The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-02-27

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"Hit's business, mawster, eff you
please, sub, dis time," old Gilbert made
answer, twirling his hat by way of relief
to his embarrassment. Use been study
in on a trade, eff you'd git yo' cawnsent,
subj"
"Well?"
"Dat ole white muel, Zip, sab. Iwuz
studyin' Diet you mought be minded ter
tex sixty dollars FIR him; he is a ole
muel."
"What? You've sussd up sixty dol
larsv exclaimed the colonel. "And you
want to buy old Zip to feed him on my
corn and fodder, eh?"
"You wouldn't miss what he'd eat,
sub, nur marry 'nuther muel, old Gilbert
said deprecatingly, unconscious of the
comparison he made, but which the
colonel perceived and smiled at grimly.
81 don't see what you want with the
mule" he said. sold Brandy and the
OK cart about belong to you now"
"Ole Brandy en- de yox cyart amt so
survisable for ploughin'," Gilbert ex-
planned.
utbi v w ubO Jul odAo bhO
colonel, shortly.
There followed pause, during which
old Gilbert stood stock still, as if sudden
ly paralyzed. Not fiber of him stirred.
except his eyes, that roved from one
part of the room to another, returning
again and again to rest upon the colonel.
"You can take the mule at any time
,,aa1 HIM ~ ha colonel oat1 OF
last, and he repeated, 81 don't want your
money"
"Thankee, mawster, thankee suh," old
Gilbert responded, but there was disap-
pointment in his tone. He fingered an
instant, as if he meant to say more, then
turned and went his stumbling way cut
of the Office. When he had gone down
the steps. he looked back to say, "Ain't
l heard you tell de oberseer what Zip is
wuth bout sixty dollars, subj
II suppose he may be worth about
that" the colonel answered, absently.
1t wanted now but few days of
Christmas, which the colonel desired to
celebrate just as usual The turkeys had
long been fattening, the beef was killed,
the bonfires were piled ready for light
ing. If Nicholas absence was felt, no
one alluded to it, and jest and jollity
went on without him.
On Christmas morning the Hill re-
sounded with the popping of fire crack
ers, the shooting of guns and the repeat
ed shout, in every variety of tone, of
"Chris'mas gif, mawster!" Christmas
gift, Missle-virey" Christmas gif',
Missy" Even some few ventured to
"catch" Glory-Ann "Chrism gift" for
which impertinence they were promptly
rewarded with cuff on the ear. Missy
stood on the back gallery and presented
china mugs, gay handkerchiefs, strings
of beads and pipes and tobacco; while
Miss Elvira, aided by Glory-Ann and
Daphne, ladled out egg nog from huge
punch bowl, and distributed gingerbread
from an inexhaustible basket.
And that Christmas morning, far away
in Tampa, Nicholas was saying gayly,
though the tears stood in his eyes, "Only
kiss, my Dosia, only a kiss for a Christ
mas gift!'
A large party dined at Thorne Hill that
ndD . anu lIClO w do lCdoJlhS Will utCOl-
Gus merriment, in which the colonel bore
his part.
Missy disappeared after dinner, but at
dark she rushed in, and calling her aunt
Elvira aside, she demanded the necklace
and bracelets her father had brought her
from New York. Il amt never showed
'em to Nom Bee, nor nobody" she said.
"But, Winifred, you might break
Them" Miss Elvira demurred.
Nevertheless, Missy, as usual, carried
her point, and Miss Elvira returned to
the parlor to forget all about the jewelry
until next day. Missy, when inquired
of, responded that she was old enough
now to be trusted with her own things:
and by dint of forbearing to press the
question, Miss Elvira came soon to forget
the chain and bracelets altogether.
In the afternoon of the second day
after Christmas Glory-Ann took occa-
sion to ask:
"Missle-virey, is you sont old man Gil
bert off anywhey:"
Of course Glory-Ann knew all about
those secret expeditions with the OK cart,
hlob W iSutll anu Iucn W ldlldudSSee.
"Where should be sending him?' said
Miss Elvira, coloring guiltily.
"Dunnome," Glory-Ann answered,
with mystery. "Maybe hits mawster is
sont him?" She was consumed by curl
osity; for old Gilbert had been missing
since the morning after Christmas. His
cabin was locked, and there was no
smoke in the chimney.
1t was soon manifest, however, that
The colonel was not responsible for old
Gilberts disappearance, as he was heard
to ask if the old man had made himself
i'll on Christmas cheer. When the mat
ter was further inquired into, it was found
that the old white mule Zip was missing
likewise.
The colonel received this information
with stare at first, and then burst out
laughing; though why he laughed nobody
knew, for he had told no one of old Gill
bert's proffered trade. But this laugh
gave the impression that Gilbert had
taken advantage of some jest of his mas
ter's to treat himself to prolonged holt
day, and his absence ceased to be won
dered at, even when nearly two weeks
had gone by,