CHAPTER VI.-( Continued.)

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 62, 13 November 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER VI.-( Continued.)

Several times Walter's voice faltered, as k* read this strange letter, . and,. long before the conclusion, his mother and Sisterwere in tears. After it was read a „ lengthened silence followed. Mrs. Mantoh ;. -v*ang> and to Norah's surprise ordered her &f jur emur ttw»y, leaving only,* plate of P»,*jnt<*: apples on the .table, and the tea im3&¥*gf*i ■ «Flast, in alow, distressed tone. ffl:.* "When .Igo to Melbourne," replied \" Wiltet, "I will find her at all cost, and try to persuade her to come baok—not here, but to return to a, better life. Oh, (hat I knew her destroyer!" And his face biased with wrath. It would not have been well for the seducer to have been there then. "Walter 1" said Mrs. Mantoh suddenly. "Yes, mother." "I think it would be as -welt for you in future not to bring Tiotor here., No doubt he is right enough among men. but I hardly think, from what I hear, he is a safe visitor where an innocent girl lives." "There is. not much danger of Iris com&g," replied Walter, somewhat pained at toarnimrb, tha joatfoe of whicii lie oonld ttAlnitfoeL «I hwe tried to wean ttm from the company he keeps by bringing him here, but he always seems bored with our quiet society, and appears glad to get *f*J" $n*i mother, I think you judge him harshly, for much allowance must be made for one so handsome, and so .petted. Betides, mother," he said, in a lower tone, ''always remember, our hope was to see nia'Alios's' husband." "Te*" said. Mrs. lEmton, absently j "and th^y apyeuM to; like e*ch other. B«ti it was not to tie. l^hat sin have we oommiUed that Our punishment iB so Had Walter and his mother been able , to look into Talanga's soul they would haw had fresh cause. for tea*. Every word thsy said was a dagger-into the poor gicl't heatt, for Viotpr had Jk>ng-*-agd ponaMMd Ife unknown to,hunßel£ tunkn.oirn. tA tap. In lv» eyee there Wfla jm> m&*> toiuatoJbe»^£>»aff har^jiita x.b «aa«a"te her Admiration that he was gay, and different to ordinary humanity. Woman, thou art a, strange being I , M W*U, 1| he donH;oare for our company," I*U Mm. lUnton," nsithsr do I care lor his. I d? a£:ft ow how fcMdea came into, my head, bull'te often though*, as,he vied to lo«Age.on the sofa in that graoeiul, idle way of niftiwal jbe nssmbled a tiger preparing to •pdo| on bis victim. I never could anderi *%'»•, «>^ *h«R foam,.! ««rf i« jIMk«M « /te/>< oat o( 4a«ui <u»A SMgnyftssjoa in % way." "WiU, Tim tt»i \ima to g«V, to town" wmMktd Wallet, lookiiig at his Vatch. In **% he- wantai Jto get away, loit he flaw *hs xfop gloom thai had faflen upon the hitherto nappy eiiele. "BonVgiteve so' much; kicp yowhewlß up, for we may sft£ *&•*£. J«*l t Ctood-nighH dear SBolhix^good-hlg^t, Tally I' 1 ..Witttt always bade them good.nfght: after dmmf, at fa« seldom, taospt on Satntday «J«i«#,«>O»n«a bofa>« tiU o6« «r two o'clock, b4tag loHjr .oodtqiied with work np to that

H«. lingwed at th* gat* lor a UttU while, lotldng atthto glorious moon, which had riMB. wtll abov« th« 'horiaony/flUine aky aad^fcrthi with glory, and- presently he kMlft tht thrmm ana tinkle ol thfr piaio as TAlttrtp evidently to g«t rid of h«r bitter thoigfctftranovte the key*, in an aimless way. - Bm lone the struok into that lovely melody of V«di' B , La (Donna * mobile, ' fW*" Blgoletto." The beantiful soene, the lOvgly »udo > bronght back to Walter tttmotiM of toe past. He remembered •-ttoaoHt viqkt, Hka tk* vesy' one befbw" AUoe left them so mysteriouslj, to hideier •ham*, m she told, them ma letter, when ah«nlayadthe aoeompanimtnt,andyiotor^ , H »•* muiical and thrilling tpice oi his, liMinff over Alio»,sang— *■ Sow 1 fleUfl women are. • Hefting v a felling stars - ... , ■ ChAa^a^.for eT«t— oomtaat, abt nerar.' „ "The verie ii wrong,"- nud Wali«r> at b«linmed down the street tcr dissipate ihe . •watt»yet bitter memories that thronged Into hii mind. , " Wdaan ii, unfortunately, too ooastanti it is man who ia^Tef/

OHAPTEE VII. DEAD. Gone to his account when it was full, , And not an entry on the credit page; Called without a warning from the training school, And not a lesson learned in youth or rfge ! i 0, Death 1 thou art dread to the good and ffi& true,. And the righteous, in tenor, lace thee ; But what are thy horrors to those they are due, And where from their doom can they nee ? Called away in the shadow and silence of night With his weak, mortal vision to face Heaven's •llghtl It was half-past seven folly when Walter reached 1 the Prirfeesß' Theatre, and the scene Wflß fall of bustle. Cabs thronged abont the loaded with opera-goers, for the Beaton was a Bhott '.one, und no opeta wan repeated, bo foil honseß were the rule.. Besides, the artistes were of the first olasß, and the operas were placed oh the stage almost (as well as jip Melbourne. Furihqr. than ibis, the " aristooraoy" oi Grit fully, believed that, unless they made their appearance at the opera— it did not matter a sixpence that Dine ont oi ten of them neither .understood the language or comprehended and appreciated the music— they would lose ;the hall-mark of gentility. Genial William Lyster, theiefore, gamed considerably by their notions. Walter made his} way to the dress circle among the dames and cavaliers, all in strict evening costume, .and was soon in the vestibule, where he looked round to see Yiotor. JJot notioing him, he passed on the tetame 'of the press, and soon saw jMasJer "Victor, as nBn&V bending overjone of the -boxes biking io a beantiinlgir), the of a greai quartz miner, reputed, to be worth a couple": of plums. Walter knew the lady, had a penchant for Victor, and- wondered whether his 'volatile friend had reßolyed to give np)his idea of the Melbourne heiress. ; arid to take the miners daughter) and his gold. Not likiag to intrude, he walked out iato .: the vea^bale, wJbioh was- common io the oeftripants oi the 4wsB birds and istalls, and where was' a. 'glittering bar, presided over by Hebee whose charms attracted all 'the jtunesse dorei of Grit. Already several worshippers of these goddesses were at "their devotions, and Walter noticed particularly Mr. Bartholomew Biley, the young horse-breaker ,who,,. in company with I}an Began, had nearly ridden over him in the afternoon, Bat, as he was always called; appeared greatty taken with a young &&xob& &*bbb6& in bine si)k; , optefigeomw , Wnjmsd, - and having her hiiat brizzei and arranged, in an alarming manner v the Jwhale being graced by a oamelia the .size of a "young cabbage. , This young lady was casting sbeep'a-eyes at Bat, who oertainly looked a handsome fellow in his jaimtyliorse-breaker's attire, 'the cords' particularly showing off aB. well turned a leg 'as. a gallant' could desire. But customers throfaged round the bar, and Sat wad forced atfa'y, and was abort strolling oat 'when be saw Walter, who, being a reporter, was known W every rfbick aba ©nild on Grit. "Good^venii)g,Mr. Mariton," eaid Bat, with that easy familiarity fib characteristic of the young Victorian. •« Going to the riproar, I suppose. Well, I'm a bit on the loose myself to-night, and wouldn't mind going in if they had a good play, but I, can't make head or tail out of their Italian things, their screeching and fiddling, and they're not good' at that, Ids rate neve* heais them sing •Home, sweet home/ nor^play a good hornpipe." "It's a matter of. taste," said falter. " Are ye there, Walter, me boy," said the . ooroner, in his strident voice, as he pushed to the bar. " Gome here and have a sup of the orathur wid me. I must have somethin' to kape up me heart, or that Government business'll be the death o' me. I thought, as I'd three days before me in the bush, I'd come and enjoy a* little, civilised amusement before I' wint. , Are ye there, Misth'er Rudder, and you, Mr. Bezton ? Come along wid ye, and join ns. M , The two gentiemenSmentioned did so, and were earnestly advised to take nothing but a special whiskey, which the lady in the blue' dress always kept for the doctor, by order of Mr. Heffernan. This they did, and then the dootor launohed ont upon the villainous conduct of the Government and his oleverness and astuteness, and might have gone on, like the brook, for ever, had he not caught eight of tba boo. Angus fiiWpaatf, a Minister of the Crown, and one of the members for Grit, whereupon he rushed after 'that august and powerful gentleman, to. lay his eouiplaints before him for the hundredth time. The two other gentlemen Walked into the oirole, and Walter was left with Bat, who kept a' bit off while the •• quality " were together, but who now approaohed. "You won't be offended wittTme if I ask you a question?," heaske'd, in an uncertain deprecatory tone. " Not at all, Bat," replied Walter. " It's— ifa about Ur," said Bat, almost as if he expected to receive a blow. Walter's face clouded; "I Bee yon're offended; Mr 1 . Manton," said Bat,' whose usually good-humourefd, daring faeewas troubled; "but you know that I Was foolish enough to love her, ana I hoped "—most deprecatory and. apologeUo— "\ha& vA«uw« $&% up, **% MtbmiM, fox my father^ « reßpfeotablß farmer. But when she left, I -went 16 the devil, and' 1 — recklessly— "l'm ahnost as bad t as Dan Began now." " I know this perfectly wen," eteid Walter ; " but it is very painiul." How strangely the music of the overture, which had been commenced, sounded. In Walter's ears. Again he remembered. The first night he had ever heard an opera, Alice.mv with (him, mnd it ma his £rat oigbt me ' % «Eitfo> th« go&l o( bia *mbftton> Tbß &pnft> ftVin&gfi oEanDifleß6&, w»b "Lnoie2ia Borgia," bat the oast was different. He had then thought all was consummated, the. highest . pinnacle pealed. , As he thought this, he smiled bitterly. "But— but," eaid Bat, most apologetically, with a .tremor in his voice ; "if you please, Mr. Manton, don't be angry. One of our fellows went to Melbourne with a' racehorse, and he told me he. saw htr. at the theatre, and that she is " ••Stop, 1 ' said Walter, angrily. " I want' to near nothing abont her." "Well/ replied Bat; straightening hunaelf up, and looking most determined, "I tell you, her brother, that no matter what has happened ; no matter what will happen, Fll always love her, and she can be my wife £o-morrow, if she "will only have me." Walter could see that the young; feliow" was deeply moved j indeed a mist had come' into hifi eyes, and the words he spoke almost ohpkedhim. , " ■ "Tour feelings are creditable to you,*' said Walter* " but do not think of it — she is. not worthy of yon.V . " If ever I know -wiho led he* away I^ll Break every bone' in bia body t " said Bat/ vengefully. . .„ ; . "I'm- with yon tiiere,?^ replied Walter. 'fWhat are you stopping here 1 forf" queried Victori who just come ont/ looking dazriingly in his ■well-flttirii' evening dresu " Don'tyoukndwthe opera has commenced ;■ don't yon hear BeUd Vtnarial" 1 and he hummed lightly the beautiful air. . t " How paleyouare, Victor," said Walteir, «* butit makes yOnlook twi^ as handsome' ■BA mdL-'^Eha tmtii is; -«uS» I saw ypn telfcag t*<tet' tfcingt to m& Mrajdi^ aAS I ©flat Hte to iaterfwe xa love after*.

Both laughed heartily, and "were about to enter the dress-circle, just as the song,< Nella fatal di Rimini, was beginning, when! up rushed Constable Longsight, hia manner' fall of excitement, and his face evidencing that he, had some important business on' hand. % * * - < "Have you seen I>r. Weight?, 1 ' heasked excitedly. " Yes,'* replied Walter ; " he's just gone| into the •dress-circle with "the Honourable: Angus Macphail." ' ' " rmußt see irim at 'once/' said the constable. ' , ' He was about to nub. away when Walter took hold of Ma arm. . [ "What's the matter, XongsightP" he queried. "I see something 1 in our line' has occurred> and> of course, I want the.information." ... Longsight 1 just then noticed "Victor, who was standing by. > ■ "Oh, Til tell you as shortly as I can,"j replied Longsight, " for Mr.' Graham is in-; forested" I , . \ ■ , . \ . "Me I" cried Victor in a hollow voice. " Yes," said the constable ;/*your uncle's, dead." • „ . ■ \ ' " Dead !" exclaimed Victor, becoming as 1 pale as death; and he would have fallen! had hot Waller placed his arm "round him. •.< - i "He is dead enough," resnmed the constable, in his- cold professional way, s jast as he would, gjve evidence -before a! jury. -"It appears that he stopped in! Grit all the. afternoon, and quarrelled and' drank with'ieveiybody, swearing. all kinds! o!. vengeance. against those wbo did nob) knuckle Spwn/to .^lol^, He was speciallyj hot on you, and; wanted old Eumyon;to go to the ;offi6e and alter the wi]l, but.Bumyon couldn't, have put his, hand. to paper for the world,; and the clerks were away. Well, as was always Grant's custom, he staggered offh.o.melate in theafternoori, r swearing all ..the way ' up the street afc Grit ancl all the people in it, and wishing' fcU«m all to the devil, and where they, wouldn't want coals. He Jwa9 'also chuckling at the idea of "having got all his drink for nothing. That* a the last that was seen of him alive. Old Mother O'Brien, who looks' afte* "the plftce, ahdjteao always goes there at seven to make him a cup of tea when he wakes out of Jbis aruflken elee'jp, wefat over as usual, lit the fire, and iet the keltle oa. At-first she didn't take'hiuch ■notice of hiin^ for he always 'elept very soundly,' but at last she wondered why he didn't snore, and, taking the candle, went to wake him. His fade was swelled horribly, and she saw at once that he wais dead. 'Her son heard her so'reams, and he rode in and told us," "Good God, what a horrible death!" said Walter, still tenderly embracing Viator. "What do you think'he died tit?" " Drink, I ' su|po'se,J' replied Longßightj adolly, I6ok'wg kb the barnmide, who were supjnig tKe HoMiB with afll the zefet and curiosity of their sex. . «'• The did doctor in iuoh cases geheially fells the jury to bring' in a verdict of died" of serdus apoplexy, and very serious the disease appears. But - I must Bend in for* the doctor. The jury must view the body to-night, for he'll bethree days away." ' "Abd Longsight oommunioated with the doorkeeper, 'who went- oS in searoh of Dr. Weight, vjho'm he found ogling tbe bftiletgirls tbiongh a hnge opera glass. ♦'\Constlible Longsight wants me," he said, teßtity. "Ay opozse ; another boftejr. „1^ kaevr. it; People never ffiinE of others^'' oomfort whin they die, and aren't ddoittt enorfgh fo do it respectably. Bat I suppose there's no help for it"— with a sigh— "l mass fla'orifice meself for the country." "Don't be bo aowheaßt, Victor," said Walter, fondly pressing the psle boy to his breasts " The death of this man is. a judg- , ment on him. He left the world with ourses on hiß lips, and you have no eftnse to be 'sorry, (for he treated you like a dos" . . <• He waß my unole," Baid Victor, in a Bitfiooating tdne. "Give me some brandy," he added to the barmaid ; " quiok ; I ieel faint.". Dr. Weight had, in the meantime, beei informed of the f aotß by Longsight, and great was bis wrath and dißmay. Here was, what might be made, a great case, and he had tb get over it. that night, wnen, had oiicnmeianees.perzaitoecl, he coalct bare adloaraedit itom time to time, and so earned heavy fees. He heartily oureed, soito voce, his lack. "Bat there's no hilp for it," said he, " and the burden must be borne. . Tell me, Longeight, what have the polioe done?" . " Thej've gone np to the hut and. taken charge of the coxpße, and Mao«rthy.ana another are hunting np jurors. Dr. William s has gone np to make the poet-mottem, and* after that the body will, be removed to the Hiberoia -Hotel, where w^'ll hold the inquest lin tne long loony, Ik neeinit t&k&Aoag." " That's tie divil of it,*' said the dootor, with a onrse. <( You've got a oab ? " "Yea." , . •♦Tlienletußfio." , , . " Will you allow ns to go with you ?'* asked Victor,/ . * „ , ," VVhy, will you go ?," queried Walter ; "ii will be ajtoiiible si&tiW , »*2 4 zaneiqo <» replied Victor^ " Of coarse 5 come along," said the dootp^ and the quartette left the. bright Boanea "of the opera, with the ilnal^tralns of the brilliant Senii la danza ihvitaci chorus resounding through the theatre, to visit tte abode of "grim, enent, ghastly Death !,