The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-18

lacking door-plate to make 1T quite com
plete; in short, a house on wheels.
The driver, though rough enough, and red
with the sun and wind, had nothing ID COM
| mon with the ordinary drivers OF such vemcles
and, in point Of feet, he was neither a gypsy
ror q travelling tinker, nor circus performer.
Though it was summer time, he wore a large
fre;ze coat, descending almost to his heels,
and on hishead a wideawake hat-underneath
which his lazy, bcerdlcss, and somewhat
shee',ish face shone with mdoleno good huInor.
His companion, Master Charles, as he was
called, bore still less resemblance to the 30
he,pians of English lanes and woodlands.
He was slight, handsome, falr-halred young
fellow. Of two or three and twenty, 1n 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 tins
time the sun was setting fiery red, far away
to the west, and the thin drizzle was becom
ing more persistent.
SsHow far did they say it was to PencroesE
''Ten miles, sor."
ssThe marc is tired out, I think. We shall
have to camp by the roadside"
GAIL right, Master Charles. There's a
handy shelter beyant 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 quarter of mile
away, that the highway entered a dark
clump of woodland. Re 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 a 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 a
dusty arm to touch large white gate, which
opened on q gloomy, gTass-ggown avenue
winding right through the heart OF the wood.
The caravan, coming slowly up, was soon
placed in a 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 fire.
Diving into the caravan the young man re
emerged with camp-stool, on which he sat
down, lighted ameersch pipe and begant
smoke. They could hear the rain family pat
tering IN the boughs above them, but the spo
they had chosen was quite sheltered and dry.
The fire soon blazed up. Entering the car
avan in his turn, Tim brought outa tin Kettle
full Of water, and placed it on the fire, pre-
paratory to making tea He was THIS en-
gagged H'hen the sound Of a horses boots was
heard along the highway, and presently the
figure Of horseman appeared, approach
ing at rapid tro5. AS it came nesr to the
group on the wayside, the horse SHE'D no
lently springing from one side Of tie road TO
the otier, so that its rider, a dark, middle
aged man, in an old-fashioned cloak, was al
most thrown from the saddle. Utterlng
6erce cath, he recovered himself, ard reInlng
in the frightened animal, looked angTly
around: then, seeing the cause Of the mis-
chance, he forced bis horse, with no small
to approach the figures by the nre.
seWko are you?n he demanded, IN harsh,
peremptory tones. teWhat are you dong
here."
The young man, pipe in mouth, looked up
at him with a smile, but made no reply.
seWhat are you2 Vagrantsz Do you know
this place is private!'
And lie pointed with his ridingwhip to a
printed Notice" fixed close to the gate upon
the stem of q large fir tree.
seI beg your pardon" said the young man,
with the utmost sang froid;; Eve are, l
imagine, on the queens highway, and there,
with your permission, we purpose to remain
for the night"
Struck by the superior manner of the
speaker, the newcomer looked at him IN some
surprise, but with 10 abatement OF ms
hanghty manner Ec then glanced at Tim,
who was busy with the kettle, from Tim to
the gray mare, and from the gray mare to
the house on wheels The scowl on his dark
face deepened, and he turned his fierce eyes
again on the young man.
s'Let me warn you that these grounds are
private suffer no wandering vagabonds to
pass that gate"
seMayI ask your nanne1' said the young
man, in the Same cool tone and VITA the same
quiet smile.
ssWhat is my name to your
ssWell, not tmnch, cnly Ishould like to know
the title Of so very amiablea person. .
The other condescended to no reply, but
walked his horse toward the gate.
tsHere, feIlow!n he cried, addressing Tirnz
ssOpen this gate for mer'
stDon't STRIP said his master. "Let cur
anniable friend open the gate for himself"
With an angry exclamation the rider leaped
from his saddle, and, still holding the horses
reins, threw the gate wide open. Then, still
leading his horse, he strobe over toward the
young man, who, looking up, saw that ne was
nearly six feet high, and very powerfully
built
seMy name is Monk, Of Monkshurst," he
said stTve good mind to teach you to re-
member it."