Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-01-28
A CROWN OF FAITH
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CHAPTER Kill

and gay color everywhere in the fields and
woods; life. in every green bud, in the
flowing sap of the strong forest trees, in
the frisking gamboIs of the lambs, in the
noisy music of the thrush and blackbird,
and the loud voice Of the lark
Singing at heavens gate. Is that
heavens gate, Mr.. Leigh, that large.
white. sun-polished cloud, with edges OF
black. like rich point lace? think there
Is storm within that cloud. for all IT'S
sheen and beauty-electricity, Mr.. Leish-
/ seem bright, gay thing enough; but.
oh am charged with the thunder OF
war often. and often. and often, "hep
am grinning and bearing il. waen mamma
is storming, and Miss Worthington
preaching Don't you hate Miss Worth
ington, Mr. Leigh? Please say yes, and
will love you ever after :"
She was such a knocking bird, Ella
such a bright, fascinating little wag, such
a satirical creature. Lionel did not flush
at her words. He was getting more ac-
customed TO these startling speeches, for
Ella Wycherly made them to him every
day, and sometimes every hour Of the day.
All the arrangements proposed had been
carried out. Lionel had given his months
notice, passed over his pupils to another
professor, and had been established at
Wycherly as the tutor Of Master Graves
Power-who was to take The name OF
Wycherly-for two months.
His duties were light: lessons from
nine till eleven in the school room with
Master Power. and then Ella Wycherly
appeared on the scene for her German
lesson. which lasted one hour. After that,
Lionel and his pupil went riding, or walk
ing. or boating on the river, taking their
luncheon with them, and returning in the
afternoon, when Master Power was left
TO his own devices, and he usually improv-
ed the shining hours in the society of Ella
Wycherly, who had conceived an extraor-
binary liking for him.
The boy himself was completely fasci-
mated with his beautiful, daring cousin.
lie used seriously TO tell Lionel that he
hoped she would wait for him, since it
was his intention to marry her when he
grew up.
IL don't care about ier being nine
years older than / am, Mr.. Leigh: but
what a splendid wife she would make
should have her always spangled over
with diamonds and dressed like the queen
of the fairies | saw at the pantomime.
She shall never wear bonnets and hats
only crowns and wreaths."
Lionel taught Ella every day, talked to
her every day; sometimes he even rode
with her, for the colonel had lent him
good horse, and he was at liberty to ride
It. Had his heart and fancy been free,
his position at Wycherly might have been
considered enviable. with two hundred
pounds salary, rooms to himself, liberty,
and courteous consideration frcm all the
family, save Miss Worthington.
That lady had always strenuously OPP
posed the advent of the German tutor.
She was civil to him now, but her civility
was of the coolest and her Interruptions
of his tete-a-tetes with Ella were con-
slant.
One lovely afternoon Lionel was read
ing Shakespeare. His back rested against
the stem of large, fragrant lime. At his
feet was a cool, clear pond, where the fish
were darting round in the sunny water
rusbes; lily flags ornamented one side of
the pond but where Lionel sat the water
was clear All at once came a songa
sweet melody, chanted in a high, clear
soprano.
He looked up. There she was-Ela
Wycherly, heiress and witch, belle and
romp, aristocrat and tomboy, perched up
amid the branches of an elm, sitting with
her feet resting on a lower branch, her
head reclining against an upper one-an
attitude of nonchalant luxurious repose.
do | look nice aud comfortable up
.sf n 10. ~
-two--three, and away !"
Down she came safe amid the grass
and ferns Her pure white Dress, made
high 10 the throat, was scarcely rumpled.
She picked up her hat, and put it on her
head.
"Now, Mr.. Leigh, pick up the basket.
and let us trot down to Woodmancote.
and lecture the old women and the young
girls, and all the folks. I've heard Miss
Worthington do II. l can do it beauti-
fully"
He stared in amazement. He knew that
II he committed the indiscretion of taking
a stroll through the village with Miss
Wycherly, the Woodmancote world would
gossip True. he had accompanied Miss
Ella in her rides. but there had always
been his pupil with them.
Won't you come? That basket Is
heavy. was supposed to bring Chatter
ly. the housemaid, with me; but l hate
Chatterly, as much as 1t lies in young
lady TO hate a housemaid. VIII you
carry the basketT'
What could Lionel do but pick il IN
and follow Ella to the village? Wood
mancote lay about a mile from the pond.
The way led through the weods-a wide
Path. bordered with fern and blue bright
hird's-eye. Overhead chanted the birds.
round about buzxed the bees, hither and
thither Haunted the dies
Ella walked little ahead OF the tutor.
She was iueSpressihly provoking that day
Her escapade in climbing the tree seemed
10 have satisfied the eSuberanee of her
spirit that afternoon. She was a dignl-
fed damsel as she walked on in white, her
head sIoft. Aer furhelowed parasol be-
tweer her eyes and the sun.
Lionel tradged after, carrying the has
ket. which should have been Chatterly's
tnsk. He felt strangely Inundated. inclin-
81 now and then 10 fling down the basket
and run to Miss Wyeherly, and tell her
that he would not be treated as an errand
boy. even by her.
She did not look once over her shoulder.
she just kept on. now and then striking
q lower hough with her paraSol, but never
turning round At length the village was
reached The road was hordered on one
side with a box-hedge. cut snd clipped
with punctilious neatneSs. On the ether
side we're little cottages and little gar
dens-gaudy gardens. starred with sun
flowers, with here and there pear tree.
on which hung in those later May DAYS
lunches Of tiny fruit Ducks waddled
about the road. quacSing loudly.
Yellow-haired children srollcked about
the '.as garden gates. but stood still 70
s;se at Miss wyeherly. their round eyes
wide open. their round faces afame with
heat and exercise. Ella STOPPED before
such group and shook her parasol at it.
Hello" said Miss Wycherly
The children smiled. put their fingers In
their mouths, bat answered nothing.
Il have come instead of Miss Worth