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THEfcANOABmfiB DAILY INTJCLLIOBNOER. SATURDAY, JUtfE 7. 1800.
--
. Tjwu. .."'irj - ti, .-c. j.ni-i flwu .'.-. ... j-w
.. ttniBETl W. BELLAMY.
Hrrj- ' r"" TnenrB, ;
.A .1. . Ml
rV "" 0a " "Little Jean-
1 " fc.w 1
tia,n Ete.
Wli,
m
K
iSiMiraani PuWWikJ by
I MlMMmatwtUi th Bclferd Cemptny,
r.J
ir-ktit CHAPTER IT.
JiJ? . eujuj.
!K'
? "JTr a eni" eM Oir5rr( tre almeit be-
sj" 'treyfd n(oacw(af'n7(iIeiid.
j.: .lYlcn we young umu nau gui-a u uia
'ek appointed detective nrose nnd crept
jmbx the rail fence that surrounded the
r j jyv.. . ij j
Qi weea hj-ii jtuiu uuv me wiuuuw. en
'IhulinnM v-rftrA lliiniy Llfh .,fr'itn.
-- . ... . . . .
i5,'Drat emr be crumbled. "Ev'y yuth-
! f "Vheuse lias riled me wid de tight e'
unties, en ,au one times me rum seem
iter Mawse Nick. 'Snect hit's dat Mar-
piM Whjtc crowd, play in' cyards, en' bet-
te' hlfch. Dean b'lleve he a (cone tet
frlRftvIa W&il ru-ajk Kl-lr Iia mMnl rlfvllf .
Vet djMemptatien is tee strong. I gtvnn
teu mawsier ler ick ae oey uuicu
r place."
fet finding another stump convenient,
crouched down at the feet of a
t tree, and resting his back against
U tranV. wnittd nnd watched, hew lenn
v.. 4 I
m
rV -i u i i -n..t in.- l.t. .:.n
n OIU HUl luiuvr. uui at iu me iBii
was rewaraca: me aoer epenea, ami
Ktekelas steed forth in the moonlight.
p H was talking te some one within, but
CBiy liis voice, net nis weras, ceuia e
iMMrd.x
4$ Old Gilbert's derotien te the "fambly"
t ade earesdreppinr a amy. creeping
prtia his knees in the shadow of ,the fence,
ras Bear me gaw aa nouercu, iretiuui-iicu
m AmM L.i l.ts tA Ana. atjlAfl l.VIa nliavAil
f, ifCUb IIVS UYTISb U.U , MUCU WJ U1 VU1 " W
kmiic, te catcb what Nicholas was saying.
.And this was what lie ncara:
"Itistoe glorious a night te lese; let
' M nave one little stroll in the moon meon moen
Stht." '-5 "Hit's a call" old Gilbert was almost
dk k . . .". . ... . . .. .
rear into ejaculating nieuu. "l,u-
.ertcr.be sayin' dat same tcr Miss
1" "
Ifwas girl. She came out into the
light that flooded the perch, a tall,
r, dark haired girl, with ft saintly
, and a, voice like a flute. She said
sing the old negre ceum net near,
I he Heard his young master's reply:
i- 0 course the colonel will make a row
ttni. Yeu bec, Desia, I hide nothing
,you. But when they knew nil
beta te me hew you have re-
Line from my wild life, eh, dear
i mere he said old Gilbert did net
he bad heard enough, no drop
ftatpn bis face in a great fright,
anherett-up Nicholas and the girl
1 passed down tuetttreet, arm in arm.
i Ola spy coma see mem as uiey went.
VGtt King!" he gasped. "Is I conie
I dta hyer way tcr sce maweter s ten
kwster s enliest seu galllvantiu wid one
it dean ftirnjvala? Bliely, shely, Mawse
Hlck ais? gw git tangled tip wld dls pe1
white trash, I pray I Uawdl nhatlgawn
t I ain gwan say nethlir tcr lUawse
ok-'tetge nickMiIni ntmpin' mad: I'd
rAtsMfat rather mauster'd git mad with
i un Tile Mawse w ick. liusmawster
blame, keepin de boy in dhtbyer lone-
Saeme nlace. Wish I wuz home new.
Dare's all my money en' dat ele bow,
'tint her En'iny Domlalekerhen 'most
nady te ceme effen her nes whey's
ay rumberilla? Lemma study whey Is
r IleSum? I se set en Mawee Kick I dis-
pi fwneaaberhey I leffum."
r , 'j pore uuiutdcu, vue eiu nrgre nacienea
Mck te the stump wnere no naa sat
town; the umbrella was net there. Ue
&Mtraeed his steps te the store, but the
K fBCtUUVU UilUQ U& inIVHIUUJlJ nd. 1U
' ie be found for any (search.
k"Well, well,"lie sighed, "ill luck dean
llMTer come single handed. Ma) be hit's
'ftMgn dat ole Furnival sew is rooted up
, y money. Dey is niight'ly in de way,
Furnlrals, 'en de bes what 1 kin de
i heginst 'em is tcr wrastle in prah."
ATbus communing with himself and car-
tying a dejected head, old Gilbert came,
awares. upon one or the citizens or
. .fden, who was acting as a patrol.
M7ut !" said the man n 'rfef autnenty.
ptft-JiVW'
m.c
Wra'.fT'Vn..
tj. - i-. .ucnKrMiuiime
while with the-ether he fumbled in
Mb pocket for his pasi. "I'se Kernel
Tkorne'sjtlilbertuh, f urn ever tcr Leen,
wneterde Sunrlse plantation. Mawse
Kick wretencd me permission ter ceme
ftp ter de ste' en buy tcrbacker."
A The man held the paas up te the moon-
light, and while be read old Gilbert Bean
Med his face studiously.
$ "Ain't you Mr. Jeb Furnival, suh'r" he
SA
asked, with far mere deforence than be
-oensidercd the Furnivals entitled te; but
Mr. Jeb Furnlral's daughter was lien-
"wed by Mawse Nicholas' attentions, and
hat t made -a difference: it was the part
'. wisdom, apparently, te keep en the
fjoea Bice 01 Mr. jeu rurmtai, ana gel
41 the information possible. "I 'mem
fcers de favor of te' pus6en 'bout Talla
hlntsee streets."
?fs"Ya-as, that's my name," said Mr.
Jeb Furnival, with a heaitatiug drawl.
5j, Old Gilbert grinned affably. "Is you
-atone ault.Tallah&ssee. null?'1
"Well.'my wife's health war broke,"
fjatd tMrnlval, "an' I get a job down this
y,an'I bought a house an let cheap."
t ,Atcr a jiautsa iiu euiuiuueu; "ll war
ftum lucky for Cel. Thorne'a son thet
sy wife tut care en him when lie get
hat stab e' ilarcus Wiiitc's knife. Mar-
war the ene tcr blame, se he bein'
kiu we war beun' ter leek after Nick
Theme, sorter, It war n close shave
Swlxtvhim tin' Kingdom Come, an' I
ain't adzackly get my furgiveness yit
thet I ain't told the colonel nethtn' 'bout
hit But XUek'lis, I rccktu, is ekeerder
t the colonel than ever he war of the
Vvil, an he weuldn' let no letter be
Wrete, an' the doctor said dean fret him,
' se en' se"
."Yhh, inawster." 6ald old Gilbert.
. V'lt's larnt NlckThorne one holeseme
t4Men, I recklu."
' YM mnwalpr "tal.l nl1 fl Mw n. L,
heart was ery heavy.
'An I reckln, maybe, he'll valk a
ighter track, ef fae le the rolentl war
ded ter settle him iieriuuiieiit enter
Sunrlse plantation. It's n ceed niece
Stf Ian'."
.v''Idunne; Ijdunne nethln'," stld old
"Ef McVlls war minded ter mar-
? i- Furnival resumed hcsltatinul v.
OW Gilbert waited respectfully for the
ceiebfl iinUhcd. but Jeb Fund-
I ?m P'y BlterapUug; a eugcegtJea )
TT-
me tint nrcres imrruuty!
ana im uiidcti
maintained silence, he walked away withi
"He ain't get no manners," old Gllbvi
muttered, as be trudged along. "Maws
ter would a' said geed evenln, dough J
is W ole no 'count nigger. En' B'pes"
In' mawster de settle Mawse Nick enter
Sunrise plantation, is Mr. Jeb Furnival
gwan boss de niggers? De me' I argy
f)e, 'pears ter me lak 'de troubles e' dls
werl' Is nccumerlatln'. I gwan travel
'long back ler Theme Hill, jK ez quick
ez I kin git my pass." "
He could net get his pass unlit Nicho
las had breakfasted, nnd then it was se
long part, the dawn that old Olllicrt, In
order te make n sufficiently early start, 1
wan obliged te delay et another day.
"Ileotken it's time you wcre nt home,"
said Nicholas. "The hounds will be into
your hen nests, nnd thewertna In your
tobacco patch, and the grass in your
gnrden."
"Yes, Mawse Nick; I been here flv
!nv n'Kfi,lv." nlil Gilbert sdrhed. think
ing of Dan Furnl vel's wandering sew,
and the hollow in the weed. "En' I se
had treuble in plenty; I'se les' iny rum
bciilla." "Ahal" said Nicholas. "Then you may
take mine."
"Ne, Mawse Nick, no suht" said old
Gilbert, putting up his hands beseeching
ly, while his face turned that osheu hue
peculiar te the negre. "I ain't gw an tck
ye' rumberilla, nohew."
"Dat I ceuldn' de," he Bald te himself,
os he turned away, "i'se 'bleedged ter
go heint en' tell mawster w hat I la
feun' out. Dut I ain' gwan tete his rum
berilla, en' tete tales tee."
He sat him down under the work shed,
chiding the lingering hours. " 'Pears
lak Jashuay been meddlin' wid dat sun,"
he grumbled.
But the sun went down nt last, and
w hen it rese again the old man was well
en his way te Thorue Hilt.
Itw tin dark when lie alighted at his
cabin, which steed apart from the ether
negre quarters, and near the head of the
lane, that led from the back premise)
along the garden. The cabin, built of
legs, with n chimney of clay, occupied
ene side of n small enclosure, surrounded
by n wattled fence. Here old Gilbert had
his garden, his tobacco patch and his
poultry yard.
"Plum' glad I Is ler git homel" hoejacu
latcd. "Befe' I gees up ter de glut house,
I gwan hunt me algg eutcn my own lien
iitssen; 'pears lak I alu' taste naire ulgg
ter my notion sence I been gene."
New, while old Gilbert was nlwcnt at
Sunrlse plantatiensevcral things had
happened te increase the colonel's impa
tience nt Nicholas' contentment in exile.
In the first place, n sudden and violent
storm had unroofed Mrs. Ieuard
Therno's heutic, se that Mis Flera and
her mamma had been forced te tuke
rcfuge at Therne Hill. This was very
pleasing te the colonel; for though hedid
net like his brother's widow, he wns very
fend of his brother's young daughter.
Flera Therne, besides being fair te see,
had thoBcrciieumnneis that hendmlicd;
nhe danced with grace, she Hang the
simple Bengs he loved, she wa very d6
nicstlc, and net in the lcat "learned."
It was the strongest deslre of his heart
that Nicholas heuld marry this pretty
cousin, settle en the Fcrmlale place, tlnee
miles distant, and fulfill the dignified des
tiny of a gentleman planter. But since
Mlsn Flera had taken up her uliode at
Therno Hill, the colonel had mada a tlln tlln
cevery that caused hint much unc.inlnetis.
That se pretty and charming a girl should
have adorers waa in the natural order of
things, and the colonel did net object te
the frequent visits of Miss Flera's adt
mircrs; but that Miss Flera should favor
any ene of them all mete than another
Nicholas being absent was mere than
Nicholas' father could endure with equa
nimity. Mr. Aleck Gage was the ene
among Miss Flera's visitors whose com
ing vexed the colonel, and increased his
eagerness for his son's return.
But hew te recall hit banished eon
without sacrificing his own dignity a
point upon w liicli he was superlatively
sensitive was still the problem that en
gaged the colonel's thoughts. He felt
that Nicholas under Bcntenee of banish
ment ought te plead te return home; he
was euro that Sunrlse plantation must
huve pieved unendurable, long age; but
Nicholas was giving pi oef of n mero ob
stinate endurance than Ids father had
6iippeBcd him capable of. "Confound
him for being se much like mul" the col
onel muttered, as he fat bturiug ut the
thorny pepinac, whom the accustomed
mocking bird, lejoieing in the moonlight,
poured its unstinted song. In the parlor
Flera was singing te Aleck Gage some
thing about moonlight and music, let e
aud flowers, and the colonel lageil like
the heathen.
Old Gilbert's familiar greeting fell upon
his ear with a seething sound. Leaning
forward in Iiih chair, the colonel descried
a dark visage just aboie the leel of the
piazza fleer. "Hollel Se jour back ut
List, J ou old runaway I" he wild jocosely.
"And hew is Nicholas?"
"Mawse Nicholes Is peart ez n ciickct,
sub," Gilbeit answered cheerfully, but
added immediately, and with stieng em
phasis, "Hit's a mighty lonibemo place,
tubbe shot"
"Hat Nicholas finds It lonesome!" the
colonel asked eagerly.
"He ain't complained nene," old Gil
lcrt sighed. "En' de craps is mighty
premusiin'," he supplemented, ndreltly,
though well he knew-that the ciopsewed
nene of their premise te Nicholas.
Suddenly he changed the subject. Al
though he still had it in mind te tell all
he knew, he found it very hard te make
his icpert; he could net ceme nt it
through the medium of the crops, nnd he
was fain te try another cemse.
"Whoa' dis du tell me, mawster, down
ter de quartet, 'bout de storm dene un
roofed Miss I'iiuliuu's heue?"
"Yes," the colonel answered, "didn't
youhaie n blew nt Sunrise plantation?"
"Tubbe she, null, w hat j ou thought call
a high w in', the day ntter 1 get dere; but
deain' no dantidge dene. Mis.sl'Iein en'
her maw, Miss Pauline, de is all safe?"
"Oh, yes, only out of house nnd home;
out of their ew n house and home, that
is. They'ie a home here, of course, ns
long as thej 'II May. I don't knew hew
long it nrty be nbettt rebuilding. The
house is pretty badly bhntteicd and Fur
nival U net te be found in Tallahassee.
He hat a job botuew here, It seems."
"Maw fe Jeb Furnival j ou is meaniti',
mawster'" ciied old Gilbert, excitedly.
"Bless ye' foul, uuwstei, he is ever ter
Etlen; seed him tin se'f; had speech wld
hira."
"What Is he doing there?"
"I ain't Vactly inade out ez he is dein'
anythin' in tickler, btih," old Gilbert
answeied, uneasily. "But I'm a-thitikin'
it liieughl be u-saiin' jeu a sight e' trou
ble, mawktcr, if MawM Nick wuz here ter
go back en' fe'th en leek atter rebuildin'
Miss Pauline's house."
"Exactly!" exclaimed the colonel, w ith
a feeling nkiii te gtntitude. "I'll bend
forthwith for Furniial, and I'll hae
Nicholas nt home. Ge round te tiie
kitchen and tell Dicey te gie you a tip
top bitppcr. Becken you're pretty tired?"
"Middliu', mawster; thankee, sub,"
old Gilbert responded, with a tigh of in
finite relief.
"I didn't want ter go tell en Mawse
Nick," he wid te himself, en the way te
the kitchen; "net ef hit w uz ler be help.
r.n wiauktui i am de 1-aud is piuled de
way der git him felch home 'deuf me go
U'lii) Wftise lie ter irlerrl"
a tie coienei cauea xem uuasn, ana
gave him orders te take the double buggy
and two horses, and start for Sunrise
plantation early the next morning, carry
ing a letter te Nicholas, and another te
Jeb Furnival.
The two days that intervened before
Uils messenger's return were hard te be
endured in patience; it was mero than
could be bome that Tem Quash returned
alone.
"Mis Furnival, sub, is n-ljin' at de
pint e' death," Tem explained. "En
''dat oceunt Mr. Furnival he couldn't
come jes' ylt."
"And Nicholas?" asked the colonel,
impatiently.
. "Mawse Nicholas is wretcned a note,"
said Tem Quash, fumbling in the crown
of his hat. "He son t his rce-spec's, en'
he can't ceme nt slch short notice; Is get
soma matters tcr sorter straighten, but'll
be along after a day or se."
The colonel snatched his son's nole and
read it eagerly. It was expressed in
terms calculated te mollify an angry
patent, but there wns Alex Gage in the
parlor turning ever the musie while
Flera sang, nnd the colonel found it hard
te be patient.
Tem Quash did net tell hew Nicholas
stamped nnd swere when he read his
father's letter and declared that Sunrlse
plantation was geed enough for him;
Tem Quash kept nil this te himself, and
pondered It in hisebtusa brain.
When Miss Elvira learned that Nicho
las waa coming home she locked herself
within her room, took from a secret
drawer the nole she had received from
Rexanna AVhite nnd read it for the last
time. Then she burned it, nnd having
accomplished souie extra pages of
"Bishop Ken," went down te tea, look
ing at least flve years younger.
CHAPTER V.
FntENDS.
Thrce days later Nicholas arrlred at
Therno Hill in his usual bright spirits,
apparently, and apparently very happy
te be at home. He brought the informa
tion that Mrs. Furnival had died the
night before, nnd that Jeb Furnival w euld
report for work as seen after the funeral
as possible.
The colonel was qttlte willing that
Furnival Bheuld take his time; the main
point was gained in having Nicholas at
home te tut n Flera's music. But when
Aleck Gage came an hour later, Nicholas
was oft with an ancient umbrella under
his arm, te pay n visit te old man Gilbert.
Gilbert was seated upon the sweet gum
block that occupied ene corner of his
hearth, blngiug a vigorous hymn, while
he worked nt ene of his round bottomed,
basket. He felt in reed heart: his net'
of money wui safe, mid theie had been
no sign of the hungry bow about the
weeds; his "Deminickcr" had hatched
every one of her fifteen eggs, and his
tobacco was thriving; moreover, Mawse
Nicholas wns Bummoiied home, out of
harm's way, and he had net been obliged
te betray the jeung man's sect ct. "Well,
tubbe ahe," he commented, in a pnuse el
his singing, "put efT jo'lef'sheo when
the wpiecch ew 1 hollers, en' jeu'll ward
oil der.ihlcr.''
Something darkened the daylight, nnd
he looked up, and beheldl Nicholas wns
standing in the doorway. Supreme de
light in this sudden, unexpected vision
blinded his eyes, nt first, te the faded
uuibtella.
"I'eti meanthfie a some pne ehef
"Why, hewdjc, MawaeNiikl Huh you
de? Huh you de?" he exclaimed, grinning
as lie rose) nnd nibbing his hand en his
esnahurg breeches, before he held it out
in he.iity welcome, "I'se plum glad ler
see you I"
Nicholas shook hands, nnd sat dew n In
the splint bottomed chair, in the corner
oppesito the aw eet gum block. Then old
Gilbert's ees fell upon the umbrella, mid
grew big and round.
"Yeu is found him, Mnwse Nick? Dat
itiuiberilla?" And he btretched forth his
hnnds with a chuckle of batisfnetien,
"Ilnnda elTI I've bemething te say
first," cried Nicholas, with a countenance
nnd oiceno uiiwentedly htern that old
(J libel t felt Ins heait knock nt his libs.
"Where de you suppose this umbrella
wns found?"
"I ain't nuvcr been able ter recomem recemem
her, bub, whey I lellimi," btammered old
Gilbert, abashed; but rallying his cour
age, he udded, " 'ceptin' del I liadhim in
Eden."
"In Eden it was found," said Nichehs,
still stern; "beside the horsebleck that
stands net fai fiem the gate in front of
a house en the east of the ceri.ficld."
Nicholas paused.
"Tubbe she'!" ejaculated old Gilbert,
faintly. He did net knew what else te
pay, Nicholas be "held him with hia glit
tering eye."
"What wcre you doing there?" de
manded Nicholas, sternly.
Old Gilbert loeWl nt him and was
silent.
"Yeu were watching me!" cried Nich
olas, with growing anger. "And new I
want te knew what tnle you carried te
my fathei?"
"I wuz nwatchlu' you," said old Gil
belt, stoutly ; "'cause my mill' misgive
ine w hat you needed loekiu' atter; but de
I-awd he knows what I ain't toted no
talcs tcr mawster. 1 jes' tel' lilm what
hit wuz pe'ful lonesome ter Sunrise, eu'
he'd bettir fetch you home."
Nicholas smiled. "There's jour urn urn
biella," he said, yielding the trenbine te
the ew ner's waiting hands. "You've the
soul of a gentleman, ns I've icmnrked
ence bcfeie."
"I wuz fetch up 'long wid ye' gran'
paw, Mawse Nick," old Gilbert reminded
liini, with viiible pride. "All deThernes
wuz gcuiincii."
"White and blackl" said Nicholas, and
burst out laughing. "Confound your old
umbiellal If I had found that you had
carried tales te my father, 1 Bheuld have
felt tempted te break it ever your med
dling old head. Yeu leave me te man man
age my own affairs hereafter, de jeu
mind?" ,
'Tubbe bhe, Maw be Nick, 'ceptin' jes'
His young folks think ele felki is feels,
specially a pe' no 'count ele nigger; but
1 gwan say dis ter y ou. I'se toted you
outer my back when you wuz little, I'se
reden j ou in de fox cyart, en I'se trained
you ter swim wid de help e' gourds; I'se
carried you n-flahiu' en' a-possum hunt
In', en' I'se larnt jeu ye' fust manners.
All dis," said the old man, with solemn,
uplifted forefinger, "alldlsmek hit huk huk
kem 1 gw an give you instruction new.
Dean you go mix ye'se'f w id folks what
ain't ye' kind, Mawse Nick. I ain't E.'iy
in' nethin' beginstdem Furnivals, Mawse
Nick; but dc ain't je' kind."
"Yeu shut upl" snid Nic'ielaj hotly,
find Stred.g ftvyw,
w'J$k
"ue wwa sen us help eutcn de sank
tulry," sighed old Oilbcrt. "I'se pew'ful
-sturbed in my inln' 'bout dat boy. Chil
ians is wuss 'en money. Yeu kin hide
dat away, ur you kin tete it In ye' pock
et; but yd' chllluns you lsi gettr tete In
ye' heart, en' beinetlmis de is a heavy
weight, n heavy weight."
Nicholas did net return te the parlor
until nn hour or se later, when Aleck
Gage was leaving leaving under the
colonel's auspices, ene might say, for
never since he possessed a heuse of his
own had Cel. Therno been se gracious in
ppeediug the parting guest.
But If Cel. Therno flattered himself
that the young gentleman's visits must
new become less frequent he wns deemed
te disappointment. Aleck Gage did net
return the next day, indeed, nor yet the
next, as the colonel noted with secret
satisfaction; but after these two days of
absence Miss Flera's persistent lever re
appeared, nnd boeh it was manifest that
Nicholas' presence made net the slight
est difference, te Aleck Gage. Fer Nich
olas had ordered his horse and ridden
forth with his cousin's lever upon the
first opportunity that offered after hl
arrival, belcly te have it understood that
he himself was net in love with Flera.
The young men talked of indifferent
things uutll they had passed out at the
great gate that opened upon the read;
then Aleck said, with a swelling heart:
"It wae cry clever" he used this word
In the southern acceptation "very clever
of you, Nick, te lcae the field clear te
me this evening. He waa a little jeal
ous, naturally, of Nicholas, but he wished
te de his rival justice.
"Monstrous cleter!" cried Nicholas;
and with a boyish leve of teasing, he add
ed, "I am what may be called a fixture,
jeu knew."
Aleck Gage frowned slightly.
"But that needn't keep you nwake e'
nights," Nicholas amended, the next mo
ment, In a tene of feebriety se aged that
Aleck looked at him inquiringly.
"My cousin Flera is net for me," Nicho
las Bald; "I shan't stand In your way."
Aleck thought Nicholas tremendously
magnanimous; he looked nt him with an
ndmirntlen and sympathy net te be ex
pressed in w erds. Te give up nil hope of
Flera Therno seemed te Flera's lever a
mighty sacrifice He made nn effort te
be magnanimous likewise. "Tell you
what, old follewl" he exclaimed, Impul
sively, "Yeu stand just as geed a chance
as jour huinble servant, if you mustn't
mind my sajing it If you'd only turn a
new leaf. Let us start fair and let him
laugh who wins, eh, Nick?"
"My thanks te jeu; l've turned the
leaf," said Nicholas, dryly; "and it makes
no difference. Or, rather," he corrected,
In an undertone, nnd looking far ever
the fields toward Sunrlse plantation, "it
makes nil the difTcrence in the world."
He rese in his stirrups and kissed his
hand tow nrd the distant prospect.
Aleck btared. "I I don't understand
your' he stammered.
"Well, this is no riddle, Aleck. Mind
you, I'm net in Flo's confidence; but jeu
keep trying; don't you back out for my
coming."
"Yeu mean Micro is some ene else?"
Nicholas laid his hand en his heart.
"There Is seme ene else," he Bald. Ills
lolcewas tremulous with emotion; his
whele aspect chauged.
"I liope he is worthy of jeu, Nick,"
Aleck burst forth. He had a great ad
miration for Nicholas, in epite of his
faults.
"Geed heaven!" exclaimed Nicholas,
impatiently. "She is n million times tee
geed for mc! But that won't prevent
my clinging te her till death us de part."
He uttered these last words rcveieiitly,
taking eif his hat nnd bowing his head.
"He couldn't be werse geno if it w ere
Flera herself," was the impression he
imide upon Fleia'ti lever. "It's net mag
nanimity, after nil." Then he asked,
impulsively, nnd half in n fright:
"What will the colonel say?"
"lle'Il bw ear," returned Nicholas, brief
ly, nnd with n dark frown.
Aleck had no doubt of it, but he didn't
wy be.
"The fact is, continued Nicholas,
gloomily, "I'm in a ticklish position. My
father always expects te have lib own
way. lle demands of me te many my
cousin I'leia this was the drift of what
he wiote me when he summoned me
from Sum ise. And Flo' and I don't care
a button for each ether net in that w aj
You'll ically de me n beruce, Aleck, if
you'll go en ns y ou've begun; I'll help y ou
out. One of tliebe day s, may be, I'll hav e
te ask jeu te hilp ine out." Nicholas
checked his herse and btretched forth his
baud.
"Count ou me!" exclaimed Aleck, w ith
feivei, ns he clasped the proffered hand.
" Taln't magnanimity, nftei all," he
mused, with n certain eatifactleu, ns he
rede his separate vv.vy. "By Geeige, it's
the gen-u-ine, mighty Ged Cupid, nnd
thuu'll be the devil of n row!"
CHAPTER VI..
FAINT HEART,
tfr-StMBX?
LVQilX' T
x
r
-m
"Oh, Urer Xtcfielas, I le leie you te!"
Nicholas rede back w ith a gloomy brew,
but ns he drew near the hoiibe he began
te sing, with feiced gaycty, the popular
refrain, "Tallahassee Girls," for he had
caught a glimpse, of his lit t Ie bister,
sitting alone ou the horbe block, in the
dim twilight, waiting for his return.
"Dear little sister," he sighed, even in
the midst of his singing; "if she weie
but nearer my own age!" Then he varied
the words of his bong, the better te suit
the case:
"Oh, ni) TnllaUoisce girl. eu't jeu mount up
ith iu
And rkltf by the light ef the luoeut"
Up jumped Miy, nnd steed en the
herse block, clipping her hands ns she
divined her brother's puijiese. He was
going te btep! lle w as going te take her
en the b.uldle in front of him! Glorious
Brer Nicholas!
She climbed up nimbly as n squlirel.
"Tin re ain't nn moon risen jet," she
said, with a childish giggle of supreme
content. "But we ain't nfinid! Oh,
Brer Nicholas, I de lev e y en sol ' it w as,
' perlwiw. the twentieth time she had said
this since his return, three days before
"Hew much de you leve me?" Niihelas
asked, with n great waving for leve's
support.
"Me'n any btxlj ilsein all thoweild,"
Missy answered, with emphatic decision.
"Oh, moustieus! cued Nicholas, sol
much moved that he was constrained te4
speak lightly. "I suppose jeu ceuldj
undertake te light dragons for me?"
"Dragons?' contemptuously. "I could
fight the devil and all his works."
"What in the world"' ei.claiuicd
Nicholas, witli a hurbt of laughter.
"Well," wid Missy, discreetly, "them's
fhnKtroi!iftveriblroiild pe, Hn' p
-Tf1-'-.TLy ftr- rTn.
rKmfmyA-m
i. ' r fe.. M9
--'' - &
girl, lhcy're hi the catechhm," she ad
ded, by way1 of rccomihendatlon, "or the
b-iptism, I forget which."
"Missy, Missy, I'm afraid you're a sad
pickle!'
"I'm geln' te be very geed new, since
I've get you home. I'll de just every
thing te plcase jeu. I'm all the sister
joii'viiget.'
"Yes! jou're all the sister I've getl Oh,
MUsy, hew- I wish jeu wcroehlciP
"H'm! ' i-ild Mlsiy, "et at all compli
mented, "Then I'd be a jeung lady nt
the planner, HKe my cousin Flera, al
ways nfinid of spoiling my clothes.
Bound jeu wouldn't get her te ride
double, this i r way."
"I shouldn't think of asking her,"
laughed Nlehelni.
"Ne," Mls.iv asserted, comfortably,
"I'm nicer lb in her." She w-ai bitterly
jealous of I'leia.
Tliu family werentle.i when the broth
er nnd bister eniue in, Missy clinging te
Nicholas' arm.
"Hew j-eii de spoil tint child," Bald
Mrs. Lcenaid Therne. She disnppreved
of Missy's "vvajs" vv ith Nicholas; in fact,
disapproved of Misiy altogether.
"Ne," eald Missy, with a motherly air,
"it's ine what sp ills him."
The colonel freuncd. "Flera," he
laid, "I wish you would uudcrtake te
smooth my litlle daughter."
"Is bhe n Hat Iren?" ild Missy, pertly,
shilling her handled chief Inte hei mouth.
Nlche1.ii nnd I'leia exchanged glances
mid frankly smiled.
"Winified! ' expostulated Mlsi Elvira;
hut Missy had seen her brother stuile and
she cared naught for her Aunt Elvira.
In the ptivacy of her own room that
night Mrs. Leenard Therno expressed the
opinion that Winifred Therno was born
te be it mortification te her family. "She
makes herself n perfect nuisance te Nich
olas." "Oh, mal" Flera remonstrated; and,
seeing that her mother w as bent upon
talking about Nicholas, blie begin te
comb her beautiful, luxuriant hair ever
her eyes.
"Net but tint It'n very admirable in
Nicholas te be se indulgent toward her.
I always did justice te Nicholas' geed
qualities. He may have been a httle
wild, but what of that? All young men
of spirit nre lestive under restraint. My
brotliei-in-law,thecolonel, demands per
fection in his son and heir as if hovvere
unj where near perfection himself."
"Oh, mal 'eald Flera again. Yeu knew
Unde Jasper nevci was like Nicholas."
"Ne, he never was," repeated Mrs.
Therno, with emphasis. "Catch Cel.
Therno confessing his follies nnd short
comings, as Nicholas has te me. That is
what I call honorable In the highest de
gree. It's what most j-eung men wouldn't
de mulct the circumstances. I always
knew-he would ceme out right in time.
And what n property he will have, Tlora!
Thrce flne pi mtatlens, besides the Fern Fern
d.ale place te be divided between him and
that httle monkey of n Missy. Then your
Aunt Elvira will piebably leave iilluhc
has te Nicholas; he always: was her fa
vorite. And Nick is he pleasant; he hasn't
lest liny of his bright spirits."
"I don't knew about that, ma," said the
mete ebsei vant Tlora, behind her brown
ticses "My Cousin Nicholas hasn't buch
bright spirits ns he'd likotehavon body
believe. They nie loe bright; and heis
moody enough w hen he thinks nobody is
noticing. And then"
"And then?" repeated Mrs. Therno, all
attention.
"lle Is in another scrape, I fancv," said
Flera, blew ly. "Thcre is certainly some
thing weighing en his mind."
"Or his heart?" suggested Mrs. Theme.
It n Herded Miss l'leia's mamma ex
quisite enjoyment te watch the piegicss
of affairs between Nicholas and her
daughlci. It was like n vivified novel,
nnd upon no account would bhe luve
been w illing te hee this romance hurried
te n precipitate conclusion w ith the music
of man inge bells. It was quite the proper
thing that the jeung lady bheuld be coy
nnd disdainful, denying ha tiue feelings
and Hilling with a rival, while the young
gentleman distiusted his own desert,
cetiutei feited gaycty, and was a prey te
gloom; nil thin was tee delicious te be
innircd by inconsiderate- haste.
Never had Mis. Therno been devotion
se delicate as that display cd by Nicholas.
Ev try morning, Immediately aftei break
fast, he hastened away te bee about the
work en his nunt'ri house; every neon he
returned with Miggestinns for improve
ments nud conveniences that he detailed
te Mis. 'llieinc, with nn interest nnd en
thus! ism that took her vanity captive.
Devotion te Flera's inimiii.i was euro te
be nppieciated by Mrs. Theme; It was
the die.im of her heart that her son-in-law
should be in leve w ith herself. Fur
nival was new. at work upon the house,
nnd it pleased Mrs. Therno te fancy tint
the impetuous Nicholas must worry the
life out of th it dilatory mechanic.
"Net that I am In haste te have you
leave in, aunt, you understand," said
Nicholas, blushing, when rallied upon
his energy in pushing en the work.
Mis. Therno thought she did under
stand perfectly. It w as out of the ques
tion that Flera bheuld be niarued in any any
ether house than her methei's. Furnival
had been heard te say toNichel.is: "When
a boy I ik y ou takes u mai ry m' notion he
stands fair te make ndurucd feel of him
self." That Furnival, the carpenter,
bheuld presutne te make such a speech
te Cel. Theme's seu was immensely
amusing te Mrs. Leenard Theme. She
tried te persuade Nicholas te till her
what had provoked it, but Nicholas only
turned se'arlet nnd quickly changed the
btibjeet.
When he was net with Furnival Nich
olas devoted himself te Flera, doing till
that a y eung man mny te w m a maiden's
favei , for he did ardently desire te w in
his cousin's favor that he might count
upon her womanly bympatliy.
Missy raced ever this state of things.
"Brer Nicholas nin't no tue' use te ine
than a settin' hen," bhe declared, it re
quired Gleij Ann's btnetest vigilance te
keep the child from dogging the steps of
the two young people.
As for Flera, she was sorely perplexed.
Nicholas had novel been se attractive te
her as new. Alone with his prcttj cousin,
he abandoned all pretence te gay ety, and
gave himself up ten sadness that was net
without its fascination for a young girl's
heart; and theie were moments when
Flera hardly knew whethershe preferred
her cousin or Aleck Gnge.
And there was Aleck Gace coming
every few days. "Wonder what makes
him Mich a feel?" w as the colonel's un un
bjiekcn comment. "But it's Flera's privi
lege te keep him dangling."
Nicholas did net quit the parlor or the
pi izza when Aleck cam new, and he
always inade one of the party when a
walk was pioesed; but when ence they
were out in thesluubbery, Nicholas dis
appealed. 'Ihis was MiS3j's hour of triumph,
when she pounced uieii her brother, and
boiehiuiolf te inspiet a bird's nest, te
caive her name in the birk of a tree, te
make etchings with a them upon the
leav cs of the centurj plant
And thN was also young Aleck's hour,
when he wa.ed eloquent and confiden
tial, though never a lnnt would liisseuse
of honor permit him te hieathoef the
glimpse tint had been given him of
Nicholas Tliei no's heart.
In thi3 state of things Flera was sorry
for Nicholas, and angry with him, tee.
Often bhe fancied that he was upon the
point of speaking but lucked the cour ceur
BBv, Mlllcll f(3 illvlVv'l Uiec?i &ll9
wished he could speak, that they might
come te an understanding; and yet she
dreaded te have him speak, knowing
what wrath nnd bitterness would fellow
Upen her answer. Every member of the
family, she was well nware, would take
Nicholas' part; everybody would blame
her except AlcckOage. If Nicholas
would only be content te be a brother!
And all that Nicholas desired was that
Flera should be te him as a sister.
CHAPTER VII.
CONFESSION.
'Veter ttier' Flera yasptd.
The dajs went by; the moon that had
lighted old Gllbeit while he played the
spy in Eden had waned und vanished,
nud the crescent that succeeded had ex
panded te Mie full orbed glory of the
nights of June; the warm air was heavy
with pcrfutneand vocal with the. mock
ing bird's rapturous song.
These vv ere nights no lever could afford
te lese, and Aleck Gage did net fail te
take advantage of them; Mme rind again
was he n visitor at Therne Hill when the
colonel Httle suspected his presence.
Nicholas nnd Tlora would stroll out after
tea, and after tea w euld Aleck arrive and
join them in Bome remete alley of the
extensive nhrubbery.
His nppe.arance was the signal for
Nicholas te rctire nnd meditate in soli
tude, a Bolitude that Missy did net new
intrude upon. Fer Missy had invented
a new amusement for these nights of
June. With Amity as audience, and the
wide bcupperneng arbor en the confines
of the vegetable garden te berve as a
stage, Bhe had given herself up te the
fascination of private theatricals. The
dusty volumes in the recesses of the dor
mer windows supplied her quick fancy
with material, and new she was Puck,
new Ariel, sometimes the Queen el
Faerie, or again the Ghost In "Hamlet,"
a favonte character that fioze the bleed
in Amity's veins; nnd net infrequently
6he was her gcnulne self, raging against
her handmaiden's stupidity. All this
was in preparation for a long premised
visit from Lettio and Bess Ilcrry, with
whose assistance Missy hoped te accom
plish bemething very delightful in the
wny of histrionic nrt.
Ne ene Inquired what the child was
doing with herself during these moonlit
hours; Glory-Ann, satisfied that her
troublesome charge was bomevvhere with
Amity, held her httle court .in the
kitchen; the colonel and Miss Elvira and
Tleia's mamma talked en the back
piazza, content te leave the young peo
ple the freedom of the front premises.
"Flera, in y daughter, take your shawl,"
Mrs. Loeuaid always said, and it was
Nicholas' privilege te wrap it around Ills
cousin s shoulder, after wlncli he drew
her pretty hand within his arm, and
surely there was abundant opportunity
for him te speak in the long walk half
way mound the grounds.
But Nicholas talked only of iudilTerent
things in n h ilf hearted fashion, and
when they reached the gate where usu
ally they met Aleck Gage just dismount
ing hu would laugh and whisper, "See
the conquering here comes," and leave
Flera blushing.
It had seemed te Nicholas that the
wisest thing he could de would be te
take his cousin Flera into his confidence;
but whenever the occasion offered his
courage forsook him, his tengue lefused
its office. IIe had let blip hi3 opportunity
many times before he realized that de
lays ine .dangeieus, but when ence he
began te feel this it was net possible for
him te hesitate longer. He w as sure that
he could count upon Tlora's bj mpathy,
nt least, even if bhe could de nothing te
nid him, nud it seemed like an omen of
geed fertune that, nt the very moment
when he begun te 1 cel be impatient te
tell his cousin all, Aleck Gage bheuld
iiuike his visit se Aery much sheitei than
usual, the cause for which was that
Aleck and Plot a had indulged in the lux
ury of a quarrel.
Nicholas baw the angry levci striding
down the walk and did net hail him for
a parting word. "Let hinie!" he said.
"Fer this ence the sooner the better."
And he leso up quickly fiem the bench
under the mimosa trce and almost lante
seek his cousin.
Fleiawasin the old fashioned sum
mei house, screened at the back by many
mingling ines; the moonlight stieaming
through the wide nichwny in fient ie
xealed her, seated, with her head bowed
down, her fnce hidden in her hands
"Flera! Floral Mj cousin!" cried Nich
olas. "Wiiat is the mattei? '
A terrible fear seized upon him. Could
it be tint Flera did net care for Aleck
Gage? Or was she m) dominated by her
uncle's will that bhe dared net nllew her
heart fair pl.ij? But no Flera had a
will of her own. What if her uucle'n
vv ish wete her w ish, tee? All this rushed
through Nicholas' brain as Flera bprang
up nud demanded haughtily:
"I low daie j en conie spying upon mc?"'
"I nm net spying upon you, Flera,"
said Nicholas, ns he btaggered back
against the wall of the summer house.
"I wish te be your friend," he added,
rally ing himself by a supreme effort. IIe
determined te assume that his cousin's
preference w as for Aleck Gage.
"De you mean te pay," cried l lera,
with sudden illumination, ns she went te
him nnd laid her hand en his nrm, "de
you mean te B.ay, Nick, that you won't
nsk me te innrrj' j ou?"
"I won't nsk jeu te mairy me," Nich
olas ausw ered nnd smiled anything but
a heartbroken smile, and yet it was se
nail a btnile that Floi a was overwhelm
ingly sorry for him.
"Oh, Nick!" she cried, and clasped her
hands nrettnd his nrm nnd laid her head
against it. "Yeu nre a dear, geed fel
low and I leve you deai ly, dearly; but
y ou knew if y ou vv i re te nsk me I'd just
have te tmy 'no,' nnd thin there would
be a dreadful time. But if only you
would take my pait"
"My di.irc-t ceuin! Of ceurse I will
take your part But then will you go
halvts and tnke my put?" Nicholas
asked tieniuleiisly nnd w ith an uneasy
laugh
"Yeu knew I will," said Dera, who
was fai from suspecting her cousin's
meaning. "Why, I bheuld be the basest
ingi.ilonet tebtnndup for you ns If I
weie your ststtr." j
Nicholas put his arm around her, mull
just thui the mocking bird in the thlckct
behind them Middenlj ceased its bengj
and llutteied through the feliage with :
quick, short, unmelodieiu chirp. "I
tiust it is net nn omen of ill, Flera," said
he, glancing ever his shoulder, "that the
bird should mi abruptly cease its song."
"I don't K'lieve in omens," returned
Flera, impatiently "1 beheve in my
ew n determination "
"1 was tliljikjng pf rnyjejf'ald Niclf
outs, witn an uncamreuaew buiiij wet
of you." He took both her haada la hk,
and looked in her face and
"But with you te take my part, you who
can understand hew love cornea unbid
den" "Yes, dear Nick," said Flera, aeftly.
"I can understand. I will always be ea
your side, w hatevcr my uncle may ay."
Flera was far from exulting in the
thought that her cousin loved her hope
lessly, but she found it exquisitely inter
cstlng te feel herself thus beloved.
"I de net knew hew it is I cannot
tell hew it began," said Nicholas, with
almost a Beb In his voice, "but I lore
ene who is se dear and beautiful and
geed." He dropped Flera's hands and
clasped his own with intensity of feel
ing. "Leve her! But she con never
plcase my father. Thcre is my bitter
trouble."
It seemed te Flera as it she heard these
words in a dream; nnd yet sbe fully and
instantly understood him as she never
hitherto had understood him. Instinct
ively she recoiled from him; it was net
in the nature of the case that she should
net feel resentment at this unexpected
discovery that, after all, Nicholas had
never been in leve with herself; that his
Eighs and his sadness were, after all, net
for her.
"I hope, Nicholas," Raid she, with a
little air of virtuous superiority. "I de
liope j ou hav e net fixed j our affections
upon seme ene beneath you?"
"Ne," said Nicholas, lifting his head
proudly; "I have set my affections upon
ene infinitely above mc in all that is
lovely and of geed report," he added,
with n bitter laugh. "And I love her
with all, the strength that Aleck Gage
loves jeu, if that Is any criterion," he
continued, fast losing his self control.
"And, thank Ged, Desia loves me."
"Desia Furnival?" cried Flera, clasp
ing her hands and draw ing away from
him bj- a sudden, almost violent move
ment. "Ceubin Myrtilla's pretege? And
you expect us te countenance her? Oh,
Nicholas! Nicholas! you cannot be in
earnest? Yeu must break away, and at
ence, fiem all this."
"I nm In earnest," Nicholas answered.
His faenvvas pale; his veice shook; he
was very angry. "And as te breaking
away Desia is my wife, riera; respect
her."
"Your wife?" Flera gasped, and sank
upon the bench. "Oh, my uncle! It
will break his heart!"
"It ought net te break his heart," said
Nicholas, coldly. "She has saved his
6011."
"Hew will you ever tell him? Hew
vv ill he ev cr be nble te bear it?" Flera
asked, bitterly.
"Oh, Flera!" cried Nicholas, "it is
my study by night nud day hew te break
it te him. I leve my father in spite of
all; but Desia is my very lifel I dread
be Ids visiting his wiath upon her In any
way. I could net bear te have her
wounded I I could luite but ehl I
de be wish te have my father and my
Aunt Elvira all of jeu, welcome her."
"They ncvei will; we nevcrcan," said
Flera, bursting into miserable tears of
(listless nnd 1 light.
Nicholas bat dew n beside her, nnd put
his baud en heis. "But you, dear Flo Fle
ra," he said beseechingly, "you who
knew what it is te be tenderly be bo be
leved" Fleiu was touched. "What can I de,
Nicholas''" hhe faltered. "Oh.it is dread
ful! ' Bhe wbbcd. "Hew could you"
"Oh, Floral" Nicholas breke in, "if
you would try te make them understand
they might listen te you. She has been
the saving of me. I was going en in my
bad courses, reckless and defiant in my
lonely exile; I fell into bad company,
ever theie at Sunrise; and Micro was a
quariel, ni which I get a bad cut. My
father knows nothing of it; but I should
have died had it net been for the Furni
vals and Desia. Ah, If you really
knew hei. She is far superior te these
ether Furnivals: she is educated, and
6he is se geed. And, peer gill, her mo
ther has jut died."
"Hew could you marry in becrct?" said
riera, with a touch of indignation she
could net curb. Her sympathies wcre
entirely with her uncle.
"I will tell you why," said Nicholas,
nettled, "it was done in haste"
"Te be icpcnted at leisure," baid Flera,
vv Ith a fresh buist of tears. "Oh, Niche
las!" "Nebucli thing!" cried Nicholas, hot
ly. "Yeu ahull knew the truth, Flera.
Until thrce days befere I came up from
Sunuse, I li.ul no thought of marrying
Desia without bpeaking te my father;
but my father vv i ote te me and laid down
tlie law you knew what he has always
- wished. IIe insisted"
But Niehelis, nugry though he was,
had it net in him te tell his cousin that
he h id been commanded te nsk her In
marriage, and that he had married sud
denly the gnl he loved, te escape obey
ing "that command; nevertheless, Flera
understood.
"It would have been useless," she said
stitlly.
"Hei methei wasdying'Nicholascon wasdying'Nichelascon wasdying'Nicholascen
tinned, sadly , "and I did net knew when
1 could go back te Desia; be we were
married bcslde her mother's death bed.
Of course it was intended te be kept a
scciet fei the present. Nobody knows
except her father and the preacher who
mniricd us, her mother died, as you
knew."
"It is a miserable business," said riera,
with fresh tears. Nicholas sighed; his
anger was exhausted. "And I de net
knew vv lint is te be done, Nicholas. Oil,
it will make everything se unhappy for
nil of us. Is there no possible way te
undo it?'
"Just heaven. Flera!" exclaimed
Nicholas, leceihng. "What maimer of
woman are you? Unde it? Never, while
I live! My father must bear it, all of
you must bear it, us Mich things may be
borne. I nm neither terry nor ashamed
that Deia is iny vv ife; understand that,
ence for nil. And I shall tell my father
new, us seen as I can."
"Oh, Nicholas, you might wait until
ma and I nre at home again," Flera en
treated. "We could de no geed and it
would be be se uncomfortable for us.
Yeu might bhevv seme consideration fqr
us."
Nicholas did net reply for bome mo
ments; when at Inst he spoke, it was te
say coldly :
"I will wait, you shall net be called
upon te take my pait."
Flera felt the reproach, but Bhe felt it
ns aw long. "Yeu cannot expect ma and
me te be willing te be subjected te un
pleasant nceues," she bald; "and what
could I de.' Married te Desia Furnivalt
Oh, Nicholas! it isns if you were dead!"
"I daie Bay it will result in my being
as geed ns dead te all my kindred," re
turned Nicholas, gloomily; "but that
caunet make me regret that Desia is my
wife; nothing can make me sorry for
Mint." And he rose; he had said his last
vv erd.
Flera lese, tee; bhe felt that thcre was
nothing mero te be biiid.
With ene consent thoceusins went into
the house, each coiisiieus of carrying a
tell tale face, and each shunUing in
stinctively from the scrutiny that they
knew awaited Mum upon their entrance.
But just ns they came in a tcene was
euacthig upon the back gnlleiy that ill
verted attention from Flera and Nich
olas, (Qnttnutd next SututiUvj
tt,
,i r
-A'-ji
r..:-.ir.:
(