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  • The Masonic Magazine
  • Feb. 1, 1875
  • Page 10
  • WAITING FOR HER—A MESMERISTS' STORY.
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The Masonic Magazine, Feb. 1, 1875: Page 10

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Page 10

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Waiting For Her—A Mesmerists' Story.

ready the light trap I had seen in the coach-house just as they had gone , the four greys darting away with one bound as John lightly touched the off leader on the flank Avith his Avhip , and the guard bleAV his bugle merrily as they dashed off through the streets and out on the hard

frozen high road , on their way to the modern Babylon 1 Perhaps some presentiment of evil unlocked for , unforeseen . Perhaps only the fear arising from the very perceptible condition of the driver Avhen he got on to his boxand ' handled the ribbons . '

, " It Avas a quarter of an hour , however , before we started , and it Avould be only by hard driving that Ave could catch the Highflyer , ' one of the fastest and most famous coaches of those clays . I kneAV that about ten miles from Reading on the

London Road , the high road turned an angle sharply OA'er the low bridge Avhich just at this point spanned a tributary of the Thames . The stream Avas Avide here , and shallow enough to be easily forded in summerbut after the recent rains Ave had

, had , and the frost only now setting in , I kneAV the place to be a dangerous one , even to the most wary traA'eller , and doubly so , when as in the present case , it Avas very doubtful Avhether the bridge Avas not in an unsound state from the rottenness of the

timbers of which it was principally composed ; and the condition of the coachman gave me also great uneasiness . "' Now , my man , hurry on , ' I said to the lad , half stable boy , half groom , Avho was driving me , ' I'll give you a crown if Ave catch them . ' ' All rightsirAve'll do

, , it , ' he ansAvered . ' Go it Bess , ' he continued , to the horse , a young mare it Avas , I remember , touching her sharply with his whip . She answered with a bound , and set off at a fast trot , Avhich , had it continued , would have soon brought us up Avith the

object of our anxiety . ' * We AA'ere UOAV three miles out 01 Reading going nine good miles the hour . The Highflyer did ten , but then she Avould probably stop at M— , a little village about eig ht miles from Reading , the lad said ,

as he heard the stout gentleman with the big cotton umbrella say he should get down there . He AVOUICI persist in sitting outside with the guard , because he said , ' He wasn ' t going to be boxed up Avith a parcel of Avonien , though it was a cold nighc . Thank goodness , he had enough of their : at home

Avithout meeting his troubles half way b y seeking them elsewhere , ' he gruffly and not very politely added . ' Mr . Markham , ' that was the coachman ' s name , 'he'll stop , at the " Bag and Feathers , " too sir , ' the lad continued , ' he always does stay for a toothful of " cold Avithout" when he ' s had a drop ,

. "' If you don't mind , sir , ' the boy said presently , ' Ave'll just cut across the common here , sir ; It ' s rather dark , but I knoAv every inch of the way , and it'll save us a goocl three miles , sir , every bit of it . ' " ' All rightmy lad' I said' only catch

, , , the coach before she passes Hammon ' s Corner ( the place I have alluded to ) , and I'll give you another crown . ' "AAvay we Avent OA'er thecommon . ItAvas UOAV pitch dark , a cloudy sky , and the snow lightly falling across the smooth and

hardened turf . At full gallop away Ave Avent for life and death . Presently Ave heard the sound of Avheels , distant at first , but growing painfully nearer every moment . Oh , if they should pass the corner before Ave Avere there . If the huge coach , guided

by the drunken brute who UOAV held the reins ( but Avho was only OA'ertaken at Christmas time , and Avho was famed as the best whip in the three counties , as his apologists averred ) , should SAverve but a feAv inches from the path , it and its precious cargo would be submerged in the now rapid rushing stream , and Milly , my own darling Milly , Avould be clroAvned before

my eyes . " The thought maddened me . Lashing the horse furiously , Ave dashed foi'Avard at reneAved speed , and crossed the bridge just before the mail coach came up . Markham AA'as driving furiously . " One moment more and Ave should have

been too late . "The leader , frightened at the coping stones of the bridge now covered vrith snoAv , and Avild Avith the treatment he had evidently received , UOAV suddenly turned , Avas rushing across the road , making as it Avere for the parapet of the bridge ,

and in a moment the coach , Avhich had been swaying to and fro , Avas dragged forward tinvards the stream , into which it AVOUICI have fallen had not I drawn up across the road , jumped out of the trap , seized the leader , and forced him almost on his haunches , till I had driven back the coach , Avhich had received a check from coming

“The Masonic Magazine: 1875-02-01, Page 10” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmg/issues/mmg_01021875/page/10/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Monthly Masonic Summary. Article 1
CRYPT OF YORK MINSTER, Article 2
IS POPE PIUS IX. A FREEMASON? Article 3
ANOTHER NEW YEAR. Article 7
WAITING FOR HER—A MESMERISTS' STORY. Article 7
ANTIQUITY OF MASONRY. Article 12
MY BOOKS. Article 13
NAMING THE BABY. Article 14
GRAND PRIORY OF CANADA. Article 16
A PLACE IN THE LODGE FOR ME. Article 18
RUDDER GRANGE. Article 18
WHAT GOOD ? Article 22
VAIN REGRETS. Article 23
MASONIC JOURNALISM. Article 24
THE OLD TYLER. Article 26
PARTING GREETING. Article 27
THE TRUE MISSION OF FREEMASONRY. Article 28
INFLUENCE OF MASONRY. Article 29
HAIL! Article 31
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 31
Chippings. Article 32
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Waiting For Her—A Mesmerists' Story.

ready the light trap I had seen in the coach-house just as they had gone , the four greys darting away with one bound as John lightly touched the off leader on the flank Avith his Avhip , and the guard bleAV his bugle merrily as they dashed off through the streets and out on the hard

frozen high road , on their way to the modern Babylon 1 Perhaps some presentiment of evil unlocked for , unforeseen . Perhaps only the fear arising from the very perceptible condition of the driver Avhen he got on to his boxand ' handled the ribbons . '

, " It Avas a quarter of an hour , however , before we started , and it Avould be only by hard driving that Ave could catch the Highflyer , ' one of the fastest and most famous coaches of those clays . I kneAV that about ten miles from Reading on the

London Road , the high road turned an angle sharply OA'er the low bridge Avhich just at this point spanned a tributary of the Thames . The stream Avas Avide here , and shallow enough to be easily forded in summerbut after the recent rains Ave had

, had , and the frost only now setting in , I kneAV the place to be a dangerous one , even to the most wary traA'eller , and doubly so , when as in the present case , it Avas very doubtful Avhether the bridge Avas not in an unsound state from the rottenness of the

timbers of which it was principally composed ; and the condition of the coachman gave me also great uneasiness . "' Now , my man , hurry on , ' I said to the lad , half stable boy , half groom , Avho was driving me , ' I'll give you a crown if Ave catch them . ' ' All rightsirAve'll do

, , it , ' he ansAvered . ' Go it Bess , ' he continued , to the horse , a young mare it Avas , I remember , touching her sharply with his whip . She answered with a bound , and set off at a fast trot , Avhich , had it continued , would have soon brought us up Avith the

object of our anxiety . ' * We AA'ere UOAV three miles out 01 Reading going nine good miles the hour . The Highflyer did ten , but then she Avould probably stop at M— , a little village about eig ht miles from Reading , the lad said ,

as he heard the stout gentleman with the big cotton umbrella say he should get down there . He AVOUICI persist in sitting outside with the guard , because he said , ' He wasn ' t going to be boxed up Avith a parcel of Avonien , though it was a cold nighc . Thank goodness , he had enough of their : at home

Avithout meeting his troubles half way b y seeking them elsewhere , ' he gruffly and not very politely added . ' Mr . Markham , ' that was the coachman ' s name , 'he'll stop , at the " Bag and Feathers , " too sir , ' the lad continued , ' he always does stay for a toothful of " cold Avithout" when he ' s had a drop ,

. "' If you don't mind , sir , ' the boy said presently , ' Ave'll just cut across the common here , sir ; It ' s rather dark , but I knoAv every inch of the way , and it'll save us a goocl three miles , sir , every bit of it . ' " ' All rightmy lad' I said' only catch

, , , the coach before she passes Hammon ' s Corner ( the place I have alluded to ) , and I'll give you another crown . ' "AAvay we Avent OA'er thecommon . ItAvas UOAV pitch dark , a cloudy sky , and the snow lightly falling across the smooth and

hardened turf . At full gallop away Ave Avent for life and death . Presently Ave heard the sound of Avheels , distant at first , but growing painfully nearer every moment . Oh , if they should pass the corner before Ave Avere there . If the huge coach , guided

by the drunken brute who UOAV held the reins ( but Avho was only OA'ertaken at Christmas time , and Avho was famed as the best whip in the three counties , as his apologists averred ) , should SAverve but a feAv inches from the path , it and its precious cargo would be submerged in the now rapid rushing stream , and Milly , my own darling Milly , Avould be clroAvned before

my eyes . " The thought maddened me . Lashing the horse furiously , Ave dashed foi'Avard at reneAved speed , and crossed the bridge just before the mail coach came up . Markham AA'as driving furiously . " One moment more and Ave should have

been too late . "The leader , frightened at the coping stones of the bridge now covered vrith snoAv , and Avild Avith the treatment he had evidently received , UOAV suddenly turned , Avas rushing across the road , making as it Avere for the parapet of the bridge ,

and in a moment the coach , Avhich had been swaying to and fro , Avas dragged forward tinvards the stream , into which it AVOUICI have fallen had not I drawn up across the road , jumped out of the trap , seized the leader , and forced him almost on his haunches , till I had driven back the coach , Avhich had received a check from coming

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