The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-11-29
a Chance Of the Road.
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q gale, and Wrltton Hall lay close on
twenty miles distant. But IL had
been a day to remember, and Richard
LawfOrd was not the man to forget
1t. II was among the powders that
strewej the slope of One Tree Hill
that the hounds had lost their fox
and the Squires horse its shoe; but
the scent had been perfect, the line
straight, the pace terrific.
Lawford crushed his hat on his
head, bowed his face to the blast, and
shouted TO his companions.
"My nag won't take me to Writton
tonight, Tom, nor will yours see
Saxby till p has struck. What say
zee to a bed at the inn at Malham?"
"With all my heart" cried Sir
Thomas Ewing, cantering up to his
friends side so hey for the Green
Dragon and the best that it holds,
and III be single again for these few
hours"
The other laughed. Sir Thomas
had been wed but twclycmonth, and
rumor had It that the youthful pair
had scarce found their married state
a path Of roses.
a day in the open air will secure
Justice for the worst fare that ever
was cooked, but that evening the
host OF the Green Dragon" had
surpassed himself, and his guostshad
little to complain OF. Moreover, the
cellar OF the Malham Inn was famous,
and before supper was ended the
wine had mounted to EWlng's head.
Lower and lower he saLk IN the chair
wherein he sprawled out before the
blazing faggots, till at last, with n
clattcr, his outstretchcd feet slipped
against the flredogs on the hearth.
what, asleep and snoring, Tom?"
cried Lawford, who had himself been
nodding. "and at this hour, too; It's
only Just o."
His companion drew himself up
blinking.
"My eyes are like lead, Richard,
and | have not been in bed these
four and-twenty hours. There was
and Claverlng George Hale and Oil
yer Derrick, and we supped at old
Pechells at Thrapstone, and played
right through the night till the
grooms brought out our nags soon
after dawn. Why, / all but fell
asleep as the gray took Horford
Brook"
mot been at home, then, Tom?
What will thy wife say?"
Ewing shrugged his shoulders.
gh a
these twenty times before, Dick. |
never see friend at his house bat
get sermon on dice and drinking.
Why the woman married me, heaven
knows! | never was one TO hide my
light meath the bushel. She did it
with her eyes open
"Why didst thou marry her, say
rather?" objected Lawford.
"Why? Well, crush me, | scarce
can tell 'ce," said the other. But
this I'll say, Dick Hang me, If /
were single, I'd marry heg and no
other. for all the life she leads me.
She's a squeamish wench, and ha1
her airs. but by the time our hairs
are gray I'll wager a thousand
guineas that wen be cen better
friends than we were the day |
brought her home to Saxby. Here's
to her health. Why, the liquors run
out. Here, landlord, a couple of bot
ties"
Though each was possessed by n
passion for the chase, the two friends
had little else in common. Richard
Lawford, a tall, heavy shoulderel /,
athletic man, had seen much of the
world, and in his youth having
bought experience at 4 high price was
now, in carly middle age, making the
best use Of his purchase. Besides be-
Ing the possessor of n large estate,
an honored name and polished man
ners, the Squire of Writton was
famous for his skill in every field
sport. for his nerve and his fearless
daring. His temper, IL must be con-
fessed, was hot, his courage akin to
recklessness, his actions oftimes the
result of the caprice OF the moment;
but not a man could deny that his
heart was right and his wits a match
for any in the country.
Sir Thomas Ewing, on the other
hand. had seen but little OF life save
what brief career at the University
OF Cambridge had afforded. He was
young. but just four-and-twenty and.
being rich himself. had married n
wife with fortune. who was some
three years his junior. Fair COM
plexioned, boyish Of face, blue eyed
and brown haired, he was as good
looking, light hearted n baronet as
ever cheered on n hound. drained n
tankard or snored through sermon.
BY the time Lawford had finished
his second bottle Sir Thomas was
asleep again.
Lets to bed" said the elder man.
yawning; thou art hut poor company
tonight. Tom"
Staggering TO his feet, the other
blinked his assent, and with a hand
upon his friends shoulder, followed
tho landlord uDgtafrs