Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-05-09
CHAPTER XVII.

In the meanwhile, Mrs. Luke Sharp
was growing very anxious about her son,
and only child and idol, Christopher. Not
that there was anything at all amiss with
his bodily health, so far at least as she
could see; but that he seemed so I'M
settled in his mind, so absent and pre-
occupied. Wherever he was, he always
seemed to be wanting to he somewhere
else, and he hated to be looked at; while
he ran up into his own loft when he
thought there was nobody watching.
kit, now my darling Kit, do tell me"
said Mrs. Sharp for about the fiftieth
time, as she sat with her son in the
sweet spring twilight, at the large west
ern window of Cross-Duck House; what
Is it that makes you sigh so? You al
most break your poor mothers heart. |
never did know you sigh, my own one"
"Once more, mother, | have the great
est objection to being called Kit 1t
sounds so small, and-so horribly pro-
sale. All the dictionaries say that it
means either the outfit of a common sol
der, or else diminutive kind of fiddle
christopher, l really beg your par
don. l know how much loftier you are,
of course; but l cannot get over the
habit, Kit. Well, we'll, then-nly darl-
ing, | hope you are not at all above
being my darling Kit"
Mother, you may call me what you
like. 1t can make no difference in my
destinies.'
christopher, you make my blood run
cold My darling. l implore you not to
sigh So Your dear father pays my al
lowance on Monday. l know what has
long been the aspiration of your heart
Kit you shall have a live badger of your
own"
Il hate the very name of rats and
badgers. Everything is so low. How
can you look at that noble sunset, and be
full of badgers? Mother, it grieves me
to leave you alone; but how can help
it, when you go on sol l shall go for
q walk on the Botley road"
The young man threw q light CLOAK
on his shoulder, and set his eyebrows
sternly; and his countenance looked very
picturesque. 1t occurred to his mother
that she had never seen anything more
noble. AS soon as she had heard him
bang the door, Mrs. Sharp ran back 10
the window. whence she could watch all
Cross Duck Lane, and she saw him
striding alon- towards the quickest out
let to the country.
How wonderful it is" she said to
herself, with tears all ready; only the
other day she was quite little boy, and
whipped n top. and cried if a pin ran
into him. And now he Is. far beyond all
dispute, the finest young man in Oxford;
he has the highest contempt for al vul-
gar sports, and he bolts the door of his
bedroom. His father calls him thick and
A h.. md 81
tiles. There is the deepest and purest
weI-spring of unintellisibIe poetry in
Kit His great mind is perturbed and
has hurried him into commune with the
evening star
Before Mrs. Sharp had turned one
page of her truly voluminous thoughts
about her son, n sharp click awoke the
front door lock. and steady and we'll
soiuted step made creaks on the old oab
staircase.
Miranda. | have some work to Dc
Tonight" said Mr. Sharp, in his quiet
even voice; and l thought it better t
come up and tell you, so that you neeC
not expect me again. Just have the fir,
I'm the office lighted. l can work better
there than / can upstairs, If l should
ring about 10 o'clock it will be for I
send everybody TO bed. and do not expect
me until you see me-
Certainly. Luke l quite understand
answered Mrs. Sharp, having been fol
years accustomed to such arrangements
ssbut. my dear. before you begin, car
YOU spare me FIVE minutes, fer a httl,
convcrsatien?'
"Of course ! can, Miranda, l am al
-. a. vnsar service F."
"Then. Luke, win yea answer me onl,
one question have Soa observed how
very strangely Kit Us been going OF
for some time now!
Yes. Mrs. Sharp, I have observed I,
You need not be at all uneasy about il
an, observing him very closely. Whel
/ disapprove. l shall stop it at once.
"Bnt surely. my dear, surely l, a.
mother. am not TO he kept in the OAR
sbout itY | know that you always tax