THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 23, 28 January 1911, Page 12

THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE.

4 | It was Ohe o! the hottest days- in the i summer of 1907, ahd the up-country j train was thumping and bumping along the line as if even it found the heat too much for it. The carriages were stifling, ahd any air that did come ih through the windows seemed hotter and closer than that already there. In oho of these rattling, clattering compartments sat a bright-faced girl, surrounded by a heap of discarded books and papers. Every time the traih drew up at a station (which was Very often) she would look hopefully for the name of the stopping place. ''It can't be much further,'' she murmured, as the train once more moved off wearily. "Eight hours since we started. 1 fiimply Can't keep awake any longer." Ihrowing her hat and gloves on the opposite seat, she bundled her rug together for a pillow, and, in five minutes, was perfectly oblivious to heat, flies, ahd passing stations. An hour later she awoko suddenly to find that the train had stopped. Seizing her hat, she put it on hurriedly, and, regardless of appearances, .rttßhed oh to the station. "Alton, Alton," chanted the porter, as ho leisurely walked along the dreary platform. With a Bigh of relief, the girl realised that ehe had just wakened at the right time, and she hastened to collect her belongings. The porter and stationmaster were busily engaged in exchanging the latest item of news, the only other person present being a middle-aged man in a faded suit two sizes too big for him. This individual approached the girl, and, with a sheepie^ grin, mumbled something urtintelligible. "i beg your pardon," she said. "Are you the governess?" l'he groom," she thought. "Manners don't seem to thrive ih these parts." "Yea," she afiswered, "I am going to Tooloowai Can you tell me if there is anybody here to iheet me?" 'Tve come to meet yef," ho answered, holding out a grimy hand, on which two fingers were missing. The girl shuddered, but took the portion of anatomy extended to her, ; mentally resolving that hereafter she ', would be on bowing terms only With Tooloowaite. "You'd better come along quick, for the horses are that fidgety with the flies they won't stand a minute. Got much luggage?" She pointed out her belohgihgs. Picking up moßt of them with the ease of a Bamsoh, he led the way to the trap. "The spring's broke at the back," he said, "so your^ box will 'aYe to come out next week if anyone comes in to the sale o' Friday. f 1 suppose you cah manage for a bit without your trimmin'sY" She hoped she had put the necessary "trimmin's" ih the right trunk, and said .she would try to manage without them. It was a marvellous old rattletrap, and she stood gazing at the seat, wondering how Bhe should ever climb up to it. "I'll 'elfa yer up, Miss," Said a cheery voice behind her, and Bhe was suddenly grasped by two strong, dirty hands, and lifted bodily ihto the trap. The horses started off with a bound, and she clung nervously to the side of the vehicle. "They're a bit skittish, but yer needn't be afraid when I've got the ribbons. I'd drive anythink, from a Unicorn to a crocodile, and never turn a hair." They rattled out of the station, and turned, into the road leading to the township, which noble city, consisted of the usual post office, "pub," State school, and church. There had been a hotel there once, and its blackened ruins still occupied the most conspicuous part of the town. Several little cottages lined one side of the road, but the roofs dazzled the girl's eyes, and the gardens, so-called, with their drooping plants and withered flowers, depressed her. She was thankful when they passed on into the bush again, and dodged between the never-fading, neverwithering gum trees. "Nine miles from here, is it?" she asked, rather relieved to be able to postpohe for a while .the awful ordeal of meeting strange people. Never before had she been away from home, and it was with very mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement that ehe looked forward to her arrival. "A good nine miles, and Mrs Anderson told me not to bring yer home too quick, as she wanted to get through ' with the washin' before you came, and to get the youngsters spruced up a bit. You'll find them a bit wild, I reckon. They've not done much learnin', but I should think you'd soon shake dowh to their ways. They're a fine lot, and I'm jolly proud of them. Any one of them could knock spots off those Peters kide, Who live next to us. They say Dook takes after me, though I don't think he'll ever be the man his father is. We christened him Harcourt Marmaduke Bolihgbroke, but we always calls him Dook. Sounds a bit stylish, doesn't it? There's five of 'em altogetherClara Clarissa, and Meta May, and Greta Joyce, and then there's the baby. We haven't chosen a name for her yet. Can't see ohe I like in any of the papers. What's your riame? It might do for the young 'un." "I'm^ generally called Joe— short for Josephine, you know." ehe volunteered, With an amused smile. "Joe. Oh, that's too funny!" and he roared with laughter. "Joe— why, me uncle'e called Joe, and so is the boy what does the milking. And thero's old Joe Tandy, and old Miserable Joe, and dozens of 'em. Oh, we want something above that for the youngster. I like something fine-eounding, that take* a* bit of saying. My wife wants to call her Mediterranean, but I saye it would take the young un all her life to learn to apell it. We wants you to make ladies of the girls — to teach 'em French and droring and manners, and how to do the Strand, bo they can take the pride out of them Peters kids. We fixed up the bathroom yesterday, and it makes an Al schoolroom. We never use it, bo we just put a few boards over the bath, and fastened 'em down well, and it makes a, first-rate table. We had a great time there with a snake only last week. The brute came up through the floor fiomehow, but I managed to nab him. They don't often come into the house — but we keep a gun always ready for them. That's where the Peters live. They got a governess last month, and Mni. Anderson wouldn't let mfc rest till I agreed that we should have one too. They are always trying to go one better than u/3, and Mrs. A., she don't like it. She got her aunt in Melbourne to arrange everything, and choose someone for her, and she chose you. I hope you'll suit. , You're a jolly eight better lookifig than \ the Petere's governess, anyway, and I

like your harne, though I can't get tbe hang of it. Ghol^-eomething, ifen't it?" "Oholmondelyj" ehe answered. "Ohumley, do you call it? Well, it looks a deal better thah, it sounds. AnyWay, we're not particular, ahd J should thihk you'd eooh get into our way." And co he talked on, commenting Oh the virtues and vices of the Various members of hifi family, and Tailing at "them Peters," while his companion listened and shuddered. What was she coming to! If thifi was the father, what would the pupils be like? She dared not think. He pointed out various places of intel'est as they drove along. A man had been killed here, and he gave the full particulars, a bushranger had hidden there for several days and had finally got away, though a big price was on hfa head. Here he, himself, had shot a kangaroo, there he'd found a mibsing horse. But here wafi the house ; he would drive h'ef up through the avenue. The avenue consisted of a few etunted pihee, about a hundred yards apart, but it evidently constituted one of the sights of the cotihtry in his eVfes. H« got down to. open the gate, and she took the reins for the first time in her life, and prayed that ehe would get through without damage to the trap or the gateposts. With nervous hands 6he pulled first ohe rein and theft the other, and gavft a sigh of relief as she slowly steered her way through what eeenied to her a veritable bush iScylla, and Charybdie. The gate closed with a bang, and a etartled magpie flew from almost under the horeea' noses. With a bound they bolted off, jerking the reins out of the girl's hands as they started. Up the j avenue they raCed full epeed, while far behind panted their belated owner, shrieking advice vhich it was equally impossible to hear of to make use of. Round the curves they 6wung, the vehicle running on two wheels as they turned, till suddenly, without warning", the wheels locked, and over the whole thing went. Half-an-hour later the girl opened her eyas to find herself in a low, etuffy loom. She tried to eit up and remember what had happened, but sahk back exhausted. Her head a-ched fearfully, and the pain in her arm was unbearable. Someone> came towards her. A gaunt, lean woman, with a kindly expression bent over her. "You'tfe better, are you? W© thought you'd pegged out. Take a little of this —it will do you good. I think that arm is a bit broken. PaU mending the buggy, and he'll take ytni in to-morrow to catch the first train back to town You cah't do nothing .nth a broken arm', and I haven't time to be. fooling round with sick people. I don't know much about them either — we never needs no doctoring here. That Cup is a bit j awkward without a handle, Dut it's the only china one we have. It was lucky* the rats hadn*t served that cornflour packet like they did the others. Run, away, kids, and let Miss Gholmony go toysleep. Bhe'e got to catch the six o'clock train to-motJow morning, and must get a good sleep now while she can. Another sound from you Dook, and I'll put you in the pigtub." — F.R.M., in the Australasian.