Year: 1860

/ motion which the stimulus Of passing event


had shown him to be 80 unexpectedly mas
ter Of.


He was making way famously in recover
ing lost ground, when suddenly what seemes
Il q hi,lock rose into the air beneath his feet


carry ing him up With il, and projecting hin
through the fog to q considerable distance,


As he again reached the earth, giddy, hews.a.
cred, and stupid, he had an indss,incs idea
Of hearing dull. rushing sound, as he after.
wards said, in his forciele way, ike I
charge Of cavalry and then lis senses and


consciousness abandoned him and the great


Thompson lay sensless and sprawling on
the snow covered turf, where he remained
/ for a term of which, sheagh not very long,
\ he meyer knew the exact duration.
The explanation of the mystery is very
simple. he had trodden upon an old cart
1 horse that had been turned out TO pick a
| little of the long winter grass al the road
side during the day. and to find shelter


under the hedge at night. The poor creature


in its fright at being jumped upon, during
its peaceful slumbers, had suddenly sprung


TO its feet, and SO projected Thompson into
the air as described.


When be recovered from the shock, he
found himself sound in limb and wind, bu,
wasnuch anncvea tszfcei such scnsatrens,
fer he had the greatest aniipathy to any
thing ike confusion. He spent much time
in trying TO decide which way be should go !:
for though it seemed TO him the fog was
less dense, it was still too thick for him to
discover any landmarks for his guidance
Everything was perfectly still; no sound of
any kind broke the intense silence. AT
last, shivering with cold, he started OF,
rather from the necessity Of exercise to
clear his brain and circulate his blood, than
from any very definite choice Of direction.
After walking some time he gradually re-
covered his self possession, as warmth crept
over his numbed limbs and his persistent
efforts were rewarded by the appearance
of a light dimly giimmering through the fog,
which he hailed at once rs that of his har-
Dor of refuge, the lamp of his cab. Push
ing on with proud sense Of eventual con-
quest over unheard Of difficulties, he soon
reached, not the cab, but the cottage Of the
kenton carrier from tire window Of which
twukled the light he had seen.


This was a terrible blow but, as have
said, Thompson was pluck 10 the back bone,
there was no shirking in him. The fog was
evidently beginning to Gear, the hedges on
each side Of the road had become sufficient
ly visible to enable him to steer his course
safely along the middle of the road, and he
at onca, still undauntsd, proceeded to re-
trace his steps. A spanking walk Of an
hour and half brought him to his own
gate, through which he could clearly dis
tinguish the exit of two carriages ear
rages that he we'll knew. the headed phaton
of the Jenkinses. and the chdT-a.baRc OF
the Tallmegs. They were the last of the
departing guests; it was two O'Clock in the
morning.


He met Mrs. Thompson in the hall, who
neither screamed with JOY, nor threw her
arms around his neck, nor did any of those
things which weak minded woman would
have done. She merely said:


'My dear, how excessively late you are
And there is your man with his cab and
horse in the stable yard, who wants twenty
four shllings as bis charge for twelve miles
at two sbillings mile, and two half crowns
extra and he had three glasses of brandy
and water, which he says you promised him
in addition"


At that moment the Misses Jemima and
Janettc Thompson came running out OF the
now empty ball room, and begged their
dear papa not to be vexed at his delay they
had had delightful evening and beauti
full supper. as the ices, aud pheasants, and
game-pies, and truiiies. and champagne oil
came down safely. The contrdtemps had
not been of the slightest consequence.


And Thompson. though for moment
taken ahack by the extremely cool view
taken of the case, perceived the next mo-
ment that it was the true cuisines view,
after all.