The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-06-06

deepening redness, and relieved here and there
by black clumps of stunted woodland. Here
and there peeped q 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 taIn, fringed all around
with thick sedges, and dotted with water
lilies. The road was as desolate as the pros
pect, with not a 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 jolting 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 a stagnant pond
on the roadside, was laundering and struggl-
ing in the mud thereof, with tho 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 tol Wake up or I'll break every
bone in your skin"
Thus addressed, Tim woke himself with an
effort, and, looking round with an insinuating
smile, replied:
"Begorra, Master Charles, l thought it was
an earthquake entirely Come out of that
nowi Is it wanting to drownd yourself you
arel G-r-r-rl Shi Aisy now, aisy"
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 flrma accomplished than
light, agile figure descended the steps at the
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 in
motion, while tho 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 gypsy woman looking out at tho door,
and half-a-dozen ragged imps and elves roll
ling on the grass beneath; as may he OBJ
served, smothered 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
velveteen coat and hareskin cap, and at
tended by brawny hussy, also Gmothered in
wickerwork or pots and pans; as, further
procession of travelling circus, and drawn
by piebald 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, 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 COM
| plete; in short, house on wheels.
The driver, though rough enough, and red
| with the sun and wind, had nothing in COM
mon withthe ordinary drivers ofsuch vehicles
and, in point of fact lie was neither gypsy
nor atraveling tinker, nor circus performer.
| Though it was summer time, he wore a large
freze coat, descending almost to his heels,
and on his head wideawake underneath
which his lazy, beardless, and somewhat
sheepish face shone with indolent good humor.
His companion, Master Charles, as he was
called bore still less resemblance to the Bo-
heniRns 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 a signal from his master
(such he was) Tim drew rein again. By thi
time the sun was setting fiery red, far away
to the west, and the thin drzzle was bocom
ing more persistent.
GLOW far did they say it was to Pencroesf
"Ten miles, sor.n
"The mare is tired out, think. We shall
have to camp by the roadside
"All right, Master Charles. There's
handy shelter beyant there where you sec tn
trees" Tim added, pointing up the road witt
his whip. The young man looked in thu
direction, and saw, about quarter of a mil
away, that the highway entered a dnrl
clump of woodland. He nodded assent AM
I walked rapidly forward, while the caravan
followed slowly in his rear.
Reaching the point where tho wood begal
and entering the shadow of the trees, he 500
found spot well fitted for his purpose L
the left the road widened out into grass
patch of common adorned with one or tw
bushes Of stunted brown, and stretched out
dusty arm TO touch large white gate whic
, opened on a gloomy, grass-grown avenu
winding right through the heart Of the wood
The caravan, coming slowly up, was 500
placed in u snug position not far from tn
, gate, tho horse was taken out and suffere
to Craze, while Tim, searching about foun
; some dry sticks and began to light a fir,
Diving into the caravan the young man II
[ emerged with a camp-stool, on which he 50
| down, lighted ameerschaum pipe and began I
. smoke. They could hear the rain family pa
tering in the boughs above them, but the spC
they Ind chosen was quite sheltered and dry
The fire soon blazed up. Entering the ca
avan in his turn, Tim brought out a tin kettl
9 full of water, and placed it on the fire, Or,
paratory TO making tea. He was thur, Ell
= gagged when the sound of a horses hoofs VI
l. hnmrJ s1o,,s, +l,o h;ol,rn,, ond ,,ros,ntI,r -
l. figure of u horseman appeared, approach
: ing at a rapid trot. AS it came near to Il
$ group on the wayside, the horse SHE'D vi
+ iently, springing from ono side Of the road
the other, so TINT its rider dark, middl
aged man, in an old-fnshloned cloak, was u
most thrown from the saddle. Uttering
I fierce oath, he recovered himself, and reinir
in the frightened animal, looked angri
q around; then, seeing the cause of the mi
chance, he forced his horse, with no sma
difficulty, to approach the figures by the fir
"Who are youp he demanded, in hars
= peremptory tones. "What are you doiI
here"
= The young man, pipe in mouth, looked I
!: at him with smile, but made no reply.
= "Nhat are youl Nagrantsl Do you l:nu
! this place Is privateT'
=, And he pointed with his riding-whip TO
u printed "Notice!' fixed close to the gate up,
II the stem Of large fir tree.
! 81 beg your pardon, said the young ma
u with the utmost sang .froid: 1--WE are,
u imagine, on the queens highway, and thel
~ with your permission, we purpose to rema
Fl for the nightn
Y Struck by the superior manner of {
1t speaker, the newcomer looked at him in sol
Le surprise, but with nc abatement Of
N naughty manner. He then glanced at Til
'r who was busy with the kettle, from Tim
the gray mare, and from the gray mare