Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-11-16


She got up went to the window and
found that heavy bars had been nailed
across it. She lighted her lamp and
with a pencil began TO write note TO
Drace, praying in her heart that she
might find some way to send it to him.
Little she slept and in the dawn she
was at the window. the vines all of
them gone. She heard footsteps near
and she tried to look out to discover
who 1t might be. hut she could gaze
neither to the right nor the left, so
closely was she mewed. She spoke,
softly, louder and then there drew the
darkened form of man, Batoche, an
old frog-hunter whom once before she
had employed.
II am here TO borrow the mushkrat-
spear for the one day, for mine he was
broke; but they are still asleep
"Come closer, good Batoche, and lis
ten to me. Take this note to Monsieur
brace, at General Bethpage's house
quick, with no one to see you, and
will give you diamond when you
come back
"Give me the note, an / be there
soon"
She gave him the note, and he has
tened away. She stood at the door,
wondering why she had not heard her
father stirring about. Once she
thought she heard him call Tony. At
ter long time Tony came, and she
heard them together as they went out
Then all was silent.
Sick in mind and body, BRACE made
his way back to Bethpage He made
himself as presentable as possible be-
fore he entered the house; fortunately,
too, the attention of Tycie and the
General was Mt, that moment conferred
on Colonel Josh, whe had stopped off
to pay them call-and who showed
establishment when asked to walk out
to dinner, though he yielded with as
tonishing alacrity to the pressure OF
the Generals hand upon his arm. He
was busy with helping of late mus
tard green's and hogs jowi, when Tycie
/. inquired:
! "And how is dear Lucy?'
Madam" said Josh, II am grieved
TO impart to You a distressful piece of
news. She is, soon to be married to a
man named Sylvan.
"Oh. TIN so sorry, Colonel yosh.''
MADAM, 1t is "a calamity. Luke
Spisan!7'
whats the matter with him?' the
General inquired. Isn't broke, rs her
General, the man has money. But
do Won know what his calling Is?
shall enIighten you. sir. This fellow rs
dealer in oysters. the-the excres-
cence of the sea, you might say. And
not only that, but he deals in erawfish
as well. back-crawling crawfish. sir.
l offered her my heart and my home.
I told her that ! would devote my life
TO her. and from week to week she
nut me off But when this fellow
Sylvan asked her, ! understand she ae-
cepted him at Jump. sir. And now
I advise him to keep ont of my way"
"Oysters and crawfish. chr said the
General winking at Drace.
"Those were my words. General
not only oysters but crawfish. ! would
not have believed il if she had not as
sured me with her own lips, lips that
will please pardon my nearness 10
profanity"
Tycie's sympathy went ont to old
Josh. haloed him; and with her eyes
she begged the General 10 drop the
subject, but it was sweeter to him
than any sugar ever grained in his
mill
After dinner they were in the par
Tor when they saw a vagabond equip
age stop at the gate. an old carry-ail
drawn by staggering horse, driven
by ragged negro. There was one
passenger in the habilaments of a
scarecrow, topped off with a yellow
cotton hat--enough 70 disguise any
man on earth save one. and this man
was the exception.
"Tycie. what did I tell youi'' cried
the General. 81 knew IT as well as |
knew my name. Now look at him -
They looked al him. went out into
the hall to meet him, Tycle in com
venient tears. The visitor kissed her
and shook hands with the men.
ut is not necessary for me to as
sert that hold no commission, civil
or military" said the vagrant.
"Slt down. sir. commanded the Gen
eral. And then. surveying him slowly
from head to foot: "will you please
state az to whether or not you regard
yourself human beingT"
General" said Tycie, please don't
scold him, for I'm sure he must be
hungry
MY dear, shall not scold him; but
don't see anything about him that
calls for congratulations"
Liberty" said Virgil, tomorrow
wen 20 over and have the parish sur.
vsyor run you off q suit Of clothes"