Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-08
,Jictto11
HIS PASSION FOR TREsPAss.


reSDaSS-inherited perhaps from
gypsy in unexpected moments and
working havoc il his life by reason of
it's uncomfortable power over him.
Hilary had a perfect genius for
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,
when Hilary had disturbed some hen
pheasants on a neighbOring estate
isn't your fathers land big enough or
good enough for you?"
The boys eyes grew troubled for a
moment, 81 don't know what it is,
dad, he answered slowly, "but
something inside of me seems to make
me go where | shouldn't. I don't feel
as if | 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 a week"
Hilary minded the latter part of 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 Hilary's 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 he 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 AIdershot, 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 a letter which had reached him
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 a wo
man | should think twice before
promised to sit opposite his square
face for the rest of my life. Ellice
| hope you'll take fancy to your new
brother, Hilary, he's not half a baC
chap" and the young fellow looked
with frank satisfaction at his ref1ec
ton in the glass opposite.
Some people might have called Ell
lice Hatterel beautiful. but no one
could deny that she was absOlutel!
fascinating. Ma sses of auburn hair
cleaning blue eyes, a saucy, tip-tilteC
nose. and a mouth that was Away:
curved in smiles, made up tout en-
semble that, though not strictly classi
cal, was certainly bewitching.
She had walked straight into john
heart three months before at Henle.
regatta, and he had never rested unit
she had promised to be his wife.
w hS NclS IL Wien Hillary Sd" liz
that he felt the old irresistible desir
to possess something that was not hi
nay more, something that neve
could be? He was ashamed of tn
feeling: ashamed of the disloyalty t,
his brother; but before a week wa
over he had forgotten loyalty, honor
everything, except his hopeless pas
- Z .
love, tragic to him. amusing and We
pitjful TO others.
How the next fortnight passe
Hilary hardly knew. He shot par
ridges, played bllards, smoked. dram
and laughed with the other fellows i
the house, outwardly as calm an
debonair as usual, but inwardly COZ
sumed by raging fire. The very fac
that Ellice was out Of reach made he
to him absolutely irresistible.
His father used to say of him in hi
boyhood that he had passion fc
trespass, and these words came HON
to him now He tried to find iustit
cation in them for his wild longing
and his thoughts went back to HI
great-gTandfather, who loved a gyps
girl so we'll that he made her his wifi
Il am cursed with the faint Of N
great-grandmother", the young ma
said drearily to himself "In my veil
runs the blood Of the gypsies, lawles
passionate, uncontrolled. Good broth
John has escaped, he is immaculat
but | swear he does not love her as
and hxr Cod don't halinun 81