Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-02-21
GRIPS, THE CARRIER
r. D. ACkMORE
Author of LORNA DOONE" "ALICE LORRAINE ETC, ETC

with Oeiahuer was as Staunch an old
Tory az ever stood in buckram, although
in social and domestic matters. perhaps,
almost too gentle. Radical and rascal
We're upon his tongue the self-same word:
and he passed the salt with the back of
his hand to even mild Reformer And
DOW the door of the room was thrown
open strongly. and in strobe Russell Over
shute.
viii you kindly leave the room,'' he
said to the sedulous Mary. II wish to
say few words to the Squire Of a pri-
yate nature
The young gentleman was a favorite
| with maid servants everywhere, because
he always spoke to them lust the same
as if they was ladies'" Mary made
bob of the order still taught at the vii
lage school and simpered, and departed.
Shake hands with me. Squire" said
Oyershute, as Mr.. Oglander arose with
cold dignity, and bowed to him. You
have sent for me; / rode over at once,
the moment | heard Of it. / returned
from London this afternoon. having been
there for a fortnight. When | heard
the news l was thunderstruck. What
can do to help you:'
L will not shake hands with YOU"
answered the Squire, until you have
soiemnly pledged your honor that you
know nothing of this--of this--there. l
have no word for itr' Mr. Oglander
trembled though his eyes were stern
Ills last hope of his daughters life lay in
the young man before him; and bitterly
as he would have felt the treachery Of
his only child, and deeply as he despised
hlmseit for harboring such a suspicion
yet even that blow would be better than
the alternative-the only alternative
| her death.
should have thought it quite need
less" young Overshute answered with
| some dIsdain, until he observed the faith
er's face, so broken down with misery
from any one but you, sir, it would
have been an insult. If you do not know
the Overshutes, you ought to know your
own daughter"
| But against her will-against her
will. Say that you took her against her
viii. You have been from home. For
what else was it? Tell me the truth,
Russel Overshute-only the truth, and l
will forgive you."
You haven't anything to forgive, sir
Upon the word of an Englishman,
hadn't even heard of it"
The old man watched his clear, keen
eye, with deep tears gathering in his own.
Then Russell took his hand and led him
| tenderly to his hard oak chair.
For a minute or two not a word was
said; the young man doubling what to
say, and the old one really not caring
whether he ever SPOKE again. At last
he looked up and spread both hands, as
if he CROPPED forth from heavy dream:
and the rheumatism from so much night
work caught him in both shoulder blades.
| What is it?-what is itT' he cried.
II have lived long time in this wicked
world, and l have not found it painful"
my dear SIR" his visitor answered.
plying him sincerely, and hiding his own
deep heartburn of anxiety, may / say,
without your being in the least degree
offended, what l fancy-or at least, |
mean, a thing that has occurred to me?
You will take it for its worth. Most
likely you will laugh at it; but taking
my chance of that, may l say it? Will
you promise not to be angry?'
II wish l could be angry. Russell.
What have l to be angry for?''
a terrible wrong, if / am right, but
not a purely hopeless one / have nor
had time to think it out, because I have
been hurried so. But, right or wrong,
what l think is this-the whole is q foul
scheme of Luke Sharp's."
''Iuke Sharp My own solicitor, The
most respectable man in Oxford. Over
shute, you have made me hope, and then
you dash me with balderdashr'
well, sir, l have no evidence at all:
but 1 go by something l heard in Lon
don, which supplies the strongest mo-
tive; and | know, from my own family
affairs, what Luke Sharp will do when
he has strong motive. | beg you to keep
my guess quite secret. Not that | fear
score of such fellows. but that he
would be times craftier if he thought we
suspected him; and he is crafty enough
without that"
Il will not speak of it." the Squire an
swered; "such a crotchet is not worth
speaking of, and it might get you into
great trouble. With one thing and an
other now, am so knocked about that
| cannot put two and two together"
The old man, in spite of fierce anxiety,
long suspense and keen excitement. be-
gan to be so overpowered with down
right bodily WEAKNESS that now he could
scarcely keep his head from nodding, and
his eyes from closing. The hope which
had reused him, when Overshute entered.
was gone. and despair took place of it;
tired body and sad mind had but a very
low heart to work them. Russell, with a
strong mans pity, and the love which
must arise between one man and another,
when small vanity vanishes, watched the
creeping shades of slumber soften the
lines of the narrowed face. AS evening
steals along a hillside where the sun
has tyrannized. and spreads the wither-
ing and the wearying of the day with
gentleness. and brings relief to rugged
points, and breadth of calm to every
thing, so the Squire's fine old face re-
Taxed in slumber's halo, and tranquil
ease began to settle on each yielding
lineament; when open few the door of
the room, and Mary, at the top of her
voice, exclaimed:
"Plaize, sir, Master Grips be here"