Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-02-14
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
Meanwhile, Esther Cripps, who per-
haps could have thrown some light on
this strange affair, was very uneasy in
her mind. She had not heard, of course
as yet that Grace Oglander was missing.
But she could not get rid of the fright
she had felt, and the dread of some dark
secret. Her sister-in-law was In such
a condition that she must not be told of
it; and, as for her brother Exodus. it
would be worse than useless to speak to
him. He had taken it into his head.
ever since that business with the "Ox-
ford man." that his sister was not fright
minded"-that she dreamed things, and
imagined things: and that anything she
liked to say should be listened to, and
thought no more of. And Baker Cripps
was one of those men from whose minds
no hydraulic power can lift an idea
laid once, laid forever. Esther had no
one to tell her tale to. She longed to
be home at Beckley.
Such weather had set in that even
Cripps, with his active turn and pride
in his honest calling, was forced to stay
at home and boil the bones the butcher
sent him, and nurse his stiff knee, and
smoke his pipe, and go nc further than
his bed of hardy kale, or Dobbin's stable.
Except that when the sun went down
his social instincts so awoke, that he
managed to go to the corner of the
lane, where the blacksmith kept the pub
lie house. This was most respectable
house. frequented very quietly. Master
Grips, from his intercourse with the
world. and leading position in Beckley,
as well as his pleasant way of letting
other people talk, and nodding when
their words were wisdom-Cripps had
long been accepted as the oracle; and
he liked it.
Hiss, the blacksmith and the landlord,
felt that on his heavy shoulders lay the
duty of promoting warmth and cordial
ty. He sat without a coat, and his
woolsey sleeves rolled back displayed the
proper might OF arm. In one grimy hand
he held a pipe, at which he had given
the final puff, and in the other a broad
brimmed penny, ready to drop it into
the balance of the brass tobacco box,
and open it for a fresh supply. First he
glanced at the door, to be sure that his
daughter Mealy could not hear; for ever
since her mothers death he had stood
in some awe of Mealy; and then receiv-
ing from Zachary Grips nod of grave
encouragement. he fixed his eyes on him
through the smoke, and uttered what all
We're inditing of.
II call this a very rum start, l do,
about poor Squire's daughter"
The public of the public gazed with adj
miring approval at him. The sentiment
was their own, and he had put it well
and briefly. In different ways, according
to the state and manner of each of them.
they let him know that he was right, and
might hold on by what he said.
Gentlemen" said Grocer Bats, the
very same man who had threatened to
put his son into the carrying line, 81
bows, in course, to superior wisdom, and
them as is always to and fro. But every
man must think his thoughts, right or
wrong. and speak them out, and not be
afeared of no one. And my mind Is
that in this here business, we be all of
us going to work the wrong way alto
gether."
As no one had any sense as yet of hav-
ing gone to work at all, in this or any
other matter. and several men had made
up their minds to be thrown out of work
on the Saturday night. if the bitter
weather lasted, this great speech OF
Grocer Bats created some confusion.
Let 'un go TO work misselfw What
do he know about work? Altogether
wrong Give me the sewdust. for to
clear my throat" These and stronger
EXPLANATIONS showed poor Bats that it
would have been better for trade if he
lad held his tongue.
Touching what neighbor Bats have
said," began Carrier Cripps, in his slow
and steadfast voice, lit may be neither
here nor there; and all of lis be liable,
IN our best of thaes, 20 error. But l do
believe as he means well, and hath
good deal inside him, and large family
to put up with. He may be right, and
all us in the wrong. Time will show,
With patience / have knowed so many
things as looked at first unlikely come
true as gospel in the end, and so many
things | were sure of turn out quite
contrairy, that whenever man hath
aught TO say, l likes tc hearken TO him,
There, now, l ha'nt no more to say; and
l leave you TO make the best of il.
Zachary rose, for his time was up;
he saw that hot words might cnsue and
he detested brawliRg. Moreover, although
he did not always keep strict time with
| his horse and cart. no man among the
l living could be nlS>e nc1ictuai u his pill
low. With kind 'goSa nights" from all.
he passed, and left the smoky scene be
hind. AS he stopped at the bar TO say
goodbye to Amelia, for whom he had
a liking. n short, quick. rosy man came
in, shaking snow from his boots, and
seeming TO have lest his way that night
BY TIE light from the bar the carrier
knew him. and was about to speak 70
him, but received a sign TO hold his
tongue. anu pass on without notice
/ ClUmsily enough he did rs lie ssas bid
On. and went forth. puzzled in his home
4 Is pate by this new piete eff mystery
For the man who passed him was John
Smith. not as yet well known, but held
by ali who had experience OF MIN tc be
the shrewdeSt man in Oxford. The naan
quietly went into the sanded parlor, and
showed good manners 70 the company
They set him down as wayfarer, but q
pleasant one, and well To do: and as
words began 70 kindle with the friction
OF opinions. he listened TO all that was