“Luky Of The Marshes”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 27

“Luky Of The Marshes”

The morning sun was bright and clear as it ehone on the Lypston Marshes. For half a mile they stretched, the bogwart with its yellow flowers making vivid splashes of colour against the sombre green of the rushes. There was a movement in the reeds, and a youth stepped out from the bog.

Luky Challis was beautiful. Nothing else could describe the fine nobility of his features, but the vacant look in the large, wide blue eyes marred its beauty. The villagers would tap their heads significantly when visitors to Lypston asked questions about the boy. “He’s simple,” they would answer, ami relate how “Mad Luky” had once danced naked in the long dewy grass of the churchyard, and when discovered by the vicar had said, “I like wet grass."

As Luky trudged away from the marshes a small brown rabbit ran to Luky, its hind leg encased in linen. Tenderly Luky picked up the little animal and began rebinding the cut paw afresh. The rabbit was but one of many other shy creatures who knew and loved Luky's gentle hands and quiet voice. Often the villagers would see Luky playing with the wild, timid marsh hens and their broods, for Luky could imitate the maiwbland birds’ cries and knew all the haunts of the wood marten, otters and water rats.

The rabbit scampered away and Luky went onward. Soon lie reached the smithy, where his father, Thomas Challis, was' recasting horse shoes on his anvil.

“Ho. there lad! Where have you been?” he shouted above the clamour of the hammer.

“I’ve been with the creatures," said Luky blushing. “The creatures are no good to you,' his father shouted. “A professor from London was here asking for you, and you're to go to ‘Red Gables.' Go. lad, inaybe he has something to show you.” “I won't go,” mumbled Luky. laughing foolishly, his blue eyes vacantly staring into the furnace. . . “don't like strange men.”

“I’ll give ye some corn for the creatures if you’ll go.” “Corn?” asked Luky. His father produced a small bag of corn. “Oh, yes! Corn !” cried Luky, snatching at the bag and running outside. Luky knocked at the door of “Red Gables,” A trim maid answered the door. “Want to see professor.” Luky mumbled. “No!" said the maid, who knew Luky by sight, “Go away, Luky.” “What's this?” asked the professor suddenly coming out from his study. “Luky won’t go away,” replied the maid, “He’s always knocking at doors,” she whispered in an undertone to the professor.

“There now, that’s all right, I asked him to come,” said the professor. Luky followed the professor into the study. When he was comfortable, Professor Swinbourne gazed at the beautiful face, and wondered at the thoughts that lay beneath its passive calm. “Luky,” he said at last, “have you ever seen a bird that is brown all over except for a greenish-grey breast and also with a hooked beak?”

Luky thought for a moment. “Yes. there are only two in the whole of the marshes. The hawks kill them ofif.” be said.

“Are you quite sure, for if you are right you have found a species of waterfowl believed to be extinct! Would you capture them for me. and bring them back alive if I gave you ten pounds?”

But Luky sprang up. “Ah! No, the dear wild creatures love and trust me, I would not betray their trust!" Luky's face was distorted with anger. “Ten pounds i« a lot of money,’ _ said Profesor Swinbourne persuasively. “Think what you could do with it.” “No!” was the passionate reply, and Luky ran, slammed the door and was in the road once more. Turning to the left he went over the boggy marshes until he reached a large clump of bulrushes. Luky put his fingers in his mouth. “Eek! Reek! Eoek! he called. In a minute the rushes parted, two little waterfowls hopped on Luky's shoulders and began to caress his neck with their bills. Two tears of delight dropped on Luky’s jersey. “Dear wild creatures,” he murmured. “You are quite safe. In the tranquil calm that settled over the marshes. Luky found peace and a great joy.— Original by Amaryllis (15), Brooklyn.