OONAH: Or, The Story of a Crime.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 219, 17 September 1888, Page 6

OONAH: Or, The Story of a Crime.

b ¥': .dEOßo'i!' ; ■ patn'e: , :

CHAPTBB, IV

(Continued).

• I never meant her no harm,' camefrom the bundle of rags, influenced probably by the spirits and the, genial warmth.; ' never meanbr her no; hacm, I; did'ri'fc. I worked like a nigger, I did,, fur- him, an' left house-an! bpaxders to hunt him up': an' row he's gone an' left ev'fcliin' awafy from The.'bltndle shook aS a kind of aqb finished each'woi^', ftiid^the,heart of the Judges wife, was touched. ,■ ; , 'If fdir, ain'b done no harm, she said,, stooping; over]the;ci'ouchirig nglire, ■' 'yoif ain't nobhing to fear.' ; .., ,*'■■>.■::..';- ---' I him the papers, he took 'em. What could Ido tihei-e alone out' in tlie'Wdods ? Tcouldn'ti fight him, cPuld'l ? He- jest come and) said he 1 wanted' thai? 'ere bag> and he took ■what -he wanted 7 out of it; and then the divil Injun come and scar't me 'mosb to death a second timer'and-sbofrar Mor&ri, and took me right up and dragged .me the whole way here} jest' like a dog'd drag a dead cribtur jan'lam; 'most done up, I be'— sob—sdß—sob—''an' wish I was dead — eob^ldb.? •■• ■"'■ , v J . 3ufehere herwandering.thoughtsmnd mcoherent'wordswere: brouglit to a sudden stahdatill by a" heavy grip on her shoulder, wKich broiightr:her'to a staridirig"position. ' ''Moron took' that gal's papers,- did' He ? said- Driver Bill; ' ib was Moran,. theri, that inebyou in Jibe wlods, an! tried to carry ou fc a —, was' it ?' Now, you jist look a here, ef ye don't shell out thenxere papers, or put us on the track whar to find "em, I jguess there'll be sa feiiiale less this sidelsunrisfe by to-morrow. What.d'ye say.?' with a, shake that made the rags-flutter, and which he •was about to repeatrwhen the Judge|a wife received'the'floor trembling wretch ia Her strong arms. .. ■■ ' ' You ouglit to be ashamed of yourself, Mra;M& said,: addressing the driver : 'you ougbb to baaahamed of yourself; to- touch a woman. There,- sit; .down and-fay and re^ collect where you lost the things.1 Indian BilF, at the' same moment; came forward-from the window, where*"rur Had bfeSii Sitting; 'munching' corn* breads arid Jiutter handed him by the hostess. ; *Me take'em from Moran,'he said. 'What—what did you 1 taker Will you tell me all ypii know about it, Bill ? Do you understand?'asked tlie Judges, . In answer to the: Judge, Indian Bill recounted his story.i speakiii^ih;a low monotone, and in sentences unconnected by preposition or conjunctiofl. ■IHefha'd beeil engagjidby-svoman—and'Re pointed to the poor shivering; wretch-—tw bHhg waggon from' Bar. . Wimmen ' had, eturfced^for Ceht'erville';' RisHPafc had'hit'ed' " himKtOfsee the? party slafe at Judge: Mix's bouse. Whilst following their trail,, he had coriie up; to Mbran, for whoso apprcheh* sibb a r>wayd hacl'been oftered before' he ldft r^lack Guich."1 He-liad: kept Mdran in siglit till lie fouri vl him injConversatidn witii the Domini l?ad' heaisdUhe plan to abducb the younggirl, ha'a'inteft^pfed.Horan in tne vecyT,act,, had 'fired^ at. him,, only wbundirig Bini in the shoulder ofT"ffie arm previously hit by a bullet bent alter Him : : tie" ni^ht bf'fche jnuixter of tho foreigner. That apei' seeingth'ie yoiinggirl.safe ..in! the ■waggonhhr.e r . had. taken< up Moran's Oracle, and had rioi been rpVp. on it bfef ora Re found ;. Canqther person followijng.-.r'.TJn^.prd.V'edjto: be ihe" woman,, and;ab-#ylights he ;-lja«k! come,up'with her just as.'Mo'ran joined her. j He had .watched them^and,had. seen Slpran: open the: small^^hag ~\yliich had, beenJ given bim by the woman, had seen the ruffian take some/paper^ from the bag-1 aijd look at; them, and ■ attempt tp; put them in his pocket,, bubbefqre he couldj dp so Bill fired, and Moran plunged' into i the' deep underbrush. Bill' folio wed him ~.\ tilt fie, saw him. join a party .and moujnt amiile, and, tKen ,he'refcurnetl to the^yonaAn, Tv&dm he found hiding in some,underbrush,, 1 and taking possession of- the bag; and";'the,' wpmari, he determined,to earn one re%yard at least, and see her safotq Centerviile ;.and tli"att>?asall. ''■'~'■, ■..-.. ■_ , ,-., i . ■ Jj.-!,-. ..^y The group, Which siirrounded the Ind.ian ditringthe few mo'tnonts it 'took him torocdunt this sitory weroso'intensely.iiiterested I thab.they had nob. ,obser,yed the ehfcrance of j the Chinaman,,iWho hap .slipped in, leaving the; door open ;' and now, When the Indian : had finished' speaking, another figure appeayed afc'the'ha3f:operi door,; Ther. young girt, awaking; from her deep sleep, had lieard the voices, and had recognised thai of the Indian, and a fe\v seconds before his story was.finished shrf had left her sofa'and stftlen; noiselessly to ihe door of the room in ■whfehphehad been resting. This door she opened cautiously^ and looking across the narrow passage, saw John Chinaman at hie usiial post., tbe.keyhola of the doorj.opposite. Be'iiig .disturbed, -the .Celestial .went intq the room, and the girl, finding henself. qnd her affairs the topic under discussion, cautiously approaqfred ,th'e;other room. As the Indian ceaaed ■ speaking, the Judge's wife asked: ~ .- .■ ; ' Hadn'b we better open.the bjig jand Bee if lifie poor child's papers are arc safe f .'No,' the Jad^Q replied, 'she must do that, herself.: Her father's will is clear enough, I believe, to identify her, if neees-, sary, without papers ; but the papers will, nodoubt, save time.'' .. ~.- \ : 'Thenj' said ;th"e.woman, who up to this moment had crpuchedby the stqvey ap-^ parently indifferent to \vhafc was going on, • then Josh Murphy is dead f 'Yes,^ the. Juctge, replied, 'he is dead;; andtftab girl!y6u jwcfe wHHhg to sacrifice to a, ruffian and a.convict is the- richest woman in America !' ■"•^'s^fled'cryj-'ancl a fall in the paßsage ouiside";the rootn, called everyone; to 'the do6r. $hem. lay the I poor, giirl/. stricken down1 by the word.s whe had heard, her bri'ghb hopes of aii hour a»o gone, all the pictures which had flushed before her eyes when she' heard he' still lived' now darkened "by the terrible shadow of deatihV .She had sunk down on tho bare boards- of bhp passage floor, her lovely face buried in her hands, and sobs shaking the fragile girlish frame. , --■■:■.:■ ■. -M■'.-■"• •' ..Ju'digd J^iyilifted her tenderly and. placed her in hia wife's motherly arms. • The rougb men stood back, and no' word was spoken "as the two, women—one sobbing j and the other trying to give words of comfort, her own voice trembling-—disappeared in the opposite room. CHAPTER V. _ pAmg in November '67. The exhibition had closecl> the rich and successful'exhibitors had gone boine to increase their trade in things, the world had approved of; poorer and less-for bun ate one,, lingered'to try,-if possible, to convince the ' trade' that they had boon hardly deal by. Jealously, influence, money—these ■were the lagents^,at^f»bifcv■i9gailisi/them,•■ they.said ; and:.these' agents ..would" idrive honest enterprise', from the;'field; But the arguments, like those who used them, found ib difficult to battle with puccesgHowever £ainedj;'nobhing-syccegda like success,.', and - ;th,e disappointeir tphfes: only increased tho debit side of .thoir.. ledgers' account by remaining in the expensive ■' metropolis,', ■ "-s-■':.:,:■ ■■;..:-^-^.,',:>■■•■■■:■•:..'-V'.'- ''■■ Oth.erßirlij)g:er?d in the bright city because' towaaharr) to'eavg tho scene oi'so much

.excitement and. interest, and ■ return to quiefr honiesi ' Only tHo& *hps» wealth- ; couTdHeeure-pleasure', /of who* Had' abfeotb-, iri^ intend .el^wMreV ready aM Jwillih? to leave,- and-many of them ttaa gone—amongst them .the royalties who had made Vfamtoi!. ti^ timotielng; a- Court centre. " T ■ - . .-. • _ ■I The hotels were; .emptying,,.their proprietors- getting' ;leW independenb-, the Station dv Nord was-mdre crowded, -more noisy, moi'fl confusing than- eVfer;: and the days were gettingshqrterand darker. In a- small: Mt luxuriantly;- furnished-sittiug-rooni of a private hotel m the; Rue ; idela^aix, d young lady, dressed U> Jeep mourning: gatTnV worlf.. The lamp* were lighted and as «he stooped over her^ern, broidery', iM girl's4 face v/as in the-full Itsrhtf,. whilst all1 around' her was M 1 :the; v IIS 'ow'^ ■' ' ' ': ~ '• '■"** "* ■-■' ' ■ -'-■'■■■ -;- ■ '.'■ The face was younpr and beautiful,.but there was a sad, longing look, in, the' blue eyes and a resigned compression ot the lips, whic'li'sb blsfe of sorrows* endured^ Biifc'the sad lips wore vermillion' red, arid the cheek s colouring soft as a peac'K ; the clearness of the skin and' brightness of lihe- blue eyes spoke of perfect healtln- Black hair, and blue eyes fringed t with jetty lashes, with the clear* white skin which always accompanioCit. This' is the mostunicommon, as if> • suMy-' is';■ the "moat? ' pel-feCti ■ ifpfr : of: ■woman?* beauty.:i And^ this, head;; bowed over'its work, and the" lamplight; falling upon it, might nave been Murillo's model for his Madonna. ; The room, though in an hotel, was homelike; arid wliat women call co^y. Red^ velvet1 cKairs and sofas'; with', big puffy pillows of the same-colour;; little ornaments of china and bronzej- brackets of plush and old pointr lace,- candlesticks and- candles of many shades'and1 doloure ';* a bright wood fire, and a pet cat curMl" tip on the hearthrug* Whichv like" the' carpet, was of soft Persiart Wftoijr woven into mysterious- dark' patterns.' Th& curtains were; drawrij and nothing could lotfk. .warmer* or'more-cdmv fortiable than this elegant little aparemßtit-. The young girl paused occasionally, iti her work to look at some papers and letters lying on a tray beside her. ■ .They had eyidentlVbeeri«read drice, ahdtMV cbiilients cciupied heY thoughts. Her At Oik had dropped in her lap, audshe\was reading a letter, to which she had' before referred, when a door, concealed by a heavy .curfcairiy opened, and another latdy eiitetea-the room. : ' '-■/■[ '" - '."■", ,■ . Tall and slightj with long, sloping shoulders, she was dressed in. a peig^noir^of dal-k red" pltteß; MmmeUdqwh the' side with sbmo soft, dark fur,, A ruff of this fill', With an inside frilr, of. yellow. • lace ■around" her" throat, set off her email head, which'was covered' With'wavy Kair, showy White ; dark, piercing* eye's[ lookedout from ahaggy brows, and" the face, with its thin lips rfndYriendse, wbuTdhave'beenliaridisdm^Dub for the forehead, wlnch,>low and broad, and otherwise fine, sloped rapidly back, making Ishe -profile almost repulsive. Her movements were quick ; and? heir eyest rdstleiSs; and she : had a habit of plucking at her garments1 or handkerchief whichf strggested: ilervpusness. Her; Vbietf was higfcarid shrilr when raised, and she spoke at all timesin Jjhe nasal tones' of a ifren&ljW'ohian. Sbs lifted the portiere with one hand, and stood >fbr a'rhom'eriij. ._■■. , . ' Mademoiselle,'she'said. > ' ' Yes,■ Mtelanie,' replied the ybuiig girl1, laying down- het lettJeir' and'tufning-td'thie-jdoor. ..„ .;. : .., ... ~ ; 'Ah, you are alone, mademoiselle. 1 '-Ye-s-i' -and as1 tM: tall, elderly woman ;<jam9 foft'war* itito, then roomt and> came in !viewv the girl:continued;, '}VJio did jfOu eip^ofc to find liei'e f ■','. . : . 'Oh,' said the last arrival, 'I thought I Beard you talking}' iand,she* went* to the firejjlac^v stooped,;p»ckedrup« the> catj-and gab down in one of the big armchairs. ] ' TalMns; I' aaidtteyoiifigef lfdy, leaning back and drawing a long breath. *♦ Was I ftalking? Then .it must have been to my .letters:'1 ' " . . i 'Letters!' exolaimed the other j 'fromAmerica?' 1 Yes ; sonic letters from homer—l mean from California.' * ' , ; :•Ah l" Any special .news f " 'No, no; nothing,' . ' ' Here, look'at this; andyefc it brings no news. Wd'"snail never hear anything of them.' :' '■'} She handed-.the'eldeE ■womiin-aiiew-spaper clipping, and continued ;' They om^ doing; everything they; : can—all 11 have, aafced— bub' ifc brings1 no1 word. Eead it" aloud, .Meliimei' jphe= woman called!Jffelaai* tnp^off-A chaii' to the light, and read, in broken Engludi :— ■ ' Wanted, intti&m&tiQii. tit^eertalttpapei'S lately in the possessjionc of a younjj- lady, in -A —r — cotthty; Tak6n from a tray^lliiig-baff.on the' night of fli9— —r—; in the wood1 between Centerville and Black Raflcho. The paper* can henefltno ono but tho advortiaor. and anyone who will return thomt. or glv-^suchiniSiniatiomaa B^alllead toftheii* discovery, shall receive ten thousand- doltavs' veyMivXf M& iio questions asked or proceedings t&kou oC -or tigainst th.o irifoi'mant. ' 'algfned, ' Gkorgic WASTmrafpN Mix. 1• •' Ten thousand dollars !' said" Melariie, in tones of amazemonfe • WBy, tMb is a fortune!' ,■ ■; , .<•* " 'I wouldsgive ten times ten tbousattd dollars fio and thbse things,', th^i girl said, rising arid walking up!and down'tho ropin*. 'It was so, careless^ sa thoughtless, so selfish of me. to leave them. rT-hey should never have left my possession: fbiaIsingle moment, and they woulc^not, but that I was thinking of rttyself and not of another poor^ dying humaiii boinaj,; more j^retched'than I. Oh, Melaniejs I;; shall noviirj! never forget those tender eyes—the snd longing in them: when' h^a'poKeof^ liis mother ;anct I promised—l proiiiiseS a;dying nmnV and then bloke; my ; proaiis© within a short1 day. And to think- that now, at this very momenbf those dear to' him may. be waiting and waiting to heav, news that never cqaios; perhaps expecting his; rebm'n from day to day. His mother ' 'Or his;wife,' interrupted [ the* Fpencti Iwoman. .■. , ;■■ :■ - .-,'.■ ■' ,-y The girl stopped, in her walk, and turned sl6wly:.tqward;;.thel^J)e^k4^f, - ';,,'^;i '■/.■■j .-■;;■";: '■-■'.' Hii wife !' she said, almost in a whisper, IH©' -said his- mother, ' and-———what jiaakesyou ?ay that^Melanie1 ?' >.v , . - ' '■' I*qr ahßwer,ihe Frenchwoman got op and tobk the girl's hand. She led her; to a chair arid sat down on aldw footstool at her feet, still ho^ding^lieihfltod. U vi. ;'You love this poor,mah r my child.' Tho girl's face flfas: aflame man instant. She withdrew her hand and dropped her eyes, whilst a look'df tritrmpii shot over the other woman's face. • • - - 'I dp tiofc'underabaM you, Melanie. He was sq kind and genble, and^ I, pitied him-. t)tt, 1 pitied him lying there,, far from home ana frtetids;' ' rpitiedhim; he trusted me,', and he is dead/ • ''"'■ 1 How.do you know he-iff dead; mademoiselle V the Frenchwoman said,, looking keenly into Hie' other's', face; whilst the other answered quickly and excitedly, ..' , 'How; do I know it? . Why,,l saw—what dej you mean*?: Tell me, Melanie !' •' I only mean,, madliribiaSlle, = iishafc so far as' I have, heard your \ story of the circumstances, Icahnob see how, you know this yduag-gentleman died !'; ' Thab ho died ! . Why, of course lie did, We should have he'ard;S''.-Whyi}tli&assasshi< fled, and a large sum was qffers&ior his appifehension. .Wha^ do yo« mean,' Melanie ? bo tell mo'everything you know; [am childishly Mpafcientin" things like this. •I-i-I am so alqne-7-so.tepribLy alone in the \vqrld ;I Hay 6 nPcihe to—to——7" .'. ~ -'.Ttf 16*§, imaldemoisellef Thdn'seeing frdm: the other's fape >fcbatiShd hMd-gb'iietod1 faijthe French woman con tihuedv speaking hurriedly, ::&aQi : . getting:.moire and. more excited as she proceeded— 'r " 'No, no, ma cliuro mademoiselle, I am terribly in earnest. I havo thought all this oak The;assassin^ aß;3rqa thtnS'him*rfledlbecause.that- act drew attention of the Vigilance C'ominittoe.' upon him and few hidiug-

■place. IM was, wanted for.other and graver ;reason's: tie Svnsacciisedof siJmefcliiing'eifeeV •aii'd these .wolves" were after- him.'. BTe' fed ; tiecSxis^ 6i t'h^ dtTiel' chdrgeM". Bub.thji'sl£tn' !y!6^Ui tlio\%El3 .killed, he recovered. Bf^liSfe ibKeplaceaasbon ai'he.cpiild.; H|'#anue¥6<Jv ;aTv'ay to ''his''home,. H'o——•-.' \ ' , r, j ' Th'tf girl rose' slbwly u^. Standing'" with • li^r hand upon the table as if for support, 1'- , ,'_ t ■"■".',']■ [■■■•<■ '■:,■'■■■■>■., •■.,',■,'':-'■-'■'.•"■,'•' ' Hp# do J you know" this ? WliQ" told ■you?1 ■ :','■ , ', r .\ ■' :_ 1 '"Oli, ; mademoiselle, do.not aslc me.. I 1 really" know nothing ; if I did, when I do, I will 1 Cell you. JSut 1* may be mistaken. I -beiieye I am'right;,.b'ut—bu^l pray ypii asft' ni6 rid questions; farther. #: One; thing, tell nic; You'have fdrgb.tbeti His name f snould you'remember it if you heard it ?' ~; ; ; ,' ftes.' v' .;!' ;;.; \:: :, '■ ■'..•;;.; there any sigh or way by which you would' recognise' bheso lost' papers and" ibhebboka^dtthe pietutps?'. . ; ,' i; - .-. , i ,.;'. "Jt'he"'.pictures I should know, for I looked' at bndm.,' Tlie'papers I pnly/jsaw; iii. bh'eir'..,wrapper. Bub when upon that sad' morning' ihe little: box was opened, a curibus arid delicious perfume filled the shanty, and Wiien 'i stooped over tne dying rnari^s bed i 6—-£6 t'aKe\leave: of him,, there .was the sa'iioe cufi'ovrsqdour. Lon^'after bHe' things wove taken this scent clung to lii^ lifitl'e bag, and sometimes the whole . scene is brought'befor'6 mci: even no\v, when after. a Idng time t open.tHe little s'at'cliel. But',Melanie^— — •, ~ , ... '' ; . «, 'lam riot gqing b|it, I shall, stay afc, hb&^. OfdVr'., my dinner.. here, : please. ifobhihgwouldtem.pt me: v tpgo out.', And j the girl sat down in the chair she had left".. 'Xou are displeased. Oh, I am so grieved', so unhappy. tVhat do X> d-o' bhis for, madembiselief .Wny db' ; l -prbrk ofay ahd^ hig'hb' to. get fight;, upon, t'KiS, master?. Because t ■see' you, with all your yo«tK; and' y6ur beauty, so" unhappy, so sad._ I try arid1 tVy iff iny1 bwii way,:to get' |his lighb, '■■ always" in.my own" ,way, mademoiselle, and •in my'bw'n way I musb go on or sbop.; . I will .if mademoiselle wishes me ; shall I stop V The jrburig girl' field putherhand; ' ' I)' 6 sisyou liie", Melanie; do as you like. N'dw' leave 'me1, I should, like a quiet evenings tell th&ni ed ,ddwnstairß; ; me sP'm^ i€& here, and let no one'disteb'in'e.' ' I Shall also sfey* at Kome t'o-ni^Bt, sKall I?' ■ ' ' '■-;■ ■ • ■ ' •1 'Nd-, no",' irife'rrupfed' the Frenphwqmah,. fikihg, 'do not, I p'ftiy you, ask me any queßtibns iriow. 1,1 may be deceived, I may deceive you, I prbmise^you, I promise you, I sw'Sar £0 you, I will tell you all aii no distanfc' time.. Now/ looking at her wabch,' ' ypu musb dre"ss if you are going bub tonight. , ? "6h, no, ploase" go ojub, Melahiej. and ionjoy yourself. Take Elise wibh you, if you •like. Pi?ay do?' , ,- -,' ♦Thank you, chore, chore madomoisella;; and the Frenchwoman kissedl the white iaridan'd'pabted it X and then, as ther young, girl'resumed*her aeafc by the bable,. the curtiairied ctoor opened' and shut, and the French woman. ha<i departed. ,„. ; . (To'he Continued,J'