Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-07-28


unstained name; and, as he threw the
easement wide, and hearkened to the
night wind as it rustled like sight
through the woods below, his heart
SWeiled within him, and he SWOre that
he would be a faithful steward to the
hundreds of sleeping souls intruSted to
his care. The morning sun was shin
ing in his eyes when he awOke and de-
scpndnd to the library. where Job, no
longer the transported friend, but the
faithful domestic, awaited him with a
breakfast was the product Of SleeplesS
night.
1t vexed the old man that his master
would look through the open windows
instead of at his plate; and yet who
could take his eyes from those three
avenues each above mile in length,
through whose fretted aiSleS. like a
magnificent burst of melody from an I'M
seen source, had swept the tide Of Gods
eternal green?
Il don't s'pose you've seen anything
since you went away to beat that" re-
marked Job cOmplacently; but, lor,
what can you expect out of England,
Master Frank"
Frank laughed, and his laugh was
something to remember, for its delight
full ring, and the suggestions of happi-
ness both to himself and others that it
uncOnsciOusly brought.
And yet there are some fine sights
abroad, Job, as you would say, If you
could see them"
''And you liked 'em so we'll you could
stay away these six years?" said Job
reprOachfully.
There was work to do" said Frank,
the color rising to his face land this
&c - ~ j
mems hearts to him, as showing that in
or earlier years.. "A man does not run
away home when his comrades are fight
ing; and [ was wanted, Job, and nearly
got my billet here" he added, laughing,
as he touched a scar on his left temple
that gave edrneStneSS to the almost boy
iSh beauty OF his face.
80 it wasn't d bit of fOOliSLneSS that
kept you abroad all these years." cried
job, triumphantly. Loves all verv
well, but lghting'S better; it warns the
cookies Of ones heart, and when ALPS
said, it's the real work mans done,
not the times he's made . fool Of him
self to think Of when he's got the blues.
and you'll have work enough to do about
the estate, without thinking Of any love-
making this ever so long"
III leave that to the squire" said
Frank, laughing. us he as bad as ever?'
The squire has left the Hal, :" said
Job, putting on a deceitful air of innO-
cence as he poured his master out cup
Of coffee. He S eating frogs this bless
mistook if Nancy of the Mill cottons
down to 'em along with him"
The old squire has left Lovel?" cried
Frank, pushing back his plate.
''To be sure" said Job, with an elab
crate appearance of unconcBrn; 1T
must be nigh on five year and a half ago
that the county folks made up their
minds that they couldn't stand Miss
Nancy, and So"
And so the Red Halls empty!" ex-
claimed Lord LOvel, starting up from
his seat; land I've been thinking of
that old reprObate as holding his court
there, and setting bad example to the
neighborhOod-an influence that would
dwarf mine SO hOpelessly, Job, that
could make no way against it,"
"Well-well," said Job deprecatingly,
che were rare bit of human natur', to
be sure; and human natur's lively and
intereStin', Master Frank, while the
Ten Commandments in the main is
dull"
but they don't bring disgrace in
their train," said Frank, walking to the
window and looking out. ''Who was it
you said was living at the Red Hall
nOW?"
Ills son." said Job, in tone of sus-
piclOuS mildneSS, as he busted himself
about the table; ''he's been here for
up yonder-church and children, and
py-aot or h1lt q lyuoNc wit n hic
wife; they ride by here often, and [
wonder how long it will last" added
Job, with smile
harrington Eyre is nedrricdP' cried
Frank, advancing; then what became
Of-Of-"
''Mr. Darlington was killedin a duel"
said Job, inwardly marveling at his
masters ignOrance; Its young Mr..
Eyre that's living up at the Hall now"
Young Mr.. Eyre!' cried Frank,
starting back as though bullet had
struck him-'old Mr.. Eyre, you mean,
and he is here-bere-impossible!"
"Well, he amt a chicken, to be sure, :"
said Job impartially, "that's why I've
got some hopes of him yet; when folks
of his age takes a moral turn, it gets
fixed into a sort of habit with 'em."
''Then he has turned over a new leafl''
exclaimed Frank involuntarily.
"Lor, Master Frank, ! wonder if he
knows his own face in the glass, he's
that altered; he's a justice and a magis-
trate, and Furnishes folks for being wick
ed instead Of making 'em so, as he and
all the Eyres did afore him. But it's
deadly dull in the village now" added
Job regretfully, Tor so the women say;
all the pretty chincks hereabouts go I'M
chucked, and if there's bit of beauty
growing up in the place, there amt a
soul in life to discover it,"
would you have him as bad as his
father?" burst out poor Frank in arage,
and still pale with the shock of finding
Madcap living at his very gates.
WELL" said Job, in tone that be-
fitted his name, Il hope it may last; but
there's no reckoning on them Eyres;
and though he just dotes on her now
women clOy, even the best of 'em-God
almighty mostly makes 'em too sweet
or too sour, and there's few a man can
sup Of every day and not wish for a
change once by whiles, Master Frank. -
But the latter part of Jobs disserta-
ton was lost on Frank, who escaped
through the open window, and was
striding down the central avenue as for
a wager.
This sudden knowledge Of her near
ness for the moment overcame hint
was as though picture he had been
gazing at from a distance had stepped
out of its frame to stand beside him.
and he must take its f1esh-and-b blood
hand in his own, and change the like
ness of his face toward II y FOR while IN his
memory, and afar off, she was still his
sweet little Madcap, his tyrant, his love
here at his gates she was wife to
his friend only-his friend who had
stolen her from him, but who had made