Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-02-19
CHAPTER xIII.-(continued.)

was delighted wit ththe stars, and wher
rounding Deadman's Point we came II
sight of the young mooon hanging ovel
the water with the Swallowed disc in it:
embrace, a low cry Of rapture came from
her lips. We got on the downs by tn,
gap beyond Deadman's Point, and struci
across for the old London road, and now
that we had no cliff beside us Psyche:
wonder at the unbroken expanse around
us was inexpressible. ..No walls!" she
said. And the soft grass under her feet
in place of the sand she had always
known was another marvel She tried
to scoop it up in her hand, ard when
plucked some and put it into her hand
she laughed at this new Oddly in this
new world.
We had not yet met single living
creature, but as we neared the road
heard the sound of footsteps and voices
and Psyche told me that she saw two per
sons coming, one little and one big. A
few seconds afterwards ! saw a stout
woman and boy laden with bundles
Psyche slipped around and chung to my
other arm to be safe, while she strained
her eyes in wonder to see a girl so large
and man so small.
Mrs. Benham," ] said, recognizing my
old landlady as we drew nea-.
Surely that's not Mr.. Bernard come
back ~ she exclaimed
1T is, indeed, and I'm on my way
to take possession of my old rooms if you
have not let them to anyone else"
BLESS your heart, no, sir. They are
left them I S6nnldn't have
had the heart to let them TO anyone else
if I'd had the chance. Little did l think
you would ever come back to them; and
it's real comfort in the midst of my
trouble to see you again. There, take
the keys. sir. You haven't heard the sad
news, III warrant how should you, when
I've only just got the message By tele-
graph myself. The lad there brought it
and scared me out of my wits nearly half
an hour ago. My poor son has been land
ed from his ship at Southampton with
a fever, and there he lies now in stran-
gers house with no one to care for him.
And now am on my way TO Bonport to
catch the last train. l will write to you
tomorrow and tell you more, and you will
let me know all about your cwn affairs
that l have no time to ask about now,
though l am dying with curiosity to know
how you Jared and everything"
Everything included Psyche, whose I'M
covered head and bare arms drew her
eyes from me in perplexity, even while
her mind was so divided between thoughts
of her son and myself. As for the tele-
graph messenger, who was carrying part
of the old lady's hastily packed luggage,
he could scarcely close his mouth or take
his eyes off Psyche.
who is that one that you spoke to-"
whispered Psyche, as we went our way.
"A dear old friend. We are going to
live at her house."
"House-that is cave"
"Yes, kind of cave. / lived with
her before ] came to you."
"NOt very long?"
"Yes; years-much longer than 1 have
lived with you"
'Then everyone does not go different
way-some stay together"
"0h, yes. A son sometimes stays with
his mother even when he IS no longer a
child. A brother may live with his sis
ter till they grow quite old"
"Will you be my brother?'
"Yes, Psyche, that is ius- what
should like to be-"
She Rugged my arn close and was
silent for a while. l pointed to the trees
of the Chase Park as we reared them
She looked at them indifferently, remind
ing me that l had told her about them.
Then presently, while l wondered what
she was bordering, she said:
'You like that old woman?"
'Yes; she has been like a mother to
me-"
But you don't talk to her as you talk
to me-" she said. smiling ana shaking
her head.
what makes you think taar?"
"Oh, l am sure of it," she answered.
with delighted satisfaction, "and that
shows that you like your sister more than
you like your mother"
l laughed, and then having come to the
cottage, told her that it was where we
were to live. She looked OF it incredu-
lousy, for to her it seemed no more than
a strangely fashioned mass of rock. and
could hardly believe her senses when 7
opened the door and showed her il was
habitable.
lit a candle and took Ser through
the rooms below, and then I'D the stairs
to the rooms above, and she was speech.
less with wonder at the straneeness of
it and all the surprising contrivanoes II
contained. When | got her 10 sneak 7
found that she did not admire the rooms.
After the caves they were as much too
small as the world was too large. The
low, fiat ceilings and squared walls We're
ugly 10 her eyes. But the quantity and
variety of color everywhere delighted her
Two things astonished her teyond the
rest-a looking glass, and rose growing
in a pot The glass she thought must
be water; the scent of the rose took her
breath away. She was char1ed with the
canary that hung in the sitting room
it was such a wee little cav" and so
prettily colored; l put it in her bed
room. telling her that it would sing to
her in the morning
SHOW me how l may take him out of
his house." she said.
No, you must not do that said I
He would fly away if you did,"
\ She looked into my face in mournful
silence. and then she said
%DoeS everything that we love in this
wcrld fly away and leave u.s."