Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-06-21


ia the loveliest of English
70 lakes a wealthy magnate
has his country seat; and VIII Braith-
waite had spent his life working on
the estate. with such brief glimpses
of the world as could be gained from
an occasional afternoon in the near
est hamlet or a days trip to Liver
piol or Manchester. For the rest, the
mountains closed round him like a
wall and he lived in an unbrokcn SOL
itude from one years end to another.
There were other workmen whose
cottages were scattered along the
wales, whose wives and daughters
were ready to fling pleasant word TO
the handsome young fellow as he
passed; but Will gazed al them va
cantlv and dreaded on regardless of
their presence. He had far less com
munion with them than with the dumb
creatures who followed him to and
fro, watching his face with large,
humble eyes, and waiting to perform
his bifjing
VIII Braitnwaite was queer" The
men decided as much in conclave in
the Sun parlor; the women shook
their heads in solrowful assent
The likeliest lad in the neighbor-
hood, and the soberest and best
spoken: but he was queer" He kept
to himself and cared for none Of the
ordinary pleasures of mankind. He III ]
strange things and spoke curious
words.
One summers day a tourist had
paused to ask question near the spot
where Will and his companions were
al work "To whom does this estate
belong?" he asked, whereupon Will
leaned upon his spade AMI raised his
sunburnt face in reply. "It belongs
10 me-" he sat1, and when the
stranger was undeceived and had
swelled the chorus of derisive laugh
ter he still stuck stanchly to lis point.
ut is more mine than hist" he re-
peated firmly; more mine than hls!"
He squared his big shoul iers and
stood gazing round from side to side,
with an expression upon his face
which silenced the jeers of his COM
panions,
"They are blind They cannot IN
derstand! But it IS no lie! am the
true owner of the land, 1t is his, they
say-ay, his to leave and neglect; to
visit for week, and leave without
regret: hut it has been my world since
I was child.
81 know each nook, each dell, each
flower. For me the primrose blooms
in spring for me the hawthorn
buds. for me the birds sing and the
autumn glory Furnishes the earth.
What though a thousand deeds pro-
claim his sway? This land is mine!
It belongs to me by a right which no
man can take away-the love which
Is possession"
Then he lifted his spade and fell to
work again; but the glow remained
upon his face, and once and again he
smiled to himself, and his lips moved.
Sc Will Braithwaite lived to the age
Of 20, with heart full of love of God
and nature but of human love he
l.new little and of the love of woman
naught at all. The north country
maidens are clean and thrifty, but
their hard common sense was not
such as to endear them to man Of
Braithwaite's disposition. His heart
was his own and he rejoiced in
liberty. and felt no blank. But when
love comes to such a mai it takes
hold of him with an iron grip AMI
transforms his being. And in due
time it came also to Will Braithwaite
Bank holiday, and a stormy sky
frowning upon the crowd of pleasure
seekers. VIII Braithwaite had walk
cd over the fields, hoping to hire a
boat and sail upon the lake, a pleas
ure which he could enjoy only at rare
holiday seasons. But he was already
regretting tine quiet Of the hillside and
contemplating an early return. 1t was
not O'Clock, but the clouds were
growing ever blaclrer and blacker. He
paused and looked round with weather
some eyes. which were quick to take
in the stormy beauty of the scene.
The lake lay gray and still as a mir
TOT. the pine covered hills appearing
momentarily gloomier and more for-
bidding. The wind blew from the
northwest, where lowered the twin
peaks Of the Lang1ales outlined
against a sky Of curious, opalescent
clouds. Even as he gazed VIII could
see them change colder, grow into a
deeper ana deeper yellow, into thick
smokelike gloom. The peaks loomej
out Of the darkness with Iurid ma
iesty. grew fainter and fainter, and
vanished out of sight.
ct is coming!" said Will to him
self. and sped apace from the coming
storm. He knew that tetore many
minutes were ever he would be thank
full Of a shelter and, in truth. he had
barely reached the village before the
storm burst over his head and he step
ped into a doorway to avoid the driv-
ing food of rain.
AS fate would have t h found him
self in the entrance 70 the Workman
institute fair sized hall. which was
turned to good account, being used
alternately as a club, library. and a
concert Ioom. AS a theaJel also on
an occasion. It would appear, as VIII
found himself confronted by a flaming
poster setting forth the fact that for
three days only Miss Melville's world
famed company would perform the
riay. Cinderella" on a scale OF Law
ishuess and lux ny never before at
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