The Lamar register., 1892-08-13
A PAIR OF oIIEsTNUTS.


was the most reckless, hard rid
ing, good ior-nothing young scamp
of n subaitern who ever carried her
maiesty's commission. The one re-
dee,ning point about me was the
fact that loved Lena yereker, 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 in the regiment, Saxby Brace
well by name. Under his auspices
the card table fiourished exceedingly.
Like some few other men, he possess
ed an extraordinary faculty Tor
games of skill Until he came l had
always been put forward by my
brother officers as their show man
for riding, athletics, billiards. tene-
| ing, shooting, or tennis. but before
this new light / went down as a far
| thing dip before gas jet And vet
| l would never consider myself beaten
1 but challenge him again and again,
and, needless to say, there was al
ways Something on, just to give it
an interest,"" SO things went on.
Play became heavier The colonel
looked gIum, my seniors spoke warn
ingly. Mr.. Nereker 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 anX
ious.
\ - 4 i ,,-,Nt-o 70
4 find myself n ruined man, obliged to
send in my papers, and, hardest OF
all, compelled to say a long good-by
to Lena, who, dear little soul, prom
ised to keep true until | should come
| back from Australia n rich man Tor
that was the goal on which placed
my hopes). Yes, thought then that
fate could not have a blacker turn to
serve me, but knew otherwise when,
on n lonely Australian station, |
read in scrap o. an English news
paper l had somehow picked up OF
the grand marriage festivities be
tween Lena. daughter of Edward
yereker, Esq, of Colne Abbey, and
l could hardly believemy eyes-Capt.
Saxby Bracewell, of the Black Dra-
goons. and only son OF Sir John
Bracewell. N
| L did not know till then how the
secret consciousness of Lena at home
waiting for me had buoyed up my
spirit, but with that last blow all en-
ergy or wish to retrieve my fallen
fortunes seemed to leave me.
/ But now, oddly enough. that l
had no wish for money things took
turn. My fiocks and herds throve
npace, gold quartz was found on my
station in sufficient quantity, and
near stream, to Justify the forma
tion of gold mining company nam
ed "Golconda Junior" and in a
marvelously short space of time l
found myself in possession OF an in
come which if any one had formerly
told me would one day be miEe |
should have laughed him to scorn.
Then found myself back again in
London-the same old London-and
yet there was difference. l saw no
faces that knew, or who seemed to
know me. The young ones seemed
to me so young. and the elders-but
there, unconsciously as it were, |
turn my steps toward Tattersall's-
As near the well remembered en-
trance a man jumping out OF n ham
som knocks up against me.
I'm sure beg your par Why,
bless my heartl can it be? Yes, it.
surely is yourself jim, old fellow,
welcome back a thousand timesl
Who would have thought of meeting
you? 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 ofmen.
rrasped my hand and shook it with
all the enthusiasm of his nature.
and how S yourself? and what are
We doing? and where are going?"
were the questions rapidly poured
forth. as taking my arm he led me
on to the doorway. ''Come in here
and give me the benefit OF your judg-
ment. | know nobody whom I'd
trust before you in the matter OF
horse buying. There's pair 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 some
thing queer; bu5 for the life of me 1
can't discover anything. They'll
make a grand pair of leaders. BY
the way, do you know I've set up
coaching MS business; up one day
down the next? My line is between
Barrackville and London. 1t pays
I expenses and leaves little over.
Rather prettybit of country, too,
but of course You'll know it all we'll "
"Yes," | said shortly. ''St. Run
! wald's, my old uncie's place, is ON
the road" and could not repress a
sigh as thought of the old place
which had teen mine for couple OF
| months and then had to go to the
hammer with everything else.
sAh, to besure. Sorry spoke, my
dear fellow" stammered my compan-
ion, who had the kindest heart in the
I world, and would not have hurt a fly
if he knew it.
/ was about to ask il he knew who
| owned st. Runwald's now, in order
to relieve him and show my sang
| froid, but Phil, catching sight at