The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-08-06
A PAIR OF CHESTNUTS.

good.for. othing young scamp of q sub.
altern who ever carried her Majesty's
commission. The one redeelning point
about me was the fact that I loved Lena
Vereker, and in spite of my faults she
loved me in return. That was the best
time in my life, and the downward grade
commenced with the advent of q new
fellow into the regiment, Saxby Brace
we'll by name. Under his auspices the
card table fourished exceedingly. Like
some few other men he possessed an ex-
traordinary faculty for games of skill.
Until he came I had always been put for
ward by my brother officers as their show
man for riding, athletics, billiards,
fencing. shooting or tennis, but before
this new light went down as farthine
dip before gas jet. And yet I would
never consider myself beaten, but
challenge him again and again, and, need
less to say, there was always 'something
on, just to give it an interest" So
things went on. Play became heavier.
The Colonel looked gloom, my seniors
spoke warningly. Mr.. Vereker did not
seem so frankly glad to see me when we
met, and was more chary of his invita-
tions, and Lena looked pale and anxious.
There came the day when woke to
find myself ruined man, obliged to send
in my papers, and, hardest of all, COM
PEELED to safa long good-by to Lena,
who, dear soul, promised to keep true
until should come back from Australia
a rich man (for that was the goal on
which I placed my hopes). Yes, I
thought then that fate could not have a
blacker turn to serve me; but I know
otherwise when, on lonely Australian
station, read in a scrap of an English
newspaper I had somehow picked up, of
the grand marriage festivities between
Lena, daughter of Edward Vereker, ESQ.,,
of Colne Abbey ,and-I could hardly be-
Geve my cyes-Captain Saxby Bracewell,
of the Black Dragons, and only son of
Sir John Braccwell.
did not know till then how the Sc
cret consciousness of Lena, at home wait
ing for me, had buoyed up my spirit, but
with that last blow all energy or wish to
retrieve my fallen fortunes seemed to
leave me.
But now, oddly enough that I had no
wish for money, things took turn. My
focks and herds throve apace, gold
quartz was found on my station in suffi-
cient quantity and near stream to JUS
tify the formation of gold mining COM
pany named "Golconda Junior" and IN
a marvelously short space of time ]
found myself in possession of an income
which if any one had formerly told me
would one day be mine should have
laughed him to scorn.
Then I found myself back again in
London-the same old London-and YET
there was difference. I saw no faces
that I knew, or whom seemed to know
me. The young ones seemed to me SC
young, and the elders-but there, un,
consciously, as it were, I turn my steps
toward Tattersall's.
AS I near the well remembered en-.
trance man jumping out of hansom
knocks up against me.
'I'm sure beg your par Why,
bless my heart! Can it be7 Yes, il
surely is yourself! Jim, old fellow,
welcome back q thousand times! Who
would have thought of meeting youa and
you are just the very man I wanted"
And Phil Blake, late captain in the
Black Dragons, and one of the cheeriest
and kindest hearted of men, grasped my
hand and shook it with all the enthusiasm
of his nature.
"And how's yourselfH and what are yc
doing2 and where are ye going9" were
the questions rapidly poured forth as,
taking my arm, he led me on to the door,
way. "Come in here and give me the
benefit OF your judgment. I know no
body whom I'd trust before you in the
matter of horse buying. There's pail
of horses to be sold here to-day, and the
price asked is so ridiculously low that,
considering their make and shape,
fancy there must be something queer
but for the life Of me I can't discover
anything. They'll make grand pair Of
leaders. BY the way, do you know I've
set up coaching as business-up one
day, down the next. My line is between
Barrackville and London. It. pays cx-
pecses, and leaves little over. Rather
a pretty bit of country, too, but Of
course you'll know it all we'll"
"Yes," said shortly, "St. Runwald's,
my old uncle's place, is on the road;'
and I could not repress sigh as ]
thought of the old place which had been
mine for couple of months, and then
had to 50 to the hammer with every,
thing else.
"Ah! to be sure. Sorry I spoke, my
dear fellow" stammcred my companion,
who had the kindest heart in the world
and would not have hurt fly if he knew
it.
I was about to ask if he knew who
owned St. Runwald's now, in ord:r to
relieve him and show my sanSfroid, but
Phil, catching sight at that moment of q
well-known dependent of the place, VIC
were soon deep in the mysteries of find
ing out all the evils that horsefcsh i:
heir to.
However, our combined forces could
discover nothing seriously amiss, and
Phil Blake added to his stud pair OF
exceptionally good and cheap horses.
We celebrated our revived friendship by
little dinner ut the club, and after IN
evening at the play We parted, promis'
ing to make the journey down 70 Bar
rackvillc with Phil some day soon.