Winifred's Sacrifice

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 31, 6 February 1900, Page 6

Winifred's Sacrifice

'■ By-i/CRS GEOEGIE SHELDON /jflt ■ ■ ■. ■"•--" Attili^f oi "The Magio Cfuneo," "Little Mia* Whirlwind," "Brownie's TriUtoph," "Stella Eosevelt," "Queen SesV 1 'Tie Golden Key," "A Girl la v Thousand," etc.

CHAPTER X^Vni.

iWHBN THE MORNING OF . .£HE "TENTH" ARRIVED THE RECLUSE PROCEEDED TO CONDUCT LIEUTENANT WOODMAN BACK TO CIVILIZATION. As the young man stepped forth from the dwelling he found himself in a narrow passage, with great rocks and boulders all about him, while the lipuse itself also seemed like a great rock. Indeed, it w;es constructed out of j rooks; the spaces between which had | been spanned by the trunks of small trees and then ingeniously covered or filled in with earth and smaller boulders and stones, and among which grasses and bushes had grown, or 'been planted in such a. way that no one would ever have dreamed that it was the aibode of human beings, for even the windows, which admitted light to it, had been so effectively concealed as to escape detection.

Turning to the left Mr. Hawkins 'began to mount upward by a succession of small boulders which nature might have piled there, but which, upon studying- their position carefully, Roger felt sure had been put there . for the- purpose which they served.

. TJp and up they went between perrpendicular walls until tfhey all at once came out upon a plateau or a great •barren surface, like a shelf set in the side of the mountain, that overlooked an expanse of country be.low, and, tall peaks beyond -which drew an exclamation of 'mingled wonder and delight from our hero. ■,-.:.' Beiind and above them the eminence they were on towered higher ans 2iig-her for hundreds of feet,, while to all appearance they stood upon an overhanging ledge from wMch at the first glance, there seemed no way of escape, either up or down. ■....' Below them the wall or face of the mountain appeared to be almost perpendicular, and at the base of it there flowed what was now a river, but which, at the time that Roger met with his accident had been only a small stream.

. /Beyond this thje ifeirtile -country stretcthed for miles to other^mguntains, while midway, looking like the toy houses of a child, could be disting-uish-: cd. the buildings belonging to Farlow Kanch,

"This is marvellous!" ejaculated Hoger, jn a wondering tone, "but how in the name of all that is wonderful did you ever scale thisi mountain to make a dwelling- here, much more to (bring my inanimate body to what, you ihave rightly termed your "eerie?" "That is'the secret to which' only one other besides myself holds the key," Mr. Hawkins smilingly replied. "But sit down," he added, as he mor itibned toward a convenient boulder, "rest yourself and get ycyur fill of air, sunshine, and view.. It is a glorious day, and the picture which Nature has laid out before us is from this point one of the grandest I have ever seen."

Eoger obeyed the command to sit, for the ascent had been quite a tax upon his strength, wihile he breathed in the pure, fresh air, and basked in the sunshine which flooded the spot •with a warmth and cheer that .gladclened his heart.

"It certainly is grand!" he replied to his companion's observation; "but -with a, glance around, upon the barren rocks which showed no signs of vegetation, save a growth of low, stunted pines and spruce—"l cannot imagine tow you ever existed in this desolate place." "That is easily explained," said Mr. IBawkins. "You will observe that, lower down, near the base of the mountain, vegetation is quite luxuriant. Many of the trees in yonder Taelt of woodland bean nuts of various kinds in abundance, and there are many ways of making them useful for food, There are. also many varie--ties of berries and small fruits which grow luxuriantly. Tihese gathered, in' their season and dried or put up in jars or bottles are nutritious and delicious the year round.. Yonder streajn, is full of fish; the woods abound in ganne, while, by means of a canoe, when the stream is swollen, as at present, we can make the town of in a couple of hours, and where provisions of all kinds can be obtained Parlow Ranch, ten miles away can also •be easily reached in the same way, and by.a walk of five miles." "Do you often go to Farlow Ranch?" queried Roger.' "jSTo, very rarely; only when an emergency drives me there," his companion returned; too frequent visits would subject me to too many questions which I might not care to answer. I should not have gone there yesterday, only I knew that the place is more easily reached jfrom your post than any other point along1 the river, for no vehicle could get over the rough ground without a liability to accident, to say nothing about the jolting for you." Roger wondered how he was ever going to make the five-mile walk to Farlovv Ranch over this same rough gTound; but he did not put the question, for he had the utmost confidence in the good friend who had already proved himself so competent to overt come difficulties. They spent a couple of hours on / the plateau enjoying the sunshine and conversing upon various topics, and then went below for dinner, which to Roger's sharpened appetite seemed the most delicious meal he had ever jeaten." ■•■ » ■■•"*'; Afterward be had a. long" and refreshing sleep, and on w-akung found Mr, Hawkins reading beside a rude table, upon which there was a chess--board, with the men arranged ready for action.

lie gave a laugh of satisfaction as lie espied them, whereupon Mr Hawkins looked up from his book and nodded knowingly.,.

" You said one day that you liked

chess," he observed, "so I fished among my partner's belongings until I found his board and men. I thought they would help to pass away the time while we were waiting for the tenth."

They pteyecj several games, and afterward, Vken the recluse arose to prepare their evening meal, he put a recent payer into, the young man's hands.

" You we,re too tired to read last night;" be said, " so I kept it for this evening." Rqger seized it eagerly au4 was soon absorbed in its contents. It seemed an age since h.e had heard anything from the outside world, and what he read now only served to increase a hundred-fold his impatience to get back to camp among his comrades once more.

Every day after that they went together to t&e plateau, sometimes taking a,book, along from which they would read aloud jn turn, but often pausing in their occupation to discuss various questions which suggested themselves! while Eoger wondered, more and mqre, wfeat possible affliction or necessity could have driven this man into the wilderness to become such a recluse. Every day only served to prove more clearly that he was far above the average man, that he possessed rare qualities of mind that had been highly cultivated and that he had seen much of the world and good society. He was often very sad, and now and then would drop some remark which led Roger to surmise that he had met with bitter disappointments iii life. .

'But ho never referred directly to his past nor spoke of any relatives or friends save his " partner," who was, still a nupiele&s quantity, as far as our hero was concerned.. Since his. .host had intimated that their abode and their object in burying themselves in that strange locality, isolating themselves almost wholly, from all mankind, was a secret, t-Kfe- .young man rigidly respected it, anil never once exhibited the slightest curiosity regarding their identity or affairs. \ " . • ■ 'In spite oi Mr Hawkins' indefatigable exertions to help his guest kill time, the days seemed interminably and to creep by at a snail-like pace, and yet Roger realised that the man .had been very wise to detain him as he "had-done/for, although he cpntiniied io gain rapid)}', he knew that it would fa* his strength in no small degree to make the journey that was before, him, At last the morning of the tenth dawned, and right gloriously.. Mr Hawkins served a nice breakfast about eight o'clock and informed Roger that ne was ready to accompany him upon t&e first stage, of his expedition. "•-;.'• „ " And now, Lieutenant Woodman, he said, as they- wifre .about, to start, "the tjme has come when'l am forced to let, you into another important S eorefc-tha,fc of how to .leave and enter this retreat; but "—looking him earnestly in the eye-^.as before I feel that I can trust you implicitly, Roger extended his hand and met his look frankly and steadfastly. " Mr Hawkins, I aro blind and dumb to whatever I may see or hear, and there is my hand upon it," he said, with earnest candour. The man grasped it warmly. "Thank you—you are an honest ieilow and a gentleman," he said, adding^ with evident emotion, "and I am more sorry than you will ever know that, you are going out of my lite, for you have made a bright ritt in the dark cjouds that envelope mine, during the few weeks that you have been with, me." "Ana you surely have been niy good 'genii'; now pray tell me what return 1 can make for what you have done for me," said Roger in a tone of grave .appeal.. "Don't mention anything of the kind, my young friend, for you have made the two months just past the happiest that I have known for many years. Ah ! I once had " He cut himself short and drew himself up with. 4 resolute ajr, but he was White to his lips, Roger saw that some tender yet painful memory b^d been aroused, but he possessed too much delicacy to seek to penetrate the mystery that enveloped him. ''•But is there nothing that I can do for■"ydlf'in the wprld to which I am going bagk ? Can I bear no message to any one from you, or transact any business for you ?" he questioned earnestly. "I wish there was, Lieutenant Woodman; I would gladly entrust yon with it, for; I cap understand something of how you feel ; but no— I am pruetjeally dead to the world and «U whom I "have ever known and —and must' remain so for all time. Xpw"—with an effort and a proud uplifting1 9i his head—" are you ready ?" It was as if he had reached a, point beyond whjch he could not go, and Roger felt his throat in spite of his manhood, in view of some secret sorrow which had evidently ruined a great and good man's life. "All ready,'' fte responded quietly, while his glance wandered around the humble room, where he had faced a critical turpjng point in his own life, in a mute farewell.

Mr Hawkins turned, bidding him follow, passed out into the kitchen and opened the half door which had been previously mentioned and beyond which Roger, now saw two miners' torches standing upon a shelf, lighted and ready for use. One of these the recluse handed to Roger, the other he j appropriated to himself. I Then, passing by the pile of wood, he direct ed his companion to close the door behind him and after him, keeping ns close as he could in order that he uvght get the benefit of. both torches, for he might find the way they were going rough and uneven in some places. ... .. (To be Continued,)