The Marshall republican., 1909-03-05

Iair beauty OF the morning made me
long to be outside, and at the last
stage-my companion still sleeping
! got out, aud with a shilling to the
coachman, got the box seat. There
were only two or three persons, be-
sides the guard, on the coach.
Onc up there, I could not rest sat.
isfied without handling the ribbons.
l had never eve driven a donkey in
my life, but, nevertheless, l aspired to
drive four fresh roadsters. The coach
man, a good.natured, foolish fellow,
gave me the reins, down a perfectly
smooth lane. l seized the whip, too,
and brought It down across the wheel
ers' backs, and, the next thing | knew,
the coach was lying on It's side on the
road, and | was on the ground.
1t was over in a wink, and It seemed
scarcely longer before 1t had been
righted; for the load was extremely
light, and no one was hurt except
Giles. He scrambled out OF the coach
window, his arm hanging down, not
broken, but out Of Joint. l pointed
to 1t.
Your sword arm" l said.
There was nothing for 1t but to
make for Portsmouth as fast as pos.
sible. Giles was in extreme pain; he
said nothing, but great drops came out
upon his forehead. When we reached
the town, l at once put of in search OF
a surgeon, while Giles remained at the
Inn. ! soon fetched the surgeon, who
got the arm into place. When the
man had finished, Giles asked when
he could use his arm for pistol shoot
ing.
In a week, perhaps; possibly not
for two weeks" And the surgeon de-
parted.
AS soon as he was out of the room,
Giles sent for pen and paper, and
with the most painful effort, guiding
his right hand by his left, managed
to indite the following epistle to Capt.
Overton:
Phoenix Inn, Portsmouth, Friday.
Dear Sir:
This is to inform you that I met with
n most unfortnit aXerdent while coming
down on the coach. My friend and mess
mate. the infant admiral which you saw
with me. had read the story of Gehu in
the Bible or Homar. l forget which, and
aspired to drive four horses. Which he
did, with the result that my right arm
was rentched out OF place, and the rascal
ly doctor who sett II says I cannot use II
for some days. This is most unfortnit, as
II delays the pleasure we anticipated In
our meeting. You will here from me as
soon as I am recovered. The only thing
witch disturbs me is that II we both go
TO Davy Jones', twill please that old cur
mudgin. Sir Thomas Vernon, bad luck to
him. Believe me, sir,
your much obliged and
Most obedient servant.
GILES VERNON,
mid. on H. NJ. s. Ajax"
Giles gave me this to read, and I
pointed out several mistakes he had
made in spelling, although the tone
of the letter was gentlemanlike, as
everything was that Giles did. With
great vexation and some difficulty, he
added a postscript.
"P. S.-Please excuse spelling as my arm
Is very paneful. G. ""
At that moment a marine from the
Ajax bounced, breathless and in great
excitement, into the room
I'VE are to sail with the tide, to-
night, sir!" he said. The admiral
passed the messenger on the road;
the jib is loose, and the blue peter fly
ing"-and out he ran, to notify the
other absentees.
Giles seized the paper, and added
laboriously:
"P, S. No, .. l G~n just Uniformed that
the Blue Peter Is flying from the Ajax,
and that, my dear sir, signifies that we
about to sail. Our meeting must be
fer god knosc when we will
fresh butter again. But you shall
hear from me, G, v"
And that night we sailed with the
tide.