Original Story

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 3174, 19 June 1900, Page 2

Original Story

FOR HER SAKE, Bt Habozj> Bbxbs. I. ' The winter sun was einHng on the heavy leaden clouds over the western Aberorombie rangM.- Itr rays fellfull on' the weather' beaten slabs and brown bark roof of a superior style of bush house, und fliokered on the faces of two youug persons, who were sitting on a form by the door side. One waa • tall, handsome young man, unmistakably a young squatter or perhaps a stockman, his costume nio*t decidedly suggesting tho saddle. He had been out all day, bringing in cattle from *he mountains, and was enthusiastically telling his exploits, while his fingers played with the heavy thong of a stockwhip, and in his clear dark eye there was a light not wholly derived from the raysofthe sunshine. The girl looked as if she knew this ; her mild eyes were veiled by drooping lashes, and the delicate tint on her cheek, gave way to a pallor for which his remarks did not give lier an opportunity of •reuse. ' The why and because I called here Lena, ' .he began to explain, as if by way of apology for calling. 'Well, the mare burst a girth coming down the Oaky Ridge, and of course I guessed your father might give me the loan of another.* *He is out on the run. ' she said. ' Sou are not in a harry, Richard,' she coju tinned, blushing crimson. ♦ Father will not be back for some time.' 'Then I can't ask him, for certain; and there's another thing I've been thinking about for some time.' 'Indeed!' •Yes, indeed, father talks of living in Sydney, in a warmer climate, and making the station over to me.' 'Yes.' ' And I was just thinking to get also Lin ton's notion about putting stock on, you know.* This idea was rather extraordinary, as tho • Plains Station' was the best grazing country in the district and Mr. George Hastings run carried more cheep and cattle than he weil knew how to look after in the cold seasons, and even more than any other squatter for miles round. ' That is funny' she said, and, for the first time looking into his eyes : ' I wonder -what what kind of animals you intend to have.' For a minute Dick was taken back, looking rather confused as he fidgeted on hi? seat. ' Well,' he gaid at length, ' and mother thinks its about time I managed for myself ! she can't always be minding me.' ' No, I suppose not. But what is that to do with the Btook ?' she asked laughing very much. •Nothing at all' he replied rather pettishly; and he got up from his seat in a bashful bush style, saying that he must go. • Oh, don't go ', the mare has not finished her feed ; Dick, you have been waiting for | fathei, he can't be long,' she said, holding ' out her hand. i He gently took her extended dainty hand j in his, while his big heart beat faster than ever it had before, thrilling him with a nervous and anxious bensation. I ' Lena, 1 he whispered, almost inaudibly ; he could not speak any more for a moment then he gained fresn courage ; ' Lena ' he Baid again, have we not been playmates from childhood. I have loved you always. sometimes hoping that you did not mine] liking me.' She did not answer him, and bent her blushing face lower, under the strong exaitement. ' Lena, look at me ; I cannot speak words soft enough to tell you all ; my tongue drags like a wheel with the skid on ; say, c-.n you love me a little ? and that it is not Jack Dalton youoarefor most.' 'Why do you speak to me like that, Dicfcf* ■he said, aa her voice trembled with emotion . 4 If ever I did think of him, it's over now, do you believe that I would listen to a man who had treated a girl as he did, no matter whatever she may have been ? ' I did not mean to offend you, Lena,' he ■aid ooaxingly.' ' I somewhat fancied you were cutting me out and I did not lik* it.' Her dark eyes were penetrating his ; she understood the meaning of his bush simile. 'It was not nice reminding me of something I had almost forgotten. I blame inj ■elf for all Jack Dalton' s improper conduct. Had 1 not given him hops to his wishes, he might still have retained a good name. 1 ' Then you have a lingering liking for him, and pity ' He could not continue saying that which he intended, when thos* beautiful eyes were fixed on him and mesmerising his own. 1 You are mistaken ; I do not feel pity fohim,' she said, boldly ; ' but rather despise myself for the vain and foolish gratification.' ' I can't see that you are to blame,' he muttered. Jack was a fine a fine young fellow,' be went on, as his jealousy disappeared. ' Any girl might have been proud of a lovr-r like him, before he behaved so basely. 1 liea.z:43. lie took iaj> -w-itK bad company and ■fcoo'k to drinking : why, sometimes, I feel almost inclined that way.' ' Oh, do not Bay that, Dick, when you have such a happy borne, and a good mother too ; why, what reason could you have ?' He knew why her face became saff used with scarlet blushes, as she bent down to take up tho loose end of his stockwhip ; and then a wise thought struck him as be suw the curve of her whapely neck ; with a sudden impulse he leaned down and kissed her, • bringing the color again quickly to her temples. But she did not move away. The sun was setting behind the mists ruing in the gullies of the mountains, as they sat together watching the pink clouds changing to darker Lues over che misty ranges. Their hearts vere happy in the knowledge of each other's reciprocity of loving tenderness, and under the influence of the stillness of the scene aud the soft lig-hc of approaching' evening. '-faey remained), hawi in hand, unheeding "the rapidly fleeing minutes. Soon a movinsr shadow issued from a elninp of trees, casting its figure along the path leading from the entrance gates, and a man was seen with a careworn face and a fatigued appearance. It was a form each instantly remembered, after a long ab fence. . Many changes had the poor wanderer experienced, and rough times had often been his sad lot, since his last walk up to the old house. Something made him hesitate in his walk for a moment, and he turned, and hurriedly retraced his steps, as if to avoid recognition. It waß too late, the young man and the girl knew it was John Dalton. At length the great fete of the whole world was soon expected amid active prepartions for the wedding which would take place at the ' Plains Station.' Lena Linton was of ten required thereon gome pretence and nothing was done before consulting her. ' "' * T n. . Bidirg gently np the mountain gorge on • fine an nmer day *he was thinking of whisp^i'rtd " words she knew by heart, when her meditations were suddenly disturbed by tbe presence of a man wh- stepped into the narrow roadway. l 'Lena, may I v speak to you P 1 Jaok Dalton said, almost preventing her progress. ' I've been waiting to see you, before I leave tor ever. That evening I saw yoa and Biohard M^tUy itttinff outside the horn* hut

sealed my fate. Baton then I cherUhed the ltope that in time you wooU like mm. Tha long timal waa fttny I Mptntftd and inftttfttl •ad determined to return and hew from your ownlipethsfinalyesorno; also to explain oertain miaoonoepttans. Instead of which I found you had forgotten me ; perhaps you . were justified in your oonoluaions, 1 may not hay« made yon so good a husband. Lena, all my v love was gran you. It was useless, and now I presume all is over between oil foJever.' ' Have you finished P' she said,' scornfully. • I wonder at your aseiiranoe, after the base manner in whioh you have acted, and:' the ruin you have wrought on a poor The horse dashed past, while he stood mute with confusion. When she arrived at the Flainß her first i thoughts were to inform Riohard of the meeting with John Dalton, but she could not find it in her heart to trouble him bo ; and on her return ride there was a sadness on her part,, which seemed unaccountable to her lover. It was Lena's" custom to remain on moonlight nights until the last eohoes of the horse's hoofs were faint in the distance. This evening she heard, wafted in the clear mountain air, words that produced a fear in her breast. It was John Dalton speaking in unmistakable and threatening language. 1 Yes,' he exclaimed. ' She kissed and embraced him aa bis wife might do. I saw them in the moonlight. I was thrown over for him ; perhaps she never cared for me. I could have killed them both, and was very near doing it too. But I swore to have satisfaction some day.' Who could he be talking withP she strained her eyes into the dim distance, bat the voices became fainter, as they receded from her ear. During the night there had been a change in the weather ; snow had fallen, which was unusual at that time of year. The morning revealed no better prospects of milder weather. The'men and rousabouts were dispatched to drive tho sheep and cattle into a position of safety. Lena knew that Dick would most probably be on the ranges, bringing in the stray sheep, and for the present away from the vengeance of John Dalton. The storm still kept on, the snow falling all day, Mount Koskiusko hiding its towering companion pinnaole in the fleecy falling atoms. DickandJack, whom he bad with him, decided to return homewards as the drifts, carried by heavy gusts of wind, began to fill up the uneven, ground ; they bad some miles to travel, sometimes having to halt and deoide which route they should choose ; frequently they waded above their knees in snow ; the driving snow beat into their faces, so that nothing could be distinguished more than a few yards in front, but they had to proceed on, or be bushed for the night, which meant death in the KosMueko Ranges. When stepping from a boulder Jack plunged into a drift of snow, sinking out ot sight. Both men were g:ood bushmen, and born near thesa mountains, and many a wild atorm had they weathered together. With much difficulty the unfortunate Jack was extrioated, but remained unconscious after every endeavour to produce animation. * I am afraid its all over with him, poor fellow,' Dick murmured, ' and he so near establishing his innocence. He has remained under the stigma of deeds committed by the scoundrel he spoke about to me last night. IS Lena had known it, I wonder if she would have chosen me.' The cold wind soon made Dick think of bis own life, but he could never abandon a man, without at least one effort to save him. The track waa all down hill, and if he could travel without crossing- a gully, be might carry Ms comrade. Stooping forward, he tried to arouse Jack, but it was of no avail. ' 1 must carry him,' he said, a? he lifted him on to hia shoulder, bnt the load was more than he bargained for. After proceeding a little distance, he stumbled over a blow of quartz into a drift. The shook awakened Jack : ho could not at first understand his position. As he opened hiß eyes his gaze fell on Dick, and to his amazement, blood appeared on his comforter and coat. It preceded from a deep cat in the side of bis head. There was an overhanging' rock jrunyab not far distant where they could have shelter until nest day. Then Jack partly dragffei and carried the wounded man to it, and commenced rubbing his hands und body to restore him. He had also received a severe i>haking. With a few pieces of stringy bark, he lighted a fire, which made them more comfortable for the night. When daylight appeared he decided to go for assistance, leaving Dick asleep. 1 If I can save him, 1 will for her sake ; he wo aid have done tb« same for me.' He scrambled through tbe white mantled bushes, and over the rough hillocks of boulder stones. Some anxiety had been felt at Plain's Station when the two young men did not return at nightfall, but it was mipposed that they had camped for the night. On the f ol - iowina: day they did not appear. Messengers were sent to Mr. Linton's, who returned without news. Then several men set out to searoh for their joung master. little knowing that a slender figure had rtnticipated their intentions. No man oould well have gone through such a storm as that of last night in the open ranges. The searchers examined 6very bush and gully for & long distance without saeceas. Still they proceeded further into tbe depths of tbe mountains, when a shriek attracted their attention — a woman's cry of borror echoed from hill to hill. Running to whepe ti»e j>ier-eixi£r cry was heard, Lee a Lin ton wa» found, transfixed by terror, bee'de tbe dead body of Joi»n Dalton, at the bottom of a ravine, and stains of blood were, upon his olothes, but they oould not fine? a wound . Then thoughts of foul play stole through their minds, and they traoked his footsteps aoross the snow to a drift distinctly showing traces of a struggle. Lena flew over the snow and roujorh ground and soon found, under a low extending rock, her own Dick Haetings, in a restless sleep, covered with Jack's coat. Going back to the dead man. they found a memorandum, in pencil, on the lining' of his hat : ' I am doing it for her sake, and trying <x> save him ; my life ie a blank now. If I fail, I hope Lena will know some day, and have a better opinion of me.' The men carefully carried the body to the house, thence to the town of Seymour, knowing? -chat he lost his life to save bis rival. Dick Hastings and Lena Lonton attended the funeral < f Jack Dalton. The marriage was postponed until early in the following year, when it waH hoped th*> bright sun of summer wonld dispel the gloom of past recollections.