Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-12-10

and OF Nat Hammond, his rescuer.
Thinking of the Hammond family
reminded him of another member of
1t. Not that he needed to be remind
ed; he had thought of her often
enough since she ran away from him
in the rain that night. And then he
saw her. She was standing Just at the
outer edge Of the grove. Leaning
against tree and locking toward the
sunset. She wore a simple white dress
and her hat hung upon her shoulders
by its ribbons. The rosy light edged
the white gown with pink and the
fringes of her dark hair were crinkly
lines of fire. Her face was grave, al
most sad.
John Ellery stood still, with one foot
uplifted for step. The girl looked
out over the water and he looked at
her. Then crow, one of several
whirling above the pines, spied the IN
truder and screamed a warning. The
minister was startled and stepped
back. A dead limb beneath his foot
cracked sharply. Grace turned and
saw him.
OH" she cried. "Who is it?"
Ellery emerged from the shadow
Don't be frightened, Miss Van
Horne" he said. 1T is-er-I"
you came to see the sunset,
suppose?" she said hurriedly, as If to
head off question. $50 did /. 1t is
a beautiful evening for walk, isn't
it?"
She had said precisely the same
thing on that other evening, when
they stood in the middle of Ham
mond's Turmoil" in the driving rain.
He remembered it, and so, evidently,
did she, for she colored slightly ard
smiled
Il mean it this time" she said. I'm
glad you didn't get cold from your
wetting the other day"
ooh! I wasn't very wet. You
wouldn't let me lend you the umbrella
so | had that to protect me on the way
home"
Not then; / meant the other morn
ing when Nat-Cap'n Hammond-met
you on the flats. He said you were
wading the main channel and it was
over your boots"
1T was worse than that, good deal
worse. 1t might have been my last
cruise. I'm pretty certain that l owe
the captain my life. That part of the
channel proposed swimming was ex-
actly where two men have been
drowned, so people say. I'm not a
very strong swimmer, and they were.
So, you see"
Grace cried out in establishment.
oh" she exclaimed. Then point
ing toward the bay. she asked: Out
there, by the end Of that leader, was
it?"
Yes, that was It."
She drew long breath. Then, after
moment:
And Nat spoke as if it was all a
joke" she said
No doubt he did From what I hear
of your brother, he generally refers to
his own plucky, capable actions as
jokes. Other people call them some
thing else"
"He isn't my brother" she inter-
rupted absently. 81 wish he was"
She sighed as she uttered the last
sentence.
mo, Of course he isn't your real
brother; l forgot. But he must seem
like one"
Yes" rather doubtfully.
you must be proud of him"
81 am" there was nothing doubtful
this time.
Miss Van Horne! What did your
uncle say about Cap'n Mats meeting
me the other day."
Uncle Eben doesn't know. Nat
didn't tell anyone but me. He doesn't
boast. And uncle would be glad he
helped you AS told you before, Mr..
Ellery. I'm not ashamed OF my uncle.
He has been so good to me that new
er can repay him, never! When my
own father was drowned he took me
in, a little orphan that would prob
ably have been sent to a home When
he needed money most he said nothing
to me, but insisted that l should be
educated. / didn't know until after
wards OF the self-sacrifce my four
years at the Middleboro Academy
meant to him"
so you went away to school?" he
mused This is why"
THAT is why don't say never done
nothin'' and be you and 'hatn't
neither Yes, thank you. that's why.
don't wonder you were surprised
She was going, but the minister had
something to say. He stepped forward
and walked beside her
Just a minute, please" he urged.
Miss Van Horne, do understand I
tual friend. you and l. and through her
have come TO understand many
things"
Grace turned and looked at him.
"A mutual friepd" she repeated.
ooh. I know. Mrs. CofTln?"
Yes; Mrs. Coffin. She's q coed
woman and a wise one"
81 know. l feel the same way about
her. She means so much to me. |
love her more than anyone else in the
world. except uncle, of course and
Nat miss her very much since
since"
"Since / came. you mean. I'm sorry.
7 wish hate TO think I am the cluse
which separates YOU two. It isn't my
fault rs YOU know"
''Ohl I know that"
Yes. and object TO having Others
choose my friends for me people who
/ because Of a fanatical preju,. &c. stand
! in tn way Of If ii wasn't for that
You might call and see Mrs. Coffin
/ Just as you used 10 TO-"
"But its impossible. Uncle respects
and is fond of Aunt Keziah. but he
ilroad Trains