The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-01-16

Nicholas privilege to wrap it around his
cousins shoulder, after which he drew
her pretty hand within his arm, and
surely there was abundant opportunity
for him to speak in the long walk half
way around the grounds.
But Nicholas talked onlyo indifferent
things in a half hearted fashion, and
when they reached the gate where usu-
ally they met Aleck Gage just dismount-
ing he would laugh and whisper, ''See
the conquering hero comes" and leave
Flora blushing.
1t had seemed to Nicholas that the
wisest thing he could do would be to
take his cousin Flora into his confidence;
but whenever the occasion offered his
courage forsook him, his tongue refused
its office. He had let slip his opportunity
many times before he realized that de-
lays are dangerous; but when once he
began to feel this it was not possible for
him to hesitate longer. He was sure that
he could count upon Flora's sympathy,
at least, even il she could do nothing to
aid him, and it seemed like an omen Of
good fortune that, at the very moment
when he began to feel so impatient to
tell his cousin all, Aleck Gage should
make his visit SO very much shorter than
usual, the cause for which was that
Aleck and Flora had INDUCED in the lux
ury of q quarrel.
Nicholas saw the angry lover striding
down the walk and did not hail him for
parting word. "Let him gor' he said.
"For this once the sooner the BETTER"
And he rose up quickly from the bench
under the mimosa tree and almost ran to
seek his cousin.
Flora was in the old fashioned sum-
mer house, screened at the back by many
mingling vines; the moonlight streaming
through the wide archway in front re-
vealed her, seated, with her head bowed
down. her face hidden in her hands
"Fiora! Flora! Ny cousinr' cried Mich
&as. "What Is the raattar?'
A terrible fear seized upon him. Could
it be that Flora did not care for Aleck
Gage? Or was she so dominated by her
uncle's will that she dared not allow her
heart fair play? But no-Flora had a
will of her own. What il her uncle's
wish were her wish, too? All this rushed
through Nicholas brain as Flora sprang
up and demanded haughtily:
''How dare you come spying upon me?"
II am not spying upon you, Flora
said Nicholas, as he staggered back
against the wall of the summer house.
II wish to be your friend" he added,
rallying himself by a supreme effort. He
determined to assume that his cousins
preference was for Aleck Gage.
do you mean to say cried Flora,
with sudden illumination, as she went to
him and laid her hand on his arm, ''do
you mean to say, Nick, that you-won't
ask me to marry you?"
II won't ask you to marry me-" Mich
olas answered and smiled-anything but
a heartbroken smile, and yet it was so
sad smile that Flora was overwhelm-
ingly sorry for him.
"Oh, Nick!" she cried, and clasped her
hands around his arm and laid her head
against it. "You are a dear, good fell
low and / love you dearly, dearly; but
you know-if you were to ask me I'd just
have to say no. and then there would
be dreadful time. But if only you
would take my part
"My dearest cousin! OF course l will
take your part But then-will you go
halves and take my part?' Nicholas
asked TREMENDOUSLY and with an uneasy
laugh.
"You know I will" said Flora. who
was far from suspecting her cousins
meaning. "Why, should be the basest
migrate not to stand up for you as if
were your sister,"
Nicholas put his arm around her, and
just then the hooking bird in the thicket
behind them suddenly ceased its song,
and fiuttered through the foliage with q
quick, short, unmelodious chirp. II
trust it is not an omen of ill, Flora, said
he, glancing over his shoulder, "that the
bird should so abruptly cease its song"
II don't believe in omens," returned
Flora, impatiently. 81 believe in my
own determination.
81 was thinking of myself" said Mich
olas, with an uncomfortable shiver, 'not
of you" He took both her hands in his,
and looked in her face-and smiled.
"But with you to take my part, you who
can understand how love comes unbid-
dem
Eyes, dear Nick" said Flora, softly.
II can understand. will always be on
your side, whatever my uncle may say"
Flora was far from exulting in the
thought that her cousin loved her hope
lessly, but she found it exquisitely inter-
esting to feel herself thus beloved.
81 do not know how it isl cannot
tell how it began" said Nicholas, with
almost sob in his voice, "but-I love
one who is so dear and beautiful and
good" He dropped Flora's hands and
clasped his own with intensity of feel
ing. Love her! But she can never
please my father. There is my bitter
trouble"
1t seemed toF'lora as il she heard these
words in dream; and yet she fully and
instantly understood him as she never
hitherto had understood him. Instinct
lively she recoiled from him; it was not
in the nature of the case that she should
not feel resentment at this unexpected
discovery that, after all, Nicholas had
never been in love with herself; that his
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