The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-09-27

ENU4&tA ky61HNN etratlnB ur1zzle
NNMNaiEpMks&eE on the driver
f--s Of the caravan
To right and left of the highway
stretched bleak and bare prospect Of
marshland and moorland, closed TO the
west by sky Of ever-deepening red
ness, and relieved here and there by
black clumps OF stunted woodland.
Here and there peeped solitary farm.
house, 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 tarn, fringed all round
with thick sedges and dotted with
water lilies The road was as desolate
as the prospect, with not living soul
upon 1t, far as the eye could see. TIC
all this, however, the driver of the
caravan paid little attention, owing
to the simple fact that he was fast
asleep.
BE wus 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 center Of the
road, and, having placidly entered a
:stagnant pond on the roadside, was
fioundering and struggling In the mud
thereof, with the caravan rocking be-
hind her. At the same moment a
head was thrust round the back part
of the vehicle, and an angry voice ex.
claimed:
''Tim, you scoundrel, where the
deuce are you driving tor 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, thought
1t was an earthquake entirely. Come
out Of that now, Is It wanting to
,drownd yourself you are? G-r-r-rl Shl
Aisy now, aisyl"
The latter portion Of the above sen.
tence was addressed to the mare,
which was at last persuaded 10 wade
out of the cool mud and return TO the
dusty track, where she stood quivering
and painting. No sooner was the re-
turn to terra hrma. accomplished than
a light, agile figure descended the
steps at the back of the caravan, and
round to the front. An excited colo
guy, angry on the one side, and apollo
igetic on the other, ensued, and did not
cease, even when the driver, with q
flick Of his whip, put the caravan
again In motion, while the other strobe
alongside on foot.
1t was just such caravan as may be
seen any summer day forming part OF
rthe camp on an English common, with
the swart face Of gypsy woman look.
ing out at the door, and half q dozen
ragged imps and elves rolling on the
grass beneath; as may be observed,
smothered in wickerwork Of all de-
scriptions, or glittering pots and pans,
moving from door to door in some
sleepy country town, guided by
gloomy gentleman In a velveteen coat
and hare skin cap, and attended by
brawny hussy also smothered in wick
erworlf or pots'and pans; as, further
more, may be deserted, forming part
of the procession Of travelling circus,
and drawn by piebald horse which,
whenever q good pitch" is found, will
complete its days labors by perform
lances on the ring. A caravan Of the
good old English kind; with small win
dows, ornamented by white muslin
curtains, with q chimney atop for
tho smoke to come through from
the fire inside; with door behind, or.
namented with knocker, and only
lacking door plato TO make 1t quite
complete; in short, q house on wheels.
The driver, though rough enough
and red with sun and wind, had moth
ing In common with the ordinary
drivers Of such vehicles, and, In point
of fact, he was neither q gypsy nor q
travelling tinker nor circus perform.
er. Though IL was summer time he
wore large frieze coat, descending
almost to his heels, and ON his head a
wideawake hat.-underneath which his
lazy, beardless and somewhat sheep
ish face shone with indolent good hui
NOR. His companion, Master Charles.
as he was called, bore stil less resem-
lblance TO the Bohemians 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 sum-
mer tourist, and every movement he
made, every word he spoke, implied
the gentleman born" ''' '"''' pr
Presently, at q signal from his mas |
Der (such he was), Tim drew rein |
gain. BY this time the sun was set |
antg fiery red, far away TO the west,
shal the thin drizzle was becoming
ordle persistent. ....-.tst.is ri
w ~. How far did they say II was to
hAotroes?" % .,.. ..,...... 2 |
inc fen miles, sor." ,,,,, sH
,,,he mare, is tired out, 1 think. We
W have to camp by the roadside
L{llnght, Master Charles. There's
Tesndy shelter beysnt there where
see-the trees, Tim added, pointing I
ne road with his whip. The young
Blocked in that direction, and saw,
NOW u