OONAH !

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 215, 12 September 1888, Page 7

OONAH !

I Je w°ute

%\ ~, bad m «wft by •«^C^;t Lad' rated* shanty !P^ J of finding something ; f streDg*:.;:,.;^! £o repay his i & *fll!L e had left written the ■ U W tars, and final disap- ' of California, by - "the-traWler finds -^^liJ^'-uccessor failure wVich, like an igm - "*l? i fold, and b«ng«. and H^jSiei other treasured Sf"«' t-irne.l up to ttf l|Bil#f cl!SiFtte'cubin Qf the early P^^vt d of the great Rocky X^ 0, ore mild as our own. »■?£ threatens thorn,. winter .Vißpf „.;.,„ mst, the'npemng W*V< on? rich from receiving for ft»* l3 s r wealth of the bills, fr^i he veriest excuse for a ■ MMi^SSanew^ttler-has ■SlsSf«ce ami setter seed #y for their refrcahment, a ■SEulMtandfinesUreesofthe W C bad once, thousands of years ■l.'k, fere, and even yefc, during t ifw became difficult and even ■„,,to ford where the road crossed l£; K Honai pool aftorded depth -ilfc&ofa buclfoV being dmped rK-K-Fromoucof'Aesetio driver iiHiit,tta^terfor,hi?:mule, and .0 "; BS^'J3 higher up' he'conti.uctecl the »Tktokkrfaortb to bo filled., , Aa Babied dq<vn to tho stream from MM »b was only a low etepa higher !I?mFAI stoppert and uttered an ex'■^■ii''As'slilvideed lieu hand to put 'W^Uiww' lffCT('h» Bhe had for a tr.'KiiulactcMghU glimpse of a figure Krfialiliily IP^ t'"3 troo's--■AfiUJßmatter!' said the driver. Mfciinpße up there,! said the girl; Bifnaj not,' replied the man ; ' 1 Hilkt^ro be any Injuns 'bout. If V Mil, jWre friendly, apd I can'b see , 1(ibo hidia' far. Bub let's gob the Vijl gjt back to the waggqp; I'll H^aiijHg,filled by thoman whilst jßtot'wateti, they iotnrnpd 1o the ■taivfflioni they found putting IHiit W km Ipft of the rimat. *y'sMmliiistVa gao, aiid"woijfc' vp1 the jjl&W^Mnj&pxtion ihey hud jusbGome■rta/Ji'^^A^^d and watched him 0u pra-^oin onfjot/jiij tho6lder •woinap, j\\ Bpiabadteeri kjiiffl/ silent. 'For my , M I'fflgon' Mto Mud Hollow, with ibijiok I»?if.i fJqere'il bt; euthiu' to 'Oii,"tfo notgos^c\,1 aaid the girl,almost ■■' ■ W, and fomingiasttiyiorwarct.''/ Mvi Wis^TMttnilea away; we should in gto! hesevon miles on our way to ■■;; IJ It 1 1 '^ Docomeon, icannot) bear to \ri tedmj M ■ jipthing eroiilcl be worse, Hi iwifelpliqlkno^r^may m -'•■■;'| t"i"vji l i, but she could sy tfce word. 'He may bo at ( 'en ter- • * «|WHWU<>. * cannot, stay »"|!i=g hours.1 ■ . ■ the other re™y;'HonIt:k1 t:ke ;l r ) it'«s;..nleto1eto WyfnotMn'-furme'tohurry ISBMalinigiiilwajb;' ' I ,p<AWu4 Way, and want to Milliter, whom she saw rcturniiif' iilpjM long hers nioat every week, gog 05 tjvicfc Neve/ s . w a sililil SStSfilv 6tart€d in trie morhin1. ViliW^^ g«t 'em np ©haSH°l Sl° 6hockin baJ iGv ' ,"' tliar' we ehan't do , iMUolloy to bring out a fresh, sj^,^' said the driver, ' they I ■'''both B'ulnj s- ■; '■'».' anfl taea \'tL»l r aKU'on, and the IIH^P" '. ;3u^H«.t>ly to submit W#wJ!T,!w driv<"' depart r^SSK n-gl!eart-K'ilontlvVf 1- w L on>en sat for I' which.Jf! 1.", 1? '-he retreating if gK ? e kr^i 'k- an! the youn 081? U pliS^rba^said jKaij, o) wui)^ lier tW mpani6n » h.S'!* nothing -witK m . v L -■■; ifSsftilifip^TW^*1 1 j lip *** ■ m^i^»u|

the trickling of the stream below, and the: clicking of the . knifcbing nee<ilei which' ""kepis time '.td^ the' storyteller's voioe. ; When pathetiq bits' were, told the knitting needles, gUttere^ in arid out of the work'slowly, but when a stirring incident was related, the switches flew oil" one! needle and on to another with a speed which would have surprised even a German knitter! As the story prppeeded, the shadows arpwid them grew deeper and de^per,: .-i "I the patches of light which fell on tl. ..ground between the branches of the. trees grew' less and less distinct, and finally disappeared, and all beyond.. the clearance was shrouded in, gloom. 1 Then as the girl said, ' That's as far as I've read, and opened lief book; she became aware "for the fjrsb time'that night was rapidly setting in. '■'" ■ '.. ; ; 'Dear me,' she said, > I can't see a line. How fast it has got dark. I wonder how long the man has been gone?' 'I dpn't kndw; aji fcipur, I guess.,', replied the woman. 'I wish that ye kiipwed | more pf the story; I wonder ef it's true. ; Oh, ciQ,ftr me, I wish we was. tp our journey's | end. But there,"l don't bljeve there ever wuz another woman on airth so misfortuate J as me; Ef it been anyone iels, the waggon would hey been all right this very lninft'f and we'd a ben gettin' on to Center-, vijle. An 4 that'a what'd a ben. Jiappenin' ef "'ye hadn't a been foplin' round this mornih'. Wonder if the.y catched the man as pisto'ed t'other. Wonder if t'other, di#d sure naff.1 '; The'girl, who had turned away her head when the shrill voice began to complain, now turned suddenly,, whilst a look of anxiety came to her eyes, apd the colour to j her cheek., > . . , i

'Oh ! JTam afraid there's no chance for him, poor fellow,' she answered. 'For which on 'eni?' aalfad her companion. >'For which !' asked #>c, girl, ' what do you mean ?' . ■;.' Why; which be ye 'fraid there's no chance fur? The. man as the.' d-7-l of vigijences be after ; or the man as got; what' he deserved ? VVby, what did he expect ? Ho sjirucjc, t'other; difl he think he was agoin 1 to turn the t'other cheek, as the parson says. Got his change, that's all; and dqwn our "way that ! would be the last of it. But up this way, [law me, they're all JSunday-schopl folks, ancl make's" much fuss 'bout a furegrier a beiia-pistoled as ef 'twor the President of ■the United States. ,:.. ~- . ■.. • 'But 'taiii't no use sittin' here. Ican]t sga no more. . -Wonder ef w.e ken git suthir/- to make a fire vyiihT Let's loqk 'fore it gits darker.' The women gob up, and walked a little way down the rq^d, picking upstjqksand fsiggots ; and' presently returned, and the elaer began constructing a pile, which was soon'blazing up cheerfully.... ■■.-.. ....,-» A i'if6w,' said she, putting pn the last faggot, 'you go and get some more, an I'll give you suthin' as'll surprise you. ■ • When the, yqung girl returned^ with her i arms full of sticks, Bhe was indeed surprised and delighted to find a small tin pail serving as tea kettle, and preparations goiqg forward for tea-making, ' I nad this eVer since we left Bakersfield,' she, said. ' Thpre want enough to go rouri' last night, and besides, we had coffee, and I'd be darned ef I'd give anything I ppuld keep to that 'ore driver. He's too sassy fur bis business. That's so.'

The tea being made, and some bread produped, the two women 'prolonged their tea. party as long aa they cpuld, then more wood was found for the fire, and then at lasc they saw the tallest trees tipped with light, and they knew the mppn. w§s rising. -* He snQuld h^ve pome back, the driver of the. mules. At ten o'clock he said the mpon would ri^p. It cpuld not be that hour yet, for at ten he said["they, would be again on their way. Could he mean to desert them? Nrt''; what object would there be ? ; Thegirl was frightened. The .woman cross. The moon had climbed irito viewy and |ihe clearance was streaked with dark IhacTows of the tall trees, and yet he did not come. •I wish, ph, I wish we had, gone on,' said the young girl, after listeriinjj: wifib. ftr^ained ears, and after repeated visits^ to t£e road. ' I "neither see nor hear anything of him. What shal we do f

*'I knew it. Ifiqldy^ Bq. I knew ]up| how it would bo ; ""and if I hadu't a bin a darned fool, I'd never hoy staid in this lordfprßakeS^'place.*'""ffafc; *I'm! rairayß be^ng itnpgsed ?pon. Fupb I started on this wild goose chase, just of good natacV: Then why in tbuncjer J don'fc turn/bapk vftien I; heat" fcihiis Btot?y at Bkck jßanche, Yd, liketo know? What's the use of me goin' on ? I ain't wanted. I'm nobody. Mnthin' for me; Sarves me right. That's so. Might) a-%o,^ed wh,af; I'd get for £ man'yip' a: |lpw Oirlahmari, aVd' no more pluck tb^na chicken. But I'll ahow 'em whenever I"do gib down to Centeryj|le, that-' I'll Have mv rights, se?if 1 don't. "See if a rns^n kin take; jawayhiVproiperty' frqm his wife, and leave heir'tp starve, when she's waked. fuc him like a nigger/. But, thar, they're all like them low fumners.' * Stop,' said.".tfte 'young girl, rfsing up in the, motihlight, ' What is the use of going pniike',ji||B,?'■.''Hayen't *c trqu'ble eiiough ? You mow as "well as I do tha^fc my dear father 'v^pujd not be unjust %o ; ain^onj. a wait till we get to Cetiterville ? Icafl'tf)sar to'bear, you'ipeaXa}l the fcitng ill of PQQi- dejir fattier. ' God knows if Be Uves or tiot;' and the'apron was li£ted ; to the young eyes as ste cried silently. But the elder wpm.an ha{| become, irritable,* arid neither tears nor words had effect on'her. , ■■- ' ■'.. ■■■'.'< ■.. ;■:■■ ;'-:;' t .-./■<;','■■. ■ "{ 'I guess I've a right to say jest what I like,'she fftid. i Wliat?s the sitppatipn, I'd like to"know? ■ /Wall, f ll"jpst tell yer : I leave my :ho*ußo anß my boarders, to look after your, father, as has bin gone. fur. nigh six months, leavin' me to git on. be§t I can. Wall, I come down to this last country the Almighty; evcsr made ; and at Elapk linear that he's dead, and that he's gone ;4nd*left a forfcopn, and left every cent away frpm m,e, "larful wifej and .left it i fcp you j...-:! Wail/ ; ail! eapie, I fitftrfc off with you that tarnation citss, an' ho lets the • ■waggon git broke, and hare we, be in the woods, and here we'll be all, i)ig^ht, :foar's as I kin make put; an' I jnqst scarecf |o death, I be'; an' I've a great mihld to-r----to go backj I have. I do' hato the wh,olo pack on yer sp., Ido hate the Pirish. I nate 'em.' -: _ '■•--,-•., & And this amiable companion of the daughter of the man she was abusirig^nreW an: aprpnful of sticks on the fire, and sab iowri oh the log inthe light'of the flames. f I do not >vant to answer you,' the girl replied; and now it was evident she was thoroughly aroused. ?I do not want to answer or to quarrel. ' But you know^ I cail-no^r-will not-^-hear my f^ear father spoken Cf in this ivay. What' is the good of telling m^ such lies? You know bow my dear father was beguiled into" marrying you. How; you made his life so wrptpbfd, that he'went away out intotho world j>6 make, if h« ijflyld, » home for mp. You know, how $pii parted ;': find you know why^^y^Ju carhft tp 100k 1 for him. Because ybu'g'aw'lvn advertjsfjmeht for me. I know the very day you saw it. You knew my, Rpor jlfirlingwas iookifig fdf me. You "never told me, but you' treated me> lesa unkindly after youfsaw, it.' There,' she said, throwing down a bit of paper, f I found" - tliat \n yPM p.PPKefc festerday when yog told me to get out your nurse. I saw in an in^tant ; whaj: ty. 'yf&s. ■xOu'^rd'yVadV'wiqk'ed.'.wonidnj^n'd'l' omy ;^'iph the time had come'for'us to part for evev,' . v"' |::-": ''■.■.■'-■■"■-"■ ~-;"' _ ...■■;' 2 The ichild-like figurg frembled in every limb a$ she finished speaking, and great tears rolled down her cheek as she turned ahd talked down the road in the direction the driv^rand the mules,had, taken. _ _ ■i: The* woman "for once was silenced. _ 1 ; w.ißh the time had <^ome for us to part ior ever.' the g|H had said'; and theso words ,'staril^ yj^ago's tfaougMs into a obann^l

of speculation as to what would be the consequence of this separation pn her own fortunes. She sat Btaring at the retreating figure with anything butiorein her eye.s, fcill the shadows of the trees mingled, witto the graceful form, and then she said to herself,1 '.? Wall, I never! didn't think she'd any plupk in her. Wall, I be a fool to (juarrel with her. But Ido hate the very sight1 of heri Wish she was dead, I do, there! Woridor what'd happen to"the old mans money then. Wall, Til know this time tomorrow, and then—: — ' ■\ ■ Hist—t—t—a sound lik^ the liiss of a snaka; close to her ear.' She starts, up, looks 7 almost wildly around, see.3 npthin, changes her position to the other end of the log, and li^teiis. 'Law me, must be a snake somewhere 'bout,'and"?he picked up a half-burnt stick with th^ wprd§. '-.-.'. All \vas silent again—nqti a Jeaf stirred. The cold moonlight lay in great patches on the. brown turf between the t-^.ll trees. The woman got'^p to her 'feet and was abput to call the girl, whoselootsteps had quite died a'^ay, when agau(.tb.e samp hissing sound caused her to look jrpupd. Th*§n, from a tree ri^t pvq paces from her ? came a voice, a man's 1 ypice, suppressed to almp^t a whjsper—- . . 'Keepguiet,? thevoic^^aid, '^n^ ypvi moye or stir, or I?ll shoot.' :: ' The woman turned "her head toward the tree frpra whiqh the sound came, and,unabl6 to bear tlie silence which followed, sh^i askjed— ;\! ". • . ~,' ■,■ :, .' . : ■.;

• 'Who be ye? Whafcd'yewant?' " ' 'A friend,'.aaiclthp yQic^ 'Pror|ii|e to keep quiet andi*llcome out. I wanosome- ! sine to eat.' I wori't hurt yqu if you'll keep still. I have somesing to say to you.' V 'Wall, Wliy' don't ye say it?' ]vhispere^. back the womafii' •I'll keep still, dad ef j didn't who's to h^ar,; I'd }}bq to knP^ ? and ye can have whattnere isto eat. Why don't ye shovy yer§elf!' With these words, a figure becatne viaiblei in the shadow of a cli^mp' of birch, ai^d uijderr growth, just behind the little encampment, and after listening intently for an inst^nj, a man stepped forward! In his right hand he held a reyolver. His left arm was hanging on hw breast^ in. a sling. A brpjid-hrijiinied Wtn agd |orn hat was pulled down Qverhw eyes, and little of the face was visible, except a black beard an<d moustache. His clothing", the usual miner's clay-stained trou^qrs . a.ii'd waistcoat, was torn and ragged, iind there was a great rent in the overcoat from which the left steeVp had been rudely torn. Cautiouely with cat-like tread, he came into the clearance, until he stood ■withip a pace or two of the woman, then he §tooped anc| said in a whisper—; 'You come from Black Baqchiß, to-day V 'Yes^ repliedthe woman, in a low tpnej 'weleft l;here this mprnin'.' ' 'What happened there lastJ night?' whimpered the man. 'Qh, there was a shootin' affair. One foreigner shot another. He 4ied thjs mornin', jest afore we left.' ■■ ■:■ V '«Died,*did lie ? That's all right/then ! Now you keep still while I ta}£. I'm |he man that shot that d— - Frenchman, I've got to make traks. Your lookih? for josh murphy, arid that gal'B his daughter! Well, Murphy's dead, y ov4 know, zati; and he's left his money io ze gal—you know zat, • too?' '•' ; v. ;;■*' ''r '-'' ' ■ '-.X

' Wall, that's 'bout it, 1 said the woman. VI know all 'bout zis business,' the.man continued- ' Joah HVirphy'slefii his pile* ev'ry ceri^ tq zat gal; ais JTpd^e Mix arid Jedgfißurton'strusteesj'pnd-~~,; '].■. ■ 1 What's trustees V interrupted the woman. • 'Trustees,? People to see zab ze will's carried out/ and with the last) word the man stepped back into the shadow of a tree. ' Come nearer,' lip said, 'I might .bo seen in theiightv ;:;■■.:■ ,-, • ,'.;■ •■'.■'■ .-'■■i 1? : •',, ;-... ..; , 'So« that's the gamp,' said the woman, following- him a step or two nearer. ■'Peoples asis lift to see his will carried out. Now, 'aint thafc the meanest thing's ever youheard ion? Ain't I, as is his wife, got no/rights?' .:■■"'; ,'^ . ■,■.,:.■. ,/■.■ , f If you [were his wife,? the man said, •ypu'd bo, 9Jitilled to a third long's you Jjvei* ' :'..''*,.'■".' "-] : '.''_'": ■'* '■'• i.WticfM,io, .knpwj^rt^rv arid then she stopped. ; ■' . i There ain't iiifjny'a knows: but Jhappento be one of them,'said the man; 'arid Jake Tyr,qn'a 'nathar. 'Wall, he's married 'gin. Don'fc that make it all square for me .?■' she asked. 'iNo. Ydu. : must prove Tyron's dead.' ' And ef the gh} dief.^ghg'^hjßyerecl. ' STow you listen,' the man saidihurriedlyi and in his excitement'forgetting the precautiorj |ip sp/ak lo.w. , 'Listen, .^hp pj's goin' to havo the money, ev'ry cent." If S,he dies, it'll '' go to the two jedges and to Murphy's friends in Ireland. Now listenVBut where's she gone?' ; ;= ■■# ■• ; ' Don' 6 'know r 'don't! care ! Wish shg'd npver come back,' growled the woman, ■e^vagely as a wild cafe - • if: \ Well, look here ! 3Tou |^st help me, and I'll see she don't^bother ye'much> and you shall share the morieyi $pm6, closeE; she may be coming badkV arid He stood yet farther in the shadow.. -' 'What on aith d'ye mean ?':. the woman yrhispered. 'No vigillence wuk \ I won'b jine anything brings them hounds after me.', . , „;-.„. ■ . , _ '-", ,■;'.-'. - •■■'.: '-Don't ye j^e afraid, i I've tppk afat^cy to ze gal. I'll take care o| her,"ri'^ver fear. I'll takeih'er.^p^pii^tra'Sadrti'^pd-^rirr'. v i that'll ye do w]th .her! I.'. v'""; 1 Whyi marry her !'■ _" * " 'Marry her }' No foolin'now 1' 1 nian'y ze heiress, and you shall have ha}f ze income.' " " you know she'd marry ye? i Ifqw', do I^know ye .would, give me the ' mqriey?' . .-r. ' give ze the motigy to .bold yerj | tongue, see ? I'd ji ( Qld my tbngye to | ieep ze fortune, d'ye see.?-■. And if ze wuss j come tq vyuss, I'd square it wisSTyron. to I keep dart; "and; if ze gal. shouldDf't} live, i why, you se© ye'd be/ .'ti|le4; to half ze njq'ney anyhow, |f Tyrpn keeps and Iwe share it. What d'ye s,ay?' ( ' ■ 'I musb have time/ the woman |§jd, 'I dori'ii1 dare to dp it without;time to l-think.' .. . ..:/'■•':: •■■• '■[''■.■ -I : " '"' '-' ■• ':"f-

'Zen I'll bid you "good evenin'. I'm father pressed for time jest now, as ye md.y remember,' and he prepared to departi! i"': "f s ' How dp ye }inp>v: shie'll gp wiji|j you ?' Ihe woman OBkcd. : 'I'm very persuasive. I'll take care of zat. I'm wajtin,' 'b ( 6ut here for frjefads tint's tc* take me 'long' and get me! out of 'these parts.. We'll take gal 'Ipng ea^y. Say 'Yes,* an it's a bargain", I've notime to fool 'bout. I niusjj be at Centre Qulch in ba}f ;p •hoijr/ They're, p, Wfji^in' % m ( e r there no^i 'What"d'ye'§g.y \ Quiqk I! " *' } 'Em sure I don't know what to cay, She's sassy tr) ipe ppw; and $f sh,e w.unsfc gejis this nioney, t'llneye,riee her again/noi" a rcent of it. But % ain't''§ure >VHat ye say'| ttew;' Hist! here she ppines. 1 '^Veal !l If do it 1 Darned if I don't ! <3an'b be no wuea than 'tis;, and I Sate her!~ ' , > ITd he Continued). . *