Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-03-28
CHAPTER MI

Any kind, good-natured person, loving
bright simplicity, would have thought it a
little treat to look round the carriers
dwelling room upon that Saturday even
ing when he expected Mr. Overshute
The room was still kitchen, and she
had made no attempt to disguise that
much. But what can look better than a
kitchen, clean and bright, and we'll sup
piled with the CHEEKY tools of appetite :?
1t was a good-sized room, and very pic
turesque with snugness. Little corners.
in and out. gave play for light and
shadow; the fire place retired far enough
to well express itself; and the dresser
had brass-handled drawers, that seemed
quietly nursing table cloths. Well, above
these, upon lofty hooks, the chronicles. of
the present generation might be read on
cups. Zachary headed the line of
course; and then-as Genesis is ignored
by grander Observation-Disclosures. and Le-
viticus and Numbers, and a great many
more, showed that the carriers father
and mother had gladly baptized every
one.
Russell Overshute knocked at the door.
in his usual quick and impetuous way.
In the main he was a gentleman; and he
would have Knocked at a nobleman's
door exactly as he did at the carriers.
To put it more plainly-Overshute knock
ed hard, and meant no harm by it.
"Come in, sir, and kindly welcome. -
Cripps began, as he showed him in ::
''plaize TO take this chair, your wor-
ship. Never mind your boots; the mud
of three counties cometh here"
'"Fhen it goes away again very quick
ly! Miss Cripps, how are you? May
shake hands?'
Esther, who had been shrinking into
the shade of the clock and the dresser,
came forward with brave bright blush.
and offered her hand, as lady might
Russell Overshute took it kindly, and
moved to her curtsy. and smiled at her
In an honest. manly way he admired
pretty Esther.
Grips" he continued, have you told
your sister all l told you at Brasenose?
Very well, then; l may begin at the point
where left off with you. Where did
! break it? l almost forget"
With the mans big thumb in the
mouth of the cheeld, and the wind and
the rain blowing furious
"Ah, yes, l remember; and so they
were. l thought that the crest of the
hedge would fall over and bury the
whole of us out of the way. And when
the poor boy had kicked out his CON
| vulsionS. and fallen into senseless sleep.
the rough man turned on me savageIy, as
| if / could have prevented IT, A pretty
doctor you be- he exclaimed. But l took
| the upper hand of him. Stand back.
therer / said; and l lifted the child and
placed the poor little fellow on my horse,
and managed to get up into my saddle
before the wind blew him off again. Now
lead the way to your home | said. And
muttering something, he set on
He strobe along at such a pace that.
having to manage both child and horse,
| il was all l could do to keep up with
him. But l kept him in sight till he
came to common; and there he struck
| sharply away TO the right BY the light
/ of the wind and the rain | followed him
| perhaps for half a mile through a mar
row track. in and out furze and bram-
BILE. At last he turned suddenly round
q corner, and a shadow fell behind him
his own shadow thrown by q gusty CLEAN
of fire. Cantelupe-that is my horse.
Miss Esther--has not learned to stand
/ fire yet, and he SHE'D at the light. and
set off through the furze. as if with
| the hounds in full cry before him. We
were very lucky not to break our necks.
Il got my horse under command. but
we must have gone half mile any
where, and TO find the way back seemed
/ n hopeless task. But the quick-witted
| people saved me miles of roundabout bv
a very simple expedient They hoisted
/ from time to time torch of dry furze
blazing upon 4 pole; and though the light
fiared and went out on the wind, by the
Quick repetition they guided me. Cante-
/ lupe and the child, and / fetched back
&c tile place. And we saw. not flash.
but glow this time, steadfast body of
Cheerful fire. with rots aud caldrons over
| IT, So well had the spot been chosen.
"a the lee of ground and growth. that
the ash of the FIRE lay round the emhers.
as still as the beard of an oyster; while
thicket and tree but few yards of were
tLreshing in the wind and wailing. Be