Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-10-23
XII.

Z
All acGs ouer, at least all In the cart trerc.
Ipassed an uneasy night. The wind
moaned YEARLY round the house, at
one moment seeming to die away alto
gether, at another returning with re-
doubled fury, roaring down the wide
chimney, shaking the whole building.
1t dropped completely toward dawn, and
after hours Of fitful slumber 1 slept
heavily.
In the gray of the early morning I was
awakened by some n coming into my
room, and started up to find Charles
standing by my bedside, dressed and
with a candle in his hand. His face was
worn and haggard for want of sleep.
Il have come to speak to you before l
go, Middleton" he said, when l was
Thoroughly awake. "Ralph and 1 are off
by the early train. viii you tell my
father that we may not be able to return
till tomorrow, If then; and may l count
upon you to keep all you saw and heard
secret until after BUR RETURN"
Where are you going"
ITO London. We start in twenty
minutes. / don't think it is the least
use, but Ralph insists on going, and l
cannot let him go alone"
my dear Charles" I said (all my
anger had vanished at the sight Of his
worn face, Il will accompany you"
Not for worlds!" he replied hastily.
at would be no good. Indeed l should
not wish it."
But 1 knew better.
Gan old head is often of use," I re,
piled, rapidly getting into my clothes.
"You may count on me. Charles.
shall be ready in ten minutes"
Charles made some pretence at annoy
anca- but I was not to be dissuaded. ]
knew very well howinvaluable the judg
ment Of an elder man of experience
could be on critical occasions, and be
sides l always make a point Of seeing
everything 1 can on all occasions. Ii
ten minutes / was down in the dining
room, where beside a spluttering fire
the brothers, both heavily booted and
ulstered, were drinking coffee by candle
light. A hastily laid breakfast was on
the table. but it had not been touched.
The gray morning light was turning the
flame of the candles to a rusty yellow,
and outside upon the wide stone stills the
snow lay high against the panes.
Ralph was sitting with bent head by
the fire. stick and cap in hand, his heavy
boot beating the floor impatiently. HI
looked up as l came in, but did moi
speak. The rudy color in his cheeks
was faded, his face was drawn and set
He looked ten years older.
"WFe ought to be off" he said at las
in a low voice.
NO hurry" replied Charles; "fnist
your coffee"
1 hastily drank some also, and toli
Charles that l was coming with them.
NO." said Charles.
"Yes." I replied. "You are going t.
London, and so am L. have decided t.
curtail my visit by a few days under thu
circumstances. l shall travel up will
you. Ny luggage can follow"
As soon as Charles grasped the ide;
that l was not going to return to Stoks
Moreton his opposition melted away. II,
even seemed to hail my departure witt
q certain n of relief.
LAS you like" he said. "You car
leave at this unearthly hour if you wisl
and travel with us as far as Padding
ton"
nodded and went after my great
coat. OF course l had not the slightes
intention of leaving them at Padding
ton, but 1 felt that the time had not ar
rived to say so.
"Here the dog cart" sale
Charles as I returned.
Ralph was already On his feet. Blu
the dog cart, with its great bay horse
could not be brought up to the door
The snow had drifted heavily before thu
steps and right up into the archway, ani
the cart had to go round to the bacl
again before we could get in and start
Charles took the reins, and his brothe,
got up beside him. The groom and
squeezed ourselves into the back seat.
could see that l was only allowed t.
come on sufferance, and that at the las
moment they would have been willin!
to dispense with my presence. Howev
er, i felt that l should never have for
given myself if l had let them go alone
Charles was not 80 and Ralph severa
years younger. An experienced man o
30 to consult in case of need might be o
the greatest assistance in an emergency
Quicker" said Ralph: "we shall mis-
the train"
NO quicker if we mean to catch it,
said Charles. II allowed ten minute
extra for the snow. We shall do it i
We go quietly, but not if l let him go
An upset would clinch the matter"
We drove noiselessly through the grea
gates, with their stone lions on eithe,
side, rampant in wreathB of snow, ant
up the village street where life wa
hardly stirring yet. The sun was rising
large and red, q bali of dull fire in tn
heavy sky. it seemed to be rising on
dead world.
Before Us (only to be seen on my par
by c~raning grornd) stretched the long
white road. At intervals here and Their
among the shrouded fields lay cottage
half hidden by a white network Of trees
Groups of yellow sheep stood clusteret
together under hedgerows, motionless IL
the low mist and making nc sound. 4
lonely colt. with tail erect, ran besid'
Us on the other side Of the hedge as IA
as his field would allow him, his heav,
hoofs falling noiselessly in the snow
The cold was intense.
There will be q drift at the bottor
of Farrow hir," said Ralph; 1--WE shal
be late for the train"
And in truth, - we came cautiousl
down the hill, on turning q corner W
beheld a smooth sheet Of snow lappin
.ver the top Of the hedge on one side
like iced sugar ON . cake, and slopin
downward to the ditch On the other sid
If the road.
..Hold on!" cried CHARLES, as l stoo
I'D to look, and In another moment W
.:ere pushing our way through tn
keeping a near the ditch a pos
sIe-too near, Is IL turned out. But
Vas not to be.
A few yards In front Of US lay tn
road-snowy, but practicable; but W
could not reach It. We swayed bacb
ward and forward; we tilted up an
down. Charles whistled, and mad
divers consolatory and enouragin
sounds to the bay horse; but the ba
horse began to plunge; he made q sud
movement; one whed crunched dow
through the Ice In the ditch and all wa
ever. 81 least all in the cart were. w
@nr s.at T~nu< rrovidonfiai1y afiphtiu