New-York tribune., 1895-06-23
CAPTAIN ROOKIE.

tinc and otherwise, over slinllar perlou lV""'"
the close OF the eighteenth, but in one respect at
least our ancestors In those days had decided
advantage over u.s. When they had to travel
from one part Of the country 10 the other the!
could make their journey highly pleasurable eX-
cursion instead Of a dull rapid flight over iron
roads imprisoned in close compartment with
half a dozen strangers They could accomplish
the distance In lesurel fashion. In their own car
riages or in post-chaises, stopping TO admire t"e
scenery or visit spots Of interest. and enjoying
the p,ouant excitement OF possible encounter
with the still-existlng knights of the road, who
were invariably courteous TO ladies'
Now 1t befell on a pleasant May day in the year
of grace IL that the young lady who was mis-
tress Of Greatorex Manor entered her carriage at
nor own door for the purpose Of travelling TO Lon
DON in order TO visit some friends during the gay
month of balls and entertainments. Her own
horses would take her stages on the road,
and she would post the remainder Of the distance
as she meant to travel through the night, sleep
ane comfortably in her barouche, her maid having
been sent on In advance with the luggage
Fair and bright the spring itself. Cicely
Creatorex made a charming picture In her tgh'-
fitting riding habit-the travelling costume OF
ladies in her day-with hat and feathers poised
on the masses Of her fair hair drawn high over
cushion; in her hand she carried a gold-mounted
switch on the end of which she now and then
bepevoently fixed a cake and handed IL out
through the carriage window TO her old coachman'
"A very free and independent young lady she was,
though only twO-and-twenty-for her parents lay
at rest in the family vault. and no brother or
sister existed to dispute her rights as sole and ao-
sol,,te possessor of the old manor and all it's de-
tendencies.
The shades of evening were falling by the time
that they had passed the second stage OF the
tourney where her own horses had been left, ana
were proceeding onward with a pair OF posters
The rural road was none of the best Deep ruts
ewayed the heavy carriage from SIDE 10 slde' anu
the tall trees Of a wood through which they were
passing obscured the faint light that fingered in
The darkling sky. The cOachman did not perceive
that he was skirting deep and wide dltch on one
side and TO avoid fallen tree on the other ne
rxent too near the edge the ponderous carriage
toppled right over. and In another moment the
horses were on their backs in the ditch struggling
with their legs kicking in the air. The coachman
had sprung off nvoluntary, in time TO save him.
self. and stood haf-dazed on the road with his
rocked hat and wig somewhat dscomposed on
his head, and his long whip in his hand. His first
Thought was for his lady. but little active Cicely
made no difficulty Of scrambling out OF the car
riage window, and. shaking her skirts free OF all
entanglement she soon stood unharmed by her re-
taners side
"The moor horses" she eXclaimed: ''see 10 them
at once Jasper" and she straightway aided him
with all her might in the difficult task. 1t was
impossible TO extricate them without cutting the
traces to pieces and when at last they were got
out Of the ditch and dragged somehow on to the
road 1t was seen that both bleeding and seri-
pusly injured, while cne clearly, hopelessly
famed.
ho m do
brows going UP almost into his wig in his perplex-
lty. I'VE cannot 20 another step with these poor
beasts Madam Greatorex.
"No. that is plain enough" said Cicey, "and
Hou could not get the carriage out Of the ditch
without help though do not think 1t is much the
worse II went over easily. She pondered for
moment: then. looking around her, exclaimed
SStay. is not this Winton Wood?'
"Ay that 1t be-" said Jasper
"Then all is we'll We are within mile Of the
Hail. and go and ask Mrs. Wnton TO take
me In for the night. She will be delighted, and
shall like TO see her. so there is difficulty at all
about 1t. As to you. Jasper. you must get these
moor horses back to the posthouse best you can,
and in the morning you must hire another pair
and some men to help you to right the carriage,
and then you must come to fetch me at Winton
Hall"
Jasper remarked to himself sotto voce that there
never was such a clever damsel as his young
madam. but aloud he only said:
"Sure and can do your bidding, madam: still.
be'an't you afeared to walk through the wood by
yourself my dear lady. there might be Dogies!
Not bit OF it,. she said, laughing II meet
bogies III rap them over the head with m, my
switch: II Is all right Jasper IL is lovely night
srhd shall enjoy the walk; you go your ways ana
shall go mine.
And with compassionate pat on the dropping :.
heads Of the two poor horses Cicely started of
with her light. springing STEP telling the coach
man as she bade him goodnight to be sure and
bring the carriage for her as early as ne could the
The walk was in truth very pleasant in the mild
night air. Soon she emerged on the high road.
and a few minutes more brought her 10 small
side gate in ncr friends park which would lead
her by a short cut TO the door Of Winton Hall. 1t
Winton might not be at home She was an elder
Nv lady who did not leave her own house from one
years end TO the other. and to Miss Greatorex
certain knowledge she had not Deeh absent lor d'
least ten years.
II 40 happened, however that Mrs. WintOn had
received tidngs few days before mat her ohiy
son an officer OF the Kings bodyguard, had
been struck down by the falling sickness and she
had at once started fOi London TO nurse MIN
through IT, and remain with him til he was quite
strong again II his life were spared Anticipating
a long absence. she had taken all her servants
with her excepting her old Householder: who had
not slept a night out OF Winton Han for hfty
years and who did not mind remaining alone IN
Arriving at the front door. Miss Greatorex gave
a loud-soundng. energetic KNOCK upon H. "hicn
Vas very speedily answered
The door opened but not at all widely and
the head OF a man was thrust OUT, iooking very
teeniv AT the newcomer. Ciceiy Razed al him as
fonished he was unlike her friends staid gray
headed butler and when. seeing only Ii young
~iri before him ne threw the door open. his aI-
Trarance was still more unlike what she expecte
10 see He had long. shaggy hair falling from
under a raklsh-looking cap. a fierce sinister ex'
nres,ion and he wore sort OF hunting costume
xretead OF Mrs Winton's livery. Cicely. however
quickly concluded that for some reason one OF the
under-Ramekeepers was assisting IN the mouse
sn5 made known her errand without delay.
"My carriage has been upset In Winton WOOD
.rd The horses are TOO much hurt TO 90 on. so
have come 10 ask Mrs Win'on 70 give M ne,
Greatorex iii,
Again the man looked fxedly at her. while a