The Heir Of Bendersleigh ; Or , The Freemason's Promise.

the energentic treatment with ivhich he had been visited in coming up the hill . After two or three plunges backwards , and driving the back of the carriage crash through the hedge , to the manifest horror of all concerned , he consented to canter down the cross road , and all went smoothly for a considerable distancein travelling whichthc little party recovered their

, , equanimity and their good humour , ivhich were only alloyed by the prospect of the darkening night . All of a sudden the vehicle was brought to a stand still , and before any of the party could enquire what ivas the cause of this further stoppage , they ivere considerably alarmed by the prophetic exclamation of the coachman , who cried out ,

" Well , here is a go !" " What ' s the matter now ? " enquired Sir . Augustus Eaker , with considerable irritation . " Why , ive are iu a fix now , Sir , that ' s what it is ; " replied the coachman . This information being considered anything but satisfactory , Sir . Eaker , Henry Elliotson , and the other gentlemen got out of the carriage to

ascertain the cause of the stoppage , and on advancing to the horses' heads , they there discovered what the coachman had very graphically described as , ' " a fix . "

Just at this particular spot , the road ran across a bridge , ivhich carried it over a small stream ; and this bridge , lvhether from old age , which was very probable , or whether from some more summary cause , it did not then appear , had fallen iu at the middle arch , and against the side of the road had been raised a most satisfactory notice to all travellers going upon that road , to the following laconic and conclusive effect : — " Notice ! this road

is stopped , by order of the Trustees . " " Well , now , this is really outrageously proi-oking , " cried Sir . Eaker . " It is rather laughable , " replied Henry Elliotson . Sir . Eaker merely turned up Ms nose , as much at- the speaker as at the observation ; and then re-joined the ladies .

" Its my belief , muttered the coachmen , " that them trustees does it a purpose . Here ' s a broken knee'd oss , a blind mar , and a jibber , and I ' ve got to turn ' em in a lane six feet by four . Dash him . " This last . rather emphatic exclamation had reference to the unfortunate jibber , and was accompanied by a cut of the whip , which made the horse exhibit a kind of involuntary polka step .

There was a long consultation held at the back of the vehicle , as to the position in ivhich the party was placed , ivhich ivas brought to a conclusion by the coachman suggesting that " summut must be done , as it was getting precious dark . "

1 litis admonished , the party decided upon walking the remainder ol the distance , across the fields , being urged the stronger thereto by the discovery of the fact , that the cottage was only about half-a-mile off . The coachman , therefore , was left to extricate himself from the situation which he had so graphically described , as he best could . The good humour of the gay party was soon restored , and the alarm they had experienced

vanished , as they skipped along the perfumed fields , now shining delightfully in the soft - light of a bright harvest-moon , which rose above the eastern horizon ivith a flood of silver light , Avithout a cloud to hide its