Cinder Path Tales

MY FIRST, FOR MONEY 5 nearly played the woman for all my twenty years. We adjourned to the " Bell-in-hand," where I told as little aspossible ofmy story to him, between alternate mouthfuls of cold beef and swallows of old ale. I confessed to him I was " dead broke," and could find no employment; that is, no employment for which I was fitted. He asked me for whatI was fitted, and I told him I was blessed if I knew; that as near as I could discover day laborwas about all I was good for. He clapped me on the back with a " Never say die, my lad !" but could think of no suggestion which promised me any relief, and finally invited me to drive home with him. He owned a little innat Brighton, and promised me food and shelter for a few days until I could " gather myself together." That thisvery necessaryfeat could be per­ formed in a " few days" I very much doubted ; but the invitation I accepted gratefully, and five o'clock foundme sitting besidehim on the narrow seat ofa light carriage, myport­ manteau tiedon behind. The road to Brighton was a very decent one, and the big roan mare he drove reeled off the miles in a way that opened my eyes to the possibilities ofthe trotting horse. I doubt if there was her equal in all England.