The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-01-09

this since his return, three days before.
SHOW much do you love meS' Nicholas
asked, with great craving Cor loves
support.
"Mo'n anybody else in all the world"
Missy answered, with emphatic decision.
''Oh, monstrousl" cried Nicholas, 30
much moved that he was constrained to
speak lightly. ~ suppose you could
undertake to fight dragons for me9"
Dragons contemptuously. 81 could
fight-the devil and all his works"
"What in the world?'- exclaimed
Nicholas, with burst of laughter.
SWELL" said MISSY. Ill creetly, "them's
the strongest wor . could use, be n
girl. They're in the catechism," she adj
ded, by way of recommendation, "or the
baptism. l forget which"
'Missy, Missy, I'm afraid you're sad
pickley'
'I'm goin' to be very good now, since
I've got you home. I'll do just every
thing to please you. I'm all the sister
you've got"
"Yes! you're all the sister I've goti Oh,
Missy, how l wish you were olderr'
Him. said Missy, not at all compli-
mented. "Then I'd be young lady at
the pianner, like my cousin Flora, al
ways afraid of spelling my clothes.
Bound you wouldn't get her to ride
double, this er way"
Il shouldn't think of asking her."
laughed Nicholas.
"No," Missy asserted, comfortably,
"Tm nicer than her." She was bitterly
jealous of Flora.
| The family were at tea when the broth
er and sister came in, Missy clinging to
Nicholas arm.
"How you do spoil that child" said
Mrs. Leonard Thorne. She disapproved
of Missy's ''ways" with Nicholas; in fact,
disapproved of Missy altogether.
"No," said Missy. with a motherly air,
"it's me what spoils him."
The colonel frowned. Flora" he
said, 81 wish you would undertake to
smooth my little daughter"
SIS she fiat iron?" said Missy, pertly,
stuffing her handkerchief into her mouth.
Nicholas and Flora exchanged glances
and frankly smiled.
"Winifred!' expostulated Miss Elvira;
but Missy had seen her brother smile and
she cared naught for her Aunt Elyira.
In the privacy of her own room that
night Mrs. Leonard Thorne expressed the
opinion that Winifred Thorne was born
to be modification to her family. ''She
makes herself a perfect nuisance to Mich
olas."
"Oh, ma" Flora demonstrated; and,
seeing that her mother was bent upon
talking about Nicholas, she began to
comb her beautiful, luxuriant hair over
her eyes.
| "Not but that it's very admirable in
Nicholas to be 30 indulgent toward her.
always did justice to Nicholas good
qualities. He may have been little
wild, but what of that? All young men
of spirit are FESTIVE under restraint. My
brother-in-law, the colonel, demands per-
lection in his son and heir--as if he were
anywhere near perfection himself"
"Oh, mar said Flora again. You know
Uncle Jasper never was-like Nicholas. "
"No, he never was" repeated Mrs.
Thorne, with emphasis. "Catch Col.
Thorne confessing his follies and short
comings, as Nicholas has to me. That is
what call honorable in the highest de-
gree. It's what most young men wouldn't
do-under the circumstances. always
knew he would come out right in time.
And what property he will have, Flora!
Three fine plantations, besides the Fern
dale place to be divided between him and
that little monkey of Missy. Then your
Aunt Elvira will probably leave all she
has to Nicholas; he always was her IA
vorite. And Nick is so pleasant; he hasn't
lost any of his bright spirits
81 don't know about that, ma" said the
more observant Flora, behind her brown
tresses. rMy Cousin Nicholas hasn'tsuch
bright spirits as he'd like to have a body
believe. They are too bright; and he is
moody enough when he thinks nobody is
noticing. And them
Sand thenY repeated Mrs. Thorne, all
attention.
"He is in another scrape, fancy" said
Flora, slowly. "There is certainly some.
thing weighing on his mind"
"Or his hearth suggested Mrs. Thorne.
1t afforded Miss Flora's mamma ex-
quisite enjoyment to watch the progress
of affairs between Nicholas and her
daughter. 1t was like vivified novel,
and upon no account would she have
been willing to see this romance hurried
to a precipitate conclusion with the music
of marriage bells. 1t was quite the proper
thing that the young lady should be coy
and disdainful, denying her true feelings
and flirting with rival, while the young
gentleman distrusted his own desert,
counterfeited gayety, and was a prey to
gloom; all this was too delicious to be
marred by inconsiderate haste.
Never had Mrs. Thorne seen devotion
so delicate as that displayed by Nicholas.
Every morning, Immediately after break.
fast, he fastened away to see about the
work on his aunt's house; every noon he
returned with suggestions for improve
ments and conveniences that he detailed
to Mrs. Thorne, with an interest and en-
thusiasm that took her vanity captive.
Devotion to Flora's mamma was sure to
be appreciated by Mrs. Thorne; it was
| Al Jrao -, IF har haart that ba. sovx