The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-15

gree. It's what most young men wouldn't
do-under tho circumstances. / always
knew he would come out right in time.
And what q property he will have, Flora!
Three fine plantations, besides the Fern
dale place, to be divided between him and
that little monkey of Missy! Then your
aunt Elvira will probably leave all she
has to Nicholas; he always was her favor
lite. And Nick is so pleasant; he hasn't
lost any of his bright spirits"
81 don't know about that, ma, said the
more observant Flora, behind her brown
tresses. "My cousin Nicholas hasn't such
bright spirits as he'd like to have body
believe. They are too bright; and he is
moody enough when he thinks nobody is
noticing. And then"
"And then?" repeated Mrs. ThoEne, all
attention.
He is in another scrap. l fancy" said
Flora, slowly. There lie certainly some
thing weighing on his mind"
"Or his heart" suggested Mrs. Thorne.
1t afforded Miss Flora's mamma exqui-
site enjoyment to watch the progress Of
affairs between Nicholas and her daughter.
II was like vivified novel, and upon no
account would she have been willing to
see this romance hurried to a precipitate
conclusion with the music of marriage
bells. 1t was quite the proper thing that
the young lady should be coy and disdain-
full, denying her true feelings. and flirting
with rival, while the young gentleman
distrusted his own desert, counterfeited
gaYety, and was prey to gloom; all this
was too delicious to be marred by incon-
siderate haste.
Never had Mrs. Thorne seen devotion
so delicate as that displayed by Nicholas.
Every morning, Immediately after break
fast, he fastened away to see about the
work on his aunt's house; every noon he
returned with suggestions for improve.
ments and conveniences that he detailed
to Mrs. Thorne, with an interest and en-
thusiasm that took her vanity captive.
Devotion to Flora's mamma was sure to
be appreciated by Mrs. Thorne; it was the
| dream of her heart that her son-in-law
should be in love with herself. Furnival
was now at work upon the house, and 1t
| pleased Mrs. Thorne to fancy that the i'm
| petuous Nicholas must worry the life out
of that dilatory mechanic.
Not that / am in haste to have you
leave US, aunt, you understand" said
| Nicholas, blushing. when rallied upon his
| energy in pushing on the work.
Mrs. Thorne thought she did under
stand, perfectly; it was out of the ques-
ton that Flora should be married in any
other house than her mothers. FurnivAl
had been heard TO say to Nicholas, when
boy lax you takes a MARVIN notion be
| stands fair to make burned fool of him.
self" That Furnival, the carpenter
should presume 10 make such a speech to
| Col. Thorne's son, was immensely anus
ing to Mrs. Leonard Thorne. She tried to
persuade Nicholas to tell her what had
| provoked it, but Nicholas only turned
scarlet, and quickly changed the subject
When he was not with Furnival, Mich
| olas devoted himself to Flora, doing ali
that young man may to win maiden't
favor; for he did ardently desire to wiz
his cousins favor that he might count
upon her womanly sympathy.
Missy ragged over this state of things
"Brer Nicholas amt no mo- use TO me
than a settin' hen," she declared. 1t re
quired Glory-Ann's strictest vigilance K
keep the child from logging the steps O
the two young people.
As for Flora, che was sorely perplexed
Nicholas had never been so attractive t
her as now. Alone with his pretty cousin
he abandoned all pretence to gayety, anC
gave himself up TO a sadness that was no
without its fascination for a young girl
heart; and there We're moments wher
Flora hardly knew whether she preferred
her cousin or Aleck Gage.
And there was Aleck Gage coming ever,
few days. wonder what makes hin
such fool?" was the colonel's unspokel
comment. "But it's Flora's privilege Il
keep him dangling"
Nicholas did not quit the parlor or tn
piazza when Aleck came now, and he al
ways made one of the party when wall
was proposed; but when once they wer'
out in the shrubbery, Nicholas disap
pearsd.
This was Missy's hour of triumph, wher
she bounced upon her brother, and Dor
himIof to inspect a bird's-nest, to carv
her name in the bark of tree, to max,
etchings with a thorn upon the leaves O
the century plant.
And this was also young Alexis hour
when he waxed eloquent and confidential
though never a hint would his sense o
honor permit him to breathe of tn
glimpse that had been given him of Mich
olas Thorne's heart.
In this state OF things Flora was sorr
for Nicholas, and angry with him, toe
Often she fancied that he was upon tn
point of speaking but lacked the courage
which was, indeed, the case. She wishe,
he would speak, that they might come (
an understanding; and yet she dreaded t
have him speak, knowing what wrath an
bitterness would follow upon her answer
Every member of the family, she was wei
aware, would take Nicholas part; every
body would blame her except Aleck Gage
If Nicholas would only be content to be
brotherl
And all that Nicholas desired was ths
Flora should be to him as sister.