The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-01-09
OLD NAN GILBERT.
BY ELIZABETH W. BELLAMY,
: (''KAMBA TnoRPE,')
author Of "Four Oaks" "Littie joan
nd," Etc.

copyrighted. All rights reserved. fuolshed py
special arrangement with the Belford Company,
New York;
But how to recall his banished son
without sacrificing his own dignity-a
point upon which be was superlatively
sensltive~-was still the problem that en-
gagged the coloneps thoughts. He felt
that Nicholas under sentence of banish-
ment ought to plead to return home; he
was sure that Sunrise plantation must
have proved uncomfortable long ago; but
Nicholas was giving proof of a more OBJ
stinate endurance than his father had
supposed him capable of. 'Confound
him for being SO much like me!' the col
onel muttered, as he sat staring at the
thorny popinac, where the accustomed
knocking bird. rejoicing in the MOONLIGHT.
poured its unstinted song. In the parlor
Flora was singing to Aleck Gage some
thing about moonlight and music, love
and flowers, and the colonel ragged like
the heather.
Old Gilbert's familiar greeting fell upon
his ear with soothing sound. Leaning
forward in his chair, the colonel deserted
dark visage just above the level of the
piazza floor. 'Hello! So your back at
last, you old runaway" he said loosely.
And how is Nicholas"
"Mawse Nicholas is peart ez cricket,
subj" Gilbert answered cheerfully, but
added Immediately, and with strong EN-
phasis, Hits mighty lonesome place.
tubbe shot,
"Ha! Nicholas finds it lonesomer' the
colonel asked eagerly.
"He amt complained none," old Gill
bert sighed. EN- de craps is mighty
promussin'," he supplemented, adroitly,
though well he knew that the crops owed
none of their promise to Nicholas.
Suddenly he changed the subject. AL
though he still had it in mind to tell all
he knew, he found it very hard to make
his report; he could not come at it
through the medium of the crops, and he
was fain to try another course.
whoa dis de tell me, mawster, down
ter de quarter, bout de storm done I'M
rooted Miss Pauline's house,
EYES," the colonel answered.; "didnt
you have blow at Sunrise plantation?'
"Tubbe sho, sub, what you mought call
high win, the day after got dere; but
de ain no damidge done. Miss Flora en-
her NAV, Miss Pauline, de is all safer
"Oh, yes, only out of house and home;
out Of their own house and home, that
is. They've home here, of course, as
long as they'll stay. 1 don't know how
long it may be about rebuilding. The
house is pretty badly shattered and Fur
nival is not to be found in Tallahassee.
He has a job somewhere, it SEEMS"
"Mawse Job Furnival you is meanin',
mawstery' cried old Gilbert, excitedly.
'Bless yo' soul, mawster, he is over ter
Eden; seed him myself; had speech wild
him."
"What is he doing there!'
II amt 'zactly made out ez he is dom
anythin' in ticker, suh," old Gilbert
answered, uneasily. "But I'm a-thinkin'
it mought be a-savin' you sight o. trou.
ble, mawster, if Mawse Nick wuz here ter
20 back en- 10th en- look after rebuildin'
Miss Pauline's house."
''Exactly!' exclaimed the colonel, with
n feeling akin to gratitude. "Tll send
forthwith for Furnival, and I'll have
kitchen and tell Dicey to give you tip
top supper. Reckon you're pretty tiredY'
''Middlin', mawster; thankee, suh,"
old Gilbert responded, with sigh of in
finite relief.
II didn't want ter go tell on Mawse
Nick" he said to himself, on the way to
the kitchen; mot eff hit wuz ter be holp.
En- thankful am de Lawd is pinted de
way der git him fotch home 'dout me go
tellin', praise be ter glory"
The colonel called Tom Quash, and
gave him orders to take the double buggy
and two horses, and start for Sunrise
plantation early the next morning, carry
ing a letter to Nicholas, and another to
Job Furnival.
The two days that interviewed before
this messengers return were hard to be
endured in patience; it was more than
could be borne that Tom Quash returned
alone.
''Miz Furnival, sub, is a-lyin' ut de
pint o DEATH" Tom explained. EN-
dat Ocount Mr.. Furnival he couldn't
come jes' yit."
"And Nicholas asked the colonel,
impatiently.
s'Mawse Nicholas is wrotened a note"
said Tom Quash, fumbling in the crown
Of his hat. HE sont his ree-spec's, en-
he can't come at SIGH short notice; is got
some matters ter sorter straighten, but'li
be along after day or go"
The colonel snatched his sons note and
read it eagerly. 1t was expressed in
terms calculated to mollify an angry
parent, but there was Alex Gage in the
parlor turning over the music while
Flora sang, and the colonel found it hard
10 be patient.
Tom Quash did not tell how Nicholas
stamped and swore when he read his
fathers letter and declared that Sunrise
plantation was good enough for him;
Tom Quash kept all this to himself, and
pondered it in his obtuse brain.
When Miss Elvira learned that Nicho-
las was coming home she locked herself
within her room, took from a secret
drawer the note she had received from
Roxanna White and read it for the last
time. Then she burned 1t, and having