Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-11-12

T--T-. :. :
NOVEMBER. Il
to him.. and that the cloud of care. which hat
brooded ever him for the last few days, had a
length taken to itself wings and vanished. Yes
the sMsjor'ssunny, cheerfulmannerhadoom back
butxith more frequent paases Of silent thought
than heretofore, with greater liking for solitary
walks, and more constant reading Of godly books
The moSpinaef the twenty:ninth came in due
course, and Immediately after breakfast the Major
said to hi@selE as though he were stating propo
aitoh that might by chance be epente dispute, 81
mustge and zee Tom Crooke." Accordingly, be
wentin search of Mr. Crooke, and was fortunate
enough'to find that worthy in his cfice.
II am going to Nottingham by the midday
coach, Tom Cfooke, I" said the Major, land Iwant
you tetake a holiday and gowith me" He spoke
this morning in tone Of greater cordially than
he had used SINCE their FIRST meeting. s~E..,
. "Mnch obliged to you,. Major. said Cfooke,
drily; 'but as to taking holiday to-day, hard.
y see my way to do 80 $50 very busy, you see OF
course, if ii 8 matter of business that you want
me on, I must put other. things On one side, and
60 with you" ,as.r
'But it's no matter Of business" said Major
Gregs6n II won't have the affair put on that
footing. T amigoing to Nottingham simply todiaw
o. eohpfe of hundred guineas out Of the bank,
whiohI want for certain purpose; and if you
will 60 ith':me,9 we'll have q. comfortable little
dinner together, and some Of the best wine that
can be had for love Or money, and altogether as
jolly as couple Of sandboya, Say that you II 60,
Tom Crooke." .IGNnV K :.
''Do you bank at Nottingham, Major, that you
have to go there foryour money! asked Crooke,
without needing. the latter part Of the Majors
bank a At III Nottingham, CHAM sa answered ared the old
soldier. "A half cousin Of my fathers is in that
business and al my little savings are in his keep
Inf" '''@ " ''-' '''' --' .',.'.
AT what hour do you propose leaving Noting
ham on your return?" t,. - .'.
eff you. go with me, we viii return at whatever
hour may suit you best. IF 1 go alone, shall not
set out on my way back till late hour-say eight
or nine o clock having few calls which may as
well be, made if 4 have not the pleasure Of your
company, Bpt BIT you will 60 with me-, ne, will you
not ?' ,;::-.',:- -. -.
Ss"se :. seE to be obliged to decline your kind
invitation, but the business have on hand admits
of no delay-.at least, not for holiday purposes.
Are you not afraid, by the by, to travel with so
much money in your possession I? Suppose the
rider Of the black mare with the white star should
bid you stand and deliver for the third time p
"Who ever heard Of man being stopped three
times in succession BY thesane thiefg No; con-
slider that L am far safer this time than if had
never been robbed ct all Do not you agree with
me Yan,, p: 81 = - :.. .a. .
ut may be ssyou say, Major. replied Crooke,
with sneef. "But Iwouh not advise you to
trust too implicitly in such doctrine.
"But you are thetonly person who knows of my
errand toNottingham," !" said the Major; ''conse-
quenhy, sIauanable tos zee in what way I am run
ming any extraordinary risk by having so large q
sum Of n48ney about me.'' '.'
"Oh the rider of the black mare has a happy
knack of finding out that sort of secret" said
Crooke, with laugh. However, I hope with
all my heart that you may get back safe and sound
and With your guineas in your pocket How a.
bout our,bet, by the by 2 How about the three
dozen port? The three months are slipping qui-
city away, yet yeuseemr no nearer towards effect
ing your object" !yd,. 8: .Ha;.-.,a..., ..
II am nearer my object, Tom Crooke. I am SIX
weeks nearer it, ";;said the Major. IF live 1
shall win my wager" -f1~, t,rs.. s.+'.. .: ....'
i,s1aI don't think you will Major Gregson," said
iCrooke, tossing his penknife into the air, end
catching it dexterousy as it fell. II really don't
think you will win your wager a1Ga s..7,
- The event will PROVE answered the Major,
solemnly.; "For the last time, ask you, Thomas
.Crooke-win,y you go with me" -, ... .-...-..
Sand for the last time, Major Gregson, l posi-
lively answer, No." aI.,.t :. , *,
Major Gresson had the inside of the coach to
himself that day as he journeyed from Derby to
Nottingham, and his melancholy musings Wereu M
broken till he reached his journey end. He pro-
ceeded at once to the bank; and drew out two hun
dred guineas, which, sealed up in acanvas bag, be
deposited temporarily with the landlord of the ho-
tel, at which he had ordered his dinner, He then
debated within himself whether he should call on
'hisffew Nottingham scquaintances, but finally de-
cided that to-day, he wasnot in spirits for society
Instead, he took: q walk through the meadows BY
the banks Of the Trent, and found his way back to
the hotel at dusk. When he had dined, and avery
poor dinner he made, he sat brooding over the fire.
leaving untouched the wine at his elbow, waiting
till the clock should strike eight, at which hour he
had ordered post. .chsise to be in readiness. At
halfpast seven, be took ont his little pocket Bible
and read chapter slowly and devoutly. At a
quarter to eight, he drew, one by one, from the
pocket of his travelling cloak, small oblong ma
hogany case, powder-Aask, and a tiny bag, hold
ing some halfdozen bullets. The mahogany case
held brace of pistols, which Major Gregson now
proceeded to load with the utmost care. This
done he rang for his bill, put on his cloak and hat
and carrying the pistols under his arm, he went
down stairs; and was shut up inside the chaise.
The bag containing the two hundred guineas was
slowed away in small locker near his feet ,..1
For the first few miles of the road, Major Greg
son let the pistols lie unheeded beside him but a.
soon as the sixth milestone was passed, lie drew
himself up with military precision, as though he
had received the word of command, and grasped
his weapons, one in each hand. The moon was in
her second quarter and the night was BRIGHT clear
and windy. Both windows of the chaise were
purposely left open The Major sat bolt upright,
i g. - xAa