The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-08-01

To right and left of the highway stretched
bleak and bare prospect OF marshland and
moorland, closed to the west by asky of ever
deepening redress, and relieved here aud there
by black clumps OF stunted woodland. Here
and there peeped a solitary farmhouse, with
outlying fields of swampy greenness where
lean and spectral cattle were lugubriously
grazing; and ever and anon came . glimpse
of some lonely lake or tarn, fringed allaround
with thick sedges, and dotted with water
lilies The road was as desolate as the pros
pect, with not living soul upon it, far as
the eye could see To all this, however, the
driver of the caravan paid little attention,
owing to the simple fact that he was fast
asleep.
He was reused by sudden joltng and
swaying of the clumsy vehicle, combined with
a sound of splashing water; and, opening his
eyes sleepily, he perceived that the gray mare
had turned aside from the centre of the road,
and, having placidly entered stagnant pond
on the road-side, was fioundering and struggl
ing in the mud thereof, with the caravan rock
ing behind her. At the same moment head
was thrust round the back part of the vehicle,
and an angry voice exclaimed:
''Tim, you scoundrel, where the devil are
you driving too Wake up or III break every
bone in your skin
Thus addressed, Tim woke himself with ar
effort, and looking round with an insinuatine
smile, replied
"Begorra, Master Charles, thought It was
an earthquake entirely Come out of that
nowl Is it wanting to drownd yourself you
area G-r-r-rl Shi Aisy now, aisyr
The latter portion of the above sentence
was addressed to the mare, which was at last
persuaded to wade out of the cool mud and
return to the dusty track, where she stood
quivering and painting. No sooner was the
return to terra frma accomplished Than
light, agile figure descended the steps at TIE
back Of the caravan, and ran round to the
front An excited colloquy, angry on the
one side and apologize on the other, ensued,
and did not cease even when the driver, with
flick of his whip, put the caravan again Ii
motion, while the other strobe alongside On
foot
1t was Just such caravan as may be seen
any summer day forming part Of the camp
on an English common, with the swart face
of q gypsy woman looking out at the door,
and half-a-lo2en ragged imps and elves rcl-
ling on the grass beneath; as may he Or
served. smothereG in wickerwork Of al d.
scriptions, or glttering pots or pans, moving
! from door to door in some sleepy country
town, guided by gloomy gentleman IN
velveteen coat and hareskin cap, and at
tended by braWny hussy, also -nothered il
wickerwork or pots and pans; as, further
more may be deserted forming part of the
procession of a travelling circus, and drawn
| BY piebald horse which, whenever a good
pitch" is found, Will complete its days labor
| by performances il the ring. A caravan OF
the good old English kind; with small win
iows, ornamented by white muslin curtains,
with chimney atop for the smoke to come
through from the fire inside, with door be-
hind, ornamented with a knocker, and only
lacking door-plate to make it quite ccu-
plete in short, q house on wheels.
The driver, though rough enough, and red
with the sun and wind, had nothing in COIN
mon with the ordinary drivers ofsuch vehicles
and. in point Of fact, he was neither gypsy
nor atraveling tinker, nor circus performer
| Though It was summer time, he wore a large
! freize coat, descending almost to his heels,
and or his head a wideawake hat-Lnderneath
which his lazy, beardless, and somewhat
| sheepish face shone with indolent good hunor.
! His COMPANION, Master Charles, as he was
called. bore still less resemblance to the 30
! hemia-ls Of English lanes and woodlands.
| He was a slight, handsome, fair-haired young
fellow. Of two or three and twenty, in tie
tweed attire Of an ordinary summer tourist;
end ever movement he made, every word
he spol.e implied the gentleman born"
! Presently, at 6 signal from has master
such he was, Tim drew rein again. BY tbs
time the sun was setting fiery red, far away
to the west, and the thin drizzle was becom-
ing more persistent.
Glow far did they say it was to Pencroess"
''Ten miles, sor.
! "The mare is tired out, l think. We shall
have to camp by the roadside"
"All right, Master Charles. There's q
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 NILE
away, that the highway entered a 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 be soon
found spot well fitted for his purpose. To
the left the road widened out into grassy
patch Of common adorned with one or two
bushes Of stunted brown, and stretched out g
dusty arm to touch large white gate, which
opened on a gloomy, grass-grown 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 a osmp-stool on which he sat
down, lighted meerschaum pipe and began tC
smoke. They could hear the rain family pat,
tering in the boughs above them, but the spot
they had chosen was quite sheltered and dry
The fire soon hlazed up. Entering the car
avian in his turn, Tin brought out tin keith.
full of water, and placed it on the fire, pre-
paratory to making tea. He was thus en-
gagged when the sound of horses boots We
heard along the highway, and presently TIN
figure of horseman appeared, approach
ing at rapid trot. As it came near to tn
group on the wayside, the horse SHE'D vic
iently, springing from one side Of the road T.
the other, SO that its rider, a dark, middle
aged man, in an old-fashioned cloak, was al
most thrown from the saddle. Uttering ,
fierce oath, he recovered himself, and refining
in the frightened animal, looked angril,
around; then, seeing the cause Of the mis-
chance, he forced his horse, with no SINAI
difficulty, to aSproach the figures by the fire
"Who are your he demanded, in harsh
peremptory tones. "What are you doinl
here?n
The young man, pipe In mouth looked u
at him with smile, but made no reply.
"What are you9 yagrantss Do you know
| ti'i" -.la"" is rrivate?" ...----.-