128 TALES OF PINK AND SILK. 



and died in '93, and my grandson has hunted them ever 

 since." 



" Will you tell me the story about Miss Amy that you 

 promised me the last time I was here ? " 



"Yes, sir, I will this evening. But it's dry work 

 talking. Mary, bring some glasses and water, will you, my 

 dear ? Would you mind unlocking the liquor stand, sir ? 

 and that tobacco which Sir Charles sends me is very good, 

 I think. 



"It's a sad story, sir," said the old man, shaking his 

 head, "and I don't often refer to it, seeing that my own 

 daughter was mixed up in it. Well, you must know that it 

 was in '67,; Jim was twenty- three, and second whipper-in, 

 and poor Bess was nineteen, as bonny a lass as one could wish 

 to see. Miss Amy was about the same age, and while 

 all the young fellows of our own station in life were wild 

 about Bess, the best blood in England was tingling for 

 Miss Amy. Both of 'em had two lovers who were first 

 favourites, so to speak, but, like most girls who are much 

 sought after, they could not decide which to have, first 

 favouring one and then the other. My first whipper-in, 

 Tom Day, was one of Bess's two, the other being 3'oung 

 Harwood, the farmer's son from Eastleigh, while Captain 

 Doyle and Mr. Onslow were the two that seemed to be 

 Miss Amy's favourites. She was a wildish creature was 

 Miss Amy, a terrible flirt, so I'm told, and had a manner 

 of her own that drove the men crazy about her. But how 

 she could ride ! Take a line of her own and cross any 

 country with the best of 'em ; never wanted a pilot ; all 

 horses jumped with her, and the worst tempered went 

 kindly in her hand. Captain Doyle was a real nice young 

 fellow, and a great favourite with everyone ; he wasn't 

 particularly handsome, but he had a fine honest face, and 

 a great strapping chap he was, too. Mr. Onslow was smaller. 



