The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-04-10


II she expected any show of gratitude,
she was doomed to, disappointment.
do you mean to tell me-" said Wini-
fred, Indignantly, ''that my brother
would not have written without your
consent?"
mo-" said Miss White, with sober de-
cision; ~ amt no SIGH q fool ez ter un-
dertake ter tell befo'hand what the on
sartin sons o. Adam mought or moughtn'
do; but this kin tell, an ain'tdoubtin'
ter say hit: Eff ever that circulatin' YAM
kee gifts back ter Thorne Hill, hit won't
be ter argyfy with me, nor yit with Nick
Thorne, though hit mought be with the
colonel p'r'aps." And she cackled
shrilly.
"He will never come again. Winifred
declared, with burning cheeks.
"Some is easy got rid of an some amt"
said Miss White, sententiously. 81 amt
blind, an in these six months what I've
been ter Thorne Hill I've seen one what
amt comm back--not in hurry, Paul
Henry amt. / know the looks of them
kind. don't set up ter be prophet,
but hit weights me heavy ter give you
this warnin', Winifred Thorne-when he
comes, that friend O. yourn," and Rox-
anna stretched out her hard and bony
hand to clasp the girls soft fingers, 'I
dunno nothin' bout you, but hits goin'
ter be onpleasin' ter the colonel"
He is not coming again." Winifred
insisted. 1--WE don't want him." And
she drew her hand out of Miss Roxannab
sympathizing clasp and went away in q
tnmult of painful emotions. She con-
confessed to none, hardly even to her.
self, that her brothers return had not
brought back the old joy Of her child
hood. "Brer Nicholas" was at home
again, but she was lonely still; some
thing was lacking, she knew not what,
or would not seek to know.
Yet, as the uneventful days went by,
and season gave place to season, Wini-
fred, if she was not glad with the old
Joy that once she hoped for, in her BROTH
er's return, had begun to find sweet
content. She understood at last that her
ardent soul had demanded more than
was possible under the circumstances,
and she no longer expected from Mich
Dlas the absolute devotion she had given
him. She had learned the SOLDERING les
son that life, even the most securely or
dered life, is subject to the memorable
law of change.
Lottie, the cousin she loved best, was
living in a distant town; Paul Henry,
who had declared himself heart broken
at his pretty cousins obduracy, was
married now, and settled in Savannah,
where Bess Henry spent much of her
time--and all this had come to pass with
in two years after Nicholas return. Yet,
though Winifred's life in these days was
not gay, neither was it dull; for no life
is dull that is filled with duties. This
sacred truth had Winifred learned from
her old aunt in New York, and she had
the wisdom now to make to herself many
sweet, small duties that kept her hands
busy and her heart at rest. Hardly
day passed that she did not visit old Gill
bert and Nom Bee with some little offer
ing-a practice that excited Roxanna
Whites vehement disapproval. "Them
two old free niggers," she was wont to
declare, twill devour the colonel's sub
stance, lessen that girl marries somebody
what kin moderate her. But hit'll rile
the colonel the day she makes her choice"
The trees were bare for the second
time since Nicholas home coming, when
Winifred went out, one afternoon, to
visit Nom Bee, The wintry sun was
reddening the west when shecame back;
the air was crisp and invigorating, and
she prolonged her walk through the
grove, where she sat ON the horse block
to await her brothers return from town,
just as she had done, many time, when
q child. The happiness of those blessed
days seemed, all at once, to come again,
and she sang aloud for joy,
Soon Nicholas rode in at the great gate,
and he was not alone; it needed but
glance to reveal that her brothers COM
panion was John Fletcher, and in an in
slant the Joy that had inspired her light
hearted song became dead thing, and
a wild, tyrannical exultation took its
place. "Why did he come again?' she
sighed, trembling. "Iwas content"
She rose up, pale but composed, as the
horses halted and their riders dismounted;
but 1t was cold little hand and the ghost
of smile that she gave John Fletcher
when Nicholas said
"Little sister, this friend of mine is no
stranger to you. I fourd him just in
time to snatch him from Mrs. Theodore
Scott. Thorne Hill is the only place for
John Fletcher when he comes south, eh,
WinifredY'
81 shall hope for a welcome in your
brothers name," said John Fletcher,
with his grave smile; and Winifred,
hardly comprehending, as yet, that she
was not dreaming, assured him that her
father, her aunt, every one, would be
glad to see him.
Col. Thorne had courteous, If some
what startled, welcome for his guest of
two winters agone; but Miss Elvira's
greeting savored Of the question:
Come you in peace or come you in war;
But Roxanna White was jubilant over
the fulfillment of her prophecy. "Wha'
did tell you, Winifred Thorne?" she
said, triumphantly. "Now you heed
what say; many an many's the time