The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1903-12-30

that graver mood.
"Once or twice | played with her.
too" she added. Il thought it nice to
be one of the little princes in Richard
III and wear white satin clothes.
One night after the play an old gentle
| man took me on his knee and said, 4
had to come, my child, and see if the
wicked old uncle hadn't really smoth-
cred your When he had gone my
mother told me he was Mr.. Washing
| ton Irving | thought him very kind.
for he brought me a bag of bonbOns
from the coffee room"
Its the first time | ever heard Of a
| great critic laden with sweetmeats"
said the soldier. "And were you not
fattered 10y his honeyed regardF'
ooh. yes: / devoured it and wanted
more" she laughed.
Hans fourishing whip put an end to
! further conversation. They had adj
vanced in this manner for some dis
lance through furrow and groove, when
the vehicle gave a sharper lurch down
a deeper rut and abruptly settled on one
side. Barnes held the plunging horses
in control, while the gentlemen scram-
bled to the ground and assisted the Ia
dies to dismount
"Any one hurt?" asked the manager
from his box.
NO damage done-except to the
COACH" said Hawkes..
BY this time the horses had become
quiet and Barnes, now that the passen-
gers were rescued, like a good skipper,
left the quarter deck.
I'VE couldn't have chosen a better
place for our lunch" he remarked phil
csophically. "How fortunate we should
have broken down where we didr
every fortunate" echoed the old lady
| ironically.
The accident had happened upon a
slight plateau, Of which they accord
ingly took possession, lettering the
horses 10 Craze From the branches
overhead the squirrels surveyed them
as if asking what manner of people
were these, and the busy woodpecker
ceased his drumming, cooking his head
lnQuisitively at the intruders, then sly
ly drew away, mounting spirally the
trunk of the tree to the hole chiseled by
his strong beak for a nest. As Barnes
gazed around upon the pleasing pros
pect he straightway became the duke
in the comedy of the forest.
'Ha, my brothers in exile" he ex-
claimed. ARE not these woods more free
from peril than the enYious court?"
"All it wants." said the tragedian
hungrily, lis mutton, greens and a
fOaming pot"
81 can't promise the foaming pot"
answered the manager. But, at least.
we have well filed hamper"
Soon the coffee was simmering and
such viands as they had brought with
them for Barnes was farsighted and
prOvident manager-were spread out i'm
tempting prOfusion. Near them a swift
flowing stream chartered about the
stones like one OF natures busiest gos-
sips; it whispered TO the flowers, MUIR
INJURED to the rushes and was voluble
to the overhanging branch that dragged
upon the surface of the water. The
flowers on its brim nodded. the rushes
waved and the branch bent as If in as
sent to the mad gossip of the blithe-
some brook. And it seemed as though
all this animated conversation was
caused by the encampment of the band
of players by the wayside.
The repast finished. they turned their
attention TO the injured chariot, but
fortunately the damage was not beyond
repair, and Barnes, actor, manager
billposter, license procurer, added to-
his already extensive repertory the
part Of joiner and wheelwright. The
skilled artisans in coachmaklng and
coach repairing might not have regard
ed the manager as a master workman,
but the fractured parts were finally set
after a fashion. BY that time. how
eeer the sun had sunk TO rest upon a
pillow of clouds; the squirrels, law
abiding citizens. had sought their
homes; the woodpecker had vanished
in his snug chamber, and only forest
jewellers Of nocturnal habits were now
abroad, their name legion, like the CAD
abouts Of populous city
There" exclaimed the manager, sur
veying his handlwork "The bus is
ready! But there is little use going on
tonight. ] am not sure of the road.
and here is likely spot to pass the
night"
Likely to be devoured by wild
beasts" said Kate with a shudder.
81 am sure l see two gllstening eyesw
exclaimed Susan.
"Fudge" observed the elastic old
lady. That's the first time you have
been afraid of two glistening eyes"
There's a vast difference between
wolves and men," murmured Susan.
I'm not so sure Of that" returned
the aged cynic.
But as the light of day was with
drawn great fire sprang up, illu-
minatlng the immediate foreground.
The flames were cheering, drawing the
party more closely together. Even
Hawkes. partly discarded his tragedy
face; the old lady threw bundle OF
A - IL