Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-03-14
CHAPTER TX

On the very next day it was known
throughout the parish and the neighbor-
mood, tie the ancient Squire had broken
down at last. under the weight of ankle
ties. Nobody blamed him much for this.
except his own sister and Mr.. Smith.
Mrs. hermitage said that he ought to
have shown more faith and resignation:
and John Smith declared that all his
plans were thrown out by this stupidity.
What proper inquiry could be held. when
the universal desire was TO spare the
feelings and respect the affection of a
poor old man?
Mr.. Smith was right An inquest truly
must be held upon the body. which had
been found by the soldiers. But the cor
oner. being good old friend and admirer
OF the Oglanders, contrived that the mat
ter should be mere form, and the YER
dict an open nullity. Mr.. Luke Sharp
appeared, and III dignifcd reserve was
ready to represent the family. He said
few words, in the very best taste, and
scarcely dared to hint at things, which
must be painful to everybody left alive
to think of them. The crush of tons Of
rock upon an unprotected female form
had made it unacceptable; the hair hny-
there was really nothing except pair of
not over new silk stockings, belonging TO
a lady of lofty position in the county.
and the widow of an eminent gentlman
but not required, he might hope. TO pre-
sent herself so painfully. Mr.. Sdarp
could sag no more; and the jury felt that
he now must come, or, failing him. his
son, Fit Sharp, into the 15O.OOOJ. of
"Port-wiue hermitage"
Therefore they returned the verdict
carriaI in his pocket for them. "Deatb
by Husadventure of n young LADY. name
unknown" Their object was TO satisfy
the Squire and their consciences. and
they found it wise not to be too particu-
lar. And the coroner was the last man
60 make any fuss about anything.
Are you satisfied now, Mr.. Over
shutter asked Lawyer Sharp. as Russel
met him in the passage of the Ouarrv
Arms where the inquest had been tsken
''rhe jury have done their best. AZ once
60 meet the facts of The case. and resnact
the feelings of the family"
Satisfied! How can | be- Sroh
hocus-pocus / never Fnew. II f. NOT for
me 10 interfere, while things are In This
wretched state. Everybody knows wbat
an inquest is. No doubt You have done
your duty, and acted according 10 vonr
instructions, Come in here, where we
can speak privately"
Mr.. Sharp did net look quite as If he
desired private interview. However
he followed the young man, with the
best grace he could muster.
L am going to speak quite CALMLY. and
have no whip now for you TO snap" said
Russell: "but may l ask you why Won
have done your utmost to prevent what
seemed, TO an ordinary mind, the first
and most essential thing?"
The Identification? Yes, of course
Will you come. and satisfy yourself? The
key of the room Is ia my pocket"
Il cannot do H. l cannot do II -
answered the young man shudderinS.
MY last recollection must not be-
Young sir. l respect your feelings.
And need ask you, after that, whether
! have done amiss in sparing the feelings
of the familyY And there is something
more important than even that at stake
just now. You know the poor Squire's
sad condition. The poor old gentleman is
pretty well broken down at last, l fear.
What else could we expect of him? And
the doctor his sister had brought from
London says that his life hangs positively
upon thread of hope. Therefore, we
are telling him sad stories, or rather. 1
ought TO say, happy stories; and though
he is too sharp to swallow them all. they
do him good, sir-they do him good
II eau quite understand ii. But how
does that bear-I mean you could have
.nisled him surely about the result of
this inquest?"
by no means. He would have insist
ed on seeing a copy of the Herald. In
fact. if the jury could not have been
managed. | had arranged With the editor
10 print special copy giving tie verdict
as we wanted il. A pious fraud. of
course: ard Sc il is better TO dispense
with it. This verdict will set him up
again upon his poor old legs. hope. de
seemed to dread the final blow so. and
the bandying TO and fro Of his unfortu-
nate daughters name. l scarcely see
-hy Il should 5e so; but so it is, Mr..
Oyershute."
''Of course II L. How can you doubt
III How can II be otherwise. AL