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

there was abundant opportunity for him
to speak, in the long walk, half way
around the grounds.
But Nicholas talked only OF indifferent
things, in q hali-hearted fashion; and
when they reached the gate where usually
they met Aleck Gage just dismounting, he
would laugh and whisper, See the CON-
quering hero comes" and leave Flora
blushing.
1t had seemed to Nicholas that the
wisest thing be could do would be to take
his cousin Flora into his confidence; but
whenever the occasion offered his courage
forsook him his tongue refused its Office.
He had let slip bis opportunity many
times before he realized that delays are
dangerous; but when once he began to
feel this il was not possible for him to
hesitate longer. He was sure that he
could count upon Flora's sympathy, at
least, even if she could do nothing to aid
him; and it seemed like an omen OF good
fortune that, at the very moment when he
began to feel so impatient to tell his cousin
all, Aleck Gage should make his visit very
much shorter than usual, the cause Tor
which was, that Aleck and Flora had in
dul0ed in the luxury of quarrel.
Nicholas saw the angry lover striding
down the walk, and did not hail him for
"For this once the sooner the better" and
he rose up quickly from the bench under
the mimosa tree and almost ran to seek
bis cousin.
Flora was in the old-fashioned summer
house, screened at the back by many
mingling vines; the moonlight streaming
through the wide archway in front re-
vealed her, seated with her head bowed
down, her face hidden in her hands.
"Flora! Flora my cousinl" cried Mich
olas. What is the matter"
A terrible fear seized upon him; could
it be that Flora did not care for Aleck
Gage2 Or was she so dominated by her
uncle's will that she dared not allow her
heart fair play? But no-Flora had will
of her own. What if her uncle's wish
were her wish, too? All this rushed
through Nicholas BRAIN as Flora sprang
up and demanded, haughtily:
flow dare you come spying upon me?"
81 am not spying upon you, Flora,
said Nicholas, as he staggered back against
| the wall of the summer-house. II wish
TO be your friend" he added, rallylng
himself by a supreme effort. lie deter
mined to assume that his cousins prefer
ence was for Aleck Gage.
"Do you mean TO say" cried Flora, with
| sudden illumination, as she went to him
and laid her hand on his arm, "Do you
mean to say, Nick, that you-won't ask
me to marry vou?"
II won't ask you to marry me-" Nicho-
las answered, and smiled-anything but a
heart-broken smile, and yet it was so sad
smile that Flora was Overwhelmingly
sorry for him.
"Oh, Nick !" she cried, and clasped her
hands around his arm and laid her head
against it. you are dear, good fellow,
and love you dearly, dearly; but you
krow-if you were to ask me, I'd just
have to say no. and then there would be
a dreadful time. But if only you would
take my part"
MY dearest cousini OF course 1 will
take your part But then-will you go
halves and take my part?" Nicholas
asked TREMENDOUSLY, and with an uneasy
laugh.
"You know will, )" said Flora, who was
far from suspecting her cousins meaning.
"Why, l should be the basest migrate not
to stand up for you as if we're your sis
ter"
Nicholas put his arm around her, and
Just then the mocking-bird in the thick
ct behind them suddenly ceased its
song and fluttered through the foliage
with a quick, short, unmelodious chirp.
Il trust il is not an omen of ill, Flora,
said he, glancing over his shoulder, that
the bird should SO abruptly cease its
song"
al don't believe in omens." returned
Flora, impatiently. Il believe in my own
determination"
Il was thinking of myself" said Nicho-
las with an uncomfortable shiver, mot Of
YOU" He took both her hands in his
4 Il L. a H. Id Dvnt
with you to take my part. you who can
understand how love comes unbidden-'
Eyes, dear Nick" said Flora softly. 81
can understand. | will always be on
your side, whatever my uncle may cay.
Flora was far from exulting in the
thought that her cousin loved her hope
lessly but che found il exquisitely inter
esting to feel herself Thus beloved.
81 do not know how it isl cannot tel
how it began" said Nicholas, with almost
a sob in his voice. "but-I love one who
is 80 dear and beautiful and good" He
dropped Floras hands and clasped Iii
own with intensity of feeling. Love her
But she can never please my father
There is my bitter trouble"
1t seemed to Flora as If she heard these
words in dream; and yet she fully anC
instantly understood him as she neve
|
lively she recoiled from him; it was not il
the nature of the case that she should no
feel resentment at this unexpected dis
covery that, after all, Nicholas had neve
been in love with herself; that his sighI
and his sadness were, after all, not for her
az hope, Nicholas" said she, with (
little air of virtuous superiority, II d,
hope you have not fixed your affections
upon some one beneath your"
NO" said Nicholas. lifting his heaC
proudly; Il have set my affections upoI
one infinitely above me-in all that i
lovely and of good report" he added will
bitter laugh. "And love her with al
the strength that Aleck Gage loves you, i
that is any criterion" he continued, fas
losing his self-control. "And, thank God
Dosia loves me-"
"Dosia-Furnival? ?" cried Flora, clasp
ing her hands, and drawing away from
him by sudden, almost violent move
ment. cousin Myrtilla's protege? Ant
YOU expect us to countenance herr Oh
Nicholas Nicholas You cannot be il
earnest? You must break away, and a
once, from all this"
II am in earnest" Nicholas answered
His face was pale; his voice shook; he wa
angry. "And as to breaking sway-Dosi
is my wife, Flora; respect her"
"Your wife?" Flora gasped, and SAM
unon the hench ooh nv unclel IL Will