Chapter VI. The Past Effaced,

Otago Witness, Issue 2069, 19 October 1893, Page 40

Chapter VI. The Past Effaced,

From particulars fathered from Joe Wallaby and others it was ascertained that after the ball there had been a marked change in Eustace's demeanour. He had become perfectly reckless in the performance of the daily work at the claim, and all had been surprised he had not been hurt before, considering the narrow escapes he had had. Finally, venturing too near the face one day, he had been caught in a fall ?f stones and sand, and when rescued from the debris was found to be unconscious.

Tbe doctor's verdict was that while his patient's body showed Bigos of being severely crushed, no benes appeared to be broker), and the worst feature was concussion of the brain, which made tbe case one of serious importance. Youth and strength, however, appeared to be on the side of Eustace, therefore there was every hope of a successful recovery, though it would be some wpeks yet before he would be able to get about a^ain.

During the nursing which followed poor Milly did ample penitence for her hastiness in the ballroom, and tho subsequent speedy recovery of her patient ma}' in a very great measure be attributed to her assiduous attention to him. The trying time she had during some of his violent fits of delirium, when, towa'ds bis recovery, an incipient fever seized his weakened brain, can best be judged by Nuggetj's description of it to Joe.

u Lo''k Vre," said he to Joe one day a month after the accident, " that chap's coming round now, and get bis senses agiD. But I'll never forgit the tarnation time he's give that pore gal. If I'd a not bin np.ir sometimes there's no sayin' wot mightnVve took p^c-^. It was all the two on us could do to harg onter him. He wes mighty strong, 1 tell yer."

Milly never complained, bat she began to show by the careworn expression of her face what she had suffered during ber period of nursing the unconscious man.

Now all was over, aud her prince was convalescent.

His astonishment, when he first regained consciousness, on seeing who his nurse was, surpasses the powers of description. He simply looked at ner'in amazsment as his pooi 1 , shattered intellect began to celled itself into a, hazy mist of half-confuted rnemork-s. Piesently it came back to him pifce by piece — the bnll, the quaiYtl, tLe wear y days affprwardp, the facing fac3 of tho chiiii, then darknep. " C mid tiiii 1 palef.icer), careworn womnn standing iv the room," be tv-k-d hirus-e'f, "be the ciionded beauty who diniuissed him that eventful nipjil 1 "

Ifo couldn't say. Ilij mantil powers were all confused. Everything was a jumble. Why v/as he so tired 1 What was this feeling ol weakness po overpowering in its filTeet? A<,'aii ho couldn't h:>y. lie must solve it bomehow, so he spoke, " Where urn

11" he asked ; and how far off his voice sounded to him I It reached Milly, however, for she started, and came towards him. Lyina; there on tbe broad of j .is back he could just note that much while she was at the opposite end of the room, for his eyes felt so tired and heavy that it was painful to follow her movements. Bending over him, she asked in an agitated voice, " Did you speak 1 " " Yes " ; aud he paused again as he thought, " Why does her voice sound so faintly 2 " Then he asked again, " Where ami!"

" You are at our place, Mr Brevior. But you musn'c talk, please ; the doctor said you were to keep quiet." He was too tired to argue, so he just lay wondering why she had suddenly changed from a white-faced woman at the foot cf his bed to one whose face was scarlet when she bent over him. " Did walking up a room always make people change like that ? "

Then he fult more tired, and he couldn't account for anything ; it was all so very puzzling — perhaps it would be all right tomorrow. Yes ; it would be all right, and he f' 11 a&leep while thinking so.

When he next awoke some strange man was looking at him, and, on Eustace opening bis eyes, the htrarger asked him how Le felt. " Very tired," he replied. " What has happened 2 Who are you 1 "

" I am the doctor, and have been attending you. You met with an accident a few weeks back, and were brought here in an unconscious state. You must uofc talk till you are strorger though. Cheer up I and do your best to get well quickly, and if you progress as rapidly as you have done since this morning you ought to be aboui again in a fortnight." Then turning to Milly, be said ; " 1 think I may congratulate you, Miss Heavystone, on the successful manner in which you have nursed Mr Brevior. I do not hesitate one moment in pronouncing his successful recovery, so far, entirely to your careful watchfulness and attention. Keep him quiet for the next few days, and you will, I hope, have no cause to send for me. He ought to be about again by Christmas Day.'i Then the medical gentleman departed.

Eustace progressed even more rapidly than the doctor had anticipated, an.d was able to get up for the first time fully a week before Chiistma&tide. As he grew stronger the diggers all around came to see him, and the first week he was up was chiefly spent in holding levees.

Oncci more the course of true love ran smoothly enough, and Eustaca and Milly both wore happy looks. The only shadow to their happiness was the aforesaid levees, which prevented them having those little exchanges of confidences so dear to the hearts of all true lovers.

Let us listen to one of these exchanges as they sit together in that well-known Ban ctum :

" Miss Heavystone, I don't think I shall ever forget your kindness to me. I feel sure you did it all out of pure womanly sympathy, and because your own unselfish nature would not let you do otherwise. I feel particularly indebted to you when I remember that I had caused so much pain by my thoughtlessness only a short time previously."

" Oh, Mr Bievior 1 please don't sj.eak of that. It was all ray fault. I hate to think of it. I fchould not have been so hasty. Please forget it."

As Milly says this she casts down her eyes and blu&hes profusely. Eustace notices this, and with a smile in which happiness and rniscbitf are curiously blended, he queries, " Have you changed your mind 2 " " How do you mean 2 " " Well, you remember, you never wanted to see me again."

" Oh 1 is that what you mean ? " and the retreating blood returns to her cheeks with a rush. "Ah 1 You do remember." She makes no response to this rejoinder.

" Do you repent 2 " he goes on. No answer " Miss Heavystone, am I forgiven, and are you repentant 1 "

S-ill dlence on he- part,

" Miss Milliceot — Milly ! " as he suddenly thinks it's getting a serious affair, " am I forgiven 1 "

" Yes," very faintly,

" And, ' going over to where &he is, and gently drawiDg his arms around her, " aie you repentant ? '

No answer for a second or two, then something like the souud of a smothered fob reaches his eais, and a nose and chin are buddenly buried in his shoulder. The imperious princess had capitulate-l, and no doubt was amply recompensed for her ?übjugaiion when, as her head reclined on the ishoulder of her lover, ho poured into her wiling ears the exp'auation she hid formerly refu-td. Afccr all, what was that suffericjr, now past and gone, compared to this bliss 1 All was efrV.c:d in the glorious sunshine of her happiness, which seemed unbounded as the dear one be&ide ber whimpered tender v/ords ot undying affection. Here let us leave them, their face- as bright as the sunlight around them, as they exchange endearmerts too sacred to be chroiiiclsd for public perusal.

What sort of Christmas these two enjoyed may be easily imagined, ar.d it is alnubt &up< jiluous to take the evidence of Joe Wallaby on the point. C immsnting upon a communication of Nug.jaty's during the next afteinorn, as they two sat i-mokine; together while digesting the heavy annual dinner this season of the year U responsible for, Joe remarked :

" Goin' rer leave yer, is she '! Well, I'm bio wed ! G-et spliced a month artcr New Year. Wei', it's a rum go ! I toln'im so jest afore yer come up that day to see w'y we'd rot been dowr. I Bed I knowed wot wos up w'cu I seed 'em agazin' inter wim anuther's eyes the way they did (he fust day they mci, An' it's come true, too! "'

So it had; and Nuggety's belief in Joe's knowledge cf human native could not be shaken fVdr afterwards. On il<h occasion, thTgh, "vlia 1 . wiih the firmer, tho to'&tirg s.f O'Hi'-tma^ j <ys to all and ; undry, aud the cor. rq-ier.t Fr.poijfic tflxcts due to his p,asiivifii.y tryiri; to o/^itako this nru.vaal attack on Ics powers of digestion, together uiih tho momentous announcement and Jjc' 1 expression of opiuion thereon, ho felt hr >„_ not equal to the further discussion ot i!:- question, so contented himself by drowsily murmuring : " Y»>? ; it'r. a tarnation ru ti go ! "

feeding Nuggety was. incline*! to indulge

in a siesta, Joe strolled off. He did not feel at all sleepy himself — in fuel", he felt very wide awake — aud proceeded forthwith to inform the towus-hip mat his "new chum pa^dner was a«f>m' *■ r m-ury Nnggery's gal." Boih E istace acd Milly were well known, and, as a resulc of J.e's energetic dissemination of news, "The Gulden Nugget " was thronged thit night, and both the lover 3 weie tired out with nothing else but the hand s-bakiugg they had to perfoim in accepting the congratulations of the constant stream of men ot all nations, creed-, and opinions visiting them for this purpose. There is not much now to tell except that the " boys," under the guidance ot that astute judge of men and manners, Joe Wallaby, used the wedding day of " Old Nuggety's daughter" as a fitting one to commemorate with an all-night ball. Eustacs and Millie. nb were not at it, for the bimpli reason that, after the specially imported parson from Hokitika had performed his allotted task of making them man and wife, they bad departed on their honeymoon in the trap brought to Tcrracstown for that purpoie, only staying long enoagh after the ceremoay to take part in the wedding breakfast festivities, whereat the poor parson was at bis wits' end to keep from getting drunk throvgh the pressing but mistaken hospitality oi the hilarious company.

Mr and Mrs Brevior stajed that night at Hokitika, and proceeded by coach to Gbribtchurch on tbe following morning, and elurirg their stay at the latter place Eustace heard of an appointment at Dunedia under tbe Piovincial Government. Upon applying for it be was at once accepted, and anivicg there a month later, he and Hilly started housekeeping, and soon making plenty of fiiendp, found life very pleasant indeed.

Having seen them fairly settled, wo shall now leave them to jog through life together, free from the gaze of our prying eyes.