The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-01-30
OLD MAN GILBERT.
BY ELIZABETH W. BELLAMY,
C'KAMBA THoRpE,")
Author Of -Four Oazs," Little Joan
na," Etc.
copyrighted. All rights reserved. Published by
special arrangement with the Beford Company,
New York.
CHAPTER X.
WAY.

~. ~
"Ef you hit me, Col. Thor,e," said FU,mi-
The rain was done next morning; the
sun shone upon Thorne Hill, and the
knocking birds made din in the garden
thickets; the guinea fowls and the geese
-andiall the denizens of the poultry yard
kept up cheerful clatter; only the hui
man voice was mute or hushed to dis
heartened whisper.
The colonel had his coffee early and
rode away; Mrs. Thorne and Flora break
tasted in their own room; thus Miss Ell
vira and Missy were alone at table,
Missy had lain awake an hour the night
before, devising various plans in her
poor little brain TO induce her father to
recall "Brer Nicholas" and one of these
plans was deliberate starvation; but
when morning came she was too hungry
to carry out this project, so she ate a
good breakfast, thinking to go without
dinner.
Miss Elvira had made no resolution as
to starving, but appetite had forsaken
her, and having certain plans of her own
that she was anxious to put in train, she
sent Missy away when the meal was
over. With hundred dollars in gold
hidden in her pocket, and bottle of lini-
ment carried conspicuously in her hand.
Miss Elvira set out for old Gilbert's cab
in. She could have sent for old Gilbert
to come to her, but that would have
given publicity to the step she contem-
plated. Lifting her dainty skirts with
great painstaking, she tiptoed around the
puddles in the lane through which old
Gilbert had bravely splashed the dark
night before, with Missy on his back.
She was little exhausted when she ar
rived at the end of her journey.
Old Gilbert was in his garden, where
all things flourished greenly. To fore
stall the products of the ''gret-house gar
den'' was one of the aims of his exist
ence.
Colbert! Gilbert!' Miss Elvira called
family; she was leaning over the gate,
which she found hard to open.
"Dat pesky gate agin!" exclaimed old
Gilbert, fastening forward. "Hopes I
see you we'll dis mornin, Missle-virey."
81 am very well, thank you, Gilbert"
Miss EIvira answered bravely. She had
not slept all night. and she looked old
and i'll, as Gilbert plainly saw.
''Seddown here, Missle-virey, in de
shade of desc pammy-christies, he said,
wiping with his sleeve the rude block
that did duty for bench.
Miss Elvira sat down, glad to rest.
- How is your rheumatism, Gilbert"
she asked, with gentle interest.
Old Gilbert made q wry face; his rheu-
r,atism was none the better for his
tramp in the rain; it was promptly the
worse for Miss Elvira's sympathy. "Hit
kinder-gits-me wild stitch--in de hol-
Ter of de back-now en- agin," he said,
with expressive jerks and pauses.
GIVE brought you liniment that is
considered very efficacious," said Miss
Elvira, in her sofA plaintive voice and
choice language, as she offered the big
black bottle. Miss Elvira would no more
have gone to old Gilbert's cabin without
her "free will Offering" than old Gilbert
would have gone to the ''gret house"
without his little complement of eggs or
vegetables, or the like.
The old man took the bottle with q
smile of supreme satisfaction; he loved
'doctorments Pulling out the stopper
with his teeth, and smelling the contents
with critical air, "Hit got a stren'th,
tubbe shot" he declared, apRrovingly.
'Thankee, moan; thankee, Missle-virey.
i gwan give EN- a trial"
Miss Elvira's eyes meantime travelled
slowly round the little garden, as il in
search of something. She missed Mich
olas in everything she saw. II suppose
you've heard what has happened, Gill
bert!' she said, with tremor in her
voice.
"Yes, Missle-vircy, old Gilbert sighed,
and hung his head.
Nicholas" she proceeded more stead
lily, "has disgraced his family; he has
brought condemnation upon himself
forever
Old Gilbert stood respectfully silent.
There is no help faltered Miss Ell
xira.
Still old Gilbert was silent.
1T were better that he were deadr'
she exclaimed, with passionate sob.
Don't sch dat, Missle-virey, honey"
expostulated old Gilbert, laying his toll
hardened hand on her sleeve. eur dem
we loves ter be dead hits mightyset-
tied fac"
$50 is marriage" said. Miss Elxindn.