Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-05-16
CHAPTER XVIII

Kit Sharp made his way through back
lanes, leading towards the conscientious
obscurity of Worcester College. and
skirting the coasts of Jericho, dangerous
ly hospitable, he emerged at last in broad
St Giles. without a stone to prate of
his whereabouts. Here he went into
livery stables, where he was we'll known,
and found the cob Sam at his service.
Kit knew his value, and his lasting pow
ers. and sagacious gratitude; and when
ever he wanted n horse trustworthy in
patience, obedience and wit, he always
took brown Sam. To Sam it was a treat
to carry Kit, because of the victuals or
dered at almost every lenient stage; and
the grand largesse of oats and beans
was more than he could get for a week
in stable. And so he set forth, with a
spirited neigh, on the Gidlir gton road, to
cross the Cherweil and make his way
towards Weston. The heart of Christie
pher burned within him whenever he
thought of his mother; but man is a
man for all that, and cannot be tied to
apron strings. So Kit shook his whip
and the Cairngorm flashed In the sun,
and the spirit of youth did the same
He was certain to see the sweet maid
to-day, knowing her manners and Gus
toms, and when she was ordered forth
for her messy walk upon the margin of
the wood.
The soft sun hung in the light of the
wood, as if he were guided by the breeze
and air; and gentle warmth flowed
through the alleys, where the nesting
pheasant ran. Little fluttering, timid
things, that meant to be leaves. please
i hVrf hoI han Inf fn1 Il
beaten about so, that their faith was
shrunk to hope; little riffs OF cover also
keeping beauty coiled inside, and ready
to open, like bivalve shell, to the pulse
of the summer tide, and then to be sweet
blossom; and the ground below them
pressing upward with ambition of young
green; and the sky ~ owe them spread
with liquid blue beh white pillows.
But these things are not well to be
seen without just entering into the wood;
and in doing so there can be no harm,
with the light so inviting. and the way
SO clear Grace had a little idea that
perhaps she had better stop outside the
wood. but still that walk was within
her bounds. and her orders were to take
exercise; and she saw some very pretty
flowers there; and if they would not come
20 her, she Hdu iOluiUS 10 10 out TO go
to them. Still she ought to have known
that now things had changed from what
they were as little rs a week ago; that
dotted veil of innumerable buds would
hang between her and the good Miss
Patch, while many forward trees were
casting quite a shade of mystery. New
ertheless. she had no fear. If anybody
did come near her, it would only be
somebody thoroughly afraid of her. For
now she knew, and was proud to know
that Kit was the prey of her bow and
spear
Whether she cared for him or not was
o wholly different question. But in her
dismal dullness and long, wearisome Sc
clusion, the finest possible chance was
offered for any young gentleman to meet
her. and make acquaintance of natures
doing. At first she kept this to herself
IN dread of conceit and vanity: but when
it outgrew accident, she told Aunt
Patch" the whole affair, and asked what
she was 10 do about it. Thereupon she
was told to avoid the snares of childish
vanity, to look Mt the back of her look
ing glass, aud never dare TO dream again
that any one could be drawn by her.
Her young mind had been eaSed by
this. although with good deal of pain
about Il: and it made her more venture
rome TO discover whether the whole 81
that superior estimate of herself was
true. Whether she was so entirely vain
or stupid. whenever she looked at her
self; and whether il was so utterly and
bitterly impossible that anybody should
come miles and miles for the simple
pleasure of looking, for one or two min
utes. at herself.
Suddenly at corner, where the whole
IF the ground fell downward. and grass
was overhanging grass so early in the
season. and sspling shoots from the self
same stool stood a yard above each other,
and down in the hollow a little brook
sang of its stony troubles TO the whis-
nerinS reeds-here Grace Oglander hap
nened 10 meet very fine young man in
Heed. The establishment of these two
might be seen. at moments glance. e
no mutual. The maiden, by gift of ma
ture. was the first TO express il, vita
dress. and hand. and eye. She showed
n warm earerness to retire; get waited
half a moment for the sake Of proper
dignity.
Kit looked at her with clear intuition
that now was his chance of chances 10
make certain sure of her. If he could
ouly aow be strong and take lier consent
for granted. and so induce her TO set
seal 20 il. she never would withdraw;
and the two might settle the rsst at their
leisure.