The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-02-20


1t was the end Of October when Col.
Thorne returned. Miss Elvira welcomed
him with gentle and dignified self re-
straint, born partly of timidity and partly
Of her notion of perfect ladyhood, and
The colonel expected nothing more from
his undemonstrative sister; but there was
a perfunctoriness in Missy's greeting that
made him at last aware of her estrangc-
ment, and struck a chill to his heart.
He had brought the child some cxtrava-
CANT pieces of jewelry, but she evinced
no pleasure in his gifts, and her father
noted, without comment, that she left
them lying on the table.
The next morning he rode over to his
sister-in-law's place. He hoped toreceive
from Flora a welcome that should make
amends for what he missed in his own
home, nor was he disappointed. His
pretty niece met him with an afrectionate
effusiveness that almost did away with
the effect of his little daughters GOODNESS;
but it did not escape his observation
later that Aleck Gage was in the back
ground, deporting himself with conf
dent air.
Mrs. Leonard talked garrulously of
various things; of the improvements she
wished to make, of the sale of her cotton,
the investment of her surplus funds, the
purchase of mules, even of her poultry;
but never word of Aleck Gage.
The colonel deemed this reticence sig
Rniicant, and he. rode home vexed. He
had thought to order his small world &C
cording to his own will and pleasure, and
now he found it fast slipping from his
yrasp-his son an alien, the niece whom
he had hoped to make his daughter ready
20 marry one whom he had not chosen,
and his own little daughter Indifferent to
him.
But when Flora came, two days later,
10 say that she had promised to marry
Aleck Gage in December, the colonel,
perforce, resigned himself to her choice
with dignified philosophy.
II had allowed myself to expect diff
ferent marriage for you, Flora, as you
know" he could not resist saying, nor
could he say it without sigh; but he did
not say it harshly.
1t was the first expression he had ever
given to his disappointed hopes, and
Flora, eager to console him, exclaimed,
with the indiscreet enthusiasm of youth:
"Aleck hasn't fault in the world,
Uncle Jasper; he will be the best of sons
10 you, if you will only let him!'
The colonel did not say that he had no
desire to claim Aleck Gage for son.
He broke away from her abruptly and
stood looking out Of the window some
little time, struggling for command of
himself. He was still pale when he re-
turned; but he spoke with courtly dig
nifty:
II claim the privilege of giving the
bride away"
THAT is just what 1 wantedr' cried
Flora, and with a sudden impulse Of
gratitude, affection and sympathy she
threw her arms around his neck and
kissed him and cried a little.
The news of FIoras engagement threw
Miss Elvira into great flutter. She de-
,lared that it was just what she had al
ways expected. and that she was never
more surprised in her life, and then she
looked helplessly at her brother.
"F'lora will be married in her mothers
house, of course" said the colonel; "but
rhorne Hill must honor the occasion
with merry making, and all our friends
must be invited"
Eyes, oh, yes!" Miss Elvira responded,
with sigh of relief. Her brothers dis
approval of the match would have been
sore embarrassment; the entertainment
Inc colonel wished to give was trifle
IN comparison, though it meant three
weeks of incessant work at seeding rails
ms, washing currants, blanching almonds
md frosting cakes; but those burdens
we're to be borne by Glory-Ann and
Clancy and Dicey, Tom Quash and Crit
in Jim.
"And since Flora is such a favorite,"
,aid Mrs. Henry, when she heard of
Ihese great preparations, "why doesn't
,he put in good word for Nicholas?
rhe arrant little coward, she knows very
we'll that it was to save her from embar-
rassment, while she was the coloners
guest, that the boy delayed his confess
zion, and 80 made matters worse. The
colonel is pining for reconciliation with
ais son, though he won't own it, and