(COPYRIGHT.) IN THE WAKE OF FORTUNE.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3101, 22 September 1899, Page 6

(COPYRIGHT.) IN THE WAKE OF FORTUNE.

— ——••♦■ —■ 7 — ' AR AUSTRA-IAN STORY. — ■»♦♦.■...■.■ ■. ■*7;;:.-' IAVN DEXTER. ♦— — ■ .7 CHAPTER XXXi.l^doN_i r »iJß_i7 7 —^ IX-" '-^ Trenoweth bad quite lost his spirits for lbe afternoon, though he made a brave effort | to be cheerful..);'*; :• ■'■ 7 .7- "-"■■ 7. U :'"\ Before ihe'lait'race was tub the party lisft the course to avoid the great crush of the homeward crowd. Trenoweth did not breathe _ word' to hia f riends concerning the unexpected meeting he had. Nothing-could be gained by it, but he made a mental determination to leave Melbourne as soon as he eonld conveniently do •o. :;....:>' . On the Tuesday following the Oup race Barr drew his attention to some prominent ■porting paragraphs in one of the daily news' ~ papers. These were to the effect tbat the " Ring " bad been heavily hit during the Spring Meeting and that more than one bookmaker bad proved a defaulter. The worst case was that of a man named Charles Simppon, who had bet very heavily •nd, losing, had taken French leave of his creditors. He had, of course, been " posted," but that was little satisfaction to those be owed money to. It was broadly hinted, also, tbat the man Simpson had been guilty of practices tbat might bring him within the pale of the criminal law. Iv faot, it was stated that steps were being taken by certain persons, who felt that they had been swindled, to bring Simpson to book; and it was expected that a warrant would be immediately issued for his apprehension. And this was the man for whom Ines had cast off the friends of her life I Trenoweth l thought. From private enquiries he made he ascertained bejond a doubt that Charles Simpson, the bookmaker, was identical with tbe Simpson of St. Oolumb . Gore. He also found tbat the man bad lived by his wits all his life, and never at any time bad followed pastoral pursuits. The nearest approach he bad made to that line of life was his occasional indulgence in that work known as " Seecing the lamb," but this animal was invariably n two-legged one. Edward oould not help feeling a pang of regret when he thought that the girl he had once loved was linked to such a man as Simpson evidently was ; but it was of her own free choice,and against the advice of her foster-mother. Towards the end of the week it wus agreed to return home on the following Monday. Already the old schoolmaster had outstopped the allotted time, though it had passed briefly with them. In answer to enquiries from his friend, Barr, Trenoweth could not say what his future course of action would be. He would stop a few days with his friends of Cape Barren Island. From thence he would take a run over to Launceston and also to Emu Bay, when he could go to Bischofl. After that he might perhaps return to Melbourne, but he could say nothing for certain. His movements would be irregular, he thought, as he bad no fixed plan. On the Monday the party left Melbourne for tbe islands, and, after putting Charleston off at Clarke's Island, the little bay near Ryan's was reached once more and the anchor dropped. Mrs. Ryan was mollified for the prolonged absence of her relatives by an abundance ef useful and ornamental presents which bad been brought from Melbourne for her. She was exceedingly pleased at the thought which prompted Trenoweth to take such an interest in her. Day after day the yacht remained in tbe bay, and it seemed to the crew as if the ewner was determined to make tbe desolate place his permanent home. There were, indeed, few attractions on the Island, but th. men amuied themselves by eatchiug mutton birds and fishing. Meanwhile Trenoweth was busy with his own affairs, or rather interesting himself in the affairs of Nelly Ryan. It was scarcely a surprise to any one when it became known—how noae could tell — that Edward Trenoweth was engaged to marry Nelly Ryan. Three months afterwards quite an imposing ceremony took place on Oape Barren Island. Trenoweth would not hear of the marriage taking place in Melbourne or Launces toD, but for a couple of weeks the yacht wa3 kept busy bringing visitors from those places. Prominent amongst them were Mr. and Mrs. Barr, and when the imported clergyman gave the united couplj bis blessing, there were no more sincere cangatulations than by Edward's shipmate friend and hit worthy wife.