Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-09-29

smile; or twltchlng pltIfully Tor mo-
ment, and closing suddenly in not less
rare frown. He noted a low forehead
from which were pushed punches OF thick,
soft hair, cut short like boys. and his
eyes took in just these things and nothing
more.
"a queer little party" he thought laz-
lily.
Il am so enjoying myself" she said;
you are, all of you, SO nice"
1.-THE child is wearied out" said Miss
Sheford. This has been an exciting day
for her. will take her to bed, for SIP
pose we must not tell the servants of her
arrival
'Brava - cried Rourke carelessly.
Then he turned to wish Uno goodbye.
with manner and tone as gentle as had
been Lorraine's to himself. Very slowly
he went toward home after he had left
Ruperts Rest, walking listlessly along the
turnpike road until be reached-the dis
lance was not more than mile-the tall
iron gates of Hohve. Passing through a
small one adjoining the outer lodge, he
went on, still sauntering in the darkness,
up the drive; public way this was, and
ne met one or two people taking it to-
night as a short cut from the village of
kumley to the town of Alton. Rourke,
though he could not recognize their faces,
exchanged good-nights as they passed.
When he had closed behind him the sec
ond gates. and left the second lodge in
darkness he stood a minute hesitating
When the estate is my own," thought
Rourke, as he leaned idly on the gate,
Il shall have this laid i'll lawn, as l in
tend to hold Winterfell in my own hands
and see what can be made of it. 1t is a
capital old farm, rich land and profitable,
/ should think, if managed properly; rath-
er handsome old-fashioned place, too,
and fancy altogether would repay great
labor if great labor could be bestowed
upon it. | believe the tenants haven't
done it justice lately. Well, shall see
what | can do when Hohve is mine. OF
course, it ought to be mine already
managing for my stepmother, instead of
my stepmother managing for me, or rath-
er letting her mean-spirited steward take
all authority from both of us-but never
mind, he isn't worth worrying over. Let
me see, III have rows of elms planted
here, as in the home avenue twenty feet
from the drive on either side, and with
the grass smooth and well kept
Rourke, leisurely making his plans as
he leaned there, whistled to himself idly
the while. The sound must have entered
the little UNCOVERED cottage, for present
ly woman opened the door and peered
out into the gloom, the light behind her
clear and strong
''Mr. Newley, is it you, sir?"
OF the sudden scorn upon Rourke's face
as he turned it to the light she caught a
glimpse, and instantly repented her words.
mo, it is l, Miriam he said, in the
cool, proud tone which he seemed to
know there would be no installing:
what do you want with ,Newley?"
II don't want him, SIR" the woman
answered hurriedly; Il only thought, if
it was him"
Avoiding, in a sudden new resolution.
the way he had chosen he returned to
the chief avenue and walked on, still
slowly, between the rows of grand old
elms, to the principal entrance of the
house. AS he assembled the steps young
man met him, and stopped to speak.
II was coming to look round for YOU"
he said. The lights from the hall were
falling full upon him, and they showed
a man of FIVE or six and twenty. of mid
die height, with well-formed, aquiline fea-
lures and fair, pointed whiskers. They
revealed the smile of affability upon his
lips, showed the easy self-confidence with
in his light gray eyes, and the cool. |
practiced gaze which had power to hide |
all but his confidence and affability.
1T is prayer time" Horton Newley |
said, land Mrs. Trenham is waiting only |
for you"
The light fell fully now On both the |
young men, but neither was looking into |
the others face.
'She need not have troubled herself to |
wait only for ne" rejoined Rourke. aim
ing the fragment of his cigar into the |
mouth of the old cannon which stood be- |
side the great stone portico. "She had |
her servants; they are generally all-sufi- |
Gent for her."
ION the contrary" said Newley, with |
slow tightening of his lips, "she likes
to have both yourself and me-
Rourke paused for a moment, literally |
aghast at the covert insolence of this |
speech, then sauntered on without an |
swering There were times when the |
cool impertinence of this man-profess-
o6ly his mothers steward-failed to move |
him to anything but lazy, dispassionate |
contempt.
From the great chill hall, Rourke en-
tered the dining room where his STEP
mother always conducted the ceremony
of evening prayers and where she sat
now at the table, with her heavy Bible
open before her, while she waited in fret
full inaction for the two young men.
Rourke entered first. and advancing to
the hearth, threw himself into an easy
chair and let his hands lie idly on its
broad low arms. There was something
in his whole bearing, as we'll as in his
attitude so carelessly, and indeed uncon-
sciously, suggestive of the master of the
house, that Mrs. Trenhams eyes, after
following him, turned a little deprecac-
inely to Horton Newley. He answered
tie look with the very slightest smile the
very slightest, yet withal one of perfect
satisfaction. He had taken a seat apart
from the servants entirely, but not en-
tirely apart from Rourke, and he sat
ready 20 listen in motionless reverence
tc the words of Holy Writ: his right
palm supporting his left elbow, and his
left palm supporting his chin, while his
eyes were fixed attentively on Mrs. Tren-
hams. A slight contrast thought the
in a row across the
further end of the long room-to the
young master, as he lay there almost at
fUn length, his eyes closed; asleep, as
likely as not.
CHAPTER II.
AT the distance of about a mile and
half from Rupert's Rest, there stood an
old iarm, called The Narroway," con-
sisting of a low black-andIwhite gabled