The heir of Vering: or The Queen Lily.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 29, 3 February 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

The heir of Vering: or The Queen Lily.

by CHARLES GAEVICE, Author of "T/teMarqiris," l Wi Her iteasiwa," " Onlya,;GirEs-Love,' , '" Lorrit, or Eoll&trGold" "A Wonum's-Svur^ctc. i

CHAPTER XIII. A LETTER Jc'KOM HOME. ''Jebs. tew the minute, you bet!" remarked the landlord, not moving a peg. and the next inslant the door was thrown open witli a bang and two men entered, followed by a ..rush of cold air and a drift of snow. "Wal, old boss," e_.-d_irne<_ -the first, a short, thick-set nia_7, clq-tiaed from head to foot in furs, and having a stout leather bag strapi>ed round his waist. "Wal, old boss, gwess Fd find you all freez up- If gurhnent don't provide snowsh-oes next trip for the darned critters outside, cahlr'lalte there'll be no mails for Woshano after this date. Shot I'm tire.-d of tins cold beat. I'm going to hand in my cheques and take the Polar track fur a change." And with a cheery smile lie rubbed his hands before the lire, .'tnd showed his teeth all round. Tlie second, a tall, thin mr.n. of the true Vankec build, and rir.tesed, like the. mailmasfer. in beaver fin:, stood a little behind and peered round in silence"Jem's safe with the horses. T calc'late," resumed the mailrrra ster; "so hurry up, landlord- and serve, out the supplies. Cold night, for un empty stomach, stranger," ancl he turned to Percy. Percy assented. He had put Kyra in the corner near to the mamte.l. and had drawn bis own chair to the hack, to make room for the newcomers. "Have you come far?" "some two thousand miles," was the reply, tapping his po=i-4>ag. "ail for these. How d'ye do's. Can't think what folks want to write letters for; 'curs to mc it's a onnece.ssa.Ty nuisance that the Cov'ment' ought to put down at once;" There was a grin all round, and two of the trappers asked if there were any letters for them. "I forget,"said tlie mail-master: --ami I'm certain I shan't remember till I've had my supper. Mr. Jackson, won't you thaw?"' The tall Yankee thus addressed come forward. As he held out his hands to the fire his keen eyes shot. a glance from under their drooping lids at the face in tbe corner, and the glance, after dropping iov a moment with a startled suddenass, returned, and rested for a long, scrutinizing minute on Kyra's face. Then lie rubbed his hands slowly, drooped his head, peered for a minute in an underhand way at the stalwart figure of the Englishman, anch at last, slowly moved to the table at. which the mail-master was already attacking the stew. Eor a time there was a. silence, of expectancy, broken by the clatter of the mail-master's knife and fork, the ring of his born cup as he set, it down, the smack of his lips, and the ""Har:" of satisfaction ns a particularly rich ! piece of fat meat met. his teeth. The I companion, Mr .lack-on, ate very grc -dlily. and expressed no satisfaction whr.t-Perc-'y, comfortable and ltocuriatdng in | lhe rest and warmth, watched with i his usual grave composure, now and ! then touching Kyra's hand or stroking : her hair. I Presently, the little head drooped i against his arm. just as it had done , for many nights past ou the horse's i back. He took the child up in bis arms, and. carrying her to a large settee behind the fire, laid her gently flown, and covered her with his riding cloak, then he returned to the lire, and as he die! so noticed that the guest, Mr. .lackson, was eyeing him over tlie knife and fork with a close regard, so close and absorbed that, meeting Percy's cold, clear gaze, he seemed compelled lo speak. "Child seems tired, stranger."' he remarked, in a dry. rasping voice. "She Is very tired, almost exhausted," said Percy. "I was going to a-k the landlord if he could find some small room or cupboard in which she could get a quiet sleep." The landlord stopped and knocked his cap a little further off his bead. "Old gal's out, gone a round to a neighbour. I guess she'll fix the young critter up when she comes back, stranger." Percy expressed his thanks and took a. turn up the room; then he asked for some tobacco and took out his pipe. He filled his pouch—crammed it, and in taking a light, handed him by the. mail-master, set the pouch down on the table. The. pouch was one of those elaborate knick-naeks upon which gentlemen of Mr Chester's class continue to waste such large sums of money, silver and sealskin, with his crest silver-mounted on the front. Smoking with evident eujoyment. he paced slowly up and down. The. clatter of knives and forks was soon supplemented by that of tongues; th" room grew full of smoke. tbe landlord sauntered in with frequent relays of whisky. Percy looked at the sleeping child with grave anxiety. It will he remarked that he had not once hinted at a desire to know the name of the place in which he had alighted or the direction of the nearest large town. Percy Chester had travelled too often and variously to rush upon iuch an inquiry and so display his ignorance and bis plans until it wa.s absolutely necessary: some one of the characters might let out the information he wanted. Presently, as he stood with folded arms before the fire, the door opened and the landlord's wife entered. She was wrapped in a large cloak drawn over her head. Snow was falling fast. Percy lost no time, but with a little bow of greeting drew her attention to the sleeping child. "What's that ?" said the woman. "It's nare a child." "Yes. indeed it is, and a very tired and wean- one," said Percy, quietly. "I have been waiting your return with some degree of anxiety. Your husband tells mc he thinks you can find some little quiet nook for her to rest the night in. She will not take much room." The woman nodded. "No, that she won't," responded the woman. "Poor child, it's an ill night for such a mite. Tut, tell mc to think. Why, you've been on the trail I" she exclaimed, as her q-uick eyes noticed the snow stains on the edge of the cloak.

"Off it, rather," remarked Percy, bending over the child. "We lost our reckoning and—what is tlie matter. child. We lost our reckoning and — what, is the matter:" "Why. man. it's an Injun!" broke in the woman, dropping the cloak she had lifted, and turning with something like indignation to Percy. "Exactly," he returned with a haughty stare. "'An Injun!" she repeated. "Why, where on airth! Boss, look here,"' and she turned to her husband. "Go ahead!" he chanted, nodding at her. "Here's an Injun—a young girl—aud I've been making as much fuss as if she was this stranger's own daughter!" "Pray consider her so still if it will be any inducement 'to you to make haste in finding her a refuge for the night." said Percy. "I am willing and shall be happy to pay liberally for the best accommodation you can afford her. The child is my ward." The hesitation was slight, yet not so slight but j-t attracted or rather confirmed the attention of every soul in the room. '■Your ward, stranger?" said the mailmaster over his glass. "That's kinder queer, eh, Mr Jackson?" (To be continued daily.)