A PAIR OF CHESTNUTS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 48, 29 November 1890, Page 16

A PAIR OF CHESTNUTS.

WAS the most reekless, hard nding, f good-for-nothing yoong scamp of a s a t> altera who ever carried Her Majesty s e>j<u mission. The one redeeming point about me was the fact that 1 loved Lena Vereker, and in spite of my faults she loved me in return. That the best time in my life, and the downward grade e*-m meneed with the advent of a new fellow into the regiment, Soxby Bracewell by name. Under his auspices the card table flourished exceedingly. Like some few other men be possessed an extraordinary faculty for ■-slips, of skill Until be came I had always been put forward by rar brother officers as their showman for riding, athletics, billiards, fencing, shooting or tennis, but before •hi- aew light I went down as a farthing dip before a gas jet. And yet I would never consider myselr beaten, but challenge him again and again, and, needless to say, there was always ■ something on, just to give it an interest. So rhinos went on. Play became heavier. The colonel looked glum, mv seniors spoke warning!}. Mr Vereker did not seem so tranklv glad to see me when we met. and was more chary of his invitations, and Lena looked pale and anxious. There came the day when I woke to find myself a ruined man. obliged to send'in mv papers, and, hardest of all, compelled to sav a long good-by to Lena, who. dear little soul, promised to' keep true until I should come back from Australia a rich man for that was the gal on which I placed mv hopes. Yes. I thought then that fate could not have a blacker turn to serve me : but I knew otherwise when, on a lonelv Australian station. I read in a scrap of an English newspaper I had somehow picked up of the grand marriage festivities between Lena, daughter of Edward \ ereker, Esq., of Colne Abiev. and—l could hardly believe my eyes— Captain Saxby 'Bracewell, of the Black Dragoons and only son of Sir John Bracewell. I did not know till then how the secret consciousness of Lena at home waiting for me ha*i buoyed up my spirit, but with that last blow all energy or wish to retrieve my fallen fortunes seemed to leave me. But ’now. oddly enough, that I had no wish for money, things took a turn. My flocks and herds throve apace, gold quartz was found on mv station in sufficient quantity and near a stream to justify’ the formation of a gold mining comtanv named ‘ Golconda -Junior.' and in a marvellously short space of time I found myself in possession of an income which if anvone had formerly told me would one day be mine, I should have laughed him to scorn. Then I found mvself back again in London —the same old London—and vet there was a difference. 1 saw no faces that I knew, or who seemed to know me. The young ones ■seemed to me so voting, and the elders —but there, uneousciouslv. as it were. I turn my steps toward Tattersall s. As I'near the well-rememoered entrance a man jumping out of an hansom knocks up against me. ‘ I'm sure I beg your par 'Vhy, bless my heart ' Can it be 1 Yes. it surelv is yourself ’. Jim, old fellow, welcome back a thousand times : ’ Who would have thought of meeting vou 1 and voa are just the very man I wanted.’ And Phil Blake, late captain in the Black Dragoons. and one of the cheeriest and kindest hearted of the men. grasped my hand and shook it with all the enthusiasm of his nature. * And how’s yourself ? and w hat are ye doing ’ and where Are ve goin' T ?' were the questions rapidly poured forth- as. -akino mv aim, he led me on to the doorway. ‘■Lome in here and give me the benefit of your judguxent, I know nobody whom I’d trust before you in the matter of horse having. There’s a pair of horses to be sold here to-day, and the price asked is so ridiculously low that, considering their make and scape. I fancy there must be something queer: but for the life of me I can’t discover anything. Thev’ll make a .grand pair of leaders. By the way, do yoa know I've set up <whino as a business—up one dav. down the next. Mv line is between Barrackville and Lindon. It lavs expenses, ami leaves a little over. Rather a pretty bit of countrv, too. but of eoarse you’ll know it all well.' * Yes,’ I said shortly. • St. Runwald’s. my old uncle’s place, is on the road ;’ and I could not repress a sigh as I thought of the old place which had been mine for a eouple of months, and then had to go to the hammer with everything else. *Ah : to be sure. Sorry I spoke, my dear fellow, stammered mv eomt-anion, who had the kin-test heart in the world, and would not have hurt a fly if be knew it. I was about to ask if he knew who owned St. Runwald’s now, in order to relieve him and show my but Phil, catching sight at that moment of a well-known dependent of the place, we were soon deep in the mysteries of finding out all the evils that horseflesh is heir to. However, our combined forces could discover nothing seriously amiss, and Philip Blake added to his stud a pair of exceptionallv good and cheap horses- We celebrated our revived friendship by a little dinner at the elub, and after an evenirer at the plav we parted. I promising to make the journey down to Barrackville with Phil some day soon. Imagine, then, my surprise when, a few days later, I received a note by a mounted messenger lit was Sun-lay. and consequently no postal service from Phil Blake, and the contents still more surprised me. The Silver Flxgox. Victoria Place. Saturday Night. Dear Lavristos. —As ill luek win have it. here I am overtaken by a bad attack o< influenza. and misfortunes never coming singly, mv head man. who usually takes the ribbons when I am otherwise engaged, has got an ugty kick on the knee which quite in■■at»'tsates him ft is all awfully annoying, especially as every -eat cu the eoaeh is booked for Monday, and our friends, the new hesr.nuL--are to take their places in the reamand the last stage into Barra.?krille. Now. my dear fellow. I -tonridently appeal to you for help. Win you take the coach down to Barraekvdle on Monday ' and if possible I will go down by a late train and meet you there in order to do the return journey on Tuesday. I know .rf old your -kill with the ribbons and would rather put you tn charge •han any other man on such short notice. Kibble, the guard, win -bow you the Line of march. Then followed directions as to rime, stoppages, changes, etc.

Weil, the end of it, of course, was that Monday morning, about half past ten, found me turning under the archway of the Silver Flagon. <?n inquiry I learned that Phil Blake was decidedly better, and hopes! to be able to get down to Barrackville by the evening express. As I smoked the very

excellent cigar offered aae by mine boat of ike Silver Flagoa I wac eoescsous of a really {Measurable feeling of excitement saeh as I had often told myself I should never feel again. The yard presented quite a lively scene, paasengers <jf all sorts and eonditaoßs hurrying into their various reaches—for the Silver Flagon is a favourite reaching rendezvous. The Barrackville coach —* The Lightning 'by name—was being rapidly got ready. It was one of Holland’s best make, and the shining dark green panelsand brass mountings were receiving the last polishing at the hands of the men. The travellers began to gather. Rugs, coats and umbrellas were stowed away, spare traces u»i straps, etc.. looked tx Then the horses are led oat —as lively looking a team as any man could wish to drive.

* Take your places, ladies and gentlemen, please,' shouted the guani in stentorian tones. I threw away the end of mv cigar, buttoned my gloves, rammed my hat firmly on, aeid a wore! to the head bo-tler as to the bitting of the leaders, glanced comprehensively over the quartette, then gathere*! up the rains and swung myself on to the box.

The guard performed a fine fantasia on the born. ■ < Live ’em their heads, Wdliam. Let ’em go and with a fine dash and clatter we were off : up W aterioo Place, Regent street, by Regent's Park, and so out to the country beyond. Until then I had given no attention to the lady who occupied the box seat. 1 e>uld see that she was dressed very neatly and quietly. Her bonnet was one of the prettiest 'l have ever seen. The sides and erown were forme*! of gold quills, and the brim of pile pink heath. The baek was towards me. as she stooped to arrange the folds of her per-fectly-fitting fawn silk dress, and I noticed a knot of mossgreen velvet from which the strings dowed under the dainty firm chin. It was such a charming and artistic combination of colour that I recollect every detail. see illustration.

I imagine*! she must te well-to-do, for a very neat victoria ha*i brought her to the Silver Flagon, her maid had an inside seat, and I heard rhe man -servant say he would be down in Barrackville in time to meet the coaeh on its arrival there. Since the day Lena Vereker threw me over I hail quite eschewed ladies' society, and I felt glad enough that my horses gave me quite as much as I knew to hold them. ’ Their exuberance of spirits, the outcome of the Sunday rest, was delightful when one ha*i got them properly together, and I telt that if we were horsed for the country stages in the same style I should not regret having taken up the role of stage coachman. I began to form plans for a partnership with Phil Blake and extending our opera tions further afield when my heart seeme*! to stand still, for a voice, whose well remembered tones I could have sworn to anywhere, said :— *1 am so glad, coachman, we have such a lovely day for our drive -

It was a sirtipie sentence enough, but the blo*id rushed up to my head, and I don’t know what I should have done if my attention had not been diverted by the near leader shying violently at a gipey van by the roadside, necessitating some slight punishment. What in the world should I do, for of al! embarrassing positions : Here was I for the next few hours bound to sit beside the woman I had once hoped to marry, and who was the wife of the man by whom I was ruined. " I could not sit speechless for six hours; I must -ay something >xcasionally. Evidently she did not recognise me, as how, indeed, should she after nearly ten years' interval, an*! as we had come together under such different circumstances ? Growing more accustomed to the position, when next she spoke I was so far master of the situation that I began to take an interest in talking to her, and I noticed with pleasure bow little changed she was. For the last stage my friends the new chestnuts were put on as leaders. Our route now lay dose past dear old St. Ranwald’s, and sa*!ness that I could not shake off made me silent and indisposed for talking. What memories did the sight of the well remembered scenes recall. There was the exact spot under the seare*! elm where I took mv first fence on my little hogmane*! p>oy. and there was the Lend in the avenue where I last saw my dear old unde -tan-ling as he wave*! his han*! to me in farewell. I wonder whether the man who owns it now has made the old ro-e garden give place to a more moiern style '. I wonder—— Bat here I am recalled to what is going on aroun*! me by the conversation of some young fellows who have seats behind me.

•Jolly old place, St. Runwald’s, Who owns it now? D’ye know f - Not quite sure. Used to belong to old Sir Peter Lauriston, and be left it to his nephew, a young fool in the

Blaek Dragoons, who went the pace and lost everything ax cards.’ • I remember.’ said another. • The affair made rather a noise, did it not ? For the winner took not only his bouse and lands, bat also succeeded to the affection- of his intended wife.’

A roar of laughter followed these words. I dared not giaaee ax the figure beside me, bat I heard an intense whisper of ‘ Oh, it is not true ! It is not true !’ - Who was the lucky man ?' asked the first speaker. * Sir Baxby Bracewell,' said the eider speaker, * bat he paid the debt of nature a couple or three rears ago. It was said that young Lauriston s losses would not have been so heavy if Bracewell had played more on the square.’ The shuddering sigh from my neighbour was more than I could stand.

‘ I beg your pardon, gentlemen,’ I said, turning round ; * I happen to know all the circumstances of the case voo are discussing. Young Lauriston was an utterly conceited, vain, young fool, who pitted himself against a man of twice his science. hard-bea*iedness and brains. He continued playing, notwithstanding the adviee of those who knew, and the end was obvious. There was no sharp practice in the matter, and, moreover, rfc marfiru »ii.~ As I turned from speaking to them I encountered such a look of gratitude an*! astonished recognition from the dearest gray eyes in the world as almost 'upset my equanimity. We were just running a rather sharp bend by the par wall: the air was filled with the sound of sheep :'there was a great cloud of dust : the two new leaders, who had been perfectly irreproachable in sheir manners, stopped dead, demoraliung the wheelers, and despite ail blandishments and coercion, commenced a wild stampede among the unfortunate sheep. Lady Bracewell stood up, » ith the intention, I believe, of springing from her seat. ‘ Lena, my darling, for your life sit still ?’ I shouted, above all the hubbub of yelling shepherds, terrified sheep, barking dogs and plunging horses, • Undo this buekle and voaH probably save oar lives;’ and I teased the ends of the leaders' rein into her lap. for I saw that the traces were broken, and I knew that if the chestnuts got away while the reins were buckled the bridles of the wheelers would be torn off and a frightful catastrophe would folioro. Fortunately I kept sufficient control over the maddened creatures until I saw the reins divided ; then I let them slide through the rings. The chestnuts turned sharp to the left and bolted over the hedge, and I knew that we were safe. The wheelers, poor things, were soon subdue!, and then I despatched the guard and some of the manv bystanders, who had, of course, appeared from no one knowwhere, to recapture the recalcitrant chestnuts. It was apparent now why Phil had got them so cheap a wild dislike to sheep was evidently their fault. However, by the time they were brought back into the way they should go, the iioek had

passed on, after many and terrible threats of future consequences from the shepherds, and fresh traces being forthcoming we proceeded on our way, l*ut not before the thanks of the passengers had been showered upon me for the skilful way in which I averted what might have been an ugly accident.

‘ Indeed, gentleman,’ I said, " most of our thanks are due to Lady Bracewell, who so deftly unfastened the buekle.’ ‘ Oh, Mr Lauriston :’ protested I-ady Bracewell, with a smile and blush that forcibly recalle*! the Lena Vereker of *.4d days. The faces of the men behind were studies when they realized how they had committed themselves. But for that we eared little, as, the ice once broken, we began explanations and confidences that made that drive the most memorable of my life —save, indeed, when a few weeks later we, my newly made wife and I, drove from St. George's, Hanover Square, in the brougham and a pair of horses given to us by Phil Blake, and the horses wei e our friends the chestnuts who so wildly performe*! the ceremony of introduction. As we keep them for town work, and docks of sheep are not frequenters of London streets, they are a valual le addition to our stud.