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

Nicholas rode back with gloomy brow,
but as he drew near the house he began
to sing, with forced gayety, the popular re-
frain, Tallahassee Girls" for he mad
caught a glimpse OF his little sister sitting
alone on the horse-block in the dim twi-
light waiting for his return.
"Dear little sister," he sighed, even in
in the midst of his singing. ''if she were
but nearer my own age" Then he varied
the words of his song, the better to suit
the case:
"Oh, my Tallahassee girl. won = you mount up with
And ride by the light of the mOon?"
Up jumped Missy, and stood on the
horse block, clapping her hands as she
OWNED her brothers purpose. He was
going 10 stopl He WAS gong to take her
OH the saddle in front OF him! Glorious
Brer Nicholas
She climbed up nimbly as a squirrel.
"There amt no moon yet" she said with
a childish giggle OF supreme content" But
we amt afraidw Oh, Brer Nicholas, do
love you So" 1t was, perhaps, the twen-
teth time she had said this since his re-
turn. three days before.
"How much do you love me?" Nicholas
asked, with great craving for loves sup
port.
Missy answered, with emphatic decision.
ooh, monstrous" cried Nicholas, so
much moved that he was constrained to
speak lightly. Il suppose you could I'M
dertake to fight dragons for me?"
Dragons ?" contemptuousy. 81 could
hght-the devil and all his works"
what in the world p" exclaimed
Nicholas, with burst of laughter.
"Well," said Missy, dscreetly. "them's
the strongest words could use, bein'
girl. They're in the Catechism," she
added, by way of recommendation, 'or
the Baptism, l forget which"
MISSY, Missy, Pm afraid you're sad
pickle"
Ppm goin' to be very good now, since
I've got you home. I'll dojust everything
to please you. I'm all the sister you've
got"
Eyes you're all the sister I've got! On,
Missy, how | wish you were older"
"H'm" said Missy, not at all compli-
mented. "Then I'd be young lady at
the pianner, like my cousin Flora, always
afraid OF spelling my clothes. Bound you
would't get her to ride double, this-er-
way"
II shouldn't think of asking her."
laughed Nicholas.
mo" Missy asserted, comfortably, "Pm
nicer than her" She was bitterly jealous
of Flora.
The family were at tea when the brother
and sister came in, Missy clinging to
Nicholas's arm.
Glow you do spoil that child" said Mrs.
Leonard Thorne. She disapproved of
Missy's way" with Nicholas; in fact, she
e 81
"No," said Missy, with a motherly air,
''its me what spoils him."
The colonel frowned. Flora" he said,
81 wish you would undertake to smooth
my little daughter"
as she flat-iron ?" said Missy, pertly,
stuffing her handkerchief into her mouth.
Nicholas and Flora exchanged chances
and frankly smiled.
''Winifred !" expostulated Miss Elvira !;
| but Missy had seen her brother smile,
and she cared naught for her aunt Elvira.
In the privacy OF her own room that
night Mrs. Leonard Thorne expressed the
opinion that Winifred Thorne was born
| TO be modification to her family. "She
makes herself perfect nuisance to Mich
/ olas."
"Oh, map Flora demonstrated; and
! seeing that her mother was bent upon
tdihihe hbOub NlCHolaS, eho OoSau W GULL
/ her beautiful luxuriant hair over her
| eyes.
mot but that it's very admirable in
! Nicholas to be so indugent toward her.
/ always did justice TO Nicholas's good
! qualities. He may have been a little
wild, but what of that? All young men
of spirit are FESTIVE under restraint. My
brother-in-law, the colonel, demands per
lection in his son and heir-as il he were
anywhere near perfection himself"
oh, maj" said Flora again. you know
uncle Jasper never was-like Nicholas.
mo, he never was" repeated Mrs.
Thorne, with emphasis. Catch Col.
Thorne confessing his folliss and short
] comings. as Nicholas has to me. That ID