Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-10-20
Hidden
Perils
BY MARY CECIL HAY
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CHAPTER Iv.-(Continued.)

"a nOiSeDack, Hdu met dI s'tte DelWeeH
the Narrowly meadows and the road,
and while they fingered chatting, the
sight of Athol We're advancing toward
them from the distance had .urned thoir
conversation to him.
lit is rather humiliatiny to think"
unused Rourke, ''how entirely and help
lessly our lives are sometimes placed in
our physicians hands; but l could never
fear mine being in his hands; and-as
you say could trust him with the life
l hold most precious"
Rourke said it lightly enough; for
what shadow from the future could dim,
for moment, the brightness of that au-
tumn morning?
were looks as if he were making d.
rectly for the farm" he continued, pres
emily. Are you expecting him, Uncle
Bart"
True, true, he does" said the old
man, turning the matter aside rather
nervously as he watched Athol cross a
stile above and hurry down to join them.
iii tell you what 1t is, Rourke," he
added, as a brilliant idea entered his
head che saw you here and he's come to
wish you many happy returns of the day.
Young squires don't keep their twenty
fifth birthday every year; do they, my
ladi"
well, it's not usual" assented
Rourke but he wondered at the old mans
haste in greeting Athol, and knew it was
TO cut off some question he expected.
"Glad to see you, doctor. It's breezy
indoors this morning, and l turned out
for u change-found it, too, didn't |?
It's always the best change for old Abry
to have young faces and young forms
about him"
Many happy returns of the day, Tren-
ham," said Athol, hopeless of handshake
when he saw how it required all Rourke's
strength and skill to hold in his horse
during the interview. Another vixen.
ehl How many times did she throw you
before you mastered herT'
"a dozen at least; harmless pitching
enough, you may imagine when 1 tell you
the most serious was a toss into hay
rick. Going in head first, of course, made
the coming out awkward, that's ALL"
do you buy up all the unframed or
untrainable animals in the country just
for the purpose of practicing your skill
upon them? We must all own, I sup
pose, that you do thoroughly understand
how to manage a horse"
HE does it to brighten his mother"
said Bartle, with twinkle in his eyes
Hold hard, uncle" put. in Rourke.
"Its hardly so bad as that Now I sup
pose l must be off"
"You really leave us tomorrow, do you,
Rourke?" asked the old man, wistfully
OBTAINING him. "And shall l only see you
once again for two whole years?"
'You might, you know, if you. would
come to Hohve tonight Uncle Bart.
should so like you to come and help me
to keep my birthday l should like to re-
member afterward that you came first on
this day. l had trouble enough to origi-
nate the ball, every one ought to reward
me by coming
''Why should you have had any trou-
bleY asked Athol. Before going abroad
for two years, surely the squire of Hohve
may give ball to his friends"
~ expect he only did it to please
certain young lady," said Abram, glanc-
ing curiously into the young squire's
beautiful dark blue eyes. well, dear
lad, of course you'll enjoy it."
Though my own uncle refuses to
Gomez"
Bartle laughed merrily; yet there was
something unutterably sad in the longing
look he fixed upon the young mans face.
Fancy it! Fancy old Abry's figure
lodging here and there among the ele
CANT county folk. Just you fancy you
see it when you are looking about you,
and-why, if you were talking politics
to the Lord Chancellor, I'd defy you to
help laughing at the thought, eh,. Rourke?
No, if ever l enter Hohve again, my lad
there'll be no such name as Horton New
ley entered there"
1.-TWO years will soon pass for Tren-
ham, Mr.. Bartle," said Athol, land then
he will be home again to take the power
into his own hands.
''True, true" muttered Abram, in a
low, unsatisfed tone. But l wish"
''Never mind the old sore, to-day, un-
cle," interrupted Rourke. "Gooi-by for
to-day. My real good-by will be to-mor-
row. Expect me early, for l shall not
go to bed at all until 1 reach London
tomorrow night"
81 shall expect you from the moment
you leave ne now until see you; | al
ways do" said the old man, his eyes still
cleaving to Rourke's face. doctor, send
me little more of the old medicine, will
your That's why 1 asked you to call, but
| didn't want to mention it before my
boy. The old pain masters me now and
then"
We're" said Rourke, when they had
rome together out of the old farmers
hearing. tell me what is the matter with
my uncleT
HE did not wish you to know but
perhaps it is as well you should" the
young physician answered. gravely. He
has what he himself calls heart disease
and need not give it another name"
BE early tonight, Vere," Rourke said
Spend as many hours at Hohve as you
can. won't your"
Certainly l will, on your last night :;
but you will come here to bid good-by
tomorrow
"Of course; but need that prevent your
giving me handshake now?"
1t was a close, hearty handclasp, though
the parting was TO be for a few hours
only: for the friendship between the two
young men was one of those firm deep
rooted ones which are less rare than
beautiful They were such friends as the
wise king dreamed of when he wrote that
"a friend loveth at all times" while
something in the nature of the young
men, or the teaching of their lives, gave
them similarity deeper than all their
striking contrasts.
81 wish Vere's life were smoother
one and an easier" thought Rourke as
he cantered along the road beyond the
Cottage; carrying lightly his twenty-five
years, and defying the restless thought
tulneSs which was part Of his nature. Il
wish he had an enormous practice and a
wife like Una-and no sister at ALL
Il wish Rourke's home were a happier
one" thought Athol. as he walked slowly
up TO the Cottage door, bearing gravsly
his thirty-two years, land that he had
the guard of mothers love about him.
TO keep him brave and spotless through
these years"
And the wishes died upon the breath.