Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-02-21
CHAPTER V

Worth 0glander sat in his old oak
chair, weary, and very low of heart, but
not altogether broken down. He had
not been in bed since last Monday night,
and had slept, if at all, in the saddle,
or on the roof of the Henley coach. For
miles he had secured the country road,
until his three horses quite broke down,
with the weather so much against them
and all the bran to be got in the vii
lage was made away with in mashes.
His daughter, his only child in whom
all the rest of his old life lived and loved.
was gone and lost; not even leaving
knowledge of where she lay, or surety
of better meeting. His faith in God
was true and firm; for on the whole he
was a pious man, although no great pro-
fessor; and if it had pleased the Lord
to take his only joy from his old age,
he could have tried to bear it.
But thus to lose her. without good-bye.
without even knowing how the loss be-
fell, and with the deep misery of doubt
ing what she might herself have dome
only chilly Stole, or remarkably
warm Christian, could have borne it with
resignation. The Squire was neither of
these; but only simple, kind and low
ing hearted gentleman: with many faults
and among them a habit of expecting the
Lord to favor him perpetually. And of
this he could not quit himself, in the
deepest tribulation: but still expected
all things to be tempered to his happi-
ness, according to his own ideas of what
happiness should be.
And now, in the dusk of this cold day.
Squire Oglander sat gazing from the
window of his dining room; with his head
fallen back. and his wnIte chin up. and
hard-worn hands clasped languidly. His
heavy eyes dwelled on the dreary snow
that buried his daughters handiwork
the dwarf plants not TO be traced. and
the tall ones only as soft hillocks, like
the tufts in a great white counterpane
And more and more, as the twilight deep
ened and the curves of white grew dim.
he kept repeating below his voice. Her
winding sheet, her winding sheet: and
her pretty eyes wide open, perhaps
Nov, sir, if you please. you must
you must" cried Mary Hookham, his
best maid. trotting in with her thumbs
turned back from right hot dish. and
her lips up as if she were longing TO kiss
him. TO let our her feelings. Here be a
buster. by way of cloth, not to scorch
the table. against Miss Grace comes
home again Sir, if you please, you must
ate a hit. Not bit have you aten sin
Toosda., and it is enough to kill car
rier's horse"
fhe old man did his best to eat: for
he knew that he must keep his strength
up, to abide the end of it. And Mari.
without asking leave, lit four good can
dies, and drew the curtains. and made
the FIRE cheerful. An of us have our
troubles" said Mary; but these here
pickles is wonderful
'You are good girl" answered the
Squire: land you deserve good hus-
band. Now, If either the man from Ok
ford. or young Mr.. overshute should
come, show them in directly; but l can
see no other person. No more. thank
you. Take all away. Mary"
Russell Gvershute, the heir of the Over
shutes at Shotover, was a young man
who could speak for himself. and did it
sometimes too strongly He had long
been taken prisoner by the sweet spell
of Grace 0glander: and. beng of q bold
and fearless order, he had so av9wed
himself But her father had always
been against him; not from personal dis
like, but simply because he could not
bear his Wild political sentiments"