fi LSI SJw yftv: S?.. m &r & RRW wnmw.'j Jfc By ELIZABETH W. BELLAMY, ("KAVBJL THORPF,") 'Auther of "Ibur Oak," "Little Jean I na," VTC. Ml RlRiTTlchted. All rlriilti reserved. Publlthed by J I srcetal knaactmeat with the BclferJ Cempunj, I iwrTersj , CH AFTER XXIV. OLORT-ANN INTJSBrXIlES. "trWI," ht mid, uilh a tigh of impatltnct. Winifred Therno was new determined, IB MAN GILBERT few In spite of her father's opposition, te sce ' vapt. rleicncr. me urst uuju, meip &i fore, that she went te town te upend the VSn. day with her cousins she begged te liave traii the carriage wait when she and Miss El- tira alighted nl Mrs. Kerry's deer. "I should think you had had riding enough after nine miles," said Miss El Tire; "but you young pcople are never tired." Winifred did net explain, but ns seen unlit had wen her aunt comfortably settled fit Cousin Myrtllla's room film bravely announced te Lettie nnd Bess that she was going te drive te Mrs. Theoeore- Scott's. "Te meet that Yankee efficerl" cried Lettie and Bess, Indignantly. "Yes," said Miss Winifred. "Oh, Missy! Missyl" lamented Lettie. "We shouldn't have thought it of you a Southern bernt" Ter iny part," cried Bess, "I would rather never hear of my brother." "I haven't asked you te go w 1th me," Winifred rctei ted, in an angry tone, but checked herself, nnd added, with a sigh, "We'd better net discuss this question, Bess." "Did your father gtve 3 ou leave?" ask ed Lettie, excitedly. 'Ter If hedld" "1 haven't asked him. Don't say nny mere; I can't help it; I don't want te think whether I am righter wrong. Let me go!" She broke away and hastened out. At the gate- she met Mem Bee. "Whlcherway you gwan, honey?" asked the old nurse, suspiciously. "De eent me word jett wuz ter be spcndln de day, en' I coine stretwnys ter git n Efj ae nay, en j. ceme Mreivvnys SffSj glimpse nt you. I 'low ter W ' dn'' rayse'f' cf 31i,,s Myrtilla fe? jectin', en' I knew she nin't. I 'lows ter spur de nin t ob- Lemnio tell you, chile; I ain't get speech e' dat ed ral gemnian ylt Never mind, Missy interrupted, im- itly. "Let me go!" YeuViiin' gwan niter him, Missy, new she'ly yetNihVt?" , "I surely nrnl" Missy declared, "Den I kin tell you hit ain't no use," aid Glory-Ann, planting herself solidly in the way. "Miz Thcode' Scott is dene get him inter a two-haw se buggy, en' tuk him down ter St. Mark's. rac" "Hew de en knew?" cried Miiwy, im patiently. "Hew de I knew? A in' de bespeke de buggy long e' Tem Quash, who is quit de hotel en' jincd de livery stables?" New, honey, jes' you go back ter ye' cousins en' bejev ye'self, en' wait en suo sue cumstancc. Iiuffum tei ye' ele iiinmmy. I gwan manage." Missy sighed nnd submitted. She sent the carriage away nnd returned te the parlor, w here Lettio and Bess were still holding nn indignation meeting. Mem Bee followed hard behind, but stepped upon the tlitesheld. "Oh, Winifred, we'10 se glnd jou've changed your mind!'' cried Lettio, as Winifred sat down, sighing. "l'vu net changed my mind," Winifred returned; "hut Mem Bee says they've geno te St. Maik's. Today of all da s!' At this Bess looked up inquiringly, but Mem Bce's vigorous pantomime- imposed silence; and Missy, w he had turned aw ay, was nene the wiser. Late that afternoon, when Miss Elvira and Missy had departed, the diplomatic Mem Bee sought a private nudiencoef Mrs. Herry. "flit's about Mlssv. Mih3 Mvrtilla." she It? said, anxiously, " 'cause dat chile ain' A' get no ine' gumption den a habr. Hit runs in de Therno f.im'hly ter be heady, en' Missy is heady. MIsslo-virey, wid her eyes set en de prah book, she ain' never gvvnn enerstan' Missy; en' maws ter, he don't enerstan', nuther; leastwise, Missy gettcr be pelicized." "What in the world is the mat ter?" Mrs. Hurry asked, bewildered and alarmed. "Miss Myrtilla, I is 'most 'shamed ter tell j ou. Miss) done begged ter run utter dat I'ed'ral gemnian ter Mix Tlieode' Scott, 'caw se (lis ele feel nigger had ter go let en dat de wuz a talk he had met up wid Maw ms Nick iu de wah. I.-vwd! Miss Myrtilla, I cetch dat chile en de track of dat fed'ral gemmnn dis blessed reawnln'! He's a proper gemnian, may-' be; but mawster niii' gwan knew ncthin' 'lout luni, 'en Missy get no business fol fel low in' him up, jes' ter git a word 'bout Maw ee Nick " "Certainly net," said Mrs. Herry. "She must net." "I knew bittei den tell her she inusn'," said the sag-icieus Glory-Ann. "I wuz 'blewgcd ter tell dat bumptiousclulewhat Miz Theode' Scott en' dat feil'ml wuz outentewn. But I can't keep en tellin' tlch lies ter save her manners. She nin' gwnn hullteve me bem bye. Yeu en' me Is getter leek utter Missy, Miss Myrtilla. New I'm gwan bee dat fed'ral gemmati, eometcr-uiener. Hit ain' no use ter ax ruawsterter put his wnhfeelins en' his politics in his pocket; he ain' gwan de hit. Hit's mew hat gwan fin' out 'bout Maw se Nick; en' den I'm gwan back ter de plantation, if 1 totes injee'f, ter tell Missy, fur de peace e' her inln' De nin' much use in freedom ez 1 km tee, ef a ole nigger lak mealn'fiee ter use Lit jedgmeet. En', cfyeu please, Miss Myrtilla, len' jiie e' side saddle, en' I'll mek out, some wnjs, ter git a inucl." The next morning Glory-Ann inter viewed Capt. Jehn Ierr'iiiicr l'letcher. She was greatly disappointed te find this important personage in citircn'a dress, but othemibe his nppoarance wen her approval; she decided in an instant that he was "quality" und she did obeis ance accordingly , Theraptaiu was seated nt u table in Mrs. Theodere Seett's prim little parlor, writing a letter, nnd he did net relish the interruption; yet he was agreeably im- JJIPsSd bv the Uately manner of this old ngrelLa-?a'aii in n bhiu homespun gown und a tewerwg jellew turban. "Well," he bald, with n tigh of impa Hi nee, "what can 1 de for you, my geed mau ma?" . A southerner v, euld hn 0 addressed her -utU!,, , ' ft"' a Ulery-Ann's cyw twlnklcd."Tlk lak I missed him," she commented te herself. "l'sn Glory-Ann, suh," she said, with second obeisance, "what nussed Mawss Nick; Maw se Nick what you met up wid In de wnh," she explained anxiously, see ing that hegavone sign of comprehension. "Mawsn Nicholas Therno, tubbe shot" "Oh!"' exclaimed Capt. Fletcher, push ing nway his writing materials. "Who sent J ou?" "Dullaw, mawster, de nin' nobody sent me; I come- e' my own notion. I missed nil de Therno chlllcn; en' Mly, she nin' studyln' nethln' but Mawse Nick" "Missy?" the captain repeated, Inquir ingly. It wns a name he had never heard. "Dat's Miss Wlniffed Therno" "Ah, yes; 1 understand," said Jehn Fletcher, biting his mustache te lilde n smile. Miss Winifred Therno wns the young lady who had turned her back iijien him ene day, in Mrs. leriracr's parlor, nnd marched out of the room. Mrs. Lerrlmef had told him her history afterward; nnd he had premised te be friend this defiant young lady's brother, if ever the opportunity should offer. And, strange te say, the opportunity did offer. Nicholas Therno wns wound ed nnd taken prisoner nt Nashville; yet Capt. Fletcher might never have heard of lilm, except for an old negre, who, following after, in mortal terror of shot and shell, anil by dint of sheer persist ency of inquiry, had found his young master in tlin hospital, nnd had insisted upon being held prisoner with him. All this the captain told Glory-Ann. "En' wuz dat old nigger n reun' faced, grinnln' ele nigger, w Id big teeth, en' his name, wns Gilbert, en' lie walked hlppity hop?" she aslcd, breathlessly. "I believe Gilbert was his name," the captain admitted, - "Deamazin' powers! Ole man Gilbert, tubbe shel What a gret pity ele man Dublin is dead en' gawn, dat he can't hiar de news! Ain' Missy gwan be s'prlsedl" "Hardly ."said Capt. Hotelier, smiling. "She told Mrs. Let rimer that she herself sent him te her brother." Glory-Ann opened wide her eyes nnd diew n long breath. This was the most nsteundltig news of nil. "Dat Missy," she said, "is Jen' ez heady er. de res' e' de Thernes. One e' dese days I le 'spect slie gwan tck n notion ter go beginst mawster; en' den w lint? En' what 'bout Mnwse Nicholas, ef jeu please, huh?" There was little mera te tell, 'ihretigh Capt. Fletcher's exertions Nicholas had been pieinptly exchanged, nnd the cap tain hnd hum 1 heaid fiem him hiuce. Unfortunately Capt. Hotelier could net recall the name of the little placu in Mis sissippi win 1 u Nicholas' home then wns, and w here his wife nnd child weie liv ing; he had inade no memeiutidiiin of it, nnd the letter he wiote Mrs. Ixirrimcr at the tlme had never reached her. "I'm pevv'ful 'blecged ter jeu, maws terV'said Glory-Ann, with ii profound feurtesy. "I dunne what my pe' little Miss is gwan de 'bout hit nil, but I knew lilt gwan give de clille neiiin sort e' comfort." 'Hint evening Jehn Hotelier said te his friend, Mrs. Tin odern Scett: "Yeu have b(tiaed me; I happened totcllveu of my having met Nicholas Therno befere 1 knew that his father would lefuse te ueeive ine, nnd new the story has gotie nhin.nl," "It was tee geed te Keep," was all the satisfaction Mrc. Scelt gnvu him. He smiled und bhrugged his shoulders, f-aylng: "Tlinf iitili, iirlltn. ti Gtitllwtriifif ..'lit -l,b ...l.. ..,, will IIWIIHIklllVI ,..,, imnglne that I nm ti ing te ferce his ice- ognltien. "Yeu can decline in your turn," hU friend suggested, "I shall never have the chance," Jehn Fletcher said; "hut after all, what does it matter?" CHAlTEIt XXV. I'KIIMJVRIOV. (ileiy-Ann was the xsscs!er of "n loeso six bits," an she tinned the small floating capital of seventy-live cunts that did net f 01 111 part of the heaid hlie cher ished in the tee of a stocking; and with this sum she hiicd a mule, which she equipped with the side Kiddle bortewed fiem "Miss Myitilla," and in the after noon shu set out alone fei Theme Hill. Being minded, however, te pay n visit te an old acquaintance en the way, she did net reach hci destination until (he next morning, blie lieKt n piivute inter view with Miss, as hoen as the colonel rede out te inspect his fields; and when he returned, the old woman was jogging en her way back te tow n. She hud dene her part; it remained for Missy te man man age the colonel, if that wcre possible. JNtL ; iiihlli "Yeu irt erij 11 wW," the saul, heantly Wiuifud vvas in the pallor, nlone, when her father enme 111, und it nouled but n glance te t-hew luiu that Mune tlnng had happened te move her deeply. Her f.ice was ver pile, but in her eyes was a wistful leek that undo him lin ens v. "What is the matter, Vinifiedi"' he asked. "Mem Bee has Wn Iitc." she said, nf lir n moment's pause, mid almost in a w hisier. This did net eeein te her at nil what she had meant lenav, but she ut tered the ilrt-t words that came. "Will," said the colonel, with n smile, "have our own way about Mem Hie, Winifred; make what bargain euhku te induce her te stay. Provided ou nre pleased, I hhall be satisfied." Wmified uttered n fnint ojaeul.itien and ilapLil lur hands, "She bus been te hee 1110 about B101 Nicholas." The loleuel btaited; his color enmeuud went in violent .iltiruatleiis.aud hetnuk hilplesslv into the nearest chair. "What does thid ineau?" he ubked. "Capt Hetelm" "And does he m.ike n go-between e oneof in) old slaves?" thundered the colo nel, spiinging te his fiet. "A meddle some puppy1 ' "Ne, father, it w as Mem Boe w he vv ent te him cj lur ew n ticceul, for my sake." The colonel bat (low n again, nnd Wini fred vv ent en te tell the captain's story. Her father heard her without Interrup tion; what iie felt she could net divine, for, the ilrst shock ever, his countenance gave no indication of his thoughts. , "It must be true!-' he exclaimed, pas pas sienately, when she had ended. "What will ou de about it? Cel. Therno did net immediately reply. He could be as impuUive ns Winifred herself, but he could net be confiding. "We have 110 assurance that Nicholas still livea," he said, at last. Winifred clasped her hands. "Lit us hope!" she vv hispred. I "J nm verr tired, Ju&tiiew." tliwl. I II A . . m I All -j-jr J? H 'B-r 1 wWTwi encl sighed. "I will lie down until din ner Is ready." "He does net carol" thought Missy, bitterly. Hew was she te knew that he sought the privacy of his own room te hide the storm of mingled emotions that shook his very life? He would fnln have Nicholas nt home again, but he could net bring himself te say se. When he reappeared at dinner he wns calm, nnd immediately nfteiwnrd he ordered his horee and rodenwny. Missy supposed that he was going te sce her Aunt Pauline and Hern. It vvas long past 10 o'clock that night when the colonel returned, and it gave him a thrill of unaccustomed joy te find Ids (laugh ter sitting up alone, te keep his supicr vv arm. At most did he hope that she would scold him; but Winifred was net actuated by anxiety en her father's account; she had the utmost confidence in his ability te tnke care of himself; her object in sitting up for him was te win his favor for her brother. Whatunspcak Whatunspcak able comfort it would have given her could shu but have known that he had ridden te Tallahassee expressly te see Capt. Fletcher; but her father did net tell Ifrr; he only bade her go te bed. He hnd had his tide in vain, for Capt. Fletcher was away, en a long delayed visit te St. Mark's, nnd Cel. Therno preferred te wait for nn answer te the note he had left for the captain befere saying anything te Wlnlfied. The news brought by Glory -Ann inade Miss Elvira very uncomfortable. She was a creature of habit, nnd she had formed the habit, in the past eight years, of liv ing without her nepliew, She had prac tically forgotten him. Every hope that cenleied in him had died the day she heard of his innrrlage wltii Deaiu Fur ni val, and she could net sce new that bis return, granting that he lived, was te be desired. Indeed, Miss Elvira preferred te believe him dead, slnce never, never again leuld he be the Nicholas of old. She hud long persuaded herself that the colonel would de hla whole duty if he mnde souie prevision for Nicholas in his will; the prospect of having Desla and her children at Therno Hill was regarded by Miss Elvira pretty much ns she might have regarded nn invasion of the Bar barians. "Yeu don't reflect hew times nre changed, Winifred," she fretted. "And there's no den Ing that Desla cannot be congenial; she isn't ene of us," "Let us find them first," Bald Winifred, reddening; "all ether questions can be settled afterward," "Hew nre ou going te find them?" Miss Elvira asked, with provoking meek lieis. "Nicholas is either dead or he has forgotten us. Fer my part, I'd rather bclleve him dead. He must be de changed!' Winifred shuddered. "Yeu are very cruel," she fiid, heaisbly. "If my fatlur would but haveCnpt. Hotelier heie once, just once, we might find home clew." "Winifred Therno! De ou net knew thut If our father were te bring that man here eurAunt Pauline nnd our Cousin Flera never would cress this threshold again? It isyc-i who niecriiel! Think of Aleck, killed nt f 'lilc-kainauga!" 'Iliu team spinng te Wluifi eel's 0cs. "It is life tli it is ciuel," she said, sadly. "But von need net beuneaay. It is three day bliice Mem Bee c.11110 te us with the iiewm about Hier Nicholas, and I asked my father vesterday if he did net intend toMe I'apt. Hetchei, but he said I was novel te iisk bun that ngniu. And I nm but u gill. What can I de but assault heaven with my praers?" Cel. Theme had net seen fit te acquaint his daughter with the fact that Capt, Fletcher had vviltten te decline the invi tation te visit Therno Hill, convened in that tiote the colonel hnd left vv it li Mrs. Bcett a few d.iB before, A week later Glory-Ann took up her permanent alwde at Therno Hill. She announced her willingness te accept the house the colonel had elfered her, and she was net backwnid in demanding the eew and the pigs, nor did she hesitnte te hint that a few chickens, by the way of 11 stall, would be acceptable. It would be hard le My just what it was Hint induced Mem Boe. te ictiirn. She liau been heuid te tell Chauey, who was temporarily presiding ever the Theme Hill kitchen, that "sence niawstcr could tek cue of ele D100 , he meiight jes' cz well tek oaie e' tJlerv-Anir," and, also, slie had been he.iid te di el no that bhe "vveuldii' give a handful e' cow pease fur dese Oimg nlggeis e' fieedem what hid plum' Ies' tiaek e' dey manners;" but if her boleiun asset lien was te he Imj Imj heved, her leturn was prompted solely by nfToclien for "little Missy." She in formed Mrs. Hcii, when she cnuicd back the side saddle, that she felt in duty bound te leek nftei "dat chile." 'ihe colonel, she explained, being only a man, couldn't be expected te Knew hew te leek after u girl; "en' ez fin Missle-vlrey well, Miss M)rtilla, you knew Mivde vlre ain't get no Miccullatien' -whatever Glory-Ann might mean by that. Thus settled again at Thoine Hill, this faithful miibe kept u sharp ee upon "httleMiss.v," admonishing that eung lady ns she saw fit, and ciiticiMiig her v isiters freed , for Miss was "sw eet and tw nit" new, nnd had ndmiierd net a fuvv. But the light man was slew te put in nn appeal auce, orGleiy-Ann vvas haul te please. This 0110 was sting , that ene was wasteful, another had no manners Glory-Aim vv ns exacting as te "manners" and vctanethct had no mono, 1111 in Mipcr.ihh objection, iiiGleiy-Aun's opin ion "1 shall novel main ," Winifred would sav, gravel. "1 inn net like ether girls." ' Ne, dat 011 ain't, my honey." "1 hhall speiie1 my life for iy Bier Nicholas." "Don't veu go premus dat tee fas' new chile, e' time nin' come," Haul Mem Bee, with an nn et prophecy that gave Missy nvague uneasiness, lomeinbermg hew many of Mem Bee's pa inga bad conie te pass. But something happened seen that Mem Bee had never prophesied. t'HAPTEIt XXVI. an r.sKXi'inr.n ai'rvr. - "All light, tir," nud the eolentl, "llVmt it ieuriKiiue'' As Cel. Theme was riding hemcwaid, one day, at neon, he was Mauled by the sight of n powerful blaek lieu se, saddled nnd bridled, but liderless, galloping furi ously in the dirivlien of Tallahassee; a little farther ou, as he turned the corner of the brier patch w here old Gilbeit used te gather sassafras loots, his own heite shied violently, nnd the colonel was hardly hurpiUed te find 11 man lving en the edge of the re.ul, motionless, with Ids head ngaiiibt thoeblmded I00U of nn pmlmuWnir Oak His face wns hidden ". M." StW AfSl '? 1 ..l ey ma hoftitten, but his tint bad fallen off, rereaUng a well shaped head, and fair, clertely cut hair. The colonel dismounted, nnd lifting the unconscious head, discovered the face of a stranger, n well drc&scd, well m.ule man, of two or three and thirty, (lerhnps, and unmistakably n gentleman. no revivcti, 111 n uii'.inuru, ns 1119 ntavu wns moved te n inore comfertablo jkisI jkisI lien, and muttered, indistinctly, "Lest my way." "All right, blr," said the colonel. "What is our name?" Theio vvas an effort le answer, but 'he voice died nway In nn Inarticul.itcd mur mur. Cel. Theme, having made n pillow of his overcoat for the stranger's bend, re mounted his horse nnd galloped back te the field, vvhere soine negrees were at work, te order the construction of n lit ter of pine boughs, upon which the in jured man was barne te Theme Hill. A messenger was dispatched te town te summon n doctor, and te loave at the hotel n statement in writing that an Un known man had been found uncon scious, en the read near Therno Hill, and carried te Cel. Therno's heunc. Nothing was found en the btrangcr's person te gire nny clue te his Identity, but had he com heralded by unlmpcacli unlmpcacli nble Introductions he could net have been made mere welcome. Miss Elvira bestirred herself with eager alacrity te have n room put in readiness; the colonel gave his pcisetial attention te his uncon uncen uncon scIeih guest, using such skill us he pos sessed for lils lecevcry; whlle Missy, watching nt ene of the front windows for the doctor, who she thought would never coine, sighed te think that there was se little she could de. As thus sha sat nlone in the f.ist gath ering gloom of the wintry evening, her thoughts wandered away le her long ab sent hi ether, who himself had leeu a eullcrcr among strangers. Alas! w here was he new? When bheuld she sce him again? "Missy, is dat ou?-' It vvas Glory Ann's voice tlial penetrated the bhadews, and piesentlyGler-Aiiii's withcicd hand 1 wns laid 011 Missy a arm. "De doctor dene Lerno, honey," she said, in nn awe some w hisper. "When?'' exclaimed Winifred, starting up in nlaim. "Bless e' soul, 'bout n half hour age ( He Leme de sheit cut, en' is geno btrut ' upstairs, by de back de'. Tell jeu, Miss j vvinurcu, neiicy, no nut 0110 1001c at nm man, en' he shuk his head, en' Mibslo Mibsle irey, when she hear dat, is plum gin up w id de headache. De grit e' de Thernes wns lef eiitcu her makeup, jeu better hullievc; dat hukkeui I nin' tellin' Missle Missle viiey what 1 gw.iutcll OU. Missy, chile, don't jeu knew who dat upslalis?" "Ne," said Wlnlfied, seized with a Se lent trembling. "I did net see; I could net bear te leek at him; hew should I knew" "Hit's de Fed'ral gcininnn," Monijlee announced, In tlu oice of fate. "Oh, Mem Beet' breke fiem Wini fted's white lips, n cry of mingled dis may, repieaeh anil disappointment, for 0110 wild moment the hihclcss hope that the stranger might piove te be Nicholas had completely m.istcicd her; it left her faint ami ill. She sank back in her chair, clasping hei head in her hands, "Dullaw, Missy," r ud Gleiy-Ann, im patiently; "thought you wuz gwan be datgliieltei git speech wid him 'long e' MavvbeNick? 'Pears lik ou bates him me' fill n Yankee den ou km thank him fur 11 f nen'. 1'be s'priscduteu; I is dat." "Don't let him die," said Winified, mil ing vv ith n sudden sense of satisfac tion that it had fallen te her father's let te cancel the obligation te Capt. Fletcher en Nichel is' behalf. "Don't jeu be 110 vvajs eneasy," bald Glory-Ann. "Docteis getnway e'shakin' dey bends; hit tucks '0111 'pear 1 ik de knew uie'ii de de. He gwan git ever it, honey; but It gwan be 11 tough pull, I'm sLeeted." Dr. Lnue new caine in, nibbing his hands, nnd Glory-Ann precipitately re tired, te give her attention te the supper table, seeing that Miss Elvira was inca pacitated. "Well," said the doctor, brusquely, "heie's a queer stale et things! Suppese jou've no idea who our guest K? No Ne No liedy less than that Yankee, Fletcher, whom our father ilecline'd fe leceive. Odd, isn't it, that the colonel had never even been him? Geed joke, eh, Miss Winifiuli" But Winified did net even janile. "Is he badly hurt?" bhe asked, gravely. "Pi city serious case;" and Dr. Lane went into details thnt Winified could net undeistand. "Se, you tee, oil liny have him 011 our hands for seinu time te coine,"hocontinucd,iiiconcliision. "nut we'll save him, if wee'aii, eh, Miss Wini fied, though he is n Yankee? ' Winifred madu 110 1 epl ; but the col onel, who hud cqine inn moment before, b.iid, n little btiill: "Jt is 1111 iliifoitunate eccuuence, much te be legiettcd. We must hepe that the nicidcnt miylnve 110 lintewtud ending." "l.oek out. Miss AVmified!" cried Dr. Luue, liughiug. Winified was veryangiy. "l'licte is no occasion te it i that te mid" she ro re ro tei ted. "Well, I hope you won't find him nn insurmountably objictienablo guest," said Di. Line, geed liuiiiercdl. "lie is a fiiind of veui aunt's, I undeistaiid, eoleneli''' "Yes," the colonel ituswered, still with stilliies; "but under the eiKiiiustances any iii.in would be 1 milled te 111 hespl tahtv, hit.' 'lhis was a sentiment in which Miss Elvira fully oenotiiied, theuyli she vvas dismajcd bejnml meMsute wlien she h ained who vvas the guist an untoward aerideut had sent le Theme Hill. "It Is really a gloat unbaiia-siiieiil," she la mented toANinifted. "Of course, your Aunt Pauline and Floiacin'tcenio tosce us new." "It isn't a mattei of ehoice te have Capt. l'letcliei hcie'said Winifred, with nu impatient sigh. "That is true," Miss Elvna agreed, in n tone of lelief. "We hud, iudud, no choice, it was ultegetliei providential." This view of the situation bhe repent ed te Mis. 'lheodero .Vett, who called the next day. It bad been Mrs. llico llice dine Scelt's deliberate ehoice te have Capt. Fleteher nt hei house, Miss Elvira lellected. with a comfei table bcnse of suporieiit. Mis. Theodere Scott, with heighteuei. color, hastened te iissine Miss Elvira that shelikowUe liad had no choice; she had extended hospitality te this soldier of the noithern iiitnv fiem n sense of duty. "I knew very well tint people have thought haul of me," she said, tearfully; "but the man was ill, he came te Tnlla Tnlla liasbee for his health, ami heie he was, 111 among strangers. And his mother was 111 friend, dear Miss Winified," bhe continued, nddussing heirelf te the eung girl, as te 11 moie sympathetic listener; ' w lint could 1 de?" "Yeu knew best, of course, Mrs. Scott,", said Winified. leldlv. "Yes, she was 111 friend!'' Mrs. Scott repeated, with souie nsperity, feeling that she had net received the heatty in in deisement bhe had hoped for from Win ifred. "I was n peer, friendless little thing nt school, and Adelaide Hardy, who was a geed deal elder than I, wan ulwns 111 ehaiuplen. And this wns pet (ill; hei father MU tich n ud iiilite was peer, nnd K ta through her kind ness and libernlity Uiat I enjoyed Ad vantages J 'could net otherwise have had. She is dead new, butC don't forget all she did for ine." z Ne," said Winifred, "you could net forget that." She rose And moved rest lessly alteut the room, and at last came and steed beside Mrs. Scott's chajr; she felt a strong, incomprehensible impulse te steep and kiss that lady, but she re sisted it. j "I am a southerner, and I have the sentiments of a southerner," Mrs. Scott continued, with some excitement, "as Capt. Fletcher knewsibut I receive him for his dear mother's aake; and this I can say for lilin he is a gentleman." "Of course," said Winifred, crisply, "My Aunt Winifred's friend must lie a gentleman." "If it had net been for the war!" M. Scott exclaimed, with a bitter sigh. "As my husband says, Capt. Fletcher ha comb tee late for the old times, and tee seen for the new. Mr. Scott, you knew, dear Miss Elvira, is such a sufferer from that wound he received at Shlleh hardly ever leaves the house, and the captain is se kind about playing chess with him. Of courae we avoid nil discussions of the war, und se I would advise you te de, Miss Winifred." "I have no wish te discuss nny subject with him, except my brother Nicholas," Winifred replied coldly. CHAPTER XXVII. WINIFRED'S IHANKfl, $&i "Ien de net knew hew much it mean ca me." After many weary days Jehn Fletchet at last was able te make his appcaranc down stairs. Very pale and weak, the glie;t of his former Belf, he looked, as he. bat in the sunshine en the bread piazzai and Winifred's heart was In her threat at sight of him. He was alene, and she saw that new was her opportunity toGpeakte him of Nicholas; and yet she approached him net without embarrassment, for she could net forget that she had refused te speak te him under Mrs. Lerrimcr's reef. Neither could Jehn Fletcher forget the occasion w hen this j-eung lady hud turn ed hci back flpen him nnd marched out of the loom, emphasi7ew every step vv ith her small crutch 111 ineugh she de sired te crush him, ns possibly she did) nnd new bhe ignored Hint pieceedlngl He bowed his ncknevvlcdgmcnts some what atiflly vv hen slie said, w ith an effort te overcome a certain shyness: "I am s glad that jeu aie able te be out;" bul when, en n Eiiddcn impulse and with a deepening color, she stretched out hci hand, he smiled ns he took it and the rudeness of the past vvas f 01 gotten. He hud been interested in Winifred's story, but, little was lacking te interest him in Winifred herself. She looked at him w ith all her soul in 1st 0 es for the space of several seconds bcfoie she found words, and then they came almost in a whisper. "Yeu de net knew hew much itmeaii9 te me," she said, "te shake hands with jeu, who have shaken hands with Bret Nicholas. Tell me of him! Tell me iilll It is the neaieat I can ceme te him!" Capt. Fletchei had felt rather bored by the interest his meeting vv 1th Nicliel.n Therno had excited, but new he was moved te tell thosteiy with a minuteness of detail he had never yet bestowed upon it. It was net that a beautiful jeung girl was listening, with her vvUtful eyes upon his face; it was the pathos of her long, iinwav ciing dev etedness of affection that stiued his deepest, most reverent sym pathy a pathos the 11101 u touching by contrast with the fact that her brother 1 affection for her had seemed te him te have faded Inte n calm and ordinary memory. But he could net tell her this; neither could lie tell (ier that Nicholas' heart was haulcncd against his father. "My father ia glowing old," Winifred said, sadly, when he had ended, "The war lias mnde many peeple old in thli pait of the) world. And I if I de net find Brer Nicholas, I tee, shall be old old." The captain was conscious of two dis tinct sentiments en hearing her cxpresi herself in this way an inesistibleirrita tien that she bheuld use the ncrgre term "Brei" for "Bretlier,"nnd an equally irre irre sistible irritation that se much feeling should be lav ished upon Nicholas Theme. "But he will ceme back souie blessed dayl" she exclaimed, with a sudden change of tone. "He will ceme back, nnd Daddy Gilbert with him! Peer old Daddy Gilbert! Hew it must have grieved him te forego lifs little iiesses sieusheiei but be did it at my bidding. I did net knew that it would be for se long. 1 was but a child, uild it seemed an easy thing fur me te have my own way. But I must net tire you," bhe in terrupted herself. "I will go new." Fletcher was glad she had spired him thanks. "If hci hatred is proportioned te her love," he said te himself, gazing after her, "with what iutcnsitj she must hale n Yankee1" And he I uiglied aloud. In ihe dual;, th.it evening, Winifred went out te Glory -Ann's heuse nnd en ti ( ntcd t lie old w eiuan te make the vv allies fei suppci; and Mem Bee grumbled: "lliikkemJhaney can't cook ter suit jeu heie lately, Missy? 'Pears ter me ou might notienato all of 11 biiddln'." "Chancy can't, bhe never could make w allies equal te yours, Mem Bee," coaxed Missy. "And Capt. Fletcher is down stairs tedav fei the first time; don't jeu knew he will be tiled and liungr?" "Yeu is done put e' wall feellns inter e' pocket, is ou" 6,iid Glety-Ann. GIeij-Aiiii vvas keeping her vigilant e.ves teiy wide open at this time. In deed, Miss Winifred Therno's prebable attitude toward the Yiinkee captain pro voked surinioe en nil sides. The situa tion was ft cel discussed by Mrs. Leon Leen ard Theme, "who, of leurse, avoided Theme Hill, but who was thcxefore the ettenrrnt Mis. Herry's. "It's a die.ulful state of things," she said, 'A ith complacency. "If that Yan kee bheuld lese his heart te Missy, that wouldn't te much mattei; seive him rirfiu i in thinking; but tuppose Musy bheuld take fuuej te him?" "It isn't biipposnbleP cried Bess, hotly. "Yes, it is buppeable," Mie. Lenaid insisted, with obstinate calm. "Theie is no sa ing vv hat Winifred Therno may or may net de. She nlwavs vvas head strong, ou knew j and ihe wouldn't care for her father's consent." "I am net se sure, as te that," Mrs. Heiry objected, charitably. "She al ways pa s her father the most respectful defeienee." "I'm glid ou give it the right name!" said Mrs. Theme, with u chilly little laugh "We cjjp't say 6he loves (ier iitihei, m joutte wi for yeurstni. Cousin Myrtilla." Mrs. Herry had seen it and Borrowed ever It. When next Winifred came te town, "Missy, dear child," she said, with affectionate entreaty, "why is it that you de net love v our father?"' "But I de," said the girl, reddening. "At least, I love him, I suppose, just as most girls Jove their fathers." She had no mind te confess that she had nwnkcncel te a strange self knowl edge of late. Time had been when she was sure that she could never love any ene as she loved her brother; her very lameness, the witness of the strength nnd devetedncss of that affection, had held her aloof from the leve that enters se largely into the dreams of girlhood; but new, te her dismay and confusion, she perceived thnt she was capable et a sentiment different altogether from that which site cherished for her brother. The discovery filled her with impatience and indignation ngainst herself; and if her long rebellious heart did net yet throb with n daughter's tender love, she had nt least begun te understand both her father's need of sympathy nnd hi shrinking therefrem. But of all this Winifred could net speak, and Mrs. Herry forbore te urge her. Jehn Hotelier's position nt this time was by no means entirely te his liking. Se long ns his life hung trembling in the balance, se long ns he remained confined te his room, he felt no embarrassment in being the guest of Cel. Theme; in mis mis mis fortune he vvas "a man and brother," nnd no shadow chilled the hospitality hearti ly accorded him; but new that he vvas en his feet again there was an irkseme con sciousness of the chasm across which no cordial hand clasp jet was possible. In a thousand indefinable waj s Jehn Hoteli er realised the truth of Mr. Scott's la ment, that he hnd ceme tee late for the old times, tee seen for the new. The very enru with which his host ignored nil topics that could lead te heated dis cussion gave him an irritating sense of being superfluous. Christmas was drawing near, the first Christmas after the war, and the north erner shrank instinctively from spending this festival with the" Thernes. Dr. Lane however, insisted that his patient could net jet bear the journey te town, and Cel. Therno, mere peremptory than the doctor himself, would net hear of his guest's departtiic. "I have pledged myself te ray aunt nnd your old friend," he said, "for your perfect recovery. Yeu must allow me the satisfaction of keeping my word." Se Jehn Fletcher resigned himself te stay. Therno Hill vvas net "devoid of in terest for an observant stranger, disposed te study the transitional state of southern life. The colonel, Miss Elvira, Mem Bee were all of them representatives of types that must rapidly pass aw ay. And there, tee, was Missy, by far the most interest ingstudy th UTheinu Hillafferded. Very little did Jehn l'letcher sce of her; j'ct it didint escape him that she was, in a certain eeusc, nloef from her father and her aunt. Fiem his heart be pitied her uneventful days, her isolated life; but he vv as far tee w ise te give any sign of his sympithy, for Winifred, in n way as un mistakable as it was indefinable, had given him le undcistaiulth.it there wns uu insurmountnblebarriei between them. CHAPTER XXVIII. IN THE OL9AMI.SQ. Vj- .X, -1. J-Vfr O -V.ly "Why, Misvyt Jfn 7iiii yenjlaf" Christmas day came, that bad, first Christmas nfter the war, and Jehn Fletcher, who had vainly hoped te leave befere this date, declined te make bis appearance at breakfast. The day was net rauikcd by the old thuu hilarity ; that was ever feiever. Theio wns no supply of egg neg and gin ger bread, no pepping of fiie crackers, and the shout of "Cliria'mus GIF!' vvas feeble and infrequent. Missy dispensed a few presents privately te such of the old family negrees as lemaiiicd in her father's service, as vv ell as te souie few deserters, who had taken advantage of that day's holiday te visit Theme Hill. The colonel shut himself up 111 his efficii nil the morning, and Miss Elvira nnd Wmif red vv ent alone te chin ch. Jehn Fletcher remained 111 his own room; it vvas his purpose te letuain there all day, but in the afternoon Glory -Ann hi ought himn little note from Missy. "I knew why 0ii staid away from breakfast," she wrote; "it was kindly meant, but you are our guest, and ou must diue with us. It will net bj fcay, but you will knew hew te pinion the absence of gaycty." Jehn Fletcher vvas three and thirty; he thought he had out crown nil entiiucntal foolishness, but he put Wimti oil's note larefullyiiwayjit was his only C ustmas picscnt! And of ceurse ha accepted the invitation. The dinner was net ga ; tin inevitable sense of constraint brooded ev er the com pany and made the meal n penance, nnd I'ach ene was secretly glad te quit the table. When the sun had geno down Wini fred left Miss Elviia making up licr ac count with Bishop Ken, mid went out for n walk. The air was chill and light clouds obscured the sky, but Winifred feared neither the lright'mr nor the fast gather ing gloom. Jehn Fleteherb.iwlieraJblie vv eutacress the aid, under the leafless China trcej, nnd'an impulse fei w hicli he did net seek te account urged him te fellow . Where fore should he, because of n war thatwas ever, be feiever an alien? bhe had sent him the inv itatien te dinner; i.itlie r vv euld he have fasted, but because she had nsked it he did Molince te his feelings; it was tee much te cxjiect him te de vio lence te his feelings a second time in one day, and he followed her. With swift strides hoevertookherjust as she 1 cached the gate that led into the lane. "Allew me," he said, as he stepped forward te open it. She turned and looked nl him; n cud den bhlah swept evei his face ns she thanked him. "Ma I go with jeu?" he asked, bold ly. "It is tee late for jeu te be out alone," he urged, seeing her hesitate; "it i3 giewing dark, and" "1 am net afraid," she said. "I nm going no farther than Diddy Gilbert's old cabin. It is net a place that can in terest you" "But I may go with j-eu?" he reiter reiter eted. Winifred smiled, and they walked en in silence. Hohadnevor et been able te ceiiQiier the constraint Unit eunressed f s tJ- A H3 I fi 7v I JWl.rfW'' ft - .,".- r.r" Mate her yreuc, and Mm t4MTt leaned tfceart of "taaktag talk." Mm did set peak until they reached th fence inclosing old Gilbert's deserted dwelling. "Tills is the place," aha said, and pushed open the sagging gat before the captain could offer te assist her. "Yea will ncTcr see all that I see in this peer spot," she added; but she held the gate open, and the captain smiled and Hepped Inside. A dense thicket of plum bushet bad grown up at the back of the house, and the dry stalks of the self sewn Palms Chrlstl bean occupied all the little space in front; the path te the broken deer step was overgrown with rank knot grass that had lest its greenness, and all about the halt fallen and abandoned little dwelling there brooded a melancholy calm, intensified by the fast gathering shadows. "The negrees say this place Is haunt ed," Missy said, "but I nm the only ghost that flits this way. I like te come here when I am sad." "And are you sad new?" Jehn Fletcher asked, impulsively, with a deeper sympa thy than he dared te show. A moment's pause followed; then Missy said, in a light tone, as if she would dismiss the subject: "There Ls no reasem why I should be very gay just new." Her brave endurance, her proud re serve, touched Jehn Fletcher mere deeply than any complaining. An infinite ten derness took possession of him, as he contemplated this child he was mere thati ten years her senior se ethereal, se young te be thus overshadowed by sor row and infirmity. " 'Just new?' " he repented, with a pas sionate wish te comfort her. "But this will net last! Y'eu are se young; life is only beginning. There is happiness in btore tee you; I am sure of it!" Even while he spoke he perceived, with a thrill of glad wonder, that Wini fred made a slight involuntary move ment, as if she would draw nearer te him, and en the instant he was by her side. But she had net heard a word he said. She vvas gazing intently into the depths of the plum thicket, with panting breath nnd quick beating heart. "What is that?" slie gasped, in a terrified whisper, and clutched the captain's arm. "De net be frightened," he said, as he laid his hand en hers, which was cold and trembling. "There is nothing here te harm j-eu." "There! De you net see?" she whis pered fearfully, "or am I going mad?" And with a stifled scream Winifred Therno hid her eyes against the Yankee captain's arm. "It is only an old negre," lie answered, as w lint had seemed a 6hadevv emerged from the thicket and assumed definite form. "An old negre," Missj' repeated, and shivered from head le feet. "Aie there, indeed, such things as ghosts?" But she did net leek up until she heard the old, familiar gneting: "Why, Missy! Missy! huh you de?" The voice, the words, electrified her. She abandoned fear; she spiang forward; she seemed te ily te meet the apparition coming along the grass grown path, and, sti etching out her hands, she clasped them ever old Gilbcrt'steil haidcned fin gers, while her crutch fell forgotten en the ground. "At last! Oh, at last!" Her voice rang out upon the twilight stillness, full of an infinite pathos of thanksgiving. Somehow, Jehn Fletcher was net as pleased as he should have been; he felt himself dcseited. He picked up the crutch and steed irresolute, leth te leave, yet uncertain w liether it became him te staj-. "Tubbe she!" old Gilbert icsjiendcd, with a chuckle of supreme satisfaction, "Hit's met En' j ou is dut grewed, Missy, cn'prutty ezn pink! Lawd leve de chile!" "Brer Nicholas? Where is Brer Nich olas?" "Missy, nin't Mawse Nicholas here at home?" asked old Gilbert, anxiously. "Ne!" ciied Missy, sharply. "Oh, wh de j ou ask that?" "Den, Missy, chile, I dunne whey is Maw se Nicholas," baid the old man, slow ly nnd sorrow fully. Missy's head d looped; her slight form swayed like a reed. Capt. Fletcher sprang ferw nrd and saved her from fall ing. "Why. I 'lowed jeu wuz mawster," 6aid old Gilbert, bewildered; "en;, praise be tei gleij 1 de bullieve you she'ly is Mawse Gin'ral Fletcher, in de Fed'ral army!" "That's my name, but net my rank," the captain replied, as lie placed Wini fred en the doorstep. "Thank you; I wasn't going te fall," said she, with averted head. Jehn Fletcher felt snubbed decidedly; jet he did net like te leave Winifred, though she igneted his presence or rather she vvas oblivious of him. "It was en this very top step," she said te old Gilbeit, reproachfully, "that j-eu premised te keep track of Brer Nicholas, and new you de net knew wheie he is." "Heney," returned old Gilbert, mildly, "what kin a pe' ele no 'count nigger e in de stir e' de nations? I den' my top bes' ter keep Mawse Nick euten de wnh, but he wuz jes' dat heady, go he would" "Of course," said Missy, pietully. "I tel' him he wuz gwan git lilsse'f bliet ter pieces, foelln' 'long e' dat wah, but he ain't pay no 'tentien; en' I fol fel lered him, en' I cetch up wid him when he vv uz faerly riddled vv id bullets." Missy ceveied her face with her hands and turned away from Capt. Fletcher with a shudder. The movement might have been in in veluntnry, but it was impossible te mis understand it. Jehn Hetcher gave the crutch te old Gilbert aud went nway; but he could net go fast enough te nveid hearing old Gilbert's cemment: "5Iissy, dat Mawse Gin'ral is quality, she', fltten tei be one e' de Therno genera tion. Is you knewin' hew he wuz pevv'ful frien'ly ter Mawse Nick?" "Never mind him," Missy interrupted, Bharply. "Hew did j'eu happen te lese Brer Nicholas?" "Missy, hit vvuzdishjer way: I dudne hukkem Mawse Gin'ral Fletcher had bruug hit tei pass; but me en' Mawse Nick, wewuz turned free euten Nash ville, vv hey vv e wuz toeketi pris'ners, en' 1 lnung Mawse Nick te Melten, in de Windy Vnlle , ez de call hit, whey we wuz livin' cnduiin' of de wah; en' me'n Miss Desia en' Miss Rexy White we missed him well ngm; en' den I wuz tuk fiat wid de roematiz, be ez hit wuz on en on pesserbul ter leek atter Mawse Nick, en' I dunne whicherway he went sence dat. "He dene Kf Miss Desla en' de chile, en' Miss Rexy, en' tuk up his march ter hunt de in my. Tubbe slie, de wuzn-say-in'howde warn't no 1110' army; but all I knew, Mawse Nick he went, en' bom bem bom bye de ceme 11 letter ter Miss Desia what be w uz tuk might bad s emew her en de read; en' she follered him, fuddent, en' den, presently, Mis Re.y she packed up en' tuk de chile; en' fust I knewed ders wuz I deuten uobed , 'ccptin' dot, buffo' lie lef, M iwse Nick ceme en' tell me, 'Daddy, dee is unlit eusai tin times, en' I meught'n nuver see you no me', en' here a letter fur de colonel ' " "Oh, give it te met" cried Missy, "I get him safe, Missy; hut hit wuz ftWIP paw dej )li wuz iiijrusted. ter me, rw, iu f tJ.
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