REAL ROMANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume L, Issue 5138, 2 April 1919, Page 3

REAL ROMANCE.

ROU.SEABOUT AND HEIRESS.

GILGANDRA’S WAR STORY

A romance that has every element in it.for a.' first-clas novel, but the fasts of which are guaranteed at their at their source, is being related widely in Bathurst. It concerns the rise of' a young rousoabout on a Gilgandra station to a position of fame in England, and his pending marriage to a young lady who, in the early days of the acquaintance, was not permitted to tune.

The story goes back several years. The young lady was 17 years old at the time, and resided in a western town. On one occasion she visited her uncle’s station at Gilgandra,. the old man having made much money out of sheep-raising. It was here that she first n#et her intended husband, at that time doing service as a general handy .man round the place. One thing that, lie became noted for was his natural genius in the mechanic’s line. He was reputeTT as capable of handling any job from a sewing machine to a station pump, via the shearing machines or household windmill. He was regarded with genuine favor in the home till the niece came along. Glances were exchanged, and it was not long before the two seemed to display mutual affection. The aunt came into the drama at this stage, and insisted on chaperoning the girl cjosely, while the young man was given the direct hint that if he did not turn his thoughts in some other direction he would find himself out of a "job. And that was what happened. He got clear of the station, and the young lady went home. The uncle and aunt were then satisfied that the whole business had been cleaned up satisfactorily. The handy man returned . to his home in South Australia, and allowed his engineering capacities to have full play. He went to work with on© of the big engineerinfg firms. Meanwhile the girl went to England with her parents, who were well off, and had a general look, round th® world.

Then tho war broke out. The exfarm hand threw down his tools and bolted for the recruiting office. Being accepted, he .went into camp with a company of engineers, but on reaching the other side was transfered to the Royal Flying Corps, in which he rose to the rank of a commander. Not only did ho perform well with the company., but he went in for inventing, with the result that a useful contrivance found acceptance by the authorities. The young lady was still in England and she too, went in for war work. Her health however, gave away, and she afterwards returned' to Australia. In the meantime two relatives had died and bequeathed her a fortune mentioned as close on £IOO,OOO. Next April she wil leave for England to fill in the final chapter, the wedding arrangements having 'been completed already. The -uncle and aunt have lived to see the culmination of her but they have left the Gilgandra district.