Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-08-09
A PAIR OF CHESTNUTS,

A PAIR OF CHESTNUTS,
L was the most reckless, hard riding.
good-for-nothing young scamp of sub.
altern who ever carried her Maiestv's
commission. The one redeeming point
about me was the fact that 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 a new
fellow into the regiment, Saxbv Brace
well 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 j had always been put for
ward by my brother officers as their show
man for riding, athletics, billiards,
fencing, shooting or tennis, but before
TINS new light l went down as farthing
dip before a gas jet. And yet 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-
lions, 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 say long good-by to Lena,
VINO, dear soul, promised to keep true
until should come back from Australia
rich man flor that was the goal on
which placed my hopes. Yes, /
thought then that fate could not have a
blacker turn to serve me: but | know
otherwise when, on lonely Australian
station, read in a scrap of an English
newspaper l had somehow picked up, of
the grand marriage festivities between
Lena, daughter of Edward Vereker, Esq,
OF Colne Abbey ,and-I could hardly be-
lleve my eyes-Captain Saxby Braccwell,
of the Black Dragons, and only son of
Sir John Bracewell
l 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 | had no
wish for money, things took a turn. Nv /
aoc6s and herds throve apace. gold
quartz was found on my station in suffi- /
Gent quantity and near stream to JUS
tify the formation of gold mining com
pany named "Golconda Junior" and IN
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 l should have
laughed him to scorn.
Then l found myself back again in
London-the same old London-and vet
there was difference. l saw no faces
that | knew, or whom seemed to know
me. The young ones seemed to me so
young, and the elders but there, un-
as it were, turn my steps
toward Tattersalrs.
As l near the we'll remembered en-
trance man jumping out of hanson
knocks up against me.
'I'm sure beg your par Why,
bless my heart Can it be2 Yes, it
surely is yourself! jim, old fellow,
welcome back thousand times Who
would have thought of meeting you2 and
you are just the very man l 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 yourselfl and what are.ye
doing2 and where are ye going7" were
the questions rapidly poured forth as,
taking my arm, he led me on to the door
way. "CQme in here and give me the |
benefit of your Judgment. 1 know no.
body whom I'd trust before you in the
matter of horse buying. There's a pair
Of horses to be sold here to-day. and the
price asked is so ridiculously low that,
their make aud shape, | /
fancy there must be something queer;
but for the life of me | can't discover
They'll make grand pair of
leaders. BY the way, do you know I've
pet up coaching as business-up one
day, down the next. My line is between
Barrackville andLondon 1t pays ex-
penses, and leaves a little over Rather
a pretty bit of country, too, but of
course you'll know it all we'll"
eyes" said shortly, ''St. Runwald's,
my old uncle's place, is on the road" /
and l could not repress a sigh as
thought of the old place which had been
mine for couple of months, and then
had to go to the hammer with every
thing else.
"Ah to be sure. Sorry spoke, my
dear fellow, "'stammered my companion.
who had the kindest heart in the world,
and would not have hurt fly if he knew
it.
l was about to ask if be knew who
owned st. Runwald's now, in ord to
relieve him and show my sangfroid, but
Phil, catching sight at that moment of a
welkknown dependent of the place, we
were soon deep in the mysteries of find
ing out all the evils that horsehesh is
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 bv
a little dinner at the club, and after an
evening at the play we parted, proms-
ing to make the journey down to Bar
with Phil some day soon.
Imagine, then, my surprise when
few days later l received note by
mounted messenger lit was Sunday, and
consequently no postal service) from Phil
Blake, and the contents still more sur
prised me.
THE SILVER FLAGoN, VIC
ToRIA PLACE,
Saturday Night.
DEAR LAURISToN--As i'll buck will have
IL hare am 0yarfa kar, bv had a%%