Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-01-08
Fiction
HIS PASSION FOR TREsPAss.

1t was in his blood-this passion fol
respass-inherited perhaps from
gypsy in unexpected moments and
working havoc in his life by reason OF
its uncomfortable power over him.
Hilary had perfect genius fol
playing truant, no matter how difficult
the moment nor how watchful his
guardians. Before they had conceiv
ed the thing possible it was done and
they knew from experience that any
attempt to retrieve him was but a
sheer waste of time.
Occasionally he would be brought
back by some irate farmer or furious
| gamekeeper, and then he had an I'M
pleasant half-hour with his father.
But the squire found it is difficult to
be severe with this bold sturdy boy,
who walked into his study, head erect.
his dark eyes flashing, willing to take
his punishment after the enjoyment of
his crime.
why on earth do you always stray
onto other peoples property" Mr. Dam
an asked half despairngly one day,
wfen Hilary had disturbed some hen
pheasants on neighboring estate.
isn't your fathers land big enough or
good enough for your"
The boys eyes grew troubled for
moment, Il don't know what it is,
dad" he answered slowly, but
something inside of me seems to make
me go where l shouldn't. | don't feel
rs if I care for things unless they be-
long to other people,
Then the sooner you learn that
other peoples property must be re-
spected, the better. Now l am going
to cane you, and then | shall put you
on your honor to stay in the grounds
for week."
Hilary minded the latter part the
sentence much more than the former
and gave his promise reluctantly, but
the squire knew that once given it
would be kept. Lawless and head
strong the boy might be, but he had a
keen sense of honor.
AS he grew older Hilarys own COM
mon sense asserted itself and he made
efforts to check this curious propen-
sity, but every now and then it would
break out again and land him in some
fresh difficulty.
From Wellington ne went to Sand
hurst, for to one of his temperament
the army was the only possible pro-
fession. 1t was after he had been
gazetted to the-th hussars, and had
spent year at Aldershot, that the old
trespassing mania reasserted itself in
connection with his first serious love
affair.
Having obtained three weeks leave,
Hilary resolved to go down to his old
home for some partridge shooting, and
betook himself thither one fine autumn
day, when the leaves were just begin
ming to turn from green to gold, and
the berries were ripening to scarlet
in the hedges. The old squire had
been gathered to his forefathers some
time ago, and John. the eldest son,
reigned in his stead
The young subaltern stretched his
long limbs in the corner of the rail
way carriage and laughed as he re-
read letter which had reached him |
that morning. 80 old John is en-
gagged to be married-sober, steady
John. Well, l hope he'll be happy, |
dear old boy, but I'm a bit sorry for
the girl. Great Scot, if | were wo-
man | should think twice before I !
promised to sit opposite his square |
face for the rest of my life. Ellice |
l hope you'll take fancy to your new
brother, Hilary, he's not half bad |
chap" and the young fellow looked |
with frank satisfaction at his reflec- /
ton in the glass opposite.
Some people might have called FL
lice Hatterell beautiful. but no one
could deny that she was absolutely
fascinating. Masses of auburn hair,
cleaning blue eyes, a saucy, tip-tilted
nose, and a mouth that was always
curved in smiles. made up a tout en-
semble that, though not strictly classi- |
cal, was certainly bewitching.
She had walked straight into Johns !
heart three months before at Henley |
regatta, and he had never rested until !
she had promised to be his wife.
Why was it when Hilary saw her
that he felt the old Irresistible desire
to possess something that was not his !
nay more, something that never
could be? He was ashamed of the
feeling; ashamed of the disloyalty to I
his brother; but before a week was
over he had forgotten loyalty, honor.
everything. except his hopeless pas
sion for Ellice. II was a boys first /
love, tragic to him. amusing and VET
pitiful TO others
How the next fortnight passed
Hilary hardly knew. He shot part
ridges. played bllards. smoked. drank
and laughed with the other fellows in /,
the house. outwardly as calm and
dehonair as usual. but inwardly con.
stunned by a raging fire. The very fact
that Ell'ce was out of reach made her
to him absolutely irresistible.
His father used TO say of him in his
hoyhood that he had passion for