred declared, with a
tremulous fervor. sob, Lottie! Oh,
Bess! You do not understand. Brer
Nicholas was all l had to love-"
lyon had your father, and you have
him still" said Lottie, with virtuous re-
proof; though she did not think that she
herself would have liked the colonel for
a father.
"And your Aunt Elvira," said Bess.
reproachfully; and yet Bess was not pass
ing fond of Miss Elvira.
Winifred smiled sadly. EYES," she
said, II suppose they both loved me as a
child, but they kept me ut a distance,
while Brer Methodist lived close to his
heart. I have missed him always; /
shall never rest until l find him."
"Your father will never forgive you il
you make overtures to this Capt.
Fletcher" said Lottie, with conviction.
"Fletcher!" cried Winifred. Thought
you did not know his name?'
"Well--if you must have the truth,
Winifred, we know his name, not be-
cause we care about 1t, but because we
cannot help knowing it. John Lorimer
Fletcher--there's enough Of it, goodness
Knows"
"My Aunt Winifred's friend!' Wini-
fred exclaimed in extreme surprise. ~
know o why you and Bess looked at
each other So"
"If you were so unfortunate rs to
meet him at your %aunt's," said Lotto,
with a judicial air, "why you know,
MiAy, that was something you could
not help, and you are not bound to
know him now, of course"
81 did not know him! l would not
know him!' cried Winifred, in strong
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