Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-04-25
CHAPTER Wv


anything after his one great discovery
made with the help of the British array
FOR some cause or other, best known to
himself, he had dropped his indefatiga-
biiity and taken to very grave shakes of
his head instead of nimble footings. He
feigned to be very busy still with this
leading case of the neighborhood; but
though his superiors might believe it,
ms underlings were not TO be misled.
All OF these knew whether Mr. John was
launching thunderboIts or throwins dust,
and were well aware that he had quite
taken up with the latter process in the
Beckley case.
Out still, whatever his feelings were,
or his desires in the matter, the resolute
lace snd active step of this intelligent
oIncer were often to be seen and heard
at beckley; and to several persons in
the village they were becoming welcome.
ne had several good reasons of his own
Tor haunting the village as he did; one
OF them being that he thus obeyed the
general orders he had received. Also
he really liked the Squire, his victuals,
and his domestics. Among these latter
ne had quite outlived any little preju-
dlce created by his early manner; and
use him as an irritant, or stimulant,
Ior the lukewarm Cripps.
How is the fine old gentleman now?
Mary, my love, how is hep Mr.. Smith
asked, as he pulled off his cloak in the
lobby, just after church time. II hope
you find him getting better. Everything
now is looking up again"
NO, Mr.. Smith; he Is very sadly
a nj - e 4
be do seem little better one day, and
then there come something all over him
again, the same as might be this here
cloak, sir, thrown ON the head of that
mere stick. But come in and see MIN,
Mr.. Smith, if you please. l thought it
was the parson when you rang. But
master will be glad to see you every bit
the same as if you was, no doubt"
John Smith, who was never to be put
down by any small comparisons, follow
ed quick Mary with a steadfast march
over the q Wet mating. IN the long. old
fashioned dining room sat the Squire at
the head of lis table. For many years
1t had been his wont to have an early
dinner on Sunday, with knife and fork
always ready for the clergyman, who was
bachelor of middle age. The clergyman
came, or did not come, according to his
own convenience, without ceremony or
apology.
L beg you to excuse" said the Squire
rising, as Smith was shown into the
room, my absence from church this
morning, Mr.. Warbelow / had quite
made up my mind to go, and everything
was quite ready, when 1 did not feel
quite so well as usual and was ordered
to stay at home"
Squire Oglander made, his fine old-fash-
Toned bow when he had spoken, and held
out his hand for the parson to take it.
as the parson always diJ, with eyes that
gave a look of grief and then fell, and
KIND lips that murmured that all things
We're ordered for the best But instead
OF the parsons gentle clasp, the Squire.
whose sight was beginning to fail alto
gether with his other faculties, was sa-
Iuted with a strong, rough grasp, and a
gaze from entirely unclerical eres.
How is your worship? Well nicely.
+! hope. Charming you look. sir, as ever
/ see."
Sir, ! thank you. l am in good
health. But ! have not the honor of
remembering your name"
Smith, your worship7John Smith. at
your service; as he was the day before
yesterday. Out of sight out of mind
the old saying is. l suppose you find
II so, sir?"
With this home thrust, delivered quite
unwittingly, Mr.. Smith sat down: his
opinion was that Her Majestys service
leyelled all distinctions. Mr. Oglander
gave him one glance, like the keen look
OF his better days, and then turned away
and gazed round the room for something
out of sight, but never likely to be out
or mind. The old man was weak. and
knew his weakness. In the presence of
gentleman he might have broken down
and wept, and been much better for il.
but before a man of this sort, not n sign
would he let out of the sorrow that was
killing him. He begged Mr.. Smith to
take a chair; then, weak as he was, he
tottered to the bell pull, rather than ask
his guest to ring. John Smith jumped
up to help, but felt uncertain what good
manners were
Mary" said the Squire, when Mary
came, bring in the dinner, if you please.
This gentleman will line with me. in
stead of Mr.. Warbelow."
Wei, now, if ever didw Miss Hook
han exclaimed to herself in the passage.
why, a must be sort of gentle
man! Master wouldn't dine along of
Master Grips; but to my mind Yak be
the gentleman afore hep
The Squire's oblique little sarcasm
II sarcasm at all it were-failed 70 bit
Mr.. Smith; give me the carving knife
ed plate and spoon, and fell to az the
soup, which was excellent. The SOM
was followed by fine sirloin; whereupon
Mr.. Oglander, through some association
Of ideas, could not suppress little sigh.
'Never sigh at your meat, sir" cried
Mr.. Smbith; give me the carving knife.
sir, if you are unequal 20 the situation.
TO sigh at such a sirloil-oh, fe or. fie!"
Il was thinking of some one who al
ways used to like the brown" the old
rlan said, in the simplest manner, as if
IAN apology were needed.
'Wel. sir. l like the brown very
much. l viii put it by for myself, sir,
and help you to an inner slice. Here.
Mary. a plate for your master! Quick,
Everything will be cold, my goodness!
And who sliced this horseradish, pray :?
for slicing it is, not scrapingfp'
Mary was obliged to bite her tongue
TO keep it in any way mannersome; when
the door was thrown open, and in came
her mother, with her face quite white.
and both hands stretched on high.
"Oh myl oh myi A sin l call it-a
wicked. cruel. sinful SIM? Widow Hook
ham excleimed as soon as she could
speak. "All over the voltage. all over
the parish in two days time at the latest
1t will be. Oh. how could your worship
allow of it? That Crippsl oh that
Grips, If eve n darter of mine hath
Grips, in spite of two stockings of
money, unvS say"
what is it about Crippsg' asked the
Squire, in q voice that required an inn
mediate answer. The first news of his
trouble had come through Grips; aud
now, in his helpless condition, he always
connected the name of the carrier with
the solution, if one there shoald be.
He hath done thing he ought 20 be
ashamed on" screamed Mrs. Hookham,
.lNN