A GOOD CROP.

Evening Star, Issue 7403, 24 December 1887, Page 3 (Supplement)

A GOOD CROP.

[Specially Written for the ' Star.']

Having plenty of time and a little money at my disposal, I was looking about me for remunerative employment for both. In these times of bankruptcies and relief works, it seems little short of folly to look for either; for, whereas on the one hand employment of capital means total loss of the same, on the other employment of labor means village settlement at Catlin River, a brand new pick and shovel, and 4s 6d a-day. However, my attention was drawn one day to an advertisement in a country newspaper of the sale, through bankruptcy, of 500 acres of growing oats. Here was the very thing wanted—employment of capital, unlimited employment of labor, and any amount of risk to spico the whole affair. I attended tho sale, invested in the speculation, and at once jumped in medias res into all tho doubts and troubles of the farming community, where an hour before it was immaterial to me, save perhaps for some temporary inconvenience, whether it rained, blew, snowed, or thawed—whether the thermometer stood at 120" in the shade or 32 in the sun. I now shuddered even if a mist tell, fearing a wet summer, or, two days together of bright sunshine, a dry one; scanned the papers daily, watching markets as to whether oats had a downward or upward tendency, whilst cablegrams in reference to the "European situation" seemed indited on purpose to madden me—one day "a Continental war being inevitable," and the next "the countries were disarming, as peace was certain for the next twelve months at least." I was soon in the midst of my harvesting, the busiest portion of the whole year's rotation of agricultural work. One evening, about " knocking-off time," I was told that there was a swagger inquiring for work, and I sent for him to join us at supper. He was a tall, well-built, gentlemanly fellow, about twenty-three years of age, with fair hair and moustache, and carried a beard of a day or two's growth. His clothes were such as worn by gentlemen tourists, with hat to match, slightly shabby, as from their unusually rough treatment. His blanket and swag, however, were quite en regie. Being short of a hand I engaged him.' His habits, train of thought, and style of speech were evidently not on all fours with the other " hands"; and, with the exception of at meal time or during work hours, he steadily avoided them. It was evident that he was not of their class, but their jealousy was aroused and kept at fever heat because in all things ho outstripped them. In strength he was a Hercules, though his gentleness could not be excelled by any woman. As a horseman, he was a centaur; his seat was so firm no horse could throw him. I felt interested in him. It was impossible to do otherwise. He was a thorough workman and an honest one. When absent on other business, it was my custom to leave bim in charge. The others, though hating him, dreaded him. He could box like Mace, and wrestle like Dinnie.

Acioramodation in our camp was rather limited. I had a tent to myself, and offered him a share of it, which ho accepted. During the time he was with me our conversation never went beyond the bounds of the subject of our work. Further than that we never talked. At first I used to indulge in a few generalities to draw him out, but he never replied, and I soon discontinued. He was unhappy ; I was sure of that. A look of pain would sometimes overshadow his face that was pitiable, but that was all. One night, when I was lying awake in the tent dreading the wind would rise higher and 'Gladys." We only know him as Jack. One is not too particular as to the names of the hands in a harvest field.

At length my grain was stacked and the men paid off, and I was away to town for a spell until the threshing-mill would be ready to come to mo. Whilst striking the tent, preparatory to my departure, an envelope blew away in the wind. I picked it up and read on it " Herbert Onneroyd, Presteign." Whilst travelling in the train to town I was endeavoring to coax " tired nature's sweet restorer" to while away the weary hours; but "balmy sleep," if disposed to be coaxed at all, was unable to cope with its antidote—noise—occasioned by the loquacity of two ladies seated near me. Evidently the elder one did not travel very frequently, and was not very well posted up in local history ; and the younger one, having a very patient listener, was giving her all the latest pieces of information connected with her neighborhood. Many subjects were commenced, talked out, and dropped ; but one seemed more interesting than any of its predecessors. It was examined from all points ; facts were stated, probabilities suggested, finales prophesied, and the whole subject thoroughly threshed out. As the conversation was carried on in the usual tone of voice, and the ladies were sitting on the next seat to myself, it was impossible for mo not to hear what they said ; and I certainly must admit that, in their last topic, I began to take considerable interest. It appeared from what the youngsr lady said, that a wealthy Dunedin merchant had a property in the neighborhood of Waipapa to which he was accustomed to take his family, to spend a few weeks in the summer, where they could enjoy the pleasures of seabathing and a country life. A young lady of very pleasing appearance had recently arrived from the Old Country, and was staying with Mr Boyd's family, but whether as a visitor or paid companion was unknown. The family had stayed at Waipapa nearly the allotted time, and were arranging to return to town, when their journey was hastened by a remarkable incident. A fresh "hand" had been recently .taken on, and was employed one morning trimming the lawn. The young ladies, including the visitor, having determined to take a walk in the garden, had not proceeded very far when they came upon the new workman face to face. At the first glance of the lady visitor it was evident she recognised him ; she nttered a low scream, turned deadly pale, and seemed almost as though she would faint, but recovered herself by a great effort. The recognition was mutual. He murmured some name too low to be heard, and moved slowly away. On the young lady's return to the house she became so indisposed that it was found necessary to return to Dunedin immediately, and the whole family left ou the following day. In answer to an inquiry from the elder lady, the younger one stated that the visitor's name was Gladys Trembath. This to me was indeed a revelation, and roused my curiosity to the highest pitch. In answer to further inquiries the narrator stated that she knew no more. Who could this workman have been? Could he have been my quondam employe" Jack ? He would have had ample time since he left me to reach Waipapa and obtain employment there. Time passed on. My grain was threshed and ready for sale, but unfortunately there was a glut in the market, and the price was desperately low. I was advised to ship it to England, and determined to do so, and further, to accompany it on its voyage. My journey to England was uneventful. After an average voyage we reached London. I found a fairly good market for my grain, and when my business was disposed of I began to think it was time to look up some of my relations.

When 1 left England some fifteen years ago, my brother was an article'd clerk to a solicitor in a country town in Shropshire, and from letters I received from him occasionally I knew that he was still living there. Little time elapsed before I was sitting in a first-class carriage, on the Great I Western Railway, travelling at the rate of Bixty miles an hour, on my journey to Freateign, at which pleasant little town I arrived at about six in the evening. As night was falling I hastened to my brother's residence, a three-storey red brick dwelling, forming one of a terrace so frequently seen in English country towns, the ground floor evidently being used for the purpose of an office. On inquiring for my brother and announcing my name I was duly welcomed by an elderly female, who, I afterwards was informed, was his housekeeper. She told me that my brother had been called away on business, but was expected back shortly to dinner, and ushered me into a remarkably snug little parlor. In the course of an hour my brother returned and gave me a hearty welcome. We sat down to dinner, and afterwards retired to the parlor, where, under the mild stimulation of a prime cigar and the slightest

sensation of " three star" hot, we gave each other our experiences. Mine were soon told, and I listened attentively to the narration of his. He had stayed with the lawyer to whom he had been articled for several years, first as clerk and afterwards as partner; andonthedeath of the old gentleman had taken over the whole business. His most valued client was a nobleman who resided in the neighborhood, to whom he was legal adviser, factor, and, indeed, factotum; and at the present time this nobleman's business required considerable attention; indeed his absence this evening had not been unconnected with it. Under the promise of great secrecy on my part he Informed me that his patron was the only son of his parents, and at twenty-one years of ago was forced into a marriage of convenience with the daughter of a neighboring landholder. This marriage turned out unhappily, and Lady Mersey died some year or so after giving birth to a son. The heir, however, grew apace, and [ passed through all the stages of the nursery, Bchool, and university, spending his vacations at home with his father at Mount Mersey. The father's housekeeper was the guardian of an orphan niece, who spent most of her timo at school, but it frequently happened that her holidays occurred about the samo time as young Herbert's. As children they were allowed to play together, and meeting each other for a limited time year after year it became an event long looked forward to ; they saw just enough of each other to make them feel interested in one another. At last the denouement arrived. Herbert loved the housekeeper's niece, and was determined to declare his affection, His was no spontaneous love, the birth of a moment, which would die away as quickly —no sudden fascination by a pretty fuce, to bo removed by the superior beauty of another. The girl, though beautiful enough to satisfy the most exacting ciitic, had qualities far superior to mere beauty; and theaspirationsand hopesof the young people were bound up entirely in each other. The young heir, although fearing his father would revcr give his permission for him to marry so far beneath him, detetermined to brave his wrath, and, obtaining an interview, explained his business. Herbert expecting an explosion, little anticipated the manner in which his father received the explanation. He became so agitated that he was unable to continue the interview. My brother was sent for, and instructed by Lord Mersey to communicate to his son the facts of the birth of the housekeeper's ward, and the impossibility of him ever marrying her. It appeared that the young widower had not been altogether immaculate, and had formed an intimacy with a young woman in a neighboring town, the consequence of which was the birth of the young lady in question. This woman had given way entirely to evil courses, and wascontinuallymakingdemands on the purse of his lordship, and threatening exposure. At last, when the child was about two years old, she arrived one evening at Mount Mersey, making fresh demands and fierce threats. A considerable sum of money was given her, the child was taken from her, and she was seen no more.

The shock of this information to Herbert was terrible. The fact that at one time they had premeditated private marriage was appalling in the extreme. What fearful crime had they not avoided by a hair's breadth ? It was impossible for him to alter his feelings, and regard his idol with brotherly affection in exchange for that of a lover. The trial was too great for him to bear, and he disappeared. It was surmised that he had gone on a walking tour on the Continent, a source of amusement in which he sometimes indulged, and which, under the circumstances, would be the best thing he could do, it affording him plenty of exercise and change to combat against a troubled mind.

The particulars were considered too terrible to impart to the girl, whose only knowledge was that she had been abandoned by her lover, and she had to bear her heartbreaking in silence. A change being necessary for her, and a sea voyage being recommended, an offer, which was accepted, was made by a leading colonist, who had been introduced to Lord Mersey, and was with his family staying at Mount Mersey on a visit, preparatory to a return to New Zealand, that she should join his party and stay for a time in the Colony. But the most remarkable thing of all was what had occassioned my brother's lateness at dinner to-day. He had been called, in company with Lord Mersey, to the hospital to take the depositions of a dying woman. On their arrival there, they were surprised to find that the patient was the former flame of his lordship in his salad days, and that from all appearances she had little time to live. In her depositions she stated that the child left with Lord Mersey was not the daughter of either of them (her own baby having died three months previously to her last visit), but -was stolen for the purpose of extorting money from his lordship, she having an idea that he would merely give her money for its support; but his liberal oifer of money to settle the bargain and deliver up the child so staggered her that she could Bee no way out of it but to let matters take their course. But when she felt that she was nearing her end, she hastened to Mount Mersey to relieve her conscience' before she died. With respect to the abduction of the child, she stated that she stole it out of a perambulator standing at the door of a shop in one of the principal streets in Brighton ; the attendant evidently having gone inside to make a purchase. As Eoon as she reached her lodgings, to avoid detection she destroyed the whole of the garments worn by the-child, with the exception of one article which at the time escaped her notice. This she had kept, and now produced. It bore upon it the letters " E.T."

This of course, as my brother said, put another phase on affairs. In reply to my inquiries as to their names, he told me that that of the young heir was Herbert Ormeroyd, whilst the young lady was known as Gladys Trembath. I then informed him under what circumstances I had met with Lord Mersey's son, as there was now no doubt of the identity of "Jack," and of the manner in which he met Gladys on the property of Mr Boyd (he being the gentleman with whose family she had come to New Zealand). The next morning my brother drove me over to Mount Mersey and introduced me to his lordship, who was overjoyed at the turn things had taken, and delighted at news of his son at this juncture, to whom he was indeed devoted, and, now that no sanguineous or legal difficulty stood in the way, he would not object to Herbert's marriage, although his bride's birth was shrouded in mystery. Lord Mersey determined to proceed to New Zealand immediately in search of his son, and asked me to accompany him and give him my assistance, to which I assented. The next steamer on the berth was the N.Z.S. Company's Waiwera, which was to leaveontheiollowingSaturday. Ilostnotimc in securing two passages, and on the day appointed his lordship and I embarked. My seat at table placed me in close proximity to a lady a little over middle age, but whose hair had whitened evidently before its time, and whose mild face bore the chastening effects of grief. She was travelling alone ; but was about to accept a pressing invitation of some years standing to pay a lengthened visit to one of the principal personages in the Colony. Seeing her comparatively lonely position, I felt constrained to pay her what little attention I could, and perform for her such necessary offices as were beyond her strength. One of them was carrying her chair from her cabin to the deck, where in fine weather the passengers would pass most of their time in reading and conversation.

When sitting near her one evening, enjoying the beauti 28 of a tropical sunset, possibly affected by the softening effects of the surroundings, she gave me her confidence so far as to impart to me the facts of her most serious trouble. Her hnsband, who had been an official of some importance in the Home Government, had been dead four or five years, but the great sorrow of her life was that their only child had been stolen. This shocking event she had never been able to get over. Had the child died, she would have patiently bowed to the will of a Divine Power; but the thought that her child might bo alive and in danger or trouble and that she was unable to rescue or assist her, was too terrible for her to boar. In answer to my inquiries as to the particulars of the abduction, she informed me that the family were staying at Brighton at

the close of the parliamentary session, and that on one afternoon the nurse was sent out in charge of the little one, then two years of age, in a perambulator, and, being interested in some trifling articlo in a shop window, left her charge in the perambulator at the door of the shop, whilst she proceeded inside to make her purchase; on her return the perambulator was empty, the little girl was never seen again. Inquiries were made, but of no avail. She said that there were no marks by which she could identify the child except those on the little garments she wore at the time, which were the letters " E.T." forming a monogram, and worked in silk.

Excusing myself for a few moments, I went below and desired his lordship to favor me with the little garment belonging to Gladys. On showing it to Mrs Turner sho became very excited, and recognised it as her own work and as forming one of the garments worn by her. child at the time of its abduction. She demanded from mo the reason of its being in my possession. I was of course only too pleased to give her full particulars, and from the circumstances of the loss of her child and tho abduction of Gladys being exactly alike th 3 monogram placing the matter beyond doubt —it was evident that Gladys Trembath was Ethel Turner.

On the arrival of the steamer at Dunedin Mrs Turner was at once conducted to the house of Mr Boyd, where Miss Trembath was still staying. Great indeed was the surprise of all upon the facts being made known. Mrs Turner was fairly enraptured to have found so charming a daughter, and Gladys equally so at possessing such an affectionate mother.

Lord Mersey, although highly pleased at the present state of affairs, was the more impatient to take up the search of his son without delay; and we lost no time in making full inquiries for him. Placards bearing his photograph and offering a large reward for his identification were posted in every public place; the police were communicated with and mado diligent search; and after a lapse of two months Herbert Ormeroyd was found on a station in tho North Island, where he was engaged as stock-rider.

No time was lost in communicating to him the fullest and latest particulars. The meeting between the young heir and his Gladys—now Ethel Turner, a young lady of high birth—must have been of the most affecting nature. It was arranged that they should all return to England immediately, when a marriage between Herbert Ormeroyd and Ethel Turner would be solemnised as soon as necessary arrangements would allow. Before long I had the honor of waving my hat in farewell to his lordship and his son and Mrs and Miss Turner as the steamer on which they had embarked was leaving the pier at Port Chalmers. I can congratulate myself that I had the heartiest thanks of all parties, to say nothing of something more substantial for my share in the transactions; and that, taking all things into consideration, I had had A Good Croi\