The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-04-10
Old NAN GILBERT.
By ELIZABETH W. BELLAMY,
("KAMBA THoRPE,'D
Axthor of "Four Oaks" "Little joan
ma" Etc.

oOIIeF eu VIII siuihe, hc Puioucu EARN
estly, "what dishyer ole plantation amt
a-gwan on lax hit useter. De orter be a
younger man den mawster on dishyer
plantation. We needs Mawse Nick, tubbe
sho'. Now, doan you go ter sighin' dat
away, Missy, en- gwan tell you some
thin prime comfort;n'; you put yo' pen
dance in Mawse Gin'ral Fletcher, en- you
gwan seer
''No,' said Missy, with far off look in
her eyes. We've done with him for
ever"
"You gwan see," old Gilbert repeated.
The days went by; the tender green Of
the oak tassels and the purple blush Of
the Judas tree began to hint of springs
return; and Missy renewed one of the
joys of her childhood, hunting wild vio-
let's in nook she knew of old. As she
was returning from one of these expedi-
tions, in the cleaning, her father met her
with the unexpected tidings that he had
a letter from Nicholas.
Missy did not exclaim, she did not turn
pale, she did not grow faint; but the
shock of joy and surprise for moment
deprived her of speech; she could only
look at her father beseechingly.
my dear child" said the colonel,
compassionating her, she is safe and
WE'LL"
"Oh, God is goodv she broke forth.
"My dear, dear brother! Let us go to
him, my father! 1 cannot wait; my
heart drags my bodyr'
"Winifred, sit down." the colonel COM
manded. "You will make yourself ill.,"
''No, no." she protested, with fearful
laughter. 81 am too full of joy to be Ill!
Oh, tell me all, quickly"
"Not unless you promise to be calm"
the colonel insisted.
Winifred sat down. 81 have been
calm for years." said she; ''let me be
mad with joy now"
"You shall read for yourself" he said,
as he put the letter into her hands.
There were only three short pages, but
these were eloquent with the desire for
reconciliation.
''Ah! let us go to him at once!' cried
Winifred.
'No, my daughter" the colonel re-
piled, with sad decision; Nicholas must
come to me-"
"Yes, he must! he must! But write;
write now! Say, MY dearest son, come
home He is your dearest son. you
know" she urged, detecting o shadow
on her fathers face, 'for you have no
other"
''You must leave me to write my let
ter in my own way" the colonel said in
exorably. nicholas shall come home;
but you must remember that he will not
come alone"
mo; you will have two daughters"
The colonel turned away, impatiently.
He had never thought of Dosia Furnival
as his daughter; he could not bring him.
self to think of her in that light now;
but he could make up his mind to accept
her as his sons wife; and it was not
Dosia's advent that he dreaded; it was
Miss Roxanna White against whom he
revolted. For Roxanna the Inevitable.
Roxanna the Avenger, had written to
the colonel; but, with characteristic reti-
cence, he said nothing of this to Wini-
fred.
1t had never been Winifred's habit to
confide her joys and sorrows to Miss
Elvira, but now sort of rage for SYM
patty urged her to call on that gentle,
inane lady to rejoice with her. She al
most snatched the little worn book of de-
votions out of her aunts hands, exciaim-
ing. with laughter and tears
"Oh, let us give thanks to God with
our whole heart; and out of our hearts,
not out of book! For my brother that
was lost is found again.
"Winifredr said Miss Elvira, with
mild rebuke. at is-unladylike to be
so-forcible.
"Brer Nicholas-baven't you heardr"
eyes; I have heard" Miss Elvira sigh
ed, in answer; ''that Is why went to
my devotions." Then Winifred saw that
she had been weeping.
"Surely : you rejoice?" she asked,
trembling; for it frightened her to real
ize what hatred and anger waited to rage
in her heart against whoever should re-
fuse to rejoice at her brothers return.
Miss Elvira turned her eyes away.
"The old joy died." she said, sadly,
"when Nicholas rode away in the rain
that summer night, nearly nine years
ago. 1t can never come again."
"You are cruel, you are wicked to say
thatw cried Winifred.
"No, Winifred; am only experienced.
loved Nicholas dearly, but when I
think of his coming now my heart fails
me. There will be a difference; it is
only kind to warn you"
"What difference?' Winifred demand
ed, with fire in her eyes.
"Why should we deceive ourselves,
childr said Miss Elyira, querulously.
"You know that Nicholas will not return
alone"
"Would not Dosia be my sister," cried
Winifred. would she not be your
niece and my fathers daughter? She is
Beautiful, and she is good; accept Do
sia."
"Oh, Dosia," said Miss Elvira, slight
ingly. In a certain sense she, too, ac-
cepted Dosia; that was inevitable.
"And as to the little boy Wini-
fred began, with a tremulous tender
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