The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-04-04


gray mist, drifting from the Irish channel,
and SAILING eastward over the low-lyinS land
of Auglcsca, was beginning to scatter tim,
penctrating dri2zle on tho driver OF the cara
van.
To right and left of the highway stretched
q bleak and bare prospect or marshland ana
moorlnnd, closed to the west by asky OF ever
deepening redncss, and relieved here and thcre
by black clumps of stuntei woodland. Here
and there peeped a solitary farmhouse, with
outlying fields of swampy grccnncSs, where
lean and spectral cattle were luGubrlouSIy
grazing; and ever and anon came glimpse
of some lonely lake or tarn, frinSed all around
with thick scdges, and dotted with water
lilies The road was as desolate as tho pros
pect, with not living soul upon II, lar as
the eve could see. To all this, however, the
driver OF the caravan paid little attention,
owing to tho simple fact that he was faSt
asleep.
He was reused by sudden jolting and
swaying of the clumsy vehicle, combined with
q sound Of splashing water; and, opening his
syes sleepily, no perceived that tho gray mare
had turned aside from tho centre OF the road,
and, having placidly entered staSnant pond
on tho roadside was laundering and struggl'
ing in the mud thereof, with the caravan rock
Ing behind her. At tho same moment head
was thrust round tho back part Of the vehicle,
and an angry voice exclaimed:
"Tim, YOU scoundre, whore the dovil are
YOU driving toa Wake up or III break every
bone in your skim"
Thus addressed, Tim woke himself with ar
effort, and, looking round with an nsinuating
smile, replied:
"Begorra Master Charles, thought it was
an earthquake entirely Como out of that
nowl Is it wanting to drownd yourself you
arel G-r-r-rl Shl Aisy now, aisy"
The latter portion Of tho above sentence
was addressed to tho mare, which was at last
persuaded to wade out Of tho cool mud and
return to the dusty track, where she stood
quivering and painting. No sooner was the
return to terra firma accomplished IMAM
light, agile figure descended tho steps at the
back of tho caravan, and ran round to the
front. An excited colloquy, angry on the
one sdo and Apologize on the other, ensuod,
md did not cease even when the driver, with
q flick of his whip, put the caravan again in
motion, while the other strobe alongside on
foot.
1t was just such caravan as may DO seen
any summer day forming part of tho camp
ON IN English common, with the swart face
of q gypsy woman looking out ut the door,
and half-a-dozen ragged imps and elves roll
ling on tho grass beneath rs may DO OBJ
served. smothcred in wickerwork Of all de-
scriptions, or glittering pots or pans, moving
from door to door in some sleepy country
town, guided by gloomy gentleman in a
yelyeteen coat and hareshin cap, and ut
4 H., hucayy olSn grnnt hprpI I'm
wickerwork or pots and pans; as, further
more, may be deserted forming part of tho
procession of u travelling circus and drawn
by a piebad horse which, whenever good
"pitchn is found, will complete its days labor
by performances In the ring. a caravan OF
the good old English kind; with small win
dows, ornamentod by white muslin curtains,
with a chimney atop for the smoke to come
through from the fire inside, with n door be-
hind, ornnmented with knocker, AMI only
lacking u door-plate to make quite COM
plete; in short, II house on wheels.
The driver, though rough enough, and red
with the sun and wind, had nothing III com
mon with the ordinary drivers ofsuch vehicles
and, in point of fact, no was neither gypsy
nor atraveing tinker, nor u circus performer
Though 1t was summer time, he wore large
freize cont, descending almost to his heels,
and on his head u wideawake hat underneath
which his lazy, bcardlcss, and somewhat
shecpish face shone with indolent good humor.
His companion, Master Charles, as he was
called, bore still less resemblance to tho Bo-
hemians of English lanes and woodlands.
He was slight, handsome, fair haired young
fellow, Of two or three and twenty, in the
tweed attire Of an ordinary summer tourist;
and every movement he made, every word
he spoke, implied the gentleman born"
Presently, at signal from his master
(such he was, Tim drew rein again. BY this
time the sun was setting fiery red, far away
10 the west, and the thin drizzle was becom-
ing more persistent.
'How far did they say it was to Pencroesr
"Ten miles, sor."
"The mare is tired out, think. We shall
have to camp by the roadside"
"All right, Master Charles. There's
handy shelter began. there where you see the
trees" Tim added, pointing up the road with
his whip. The young man looked in that
direction, and saw, about a quarter Of n mile
away, that tho highway entered n dark
clump Of woodland He nodded assent and
walked rapidly forward while the caravan
followed slowly in his rear.
Reaching the point where the wood began
and entering the shadow Of the trees, he soon
found spot well fitted for his purpose. To
the left The road widened out into a grassy
patch of common, adorned with one or two
bushes Of stunted brown, and stretched out
dusty arm to touch largo white gate, which
opened on gloomy grass-grown avenue
winding right through the heart Of the wood
Tho caravan, coming slowly up, was soon
placed In snug position not far from the
gate, the horse was taken out and suffered
to Craze, while Tim, searching about, found
some dry sticks and began to light q fire.
Diving into the caravan the young man re-
emerged with . campstool, ON which he sat
down, lighted a meerschaum pipe and began to
smoke. They could hear the rain family pat
tering in tho boughs above them, but the spot
they had chosen was quite sheltered and dry
The fire soon bazed up Entering the car
AVIAN in his turn, Tim brought out tin kettle
full of water, and placed it on the fire, pre-
paratory to making tea. He was thus en-.
gagged when the sound Of q borses hoofs was