The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-29
CHAPTER XIV.
PROTEST OF THE RIDDLES.


restraint, born partly of timidity and partly
of her notion OF perfect ladvhood, and
the colonel expected nothing more from
his undemonstrative sister; but there was
periunctoriness in Missy's greeting that
made him at last aware OF her estrange-
ment and struck a chill to his heart. He
had brought the child some extravsgant
pieces of jewelry, but she evinced no
pleasure in his gifts, and her father noted,
without comment, that she lett them ~
! ing on the table.
The next morning he rode over to his
sister-ln-law's place. He hoped to receive
from Flora a welcome that would make
amends for what he missed at his own
home, nor was he disappointed. Ills
| pretty niece met him with an atiectionate
effusiveness that almost did away with
| the effect OF his little daughters GOODNESS;
| but 1t did not escape his observation later
| that Aleck Gage was In the background,
| deporting himself with confident air.
Mrs. Leonard talked garruIously 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 her poultry; but
never a word of Aleck Gage.
The Colonel deemed this reticence
significant, and he rode home vexed. He
had thought to order his email world ac-
cording to his own will and pleasure, and
now he found it fast slipping from his
/ grasp-his son an alien, the niece whom
he had hoped to make his daughter ready
| to marry one he had not chosen, and his
own little daughter Indifferent to him.
But when Flora came, two days later,
to say that she had promised to marry
Aleck Gage in December. the colonel,
perforce, resigned himself to her choice
with dignifed philosophy.
Il had allowed myself to expect q
different marriage for you, Flora, as you
know" be could not resist saving 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,
I with the indiscreet enthusiasm of youth
"Aleck hasn't fault in the world,
Uncle Jasper; he will be the best Of sons
TO 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 returned; but
he spoke with a courtly dignity
Il claim the privilege of giving the
bride away"
THAT is just what 1 wantedy' cried
Flora; and with a sudden impulse OF
gratitude, affection, and sympathy, she
threw her arms around his neck and
kissed him, and cried little.
The news of Flora's engagement threw
| Miss Elvira into a great futter. She de-
clsred that it was just what she had always
expected. and that she was never more
surprised in her life and then she looked
helplessly at her brother.
"Flora will be married in her mother s
house, of course" said the colonel; but
| Thorne Hill must honor the occasion with
merry-making; and all our friends must
be invited"
Eyes, oh yesp Miss Elvira responded,
with a sigh OF relief Her brothers dis
approval of the match would have been a
sore embarrassment; the entertainment
the colonel wished to give was tribe In
comparison, though it meant three weeks
of incessant work of seeding raIsins, wash
ing currants, blanching almonds, and frost
ing cakes; but those burdens were to be
borne by Glory-Ann and CLANCY and
Dicey, Tom Quash and Griffin Jim.
"And since Flora Is such a favorite,
said Mrs. Henry, when she heard of these
great preparations, why doesn't she put
in good word for Nicholas? The arrant
little coward, she knows very well that il
was to save her from embarrassment,
while she was the colonel's guest, that
the boy delayed his confession. and 80
made matters worse. The colonel is pin
ing for q reconciliation with his son,
though he won't own it, and Flora might
do something to bring it about. As for
me. I've only meddled to mar, so there's
an end of my efforts"
Mrs. ThOrne was very angry with Cousin
Myriilla for this speech.
AZ don't see how you can talk OF recon
Citation with NicholasW said she. Il am
surprised at you! As if we Thornes ever
could consort with a Furnival"
To which Mrs. Henry made the exasper-
ating retort that Nick's wife was every
bit as much Thorne as Mrs. Leonard
herself
For all this. however, Mrs. Henry was
not omitted in the list OF invitations,
either to the wedding or to the merry
making at Thorne Hill; for the colonel
had announced that every connection OF
the family, far and near, should be In
vited to the entertainment he meant to
GIVE in honor of his niece's marriage.
and amt Brer Nicholas and his wife
kinfolks ?" asked Missy, with bold signif-
canoe. She did not fear her father, and
vet her poor little heart ffuttered wildly
when she put this daring question.
The coloneps only answer was dark
and forbidding frown, and Missy betook
herself TO a corner.
Don't you fret bout dat, honey" whis-
pered Nom Bee, '"now don't you; fur de
is gwan to be de iddlers en- de dancin', en-
plum-cake a-plenty."
Don't want none" said Missy, who
had givan herself an indigestion by the sur
reptitious gormandizing OF raisins and
citron.
En- besides all dat" proceeded Glory.
Ann to her overwhelming climax, You
gwan be dressed 80 spruce en- gay; 20
cousins, Miss Lofty en- Miss Bess, in pink
en- you in q hebenly blue
Poor little Missy, who was fond OF dress
dried her tears, and reconsidered her de
termination to abstain from the wedding
festivities for her absent brothers sake.
But not even the companionship OF Lot
tie and Bess. not even the dress OF heb
emily blue, nor the sound of the music. no
the sight of the may dance, could shu
out the memory OF Nicholas.
"Oh, Lottie, amt them fiddles jus
dreadful" she lsmentsd. They're al