Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-04-15
CHAPTER li.-continued.

CHAPTER li.-Continued.
No sooner had Giles said this than
with the determination to be known
as a man of spirit Il was, as | said BUT
1G, l concluded | would go TO Lon
don, too On the day that Giles Yer
non got his 81 hours leave, | also got
the same. Mr.. Buxton looked a little
queer when | asked him for it, and
said something about not allowing the
midshipmen to leave Portsmouth; but
! answered readily enough that l
wished very much to go on a little
expedition with Giles Vernon, which
would last overnight AS the other
midshipmen had been allowed similar
liberty, | got my request; and next
morning as the Phoebus coach for
London rolled out of the stables into
the inner yard, | approached. Giles
Vernon was also on hand. His sur
prise was great when he saw me.
You take a risk, my lad" he said.
NO more than you do | replied.
stoutly. And |, too. love a roguish
eye and a blushing cheek, and mean to
go to the playhouse with you to see
Mistress Trenchard" At which Giles
roared out one OF his rich laughs, and
cried:
Gene along, then, my infant Don
Juan
We got inside the coach, because
it was far from unlikely that we
might meet some of our own officers
on The road. or even Sir Peter Hawk
shaw himself, who Travelled much be
tween Portsmouth and the admiralty.
And had we been caught there is lit
tie doubt that we should have been
forced 10 right about face, in spite
of the leave each one of us had in Eis
pocket 50 we made ourselves ex.
tremely small in a corner of the coach
and only vcntured TO Yeep out once
when VIC caught sight of Sir Peter
Hawksha%'s travelling chaise going
Londol-wards, and Sir Peter himself
lying back in it, reading a newspaper
After that, you may be sure We were
very circumspect
noticed, however, the same thine
in the coach that ! had observed the
first hour | set eyes on Giles Vernon
that every woman he met was his
friend. There were some tradesmen' s
wives, a French hairdresser and the
usual assortment of women to be
found in a public coach; and in hall
an hour Giles Vernon had said a pleas
ant word to every one Of them, and
basked In their smiles.
The day was in April, and was
bright Throughout; and the relays ot
horses were so excellent that We
reached London at four in the after
noon, having left Portsmouth at nine
in the morning. We went straight tC
d chophouse, for we were ravenously
hungry.
And now. DiclIy boy" said Giles to
me- keep bright lookout for any
of our men; and if you see one, Gu
your cable and run for it, and if We ar,
separated meet me at the Whit,
Horse Cellar at 12 o'clock tonight tc
take the midnight coach"
BY tho time we had got our dinner
it was time to go to the play. w,
marched off, and made our way
AultUSu lUe IllOD Ol ICOlDlPD, anu 10
seats for the pit; and when we wen
in, and / saw the playhouse lighted III
and the boxes filled with beautiful
creatures, | was near beside myself
Giles laughed at me, but that ! did no
mind.
| gaped about me until suddenl.
Giles gripped my arm, and Whispers
TO me:
Don't look 10 the left There is
box with Peter Hawkshaw in it, ant
Polly, and two girls-one Of them tn
greatest beauty / ever saw, though bu
a slip Of gil. If Peter or Polly see
us. Lord help u.s.
did not look around Immediately
but the desire TO have a glimpse o
the adorable Lady Arabella made m
steal glance that way. She was yer
beautifully dressed, and, though bu
little more than 16, such a vision O
loveliness as fairly to rival reignin
beauties of several seasons STANDING
| own that / saw little Daphne sittin
by Lady Arabclla, but | noted he
scarcely at all.
Nor could Giles keep his eyes o.
Lady Arabella; and | noticed tina
even when the divine Sylvia as h
called her, was on the stage. he wa
not strictly attentive to her. but ratl
er sought that fatcful box where S
much booutv u,ag ont tbrcnad