Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-06

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| lovely cftld Of seven In his arms, 81 do. Go9-
night, Babs." And for reasons he could not
nave explained he rushed out and waited To-
you can have your choice Of mounts Mr..
! Vice." Observed his escort "Ir you take
! my adj! ice you will ride Mottle. He was out
! yesterday. The mai he's done no work for a
"Trank ycu, Captain wytnburn; prefer the
! IL Wytabunn'5 thoughts had found word, an
observation - the eff It that it would serve
/ the concerted young coXromb right IL he came
to grief would have been the keenly audible re-
| suit.
! The moon rc7e above the mist as they left
! tie turnpike and struck into a brde-road
| ss1Tted on one side by sombre plantation OF
mrs, through occasional openings Of which were
! dImiy visible evidences of Sir CyrilS careful
| preserving. The pheasantS. roasting low paid
/ no heed to the muiiied footballs of the horses
put numbers of rabbits scuttled priskly out Of
| the track to the manifest uneastness of the
mare and the tIlconcealed dlscomposure Of
| Ralph.
Now. Mr.. wace,n observed wythpurn. REIN
US make an exchange. My hands are stronger
| than yours and have longer legs. Then, the
mare knows ne: Come, there is goodish bit Of
| country to DO before we reach the beck. She
| IS as nervous as cat, besides being full Of
| CON-"
"Thank you, Captain Wythburn, arn conf
| dent / can manage her. We shall be 10 the open
presently. If mistake not
eyes" replied Wythburn, "grass, ridge and
furoW, and series OF wattled gates, with the
swollen beck for fin!sh. For the last time,
sir, viii you exchange"
Il am obliged 10 you for your solcltude,
Captain Wythbrrn. which l am sure is we'll
meant, but shall S OK to the mare
'If you can, you unlocked cub" said Wytb-
purn to himself bitterly: adding aloud: ''Come
on then"
The moon, full and unclouded, was behind
them, consequently the shadows cast by the
hedges and gates were on the landing" SIDE
This was relief to the mind of WyJhburn,
who, notW outstanding his DISCUS, felt that, for
Fanpyb sake, he must as far as POI 5ible save
the boy from the consequences Of his bind folly.
They took the first gate together, the mare
with deal OF moonlight to spare. Also the
As for Ralph, he would have sacrificed any
thing but his pride to have been In the other
saddle They We're comfortably over the third
obstacle, and half across the succeeding field
when two GAME keepers, up ID that moment
unseen by the horsemen, rose suddenly from
the ground. Thereupon the mare SHE'D and
bolted.
Idiots ~ shouted Wythburn; sis that the
way you look after your masters game? Make
for the bridge as fast as you can. You know
me, captain Nythoufn. Boy, stick to her!
Stick Oh. She'll face anything"
Wythburn, giving the generous beast he rode
two sharp cuts with the whip, went Off, lat
score to the next gate, hoping to catch up TIE
runaway before she reached the beck on the
borders OF the field beyond, should she land
safely on the other side Of the lofty quickest
hedge for which she was aiming. Along the
hedge. and forming, as it were, part OF it, were
number OF young trees standing at irregular
Intervals. II Ralph could guide the scared
hussy SO as to escape contact with those, there
| was one peril the less. Wythburn did not wait
| 70 see. Leaping the gate, he made straight for
| the beck. The boy had got safely over the
hedge; but what had happened to him? That
| was not the secure seat which had compelled
| the admiration OF Wythburn. 1t was the seat
| Of drunken man.
"Stick on, Or she'll drown you" he shouted.
In another minute she had plunged into the
| turgtd overgrOWn stream, and was being borne
| away by the force OF the current. Wythburn
also plunged in further down. at point where,
| owing to the Intervention OF curve in the
| beck, the current was weaker.
| fainteG?'
| Mottle, ''by the heel and hand admonishod -
answered with the docility or a dog to Wyth-
burns urging, aud was soon ''upsides" with the
mare. Ralph appeared daZed, and his face was
covered with blood: Dashtng handful Of
water into the lads face, the Captain took the
bride cut OF bis faccid hands and held it
'shol a. While he pressed him down upon the
mares neck. Then selecting part OF the bank
Wn&n appeared to afford somewhat sound foot
nOld ne put Mottle .gorously at 1t, and, by that
time. almost exhausted himself succeeded In
hauling the mare and her helpless rider
ashore.
To dismount and get Ralph out of the saddle
and laid On the grass was the work of few
orlef moments: All the devil was out OF the
mare ana d. hotle was engaged In the tranquil
Capte' left the pair to their own devices aud
shouted 'Hillo!" repeatedly, directing his voice
lo"aIo the pTloge. The two gamekeeperS ap-
peared almost at once in response to the SUN.
mons.
(Which of you carries spirit 1ask?,
TWO nat bottles containing whisky were
THANK you, one Will do"
me administration or few drops had the de-
Capital" said the Captain Don't trouble
60 speak yel. l can ZEE what he's happen%d.
Your head came in contact With a Dough OF ore
or those trees. Take a little more whisky,
while / see to your injuries. An, we'll sc On p,It
this right. 1t is nasty tear let me tell you.
ard il may leave mark but beyond tnaS anu
the loss OF blood (Which is, perhaps, not much
to mourn over tomorrow morning. Here, you
men, one OF you soak this handkerchief Ia the
peck While the other holds up this gentlelnan's
During his remarks Captain Wythburn had
made thorough examination of the wound.
and produced from his pocketbook piece O.
court plaster and pair OF scissors.
- 1 AIN an old campaigner, you know, and
Now, then"
Hewiped the blood from the boys face, and.
with lnuch skill and gentleness, applied the
strips OF plaster to the wound.
s. How do you feel noW?"
Ralph replied:
AN right, thank you, Captain Wythburn."
(AN the devil was out Of himD
=" Wen, nearly. Take some more whisky.
stIetch your legs bit. o, you'll do! Now, my
70 rub down the horses and dry the saddles.
Ihere Is? Very well, then, set to work We
Shall want them again presently. There will be
no tlme TO look for your hat, but it will not hurt
you 10 go home bareheaded. Now, Mr.. WAGE,
VIII you be guided by me!"
~, :" In all things, Captain Wythburn," replied
WAGE, "for Fanny's sake"
, r" For Fanny's sake, with all my heart, Ralph
waco. we are to be cousins-you and $50 we
may as well be friends. There's my hand on II.
NOW, getting to Trimdon, with an hour the best
Oh your curmudgeon Of a chief, is quite out of
Inc question:. Therefore we will turn up cross
country work and take to the road. And-a
happy thoqght.we can stop for a moment at
Underhlll junction, and ask about the down
train; 1t may have been delayed"
Tne remainder OF the ride was as pleasant as
lhe nrst part of 1t had been disagreeable
RalpnS sulky demon. that had ereWh1le acted
upon his better nature at the bidding of unre-
Quilted love, wounded pride and boyish conceit,
was drowned. The down train was forCy-f1ve
minutes behind time. An accident had hap
pened to a goods train and blocked the line.
When Ralph parted with Captain Wythburn at
Foulstone's-Fanny'S cousin to put himself to
rights In anticipation OF the return OF "the
guVnor," and Wythburn to secure quarters for
The night for himself and the horses-the i'm
preston In Wythburn's mind was that the boy
would make fine fellow by-and-by; while Ralph
was quite In the mood 10 admit that since he
(RalpD could net marry his cousin, she could
hot abnioo ~