Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-11-19
CHAPTER u-(CoutinuedD

"Alicky is very good,' she said, thought
fully, 'and he is getting well. How
wish he could get work that wasn't SO
very hard as the work Shan makes him
do. Micky and are always wishing there
were fairies"
HE seemed to think he had found a
fairy to-day" observed Mark. And then
he pointed cut a spot open to the bog,
and asked her whether he was TO take
Borak through that broken gate among
the trees.
"Thats-thats Traveere." As Nora
spoke hurriedly yet timidly, That's Ira
we're; butt won't ask you to go fur
ther Grandpa may be-asleep."
But with our united efforts it may be
possible to awaken him." propounded
Mark, coolly. Il am expecting him TO
ask me to dine with you"
For several minutes Nora pondered this
speech vaguely uneasy, though she could
not explain why. Borak had turned into
the short, neglected avenue which-bor-
ddred on one side by potato ground, and
on the other by a field of fax-led up to
an old square house, from which the dis
golored plaster was half peeled away,
anu luE DElChNOIh btAO" ~"
MIR. Poynz," she said-and no wonder
he laughed at her quaint solemnity-
that's Trayeere Don't you wonder that
travellers don't come to see the ruins
THAT" repeated Mark, making a de-
Hberate pause, as he looked intently at
the dilapidated old house, rs Traveere,
Is it? Your home where you spend the
summer days and long winter nights
Child, how do you do it?'
~ am used to it,F she answered. very
softly. "And l have a grandpa, and old
Kitty, and the dogs, and Snow-that's
our COW; she's in the house a great deal
and Borak, but he never comes beyond
the hall; and there are some old books
that were grandpa's, and I've few VIII
left me, and one Celia gave me once on
birthday. Now" she went on, with just
a little unsteadiness in her low, clear
tones, will you come, or viii you change
your mind?
They walked on then, among wander
ing pigs and poultry, to the front door,
which, wide open as it was, swayed to
and fro upon one hinge.
81 don't think" remarked Nora. as they
entered a bare, unfinished hail, that
there is single door at Trayeere which
will quite close. Some have both hinges.
but no lock or handle; some have an
upper hinge only, some a lower one. They
vary a good deal This way, please"
As she spoke, she with some little
difficulty pushed open a creaking door in
one corner of the hall, and Mr.. Poynz
followed her into the most curious room
he had ever entered. In one corner pile
of bogwood reached from floor to cell
ing, and had ladder propped against it.
In another, a stack of turf stood half de-
molished, it's thick brown dust troiden
we'll into the threadbare carpet. Upon
the hearth lay at least a dozen dogs and
cats; and behind them a small, wien
old man sat Strengthening the brim of q
wretched looking hat.
Look here, child" he said, hearing
Morals step, but without troubling him
self to look up. I've got bargain at
last. l found this ON scarecrow up in
Elliot's wheat, and so l changed. The
brim was nearly off mine, and | can soon
mend this. Hal" he chuckled, this is the
first bargain I've met with this year"
Grandpa" said Nora, the bright pink
spreading painfully from chin to brow as
she paused beside him, here is-a gentle
man"
"a whatr' he asked, screwing his eyes
fast, and then opening them as wide as
he could. Presently he slowly rose, and
looked beyond her to his visitor, raising
his hand once to rub his eyes, as if his
sight were dim.
'Who?" he asked, still looking at the
tall, strong figure opposite, while Mark,
in his turn, looked keenly down upon his
shriveled form, buttoned in a shabby
coat, wearing no collar and a patched
black cap over his bald head
MIR. Poynz," whispered Nora, the
blush deepening strangely, and her breath
coming hurriedly, in her new mortifica-
ton, as she looked into her grandfather's
face.
From England?"
"Yes, from England" Mark answered.
his lorg gray eyes fixed curiously upon
the old man.
From Surry?"
Eyes, from Surry."
Its chilly, and getting late, child; YOU
can go and prop that window from out
side-it flies open. Go quickly, and YOU
needn't come back. Stay here, SIR" he
cried, querrulously, as Mr.. Poynz seem
ed to be going himself to obey this com
mand. 'D'you think the child'-never
by any other term did old Col st. George
designate his granddaughter-"ha hasn't
sense enough to manage such triae as
this?"
For two or three minutes after Nora
had left the room, Mr.. Poynz stood wait
ing; but when her face-still with the
cheeks flushed, and the eyes brilliant and
restless-had appeared outside the broken
window, and was gone again, he turned
coolly to the table and took seat oppo-
site Col. St. George.
May / smoke?"
Certainly-certainly, acquiesced the
old man, again speaking with querulous
rapidity. rs that the only question you
have to ask meg''
Leaning forward on his unsteady chair.
Mark struck fusee. Not until his cigar
was alight did he raise his eyes to an
swer, calmly:
No; there are one or two more ques-
tons, which l shall be glad il you will
answer meas frankly"
CHAPTER III.