Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-03-23
CHAPTER Ix-contlnued.

II have been told" thus Deborah
easily proceeded, that for small
house yours contains the most won
derful assortment of interesting OBJ
jects. Where did you ever get them?
MY father was a collector, on a
very small scale OF course, and my
mother had a passion for boarding
which prevented anything from going
out of this house after it had once
come into it."
my husband" began Mrs. SEQ
vile, thoughtfully.
Miss Weeks stared in CONSERVATION
at Mrs. Scoville, who fastened to say:
You wonder that can mention my
husband Perhaps you will not be so
surprised when I tell you that in my
eyes he is martyr, and quite guiltless
of the crime for which he was pun
ished."
You think thaa?" There was real
surprise in the manner of the ques-
toner. Mrs. Scoville's brow cleared.
She was pleased at this proof that her
affairs had not yet reached the point
of general gossip
Miss Weeks, am mother. have
young and lovely daughter. Can
look in her innocent eyes and believe
her father to have so forgotten his re-
sponsibilities as to overshadow her
life with crime? No, will not believe
| it. Circumstances were in favor of his
huf ha lifted tho
stick which struck down Algernon
Etheridge."
Miss Weeks, who had sat quite still
during the utterance of these remarks
| fidgeted about at their close, with
what appeared to the speaker. sud
den and quite welcome relief
"Oh!" she murmured; and said nc
more. 1t was not a topic she found
easy of discussion
The sadness which now spread over
the very interesting countenance Of
| her visi, or, offered her an excuse fol
the introduction of far more ITO
mentous topic; one she had burned tt
introduce. but had not known how.
Mrs. Scoville, l hear that Judge
Ostrander has got your daughter pi
ano. That is really wonderful thing
| for him to do. Not that he is so close
with his money, but that he has al
ways been SO set against all gayety
and companionship. l suppose you die
not know the shock it would be to hin
when you asked Bella to let you into
the gates"
No! | didn't know. But it is al
right now The judge seems to wei
/ come the change Miss Weeks, die
you know Algernon Etheridge wei
enough to tell me if he was as gooC
and irreproachable man as they al
say?"
He was a good man, but he had ;
dreadfully obstinate streak in his dis
position and very set ideas. l have
heard that he and the judge used Il
argue over a point for hours. And h
was most always wrong. For in
stance, he was wrong about Oliver"
oliver"
Judge Ostrander's son, you know
Mr.. Etheridge wanted him to stud,
for a professorship; but the boy wa
determined to go into journalism, ant
you see what a success he has mad,
of it. AS a professor he would prob
ably have been a failure"
WAS this difference of opinion OF
the calling he should pursue the caus'
of divers leaving home in the wa,
he did," continued Deborah, consciou
of walking on very thin ice.
But Miss Weeks rather welcomed
than resented this curiosity. Indeed
she was never tired Of enlarging upol
the Ostranders.
81 have never thought so. The judg'
would not quarrel with Oliver on 81
small point as that. My idea is
though 1 never talk of It much, tina
they had a. great quarrel over MI
Etheridge Oliver never liked the oil
student; I'VE watched them and w
seen. He hated his coming TO tn
house so much; he hated the way hi
father singled him out and deferre,
tc him and made him the confident o
all his troubles When they went Of
their walks, Oliver always hung back