U LMGBCEK, 8ATUKDAY. JftfLT 12, 1890., i yt'j LDMAN GILBERT. ly SLHABITH W. BELLAMY, ("KAVBA. THORFB, ) e "Jbur Oak$," "LUtls Jean na," Ate. AnrtaMsntmrcd. Pubtltbed by IsmanSBeBtwItb. UieBolferd Company. r.TerkJ .? CHAPTER XXX. "5- A TIME TO KEEP BtlXNCE. lished back his chair and rote. hit was the middle of January whpn Jehn Fletcher came down stairs again, find the house wearing ft strangely si- 4tent and deserted aspect. bVcrhe colonel, with profit' apologies, ?.LW,1 mbItm.) tila mia.t'. iwirmit.lnn ilin &rcning before te be absent for several iHerry "and the festivities thereto per- alng. as the colonel choicely- phrased S Jt: and Jehn Fletcher, having teen from l?1klii ritirlnw AT U Elvlrn nnil thnmlnnnl &'"depart immediately after breakfast In Ktlitt rusty, rattling carriage, did net ex- s.pect te meet either of tlicui. It was Winifred's absence that he felt, theuuh jKWhad persuaded himself that be wns llad he need net sec lie r again, lint It Lwas by no jncans a painful surprise then, sauntering aimlessly into the nar- trier, he found Winifred thore alone. M She was standing nearoneof Iho front Hwlndews, her face naitly turned away, snd Jehn Fletcher might easily have re- feUretl unseen; but he had no thought of curing, jhijs wniiircu inerne, in n prlch blue silk, with a train, and u cloud stw filmy lace around her threat nnd at p'&er wrists, produced upon him nil Ini- ,tressien se novel and be comnlex that he pjiert sight of his resolution te uveld her, t'wiu no ncsiinieu inn it u milium eeiuru Lite crossed the room. It was of herself, Mttver or her dress, no iinu thought here- gTtotere; but he new recalled lhat se long i lie had been at Therne mil he had Kwcvcr seen Miss Winifred Therno in nny Ktbiewn walking dress. It was net nn iligly Ureas, but also It was net a dress itethat could in any way ettract inore Sfcttcntien than the wearer: yet Jehn SJletcher was net bure that he did KJaet like it better than the blue silk; t least he felt quite sure that, in n cer- i sense, she had worn that plain brown s"" - him. And he could net Hatter ftH8 IKWein n tnninnnr tlmf dm u-nrn i1irt h$ Purl his honor. But for what- Of A Gflclin lirifl nilnriiMl IterRfilf. felm ImluMoredcmely pretty, und the cap- "'"" "" 'nimseu unwilling 10 sngui hhmii iue pmty e out goeuiuy.. te um ryeUrtc daughter. JvWinlfred wns very pale, but when she '.turned and saw him the color came j ijuickly te her face and deepened im he rneetea her. ts-45-"I beg pardon," he staiumered. "I did 5iet expect this pleasure; I bad the im- rAafrtlnn.lhnt vnn lind trrmn nwnv nema tdltvm turn." 1.,.,. - - V . - .- . -. - -. V3?- "Ne,'T said AVinifred; "I did net wish Ktoce. Tliia is my home, and I hare been SVfU," she added, hastily, In evident em- tf.Mrraumcnt. EtTWtf" IT11V -., T?IJI av "jik reimaieu rieicnur. ife? ''Oh, net very ill." Then seeing that &fB was taking note of her ilicsi, she said, , with deonenincr confusion. "I am dress j'isd te pleaae my father." y Jest und mdinnpre wcre net posslule l&betwccn thebO two; but Jehn Fletcher E-lt'veuld net resist replying, with intent te be DrevQking: "I shouhTflCTfiLl'ave suspected you of 'dreEsliiir te nlcnse iiltt: theucli Dcrliars ! miclit net have iheuirht Hint it was te Kf please your father." V? OHO tJUH' IIKU 1UU& Ul VWHl IV1UUUI, ii and sat down In an arm chair boslde the pfaiarble topped table that wtoed stiffly in fthe preclse center of the room. "The lire ills tee warm," he murmured, pressing fSher hands against her burning checkn. Yjr- aiiw viijiiuih, jiuiihi nuv iiiil'iiu iu iiu (jprebufTed, follewetl her. "May I sit down, r,toe?" he asked. Winifred did net immediately reply; Bc-.eitu riie luunm j'.vav mill luniu iiiu E?Swlndev she had left. "We nre l'eIiil' te EJ bhA a 1m-.l'!.np .nr lilm tk.i.nv.l I tin dine at Judge Clmduickn, hlie an- . K- neunccd, as though she had net heard him. "My father and my mint nie geno Ae seelrs. I;enard Therno ticfore we t-0A-.r" :.'" :.' " ..-....... fe arirt. fnt tsMi-n nml I ntit xi'rillltirv fitr wr mem." one icmoveu ncr nanus iiem ner F-L' 'flushed cheeks and looked at Cupt. Fletch er, wne was btui stanaing en tne ether i" side of the table, "Yes, you mav sit Sji. down," ehe bald, net without ceustiaint. - tle thought the permission rather ETUdgingly given; neveitheless, he sat il down, and looked at her in silence for jt some moments, fearing te offend her by anything that he might say. "Surely," he exclaimed at last, ap pealingly, "there are some- reasons why we might be friend)" Winifred did net answer, but she gave , him one swift, Inexplicable glance, end turned her eve3 awav: nil tlin cnlfir li.'iil el''died out of her face. 'Tlie war is ever." he said, and heal- $ iatlngly 6trctched out his hand. Once, Rfe.-Wice only, she had clasped hamU wllh Ljhlm, and encd she had clung te his arm; u no weuiu uui put ncr hand in till ,aew. j& ButWiulfred, tiembling visibly, would w aotscetueproUereU hand; uhecven drew "llttle uvVay, as if te icst ugainst her Rjvuuir. if;,"The war is net ever," she answered. gte a Jew, constrained voice. "There are J --ni nrrntita id lliA Helil lint 1i1 Bhe raised her eyes aud looked at Jehn Fletcher, who had withdrawn his hand. He expected te hear her utter some prophecy of future uprising; he was net at all prepared for what she had te say. "Capt. Fletcher." 6he exclaimed, trem ulously, "since you have been with us, who of all our friends have entered this beuse? Mrs. Theodere Scetf, who isyeur friend, nnd Dr. Lane." The captain's face flushed darkly. 'My father, en Cutistnias Da v. would net go te church." Winifred continued. t, "because he would net leave his guest, ana no could net invite that guest into bis pew." "wwiki neif repealed me captain, with a binile that exasperated Winifred. "Hew would you feel," Mie exclaimed with supprcsMxl anger, "were you at home, te have n 'rgbel,' a you call ub, Hit in the bame pew with yeu'f" 3 "1 could stand it. if the rebel could." replied Cupt. Fletcher, still smiliner. )S,,BsdaUy if 1 might choeso iny rebel." ".he reix-1 nqver could stand lit' cried .t.'-urinI..... ...t.i. m r ... ... . . m-tLuiu. wnu .i iiriDUfluauer-Ana jj K sneuia prove tnat my brother lias died of his wounds," she faltercd.ias the color ebbed away "the war wlllliiever have been ever for me," She covcred her face with her hands, and Jehn lletchcr pushed back his chair, nnd rcrce. "Oh, forglveinol" she cried, with still averted face. "I de net mean te forget -forget" ff "Thanks," he answered, coldly. "It Is net weilh the effort of your remem brance. 1 was glad te serve n friend of my friend Mrs. Lorrlrner. Yeu must bellove that I most sincerely regret the chatice that has compelled me Ui be se long n trefpasscr upon Cel. Thorue's hos pitality. I fchall never forget his kind ness, his uniform courtesy toward nn nn desired guest. Neither shall I forget" He paused abruptly, nnd paused sei long that Winifred, under the spell of a will stronger than her own, turned tow ard him te llud his eyes fixed upon her with n leek unfathomable, of mlDgled sadness, reproach, appeal, from which she shrank abashed nnd frlghtciicdi "his daughter," the-captain said, when he hed cemjiclled her eyes te meet his own. "His uncompromising daugh ter!" he repeated, and smiled. But Winifred had turned nwny; she did net sec the smile, and nt the word "uiicompieinlslng," bIie Impulsively lift ed her head, with a forbidding gcslure or se Jehn Fletcher construed It. Fer a moment he steed Irresolute, n moment during which he underwent n llerce struggle with himself; then he turned sway nnd left her, nnd went tip stairs te Ids room. ,"Net another day! Net nnether day!" he repeated te himself nleud. He felt nt'iik nnd ill; his voice was hearse, nnd he was trembling 60 -violently thnt he wes forced te threw himself upon the leunge. But net long did he remain there. He rete and began gathering his Infringing together with feverish hastu. "I will depart to-iiierrowl" he declared, llerce ly. "It shall net lefall me te see her aguin!" And ns he said this he looked out of the window nnd saw the carriage wait ing, nnd Winifred Therno going down the steps of Ihe piazza, attended by n Inndsome young fellow, who looked at her with admiring eyes. Winifred was radiant with delight. Jehn Fletcher could hardly realize that tlilf was the same girl he hed left down stairs net half an hour agene. "A boy I" he exclaimed, in fierce con tempt. ""Oh, foell Oh, feel!" When he enme nwny from the window he saw Glory-Ann standing iu thn door way with a cup of beef tea, a diet he abominated. "Ah, that's right!" he exclaimed, with bitter gaycty, ns hu quaffed the eup that neither checied nor imilirlated, "Build up my stiength within tint next twenty four hours, Mem Bee. 1 must get iway from hore te-morrow,'' "Yeu leek Ink hit," said Olery-Ann, sccietly pleaned t6 hear Jilm call her "Mem Bee," (But he hail done se un wittingly.) "Better net be tee biash. Yeu gwau overstrain ye'su'f," "Who is that jeung sprig I caw just new dancing atteudancotipen your wmng lady?" he asked, witfi UMiimcd cnreless nesi, iih he (ct down the cup. "Dat's Mnwsel'nul lIeny,"(llery-Ann mude nnswer. "He's get n lieyi'r's shop in Savniinuh; but he's oeiiid home te see his kin, 'long e' Mlsi Ixittie's weddin' dat's his sister. Ills gran'ma Is de colo nel's cousin, en' him en' .Missy ain't met up sence she wiu n chile. New you jes' , mind cr. I tell you, en' mek yoVe'f easy. Yeu nln gwan git nwny fein heioter heieter heioter merrcr. Yeu needn't try. Be fambly is gwan be geno se-verial days, en' I gwnn tek chargn e' you. Dem's my or ders from Missy herhe'f." .Tehn Fletuher felt the bleed nislite his face, though he put no faith In Glory Ann's garrulity. He found hluiHelf her thrall, hew ever, for his strength would scarce admit of nny exertion; nnd in deed, when he giew rainier, he was con tent te wait, feeling thuX it would be nu ungracious net te steal away in the ab sence of the family. CHAITEII XXXI. tviNirnnu and huh rATiir.ii. "leti shall read efjuirjf" WiuifiedicmaiiicdiuTaUlnhasbccbeute days after her father nnd her mint re turned te Therno Hill, iwnl when she enme home again dipt. Fletcher had taken hU departirre. Klin said, with mero rehenience than wined necessary, tliat she was very glad, alhlietigli she presently asked thn colonel, with benis anxiety: "Father, I hepe you weren't Hide te Capt. Fletcher, that he went se sudden ly? He is Aunt Winifred's fiieiid, you knew," "Wherefore should I Ihj Hide te my guest?" said the colonel, in n tone of cold surprise, "But I don't deny that his presence was :i constraint." "Yes," says AViuifred, wearily. "New we can turn nil our thoughts te Brer Nicholas. Yeu knew we must llud 111111." The colonel frowned, "It U 11 hope less undertaking," he said. "We might ml vert iM'" Winifred sug gested, eagerly. "Advertise?" repeated the colonel, re re celling. "Ding our family history into the public prints? Don't think of biich n step for n moment." "What does it in.itlei , mi we find him?" Winifred falleied. "It U net te le thought nf," the col onel leiterated, sternly, " Besides," he added, nftrr n moment's pniibe and with a stilled sigh, "it would avail nothing. Nicholas knows where te find us. Yeu don't reflect that he has n wife, und his wife has her influence, of ceurte." Winifred turned very pale. "De you think thnt Deslu?" she stammered; but she web uuuble te finish tlte question. "Nicholas docs net wish te be feuudi of that I have long liecn convinced," said the colonel, coldly. Winifred made no reply, A great bit ternebs filled her heart nnd abided there, She sjKike no mere of Nicholas, for flie no longer hoped te find him; and in abandoning that hope she sremed te have abandoned all inti-rcbt in life. The colonel was ilMrescd beyond measutc. He still held te the theory that because she was young she must crave gaycty; and, willing te make liny sacrlllce for her sake, he said te her one day; "Winifred, would you like te live in town; te give up Therno Hill aud go te Tallahassee!1" "Oil, net net" said Winifred, shrinking as from a blew, "J wnnt te live and din Hit atlnorneMiii; itlsneme." "But times are se changed, Winifred, nnd if you no longer find It a happy home" She turned quickly and looked at hef father, and it was as if the scales had fallen from her eyes. She saw htm old and careworn nnd lonely, nnd nil atones the filial leve that had se long been held in abeyance leaped into life. "My father! My father!" she cried, with outstretched arms. "Yeu must let me leve you! Slnce we cannot reach my brother thcre is no one else for me te love. De net be se cold nnd stern with 1110. I need a llttle petting," But caresses and endearments were net In the colonel's wny; hew deeply he was moved he found no words te tell; he could only put Ills arms around his child, and Missy felt seme burning tears drop upon her hair. "It Isbccause lam se little," she whis pered, with n pathetic attempt nt playful ness. "And I haven't been n wry geed daughter, my father" "My dear cWldl" the colonel faltered, "But I shall 1k n geed daughter from! this time. Only, let us stay 011 at this dear old hill. I don't want ever te go nnywhere else. This is home, and I am se nappy, new that I am no longer shutl out from your heart, my fntherl" The colonel was hurt. "I have never shut you out, Winifred," he said. "Ne: It Is that I have se long shut my self eiitl" Winifred declared, with the, generosity of an affectlonnte nature.) "But that Is ever, nnd llfe Is levelv still."! Her volce shook n little, nnd she brushed nwny the tears that would rise. The blessedness of leve li rather in loving than In being loved; aud from this day Winifred wns happy lieyend words iu lavishing upon her father nil these fend nttontlens she hnd been went, ns n child, te bestow upon her brother. The coleual could net suddenly change his nature; he was shy of giving caresses, of uttering terms of endearment; but he submitted te his daughter's demonstra tions, and she was content. Miss Elvira was greatly puzzled at this new order of things. "I don't knew what has ceme ever you of late, Winifred," she complained. "Yourfether Isn't used te nil thnt fussing. Aren't, you nfrnid you will annoy hlin?" But Winifred only Iniighed, and Miss Elvira sighed nnd turned n page of Bishop Ken. Hhe found it hard te understand Missy. Olery-Ann llkewise found it hard te understand Missy. "Well, well," she commented te herself, "I thought, fust, she was n-plnln'; hut hit de 'pear new lak she is plum' glad dat Yankee Is gene. Hit's n pity he wuz n Yankee, 'cniibe I reckln he get me' money den Tallahassee gemmen, desednys; en' Missy better have tuk him." Shu ventuied, one day, te say ns much le Missy, adding: "Hit did 'pear ter nie lak he set n heap e' ste' by you, heney." "You'll never see him this wuy ngnin, Mem Bee, I hope," said Missy. "H'ru?" grumbled Mem Bee. "nit's 0110 e' deni Tallahabbec gemmen, den?" De is quality, tubbe she, but whey's de money? Dat what I studies." Old Gilbert, tee, hid his views en the subject, though he did net deliver them quite wi plainly. The old man was new comfortably settled iu his rehabilitated cabin, with his ground well plowed and his hen house stocked, yet he was net altogether content; net thnt he lack ed anything for which he could express n wish "but hit wuzn't lak de ele tunes," he complained te Missy. "All de ele niggers is dlsuppearln', en' de new ones is till bcglggcd fur politics. En' Sli Dicey, pe' crittur, is dat foolish she enn't 'member me no longer den I kin tell her w he I is One wny en' nnether, de is nil changed. 'Ceptln' of Glory Ann," he presently ndded, in n lene of mild reprobation. "Glory-Ann Is jes' cz snlittlled In her own jedgment ez ever she wuz. I tek notice she ain't changed noue In spcrrit." "En' ino'evcr, I (ek notice, Missy, wid berrer 1:11' wid sliame," he pursued earn estly, "what dishycr ele plantation ain't ii-gwan en Ink hit usctcr. De eiter be n younger man den niawster 011 disliyer plantation. We needs MawheNiek, tubbe she'. New, (lean you go ter sigliin' tint a-wny, Missy, en' I gwnn tell you boiiio beiiio boiiie thin' prlum conifertiu'; you put ye' 'pen dance iu Mawse Gin'rnl Fletcher, en' you gwan see!" "Ne," said Missy, witlin far off leek in her eves. "Wo've dene with him for fer for eer. "Yeu gwnn see," old Gilbert repeated. The days went by; the tender green of the oak tassels nnd the purple blush of the Judas tree begnn te hint of spring's leturu; and Missy renewed one of the joys of her childhood, hunting wild vio lets in 11 nook she knew of old. As she wns returning from ene of these expedi tions, in the gleaming, her father met her with the unexpected tidings that he had n letter from Nicholas. Misy did net exclaim, she did netturn pale, she did net grew faint; but the shock of joy nnd btirprisc for a moment deprived her of speech; she could only leek at her father beseechingly. "My dear child," bald the colonel, compassionating her, "he Is safe ami well." "Oh, Ged is geed!" bhe breke forth. "My dear, dear brother! l.et us go le him, my father! I cannot wait; my heait dings tny bedyl" "Winifred, sit down," the colonel com manded. "Yeu will make yourself ill." "Ne, no," she protested, with tearful laughter. "I nm tee full of joy te bellll Oh, tell me nil, quickly." "Net unless you premise te be calm," the colonel insisted. Winifred sat down. "I have been calm for jears," said she; "let 1110 be mad with joy new." Her father's eyes filled with tears. "Yeu shall read for yourself," he said, ns he put the letter into her hands. Thcre were only three short pages, but these were eloquent with the desire for reconciliation. 'Alii let us go te him nt once!" cried Winifred. "Ne, my daughter," the colonel re plied, wUli sad decision; "Nicholas must ceme te inc." "Yes, he inustl he must I But write; write new! Say, 'My dearest son, ceme home.' IIe is your 'dearest seu,' you knew," she urged, detecting n shadow en her father's face, "for you have no ether." "Yeu must leaxe 1110 le write my let ter iu my own way," the colonel 6aid in exorably. "Nicholas shall ceme home; but you must remember that he will net ceme alone." "Ne; jeu will have two daughters." The colonel turned away, impatiently. He had neer thought of Deslu Furnival ns his daughter; he could net bring him self te think of her iu that light new; but he could makeup his mind te accept her us his son's wife; und it was net Desia's ndu'iit that hodreaded; it was Miss ltexatuin White against whom he revolted. Fer Hex.tnna the Inevitable, Itexaiiim the Avenger, had written tc the colonel; but, with characteristic reti cence, he said nothing of this te Winl ficd. It had never been Winifred's habit t cenilde her jejh and soirews te Mi Elvira, but new a toil of rage for sym pathy urged her te call en that gentle, inane lady te icjoiee with her. She al most snatched the httle worn leek of de votion but of her aunt's hands, exclaim ing, wltii laughter and tears "Oh. let us.L'he than),, te Ged witlj, enr wneie neartt and oef et our hearts, net out of n book! Fer my brother that whs lest is found again!'' "Winifred P said Miss Elvira, with mild rebuka. "It is unlndylike te be se forcible." "Bier Nicholas haven't you heard?" "Yes; 1 have heard," Miss Elvira sigh ed, iu answer; "that Is why I went te my devotions." Then Winifred saw that she had been weeping. "Surely you rejoice?" she asked, trembling; for it frightened her te real ize what hatred and anger waited le rage In her heart ngalnsC whoever should re fuse te lejoice at her brother's return. Mlsn Elvira turned her eyes away. "The old joy died," she said, sadly, "when Nicholas rede away in the rain that Mimmer night, nearly ulne years age. It can never ceme again." "Yeu nre cruel, you nre wicked te say that!" cried Winifred. "Ne, Winifred; Inm only experienced. I loved Nicholas dearly, hut when I think of his coming new my heart fails me. Thcre will be a difference; it id only kind te warn you." "What difference?" Winifred demand ed, with flre in her eyes. "Why should we deceive ourselves, child?" said Miss Elvira, querulously. "Yeu knew that Nicholas will net return alone.',' "Would net Desin be my sister?" cried Winifred. "Would she net be your ulece nnd my father's daughter? She is beautiful, nnd she is geed; I accept Do De sia." "Oh, Deslu," said Miss Elvira, slight Ingly. In 11 certain seuse she, tee, ac cepted Desia; that was Inevitable. "And as te the llttle boy" Wini fred began, with n tremulous tender ness. "It is Nicholas' child," Miss Elvira In terrupted, placidly; the child likowise 6he could accept. "But there's that dreadful Misi ltexautia White; we shall never lie rid of her." "She has been u geed friend of Brer Nicholas; 1 leve her for that," said Wini fred, undaunted. "Let her ceme, and let her btay, If she likes; Therno Hill has room." "My dear, you don't knew her! She is -a grenadier in petticoats. Such n letter ns slie has written your father! She refuses te be parted from Nicholas and his wife and child; if they come, ceme will she; nnd we shall live under martial law." "And we shall be very happy," Wini fred insisted, though iu her heait of iieai ts she felt the shadow of her aunt's forebodings. CHAPTER XXXII. At'TKll LONO YKAltS. This father foriel his injured pride. When old Gilbert was informed that Nicholas would be coming home iu a few days he exclaimed, with triumphant thanksgiving: "1 knened hit! Bless Glory!" "Hukkeni you kuewvd hit?" sneered Glory-Ann. "Is you trj in' ter mek out you is Solemon en' de prophets?" "What 1 dene tell j oil, Missy?" pur sued old Gilbert, serenely indifferent te thiH taunt. "Put ye' 'pendence iu Mawba Oin'ral Fletcher." "He had nothing te de with itl" cried Missy indignantly. "Brer Nicholas wrote of his own accord; he bald never 11 word of jour 'MuwseGin'rul Fletcher.' I won't be indebted le Cap!. Fletcher, Wo've returned all he did for Bier Nicholas, nud there's an end of him." "IsdasseV said old Gilbert regretfully. "Well! well! Tubbe she!" "llnl.lveni you is se bet legiiist de capen all of n suddent?'' Glory-Ann ie ie meustiated, "Times I is heerd you say Chancy can't mek wattles fltten fur him te cat, en' new you talk lak he wiu geed riddance! Yeu is jes' ez ensartin ez n chile, Misbyi dat you is." "I wi-.li 1 were u child," Missy sighed, with 11 vague, unwilling iipptehciibieu of the ti nth of her Aunt Elvira's declara tion that the old joy could never ceme again. As the day for her brother's re turn drew near she had dUceveted in herself, te her sorrow and confusion, nu inexplicable shrinking from that long delayed meeting, n feverish eagerness te have the agony of joy ever nnd dene witli. In her anxiety te eliminate as much ns Ieslhlc of the element et pain and em bairnssment that she could net but feel waited upon this first meeting, she es sayed te coax her father te his best be havior, "Yeu will net leek stem, my father?" she entiented, with 11 smile that struggled te express 11 confidence bhe did net feel. "Fer the old time is ever; for fer for geteorget the past." The colonel fi owned impatiently; but a little t 1110 age this same inerdinate Winifred hnddeclaied that te forget was death. "1 have written Nicholas te ceme home; 1 h.ive made no conditions," he said, a little coldly. "I never de things by halves, and 1 bhall net behave, inn manner unbecoming n Therno." Missy sighed and said no mere. It was a duik nnd Ftermy night vvhen Nicholas rede nwny from Therno Hill, .veitng, buoyant, ardent, delimit; he re turned en n bright bpring day, broken, beliered and saddened. And he eamd net alone; he brought with him net only his wife and child and the redoubtable ltexanua he bieught with him also the fchadewb of the long, sad years of nl nl bcnce and estrangement. They wrapt him about ns with n lnnutle; they made themselics visible in his hair, prcma tuicly gray; iu the deep lines that mark ed his handsome face, iu the Badness of his eyes, in his drooping figure, nnd in the carelessness w ith which he were his shabby, tlueadbaroclethes. Missy would uever have known him, and the shock of finding him be changed went nigh te break her heart. It wns n meeting in which sorrow in evitably outweighed joy. The colonel would have prefcried te see his son first alone, but his pride and his shyness made him shrink from exacting this"; and v lieu thn carriage that bieught Nicholasdievn te the deer he sted en the piazza erect, composed, with Mi-s F.lvira tremblingen ene side of him and Winifred trembling en the ether, whiloeld Gilbert and Glory Ann, iu jealous rivalry, maintained n ro re f jiectful distance in the rear. But at the eight of Nicholas, as he came up the steps, this father forget his injured pride, his anger, his disappointed hopes; he re membered only that this, his seu who wh lest, was found agUR, and be took the exile in his arms. And there was a great silence, broken at last by old Gilbert's devout ejacula tion, "Praise be ter Glory!" for which Glory-Ann rebuked him wllh a vigorous thrust of her elbow, and the inquiry: "Is you plum forget de manners you tuk away fum Therno Hill?" Desia, beautiful still, with a certain majestic grace, in spite of her peer and faded dress, steed apart, proudly shy; for at this supreme moment no ene thought of her ortheboy, whom a gaunt, grim giantess held in her arms with an air of determined proprietorship. Te Missy her brother looked like a stranger, but when he turned te her she threw herself Inte his arms with a pas pas pas sionate burst of tears that had, alast lit tle kinship wllh joy. This was net the brother she had lest. The past was never te return. The colonel gave his son's wife n mero gracious wclcome than Missy hnd dared te hope, nnd he took his llttle grandson in his arms and kissed nnd blessed him; but for Bexnnna White his only greeting was n stiff !ew, Tfme had made his mark upon this vigorous amazen slnce the day she nt fucked the colonel en the read side; but she still carried her head high, and the ilre in her eyes was net quenched. Plainly, iu spite of time, here was the samp Itexauna, unterrlfled and uncom promising. When Missy would fain have found n likeness te her brother in the little ley, "He's the bawn image of his grandfather, Jeb Furnival!" Rexanna declared, grimly. But this declaration, made for the col onel's discomfiture, failed of its effect, se far, at least, ns he was concerned, for he had taken himself nwny. It was seen mnnifest, however, that Cel. Therno was net vulnerable te Rox Rex anna's thrusts; he had the air of looking ever and beyond her into spuce, and ten certain extent he ignored her. Net that he held her devotion te Nicholas cheap. He had deslied, indeed, te make seme substantial acknowledgment et her ser vices te his son, but when bespoke of this, in a private interview, net long nf ter Nicholas' return, Ilexaunn took fire. "Pay me'r" she shrieked. "Is that ye' uicnnln'? Yen can't pay me! The war ain't cleaned you out entire, Cel. Therno, but you can't nevcr glve ye' son nn' ye' grandson me'n what I've give 'em. They an' Desia together have had the heart euten my body; what kin pay me fur that but theyselves? I speke my mind ence pretty "free, Cel. Therno, which hit dene me geed; an' I'm lieun' ter speak hit f ree bome me'. Don't you go ter be be be lloeo hit was nil Nick's grit what hilt him back from you se long; he ain't never get ye' letters, 'cause I kep 'em from him!" "Weman!" exclaimed the. colonel, choking with indignation, "Yes, I'm u woman," returned ltox ltex anua, with composure. "That's hew ceme my heart ached nn' burned fur Nick nu' Desia when you flung 'em off. 1 tuk 'cm fur niiue, an' I'm get n grip en 'em what can't be shook n-loose. Whar they go, thar I go; whar they stuy, thnr I stay. "But, Ler' A'mlghty bless ye' soul, Cel. Theme, I nin't layin' up 110 grudge beginst you 'long e' what's past an' geno, I've toted my lead 'long e' Nick Therne, nn' I mek no doubt you've toted yeurn. Accounts is squared new; you let 'cm stay squared. Hit's n pe' business ter be epenin' new trade with trouble; I nin't no objections ter lie staylu' here 'long e' you nil, fur I don't cat no idle bread no whar. An' bein' you're n bawn gentle man, you get no occasion, us I kin see, ter set me n-drift (bein' hew I ain't ye' son," she ndded mentally). The colonel had no desire te set Rox Rex anna udrift; he ncqucisccd in her pros pres pros ence with dignity, if net with cordiality; and, happily, she did net prove se un "comfortable an clement in the household ns had been feared. Miss Elvira, iu ex plaining the situation te the friends of the family, was accustomed te say, with n neat little air of commendation, that Itexauna White "knew her place;" but Itexauna stated the case somewhat dif ferently. "I ain't claimin' ter belong ter the Therno family," bhe said; "all I ask 'em is, giinme space ter myself, nn' lenime have the raisin' e' that chile, nn' I'm sat isfied." "An' what manners is bhe fltten ter teach Mawse Nick's boy?" Glory-Ann de manded, iu dudgeon, "IV white trash! Lawd, hew times is changed!" "She ullers vvuks ter de right," said old Gilbert, charitably. "Dat ain't gwan render her quality, is hit?" leterted Glory-Ann. "Ne, hit nin't," old Gilbert admitted. "But lack e' bein' quality ain't gvvaii bender her fum gitttn' ter hebben, cz I kin see." "Hit's dis ycth what I'm discussin'," Bald dory-Ann, with supreme disdain. CHAPTER XXXIII. A WAHNINO. "I get 6emethin' en my mind ter tell you, Winifred Therno," said Rexannn White, mysteriously; "nn' p'r'aps you'll thank me, an' p'r'aps you won't; but I'm beun' ter open my mouth in 'cordance with my lights." "About what?" AViuifred nsked, with mero amusement than curiosity. They were sitting under the scupper scupper heng nrber, vvhere there wns little or no danger of interruption, nnd yet Rexannn looked around cautiously te make suie there was no one near. "l.ittte sitter, this friend of mine is no stranger te j011." "S'pose j 011 knew," said she. In a tragic whisper, with n bony finger en Winifred's arm, "ns hew the colonel wns n-writin' nn' n-pesterin' constant nfter Nick, nil ter get him home agin, after he dene turned him adrift?" "Yes, I knew," said Winifred, reluct antly. She did net wish te siK-nk of the past. "Lawd, you needn't git uled," said Rennna. "I ain't riled, net new; but them day.s I hadn't get my cawnscnt ter tek up my roost en this Therno Hill, tin' I was en the watch eawntinual, se oz never one e' them pesterin' letters e' the colonel didn't ceme inter Nick Thorue's hands." . "Yeu wicked, wicked woman!" cried Winifred, up in the vehemence of her wrath. "Ne. I ain't wicked," Mid Miss Whitu, complacently. ''iHanagemeat ain't wick edness; nn' I'd a squar right ter manage, secin' cz I'd picked Nick up. I was dead set beginst him cemin' home; but hew yetl reckln I ceme ter change my mind?" "Yeu repented, I hope," said Wini fred, severely. "Ne, I didn'. Yeu seddewn en' lemtne tell you. Ez nigh cz I ken mek out, hit was a Yankee." "A Yankee?" "I said a Yankee. Lawd, they've been plenty enough of late! I knewed him fur a Yankee that minute he opened his mouth; they can't talk nach'ral, like us southerners. This Yankee was a-hunt-in' Nick Therne," pursued Rexanna, sig nificantly. "P'r'aps you knew samcthln' 'bout him." "I knew nothing whatever about it," said Wbilfred, stiffly. "Well," Rexanna continued, "I was skalrt ter ask what fur he was a-huntin' et Nick; but I kep' my eyes skint, an' I found out he was preachln' ter git Nick ter mek hit up with the colonel, an' then I was rilcdl I had brung Nick ter my way e' thinkin' that he could live an' die 'theutcn his kin, an' I didn't want no Ynnkee meddlin' with my business. Mo'evcr, I s'plciened the colonel sent him" "Ne such thing!" Winifred contradict ed, hotly. "Ne; I feun' out mighty seen ez hit warn't the colonel," Rexanna said, and paused; but her listener sat with averted countenance, and would glve no sign; whereupon Rexanna boldly declared, "Hit wns you!" "That is net true!" cried Winifred. "Bless ye' soul, nel" returned Rox Rex anna, compactly. "Ne need ter git riled. He ain't said se; but Lawd, child, hit don't always need word e' mouth ter git ye' nrrands done; an' when that alt gab gifted Yankee argyflcd with Nick Therne that you held ye' heart set en gittin' ye' brother home agin, 1 glve in, an' con fessed them letters, an' I told Nick tet write home, pintly, which I hadn't cx Iiected ter de nethin' of the sort." If she expected nny Bhowef gratitude, she was deemed te disappointment. "De you mean te tell me," said Wini fred, indignantly, "that my brother would net have written without your consent?" "Ne," said Miss White, with sober de cision; "I nin't no sich a feel ez ter un un dertake ter tell befe'hand what the on en sartin sons e' Adam meught or meughtn' de; but this I kin tell, an' Inln'tdeubtln ter say hit: Ef ever that clrculatiu' Yan kee gits back ter Therno Hill, hit won't be ter argyfy with me, nor y it with Nick Theme, though hit meught be with the colonel p'r'aps." And she cackled shrilly. "He will never coiueagain!" AViuifred declared, with burning checks. "Seme is easy get rid of nn'someaint," said Miss "White, scntentieusly. "I ain't blind, nn' in these six months what I've been ter Therno Hill I've seen ene what ain't cemin' back net in 11 hurry, Paul Herry nin't. I knew the leeks of them kind. I don't 6ct up ter be a prophet, but hit weights me heavy ter give you this wiirnin', AViuifred Theme when he comes, that friend e' yeurn," and Rox Rex niina stretched out her hard aud bony hand te clasp the girl's soft fingers, "I dunne nethin' 'bout you, but bit's gein' ter be eupleasin' ter the colonel." "He is net coming again," AVlnifrcd insisted. "AVe don't want him." And she drew her hand out of Miss Rexanna's sympathizing clasp nnd went away in a tumult of painful emotions. She con confessed te none, hardly even te her self, that her brother's return had net brought back the old joy of her child hood. "Brer Nicholas" was nt home again, but she was lonely still; sonic thing wns lacking, she knew net what, or would net seek te knew. Yet, as the uneventful days went by, nnd season gave place te season, AA'ini fred, if she was net glad with the old joy that ence she hoped for, in her broth er's return, had begun te find a sweet content. She understood nt last that her urdent soul had demanded mero than was posblble under the circumstances, and she no longer expected from Nich olas the ubsolute dovotien she had given him. She had learned the sobering les les eon that life, even the most securely or er deied life, is subject te the iuoxerablo law of change. Iittic, the cousin she loved best, was liviiiL' in n distant tewn: Paul Herrv. . ,j -- -- -. , ' ivlm linil ,lni1nn,l lttmenlf linnrl ltrnlmil at his pretty cousin's obduracy, was married new, nnd settled in Savannah, vvhere Bess Herry spit much of her lime and all this bail ceme te pass with in two years after Nicholas' return. Yet, though AVinifred's life In these days was net gay, neither was it dull; for no life is dull that is filled with duties. This sacred truth had AVinifred learned from her old aunt in New Yerk, and she had the wisdom new te make te herself many sweet, bmall duties that kept her hands busy and her heart nt rest. Hardly a day passed that she did net visit old Gil bert and Mem Bee with seme little offer ing a practice that excited Rexanna AVhite's vehement disapproval. "Them two old free niggers," she was went te declare, "will deveur the colonel's sub stance, lessen that girl marries somebody I wjiai Kin nieueiaiu ner imi 1111 11 jiiu 1 thecolencl the day she makes her choice." 1 The tiees were bare for the secend 1 time since Nicholas' home coming, vvhen , AViuifred went out, ene afternoon, te visit Mem Bee. The wintry sun was reddening the west when shocame back; the air was crisp and invigorating, nnd bhe prolonged her wnllc through the grove, wheie she sat en the herse block te await her brother's return fro u town, just as she had done, many a tiuj, when n child. The happiness of these blessed days seemed, nil at once, te ceme again, and she sang nleud for joy. Soen Nicholas rede in nt the great gate, and he was net 11I0110; it needed but a glance te reveal that her brother's com panion was Jehn Fletcher, nnd in nn in stant the joy that had inspired her light hearted bong bocame n dead thing, and n wild, tyrannical exultation took its place. "Why did he ceme again?" bIie sighed, trembling. "I was content." She rese up, pale but composed, as the 1 horses halted and their riders dismounted; but it was a cold little hand and the ghost of n suiiie that she gave Jehn Fletcher vvhen Nicholas said: "Little sister, this friend of mine is no stronger te you. I feucd him just iu titne te snatch htm from Mrs. Theodere Scott. Therno Hill is the only place for Jehn Fletcher when he comes south, eh, AViuifred?" "I shall heiK) for n wclcome in your brother's name," said Jehn Fletcher, with Ids grave smile; nud AVinifred, hardly comprehending, as yet, that she was net dreaming, assured him that her father, her nunt, every one, would be glad te seu him. Ce). Theme had 11 courteous, If some what btartled, welcome for his guest of two winters ngoue; hut Miss Elvira's greeting savored of the questien: Come j un In eaca or come you in war J But Rej.nihr.1 AVhite was jubilant ever the fulfillment of her prophecy. "AVha' did I tell you, AVinifred Therne?" she said, triumphantly. "New you heed what 1 say; many nn' mauy's the time I've seen hit; Love lias get Serrer fur hit's bhadder; but I'm yit ter see thet bpitin' of leve can lessen the shadder." , Te Desia she said: "I been a-prenchln ,'rit ter AVinifred Therno in mnrial ex pectatien of this mm hifituwln'. m hll'li rile the colonel." And she laughed with settled Mtbfee- tlen. CHAPTER XXXIV. FOR WlHIl-KKD'S BAKE. 0M nr r I m "IV," said Winifred, and $ht put her hand in his again. "De you knew why I came back?" said Jehn Fletcher abruptly, ene morning, vvhen he chanced te find himself alens with AVinifred. They wcre in that rigidly arranged parlor, with the same table between them across which he had stretched his hand, that she would net see, two years before. AVinifred looked up, but before she could f rameji reply lie went en, hurried ly: "Yeu knew I did net have an oppor tunity te say geed-by." "Ah, then, you came back te saygood saygeod saygoed by?" exclaimed AVinifred. "Te say geed-by, If that be your pleas ure," he answered gravely; "but te say something else first. I came te confess myself a cpvvard." AVinifred, looked at him in surprise. "When I saw you last," he went en, impetuously, "in this very room, beside tliis very table, I let a mcre uplifting of your hand impose silence upon me, though I had u right te speak the right of every man with a heart te feel. I was n cewai d net te tell you then what I have ceme te tell you knew. Alien though you deem me, I love you; were you te proclaim a thousand times that the war Is net ever, still,' still I love you." AVinifred turned her face away. "Between you and me there is a great gulf fixed," bhe faltered. "I leve you," he repeated, and came Mid steed beside her chair. "I love you '-ith a leve that can bridge ever any gulf." "Yeu forget you forget I" rIie sigh ed; but her voice died away; she ceula net bay again that the war was net ever. "I de net forget; I told you that I should nover forget Cel. Theme's un compromising daughter. AVhether you wish it or net you nre nil the world le me." ' AVinifred uttered n llttle cry nnd raised her baud, as if iu pretest; but Jehn Fletcher did net choeso new te obey that gesture; he clasped her hand in both his own nnd AVinifred did net tnke it away. She said te herself that all this availed nothing that they must part, must surely part presently must say geed-by forever, siuce nil the world, en her side nnd en his, would be against their union; but she would net deny this little mo ment its fleeting happiness. She shiv ered, but she did net take nwny her hand. Hew had it ceme te pass that this man, but a little while age n stranger, should stand between her and all that she held dearest father brother home? Hew had he kindled iu her passionate and devoted heart a tenderness that dwarfed every affection bhe had known? She had net liecn willing te love him, she had struggled hard against it; but she did leve him, alas! AVhy had lie net stayed nway? And yet, though her heart should break In parting from him new, all her life long she should rejoice nud be glad that lie did come, that this moment at least had been her own in which te enjoy her empire. Come what might, this moment at least was hers, new nnd forever, nnd she bowed bet head iqieii the two hands that clasped hers and cried out, with passienate la ment: "If you knew hew I have hated yeul" "That makes no difference, if you leve me new!" Jehn Fletcher declared, with an exultant smile. "I have net wished te leve you," AVin ifred said, as she lifted her head, aud withdrew her baud. "Must I say geed-by then forever?" he asked. She turned her face away, and there was a long silence. Jehn Fletcher wait ed; he desired that AViuifred should make herewu decision. At last, 'it can not help it," she exclaimed. It vPTs net n radiant face that bhe turned toward him, but Jehn Fletcher knew that he need net say geed-by. "I never should have hated you se if I had net loved yeul" She turned very pale aud bowed her head 011 the arm of her chair. She had braved the bhadew that waits en Leve, and she was ready te defy Sorrow for Levers dear 6ake, but Leve's glad eyes she could net meet. Jehn Fletcher bent ever her with a smile ineffable, and laid his hand upon her head. "Dealest, leek up," he whis pered. "De you think I cannot under stand? Seme must be the first te clasp hands ncress the bitterness of these sad days; why net you and I?" "Yes," said AVinifred, nnd she put hei hand iu his again. Just then just then Enter the colonel! He steed within tjiree feet of them and stared as if petrified. "What does this mean?" he asked in a deep voice of ominous calm. "It means that I leve your daughter, Cel. Therne," Jehn Fletcher said, on en trcatingly. AVinifred steed up. "And I leve him,' she said, in a low but distinct tone. She met her father's angry eyes unflinch ingly, though the color surged evet cheeks nnd brew at the boldness of hex confession. The colonel regarded her an instant with n sfeny stare. "Yeu are a foell Yeu nre n childl" he exclaimed, furiously. "Ne, my father," baid AVinifred; "I nm net n feel; I nm net 11 child." The colonel softened. "My little daugh ter," he said, with a tremulous bmile, "this is all nonsense; a passing fancy; I nm net angry with you." "It is no passing fancy," said Wini fred. Jehn Fletcher essayed te speak, but the colonel would net hear him. "Ingrate!" he stormed. "Would te Ged you had died with a rebel bullet in your traitorous heart, or perished out there en the roadside, before you came under my reef te rob me of my child." AA'inifred threw herself upon her fa ther's breast and lie folded his armi around her. "Oh, no! net" she cried. "Bless himt Bless him, eh, my fathcrl Yeu knew net what you ewe te him; for it was in car ing se much for him that I learned hew well I lerp you, my fntherl" "De net tell me that, AVinifred. Let hlmjeave my sight my house." -L'But bear'roe first, Cel, Therne," Jehn f -.1.:' r iZn& r V- r 1j
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