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


sat In the sunshine ON the broad piazza
and Winifred's heart was in her throat al
sight OF him. He was alone, and she saw
that now was her opportunity to speak tc
him of Nicholas; and yet she approached
him not without embarrassment, for she
could not forget that she had refused to
speak to him under Mrs. Lorrimer's roof.
Neither could John Fletcher forget the
occasion when this young lady had turn
ed her back upon him and marched out
of the room. emphasize. every step
with her small crutch as though she de.
sired to crush him, as possibly she did;
and now she ignored that proceeding!
He bowed his Acknowledgements some
what stiffiy when she said, with an effort
to overcome certain shyness: 81 am so
glad that you are able to be OUT" but
when, on IA sudden impulse and with a
deepening color, she stretched out her
hand, he smiled as he took it and the
rudeness of the past was forgotten. He
had been interested in Winifred's story,
but little was lacking TO interest him in
Winifred herself.
She looked at him with all her soul in
her eyes for the space of several seconds
before she found words, and then they
came almost in whisper.
'"You do not know how much Ii means
to me-" she said, Ito shake hands with
you, who have shaken hands with Brer
Nicholas. Tell me OF him! Tell me ALL
1t is the nearest can come to him"
Capt. Fletcher had felt rather bored by
the interest his meeting with Nicholas
Thorne had excited, but now he was
moved to tell hestory with a minuteness
of detail he had never yet bestowed upon
it. 1t was not that beautiful young girl
was listening, with her wistful eyes upon
his face; it was the pathos of her long,
unwavering devotedness of affection that
stirred his deepest, most revercnt SYM
pathy-a pathos the more touching by
contrast with the fact that her brothers
affection for her had seemed to him to
have faded into calm and ordinary
memory. But he could not tell her this:
neither could he tell her that Nicholas
heart was hardened against his father.
my father is growing DID," Winifred
said, sadly, when he had ended. "The
war has made many people old in this
part of the world. And If 1 do not
find Brer Nicholas, too, shall be old
old"
The captain was conscious of two dis
tinct sentiments on hearing her express
herself in this way--an irresistible irrita-
ton that she should use the nergro term
"Brer' for Brother" and an equally ire
sstible irritation that so much feeling
should be lavished upon Nicholas Thorne.
''But he will come back some blessed
dayw she exclaimed, with sudden
change of tone. ''He will come back,
and Daddy Gilbert with him! Poor old
Daddy. Gilbert! How it must have
grieved him to forego his little posses
sions here; but he did it at my bidding.
/ did not know that it would be for so
long. l was but a child, and it seemed
an easy thing for me to have my own
way. But must not tire you" she in
terrupted herself. 81 will go now"
Fletcher was glad she had spared him
thanks. eff her hatred is proportional
to her love-" he said to himself, gazing
after her, "with what intensity she must
hate Yankeel" And he laughed aloud
In the dusk, that evening, Winifred
went out to Glory-Ann's house and en-
treated the old woman to make the waffles
for supper; and Nom Bee grumbled: :.
"Hukkom CLANCY can't cook ter suit
you here lately, Missy Pears ter me
you mighty notionate all of a suddin'."
"Chaney can't, she never could make
waffles equal to yours, Nom Bee," coaxed
Missy. "And Capt. Fletcher is down
stairs today for the first time; don't you
know he will be tired and hungry"
"You is done put yo' wah feelins inter
yo' pocket, is your said Glory-Ann.
Glory-Ann was keeping her vigilant
eyes very wide open at this time. In
deed, Miss Winifred Thorne's probable
attitude toward the Yankee captain pro-
voked surmise on all sides. The situa-
ton was freely discussed by Mrs. Leon
ard Thorne, who, of course, avoided
Thorne Hill, but who was therefore the
oftener at Mrs. Herry's.
"It's dreadful state Of things" she
said, with complacency. ''If that YAM
kee should lose his heart to Missy, that
wouldn't so much matter; serve him
right I'm thinking; but suppose Missy
should take fancy to him.
"It isn't supposable!' cried Bess, holly.
Eyes, it is supposable," Mrs. Leonard
insisted, with obstinate calm. "There is
no saying what Winifred Thorne may or
may not do. She always was head
strong, you know; and she wouldn't
care for her fathers consent"
81 am not SO sure, as to that" Mrs.
Henry objected, charitably. ''She al.
ways pays her father the most respectful
Difference"
"pm glad you give it the right namer'
said Mrs. Thorne, with a chilly little
laugh. "We can't say she loves her
father, as you've seen for yourself,
Cousin Myrtilla."
Mrs. Henry had seen it and sorrowed
over it. When next Winifrcd came to
town, missy, dear child" she said, with
afectionate entreaty, "why is it that
you do not love your father
"But do" said the girl, reddening.
"At least, 1 love him, suppose, just as
most girls love their fathers"
Che had M mind IN onpfooS that al,