The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-08-29
Continued from last SundayD
CHAPTER XIV.
JAMES HOWARD

corn cIlamDer with some oats, when the
master came into the stable he looked
rather serious, and held an open letter in
his hand John fastened the door of my
box touched his cap, and waited for Or
ders,
Good morning, john" said the master
II want to know if you have any com.
plant to make of James"
Complaint, sir? No sir"
us he industrious at his work and re-
spectful to you?"
Yea, sir, always"
"You never find he Sights his work
when your back is turned?"
"Never, sir"
That's well; but l must put another
question: have you no reason to susp ect
when he goes out with the horses to exer-
else them, or to take message, that he
stops about talking to his acquaintance,
or goes into houses where he has no bust
ness, leaving the horses outsider"
mo sir, certainly not; and if anybody
has been saying that about James, [ don't
believe it, and | don't mean to believe it
unless have it fairly proved by witnesses;
it's not for me to say who has been trying
to take away James character, but | will
say this, sir, that steadier pleasanter
honester, SIN after young fellow l never
had in this stable. | can trust his word
and can trust his work he is gentle and
clever with the horses, and would rather
leave them in charge with him than with
half the young fellows ! know of in laced
hats and liveries; and whoever wants
character of James Howard" said John,
with decided jerk of his head, "let them
come to John Manly"
The master stood all this time grave
and attentive, but as John finished his
speech, a broad smile spread over his face,
and looking kindly across at James, who,
all this time had stood still at the door,
he said, james, my lad, set down the oats
and CONS here; L am very glad to find
that Johns opinion of your character
agrees 80 exactly with my own. John is a
cautious man." he said, with droll smile,
"and it is not always easy to get his opin-
ion about people, so thought if l beat
the bu III on this side the birds would fly
out. and l should learn what | wanted to
know quickly; so now we will come to
business. l have letter from my brother
in-law, Sir Clifford Williams, of Clifford
Hall. He wants me to find him trust
worthy young groom, about twenty or
twenty-one, who knows his business. His
old coachman, who has lived with him
thirty years, ia getting feeble and he
wants man to work with him and get in
to his ways, who would be lie, when the
old man was pensioned off, to step into
his place. He would have eighteen shil-
lings week at first, stable suit driv-
ing suit, a bedroom over the coachhouse,
and a boy under him. Sir Cliff ,rd is a
good master, and ii YOU could get the
place it would be a good start for you.
d mt want to part with YOU, and ii you
left us know John would !, Sc his right
hand"
That | should, sir, said john "but |
would not stand in his light for the world"
"How old are you, Jamea?" said master.
Nineteen next May, SIR"
"Thats young; what do you think,
John?"
well, sir, it is young but he is as steady
as man, and is strong, and well grown,
and though he has not had much expert
ence in driving, he has Ia light firm hand
and quick eye, and ne is very careful,
and am quite sure no horse of his will
be ruined for want of having his feet and
shoes looked after"
Your word will go the furthest, John"
said the master "for Sir Clifford adds in
postscript, 1t could fad man trained
by your John, l should like him better
than any other so James, lad, think it
over, talk to your mother at dinner time,
and then let me know what you wish"
In few days after this conversation, it
was fully settled that James should go to
Clifford Hall, in a month or six weeks, as
it suited his master, and in the meantime he
was to get all the practice in driving that
could be given him. 1 never knew the
carnage to go out so often before; when
the mist ess did not go out, the master
drove himself in the two-wheeled chaise;
but now, whether it was master or the
young ladies, or only an erraLd, Ginger
and were put in the carriege and James
drove us. At the first, John rode with
him on the box, telling him this and that,
and after that ames drove alone.
Then it was wonderful what number