ARABELLA'S TOPKNOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 279, 24 November 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

ARABELLA'S TOPKNOT.

One afternoon in the beginning of the eighteenth century Miss Arabella Pettigrew was riding in the old stage coach from Colchester to London to visit a rich relation.

She was the only daughter; her fond parents had dressed her richly, and. had given her plenty of money to spend. They wished their dear love to enjoy herself. Very attractive and beautifully dressed, the young madam sat in the carriage.

Her flowered silk flowed over full side panniers, her black taffetas pinner was embroidered with pansies and roses, her tight-fitting bodice was runged with gay ribbons like a ladder.

Masses of rich auburn locks were strained over a wire frame called a commode; a tall fontage and topknot crowned the structure, made of the finest laeo and ribbon half a yard high. Mistress Arabella was a fine, tall girl herself. It was no wonder she could barely hold herself .upright in the coach.

They were crossing (lie heath by Braintree in Essex when the driver put his head in through the window.

"Madam!" lie said, "there are several young sparks like highwaymen hanging about the common. If you have valuables about you, you had better secure them under the seat. And think of a ruse, madam, to protect them in case we are told to stand and deliver."

Arabella's little determined mouth shut like a trap; her black brows drew down.

Valuables! Of course, she luul valuables on her, her own trinkets, her mother's jewellery borrowed for the occasion, a gold watch, a purse full of guineas, and, last, but not least, the lace on her topknot, and fontange was of the finest Mechlin; it would furnish several cravats rarely for the marauder's use. She must think of some way to guard her treasures, but how? All she knew was that she was resolved not to part with them without a struggle? How?

Meanwhile. Mr. Nicholas Horner, serapegrace .' >of the parson of Honiton, and famous robber on the King's highway, came cantering along on his fine bay horse. He was attired in. a claretcoloured suit, big riding boots, black mask, mirl carried sword and pistol by bis side, lie threatened the driver; the coach drew up. It was Homer's intention to ride up to 'the carriage window, and say, "Stand, and deliver up your money!"

Hut lie was forestalled. The door hurst open and out rushed Arabella, a sight to he seen, She had torn off her line headdress and had hidden it, with the rest of bar properly, beneath the seat. She had crowned her.-tclf with . wreath of straw which sir.; had found on the floor, and dishevelled her red hair, which flared all around her in the wildest confusion.

Cling'ng to the highwayman's stirrup, she cried in a very piteous and shrieking voice. "Ah Cousin. Tom. I am glad to see you! I be;; you to save me from this rogue of a coachman, who is carrying me away to put me in Bedlam for a crazy woman." "I am noi e of your cousin, 1 don't know you," Horner roughly replied, quite taken aback. "Y.ou seem mad indeed. Bedlam is the fittest place for you.'' Nicholas a* a rule was afraid of no one, but he did not like ihU companion. Said ho to the coachman, "So you know tin's mad toad?" "I know her well," the other replied. "She is sadly distracted. I am going with her now by her uncle's orders to put her under the charge of a physician."

"Bedlam is the best place for her," said Horner, "Take iter there at once; slio deserves it. T thought I had a good prize, but now I see T shall get nothing."

So saying he set spurs |o his horse, and.made off as, fast as.he could go.

Earla Blackie Is sorry because she didn't put her name on the last letter siie wrote. One day when she was not feeling very pleased she thought she would never he happy any more, but now she is (Mile alright and cheerful.—l'm glad that you're happy again. Earla. Try not to have any more unhappy days.

Joice R. I.cv/ther explains that lie Is a boy and not a girl.—l've recorded Hie l'aet on your curd, Jolee. The date of your birthday has also tieen corrected.

Thelma Morrison has joined Hie fiirl Guides anil lias got her •second-class bacigro. I'm pleased to hear that you've .joined Hie Guides. I suppose you're working- hard for your first-class badge now.

Margaret Kerr, in a letter to Tinker Hell, says that she is to go to a social' soon, at which the liovs are to have a cooking competition.—Won't It he funny to see the boys cooking, Margaret? I've known some boys, though, who can took equally as well as their sisters.

P. Bnnaldson hss been having her oxamiuatlnns and. In rrin.,ciruence. has been so busy lint she has not bad lime in

write t'.i inc.— I'm (clad tint you're going In enter for the competitions. It won't take you long to gel a hook now.

Owen tells or a curious case in which his sister's cat lias adopted a rabbit. When "In mother pussy saw the rabbit pitting a piece or turnip she look it oIT Dim an;! throw it out or the box, —How wonderful tlist your cat should have adopted a little bunny. Quite rim runniest thing 1 havu ever seen is an old ben with u brood or ducks. Her agitation when the "chicks" waded into the water is truly funny, and indeed pathetic.

Mary Scallen writes a letter, which she sends In with her enrolment form.—l'm very pleased to have' you In the club. A, peep al the "Queries for the Week" column will toll you all you want to know about the club.

Mary Murphy describes her little kitten, which can toddle about now, but is net. yet big enough to drink milk.—What a dear little kitten it most he, .Mary. What are you going to call It?

Melcie Johnson's teacher is sick and so she Is being: taught by a new teacher. She says: '-\Ve are picking strawberries."— How lovely to be picking strawberries?

Alva Graham is getting a new Jersey cow on Saturday.—Yes, Alva, I think Jersey cows yield the richest mill:.

—, 5, Wooton Read. Romuera, has a little flower garden. 3!: cis In St. Mark's Brownie Company.—lt's nice to have your own flower garden. Do you like being in ths Brown!? 5?

Rosalia Fianigan notifies me or her Changs or address.—Your new address has been recorded.

Joyce Gamble is sorry that she didn't write sooner, but she hasn't bad much time.—Sever mind, Joyce, I'm glad to hear from you now.

Bernard Cole and his chums have rormed a cricket club among themselves. His linal examination commences next week. — It's-quite a good idea to have a cricket club of your own. Bernard. I'd like to hoar how you (are in your matches. Best of luck with your examination.

Frod Homing has been very busy and has just managed to find lime to write me a short note.—lt's very good of you to write, Fred.

Lionel M/akofiold's lien had a light with the rooster next door, and won.—Why, it must, lie a regular boxer. Lionel.

Graeme ?, 50, Orakoi lload, Remuera wonders how I'm gcttiug on.—l'm fine. Graeme. What's your second name?

Margaret Arroll is going to have a little kitten given In her. which she is going to cull Tiny.—Ves, .Margaret, 1 hope Tiny will get on away from his mother. I think he will, don't you V

Winnie Allnutt sends In just a slwrt note with her motto, as she is very busy wiiu her examinations.—Best of luck with your exam., Winnie.

Zoe Harris lias three white Angora rabbits. —Von are lucky to have Angora rabbits for pets.

Dorothy Pitts has just got over a very severe illness. Her brother wishes to join llie club, so she sends in an enrolment form for him.—l'm glad that you're better now, Dorothy. l'our brother has been enrolled.

Zena Adams describes her little kitten, which she would like me to name.—Uo yon like Tim for pussy's name?

Gladys Buckley hopes to sell quite a lot of "Biuteil Juniors." ns her district has very few salesmen in its.—l wish vou the best of luck, Gladys.

Marion Srmpson wonders ir site can put jokes, etc., In with lvr competition. She will lie disappointed if I don't answer her letter.—Yes, jiiirlnn, you can send jokes with the competitions. Such information is usually given In the "Queries for the Week'' column. Nancy Burko says that Re.v, the puppy, sleeps in a. box in the shed while the cows are being milked, and the other dav a cow irod on bis foot.—l should think that he would howl. Did he have his foot broken? Olive Stewart's exam. Is very near now. If she passes she will be in Standard V.— Best of luck with your examination, Olive. Jim Middieton Is doing sums all his spare time, as he has been promoted to a higher standard and limls the sums very difficult. I've no doubt that you do find the sums difficult. Cheer up, though, you'll soon learn them. Mavis Moore, in a letter to Wendy, says that she has entered ror Tinker Bell's competition, although she is not good at deseribiug articles.— No doubt 'fink, will know what you mean, Maris. Margaret Young was delighted with the book 1 sent her. At Christmas time she is going to bach at T'ltlrangi.—What a glorious time you'll have at Christmas, Margaret. Eden Coombea Is glad that the swimming season is back again.—l, too, am glad that the summer is here again. Joan Miles thinks that she is too, young to win a prize in the midget competitions. I'm sure you're not, Joan. Helen Kanan lias worked out many of the Budget competitions, although she has only sent In three entries.—That's unrortiinatc, Helen. ll' you'd have sent in all your competitions perhaps you'd have bad a pile of certificates by now. Florence Bowick describes her pets. The exams, arc drawing nearer now, so she concludes a short letter by saying that she will write to me later on.—Fancy having two pet lambs to look arter. i wish you lots of luck in your examination. Hazel Crawford, a little Waihi reader, says that she has a sister and four brothers. She sends In a short story.— I'm very pleased to hear from you, Hazel. I cannot enter your short story for the competition because it is not written on a separate sheet of paper. Ray Carr's mother made him a guy, so that he's looking forward to November 5. Guy Fawke's day has passed now, Ray. I hope that you had a good time. Wallace Bush is going to Brown's Bay Tor bis Christmas holidays.—You're sure to have a good time during your holidays, Wallace. Nancy Croot's father heard me wish her many happy returns over the wireless. — Didn't you hear it, too, Nancy?

Hazel Nicholson will be elgrJit years old next Monday, ana, alttiougrh she is not having- a birthday party, she will receive lots or presents.—l hope you have a verv happ7 birthda,'/.

Evelyn Codlin says that there Is not lonj, now till the clay arrives when the results or the proficiency examination are made konwn.—l hope that you passed, Evelyn.

Edward Olson says that be has a little baby sister called Marie Dorothea.—What a pretty name.