The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-13
CAPTAIN ROOKIE.

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many triumphs. scientific and otherwise.
over a similar period towards the close
OF the eighteenth. but in one respect at
least our ancestors in those days had a
decided advantage over us. When they
had TO travel from one part of the coun-
try to the other they could make their
journey a highly pleasurable excursion
instead Of a dull. rapid fight over iron
roads imprisoned in a close compart-
ment with half a dozen They
could accomplish the distance i'm leisure
ly fashion in their own carriages or in
post chaises. stopping to admire the
scenery or visit spots of interest. and
enjoying the piquant excitement of a
possible encounter with the still exist
ing knights Of the road. who were in
variably courteous TO ladies.
Now, It befel on a pleasant May day
in the year of grace IL tina the young
lady who was mistress OF Greatorex
Manor entered her carriage at her own
door for the purpose of travelling to
London n order TO visit some friends
during the gay month of balls and en-
tertainments. Her own horses would
take her Two stages on the road, and
she would post the remainder of the
distance. as she meant to travel through
the night, sleeping comfortably in her
barouche, her maid having been sent on
in advance with the luggage.
Fair and bright as the spring itself.
Cicely Greatorex made a charming
picture in her tight-itting riding habit
tho r1r-oIi,- 49, e n. -
day-with a hat n feathers poised on
the masses of her fair hair drawn high
over a cushion; in her hand she carried
a gold-mounted switch, on the end of
which she now and then benevolently
fixed a cake and handed it out through
the carriage window to her old coach
man. 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 n absolute possessor of the old
manor and all its dependencies.
The shades Of evening were falling by
the tine that they had passed the sec
ohd seage or the journey, where her
w horses had been left, and were pro-
ceeding onward with a pair of posters.
me rural road was none of the best.
deep rutS SWayed the heavy carriage
from side TO SIDE, and the tail trees of
a wood through which they were passing
ODScuTed the faint light that fingered in
the darkling sky. The coachman did
not perceive that he was skirting a deem
and wide ditch on one side, and to avoid
a FALLEN tree on the other he went too
near the edge, the ponderous carriage
toppied right over, and in another mo-
mGnT n hnECna
the ditch struggling with their egs kick
ing In the air. The coachman had
prung OH in~vOluntarily in time TO save
himself and stood half dazed on the
road, with his cooked hat and wig some
what discomDosed on his head and his
long whip in his hand. His first thought
was for his lady, but little, active Cicelv
made no difficulty of s~crambling out of
the carriage window, and, shaking her
skirts free OF all ENHANCEMENT. she soon
STOOD unframed by her retainer's side.
The poor horses" she exclaimed; ''see
10 them at once, Jasper" and she
~straightway aided him with all her
might In the difficult task. It was i'm
possible to extricate them without cut
ting the traces to pieces, and when at
iast they. were got out of the ditch and
dragged somehow on to the road it was
seen that both were bleeding and
seriously injured. while one was clearly.
hopelessly famed.
Whatever be we to do?" said Jasper.
ms EYEBROWS going up almost into his
zig IN his p~erplexity. I'VE cannot go
another step with these poor beasts.
Madam Greatorex."
mo, that is plain enough" said Cicelv
and you could not get the carriage out
OF the ditch without help, though I do
not think it is much the worse. it went
over SO easily"
She ~pondered for a moment: then.
looking around her, exclaimed: "Stayi
Is this not Winton wood?"
Aye, that it be-" said Jasper.
linen all Is well. We are within a
mile of the hall, and I can go and ask
Mrs Winton to take me in for the night.
Sne Will be delighted, and I shall like
10 see her. so there is no difficulty about
IL AS TO you, Jasper, you must get
these poor horses back to the posthouse
as best you can, and in the morning
you must hire another pair and some
men TO help you to right the carriage.
ana then you must come to fetch me ar
Winton Hall"
Jasper remarked to himself sotto voce
mat there never was such a clever dam
sci as his young madam, but aloud he
only said:
Sure and I can do your bidding
madam; still, be'an't you afeard to walk
through the wood by yourself, my dear
lady; there might be bogies?"
Not a bit of it," she said. laughing
III l meet bogies I'll rap them over the
head with my switch. 1t is all right.
Jasper; 1t is a lovely night and I shall
enjoy the walk; you go your way and
1 shall go mine"
And with a compassionate pa on the
orooping heads of the two poor horses.
Clcely started off with her light. spring
ing step, telling the coachman as she
pade him good night to be sure and
bring the carriage for her as early as he
could the next morning
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 TO a small side gate
In her friends park. which would lead
her by a short cut to the door of Winton
Hall. 1t never occurred TO Cicely 10 an.
ticipate that Mrs. Winton might not be
at home She was an elderly lady who
did not leave her own house from one
years end TO the other. and to Miss
Greatorexs certain knowledge she had
not been absent for at least ten years.
II SO happened, however, that Mrs.
Winton had received tidings a few laws
before that her only son, an officer of
the kings b~odyguard, had been struck
down by the falling sickness, and she
had at once started for London TO nurse
him through il and remain with him
TIL he was quite strong again if his life