A ROSALIND OF THE BUSH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12279, 25 May 1903, Page 3

A ROSALIND OF THE BUSH.

BY KATHARINE WYNNE. Author of " The Madness of Love," "A Strong Man's Love," " Silken Bonds," etc., etc., etc.

CHAPTER XlV.—(Continued).

Evidently possessing a good physique the patient benefited more by the sleep than Mr. Rusliwin had expected, and, to Gladys' satisfaction, when she heard, revolted against longer keeping his bed. Indeed, he desired there and then to rise, dress, and,

with many thanks for the hospitality lie had received, proceed on his way.

" I have given him permission to rise today and to join us downstairs on the morrow," remarked Mr. Hushwin ; "but there must be no starting for a day or two. I daresay the confinement to one room is dull to a young fellow ; but. 1 do not doubt when he comes down we shall, with our united efforts, be able to amuse him."

"At least, we can try, grandpapa," acquiesced T'iladys, with animation. "If we do not succeed, it will not be our fault, will it?"

Always a bright bit of sunshine at the station, she was more than usually so this day. as she flitted about the rooms and the garden, putting everything in its best order for the guest. " it is such a- rarity to get someone, a gentleman, too, from the Old Country who can tell us how things are going there, is it not, auntie, that wo must do our best to keep him awhile, eh?" " Certainly," acquiesced Mrs. Hepburn. "However long we uie in Australia, however much we make it our home, we never lose interest in news from the Old Country." Meanwhile, Captain John Otley sat by the open window of his room, rather enjoying the indolence and luxury of convalescence, while Soph bustled about the apartment putting it in order. On a table by his .side was a book brought by Mr. Kushwin to entertain him, as station business would prevent his keeping him co npanv. But it remained unopened, Captain John preferring to amuse himself with the negress' talk. "You no' gj to-morrow, Misser Captain," said Soph. " .Misser Rush win not let you. You stay just tiny bit then you get quite strong." "But, indeed, I must," rejoined Captain John. "Not only do I wish to get to Sydney, you see, but, being well, I have no right to impose 011 your master's generous hospitality.'' " Shoo, now, if you don't stay 0110 tiny bit dav mo', Missie Gladys will be great much disappointed." "Miss Gladys!" repeated Captain John, with awakening interest- "Who is she?" "Who is she?" grinned Soph, good-hu-mourediy. "Missie is everybody at Silver Peak. Noborry like Missie Gladys. She is everything to everybody." "Mr. Rushwin's daughtei, I presumeV" said the captain, thinking in that case the lady might be verging on middle age. " Shoo, no. Missie Gladys is Misser Rushwin's gran'darter. That it, 'xactly. You no seen her yet, eh? It was, sure, missie that first foun' you. There she is." Captain John, turning quickly, gazed with some curiosity from the window into the garden beneath. Gladys was there, attired in a simple cotton, dress, with broad straw hat, under which he caught a fair view of her profile; she. was gathering flowers, and one hand was full of the rich Southern blooms.

Captain John continued to gaze, evidently struck by the charm of the picture ; while the thought flashed through his brain that should his host repeat his pressing invitation for him to stay a few days longer at Silver Peak, he would not. after all, be difficult to be persuaded. Indeed, invitation or not, the guest ill his own mind determined that he would stay, as he felt that " Providence" had sent him the sunstroke, for the very purpose, possibly, of doing him a great service.

CHAPTER XY. THE SERPENT IX -EDEN'. Gladys' had been a very quiet, uneventful life, nevertheless, possibly because of it, it had been a very happy one. If it had been devoid of excitement so had it been of care, for the free, healthful existence was an enemy to nerves and morbid humours; also it was decidedly unconventional. In the bush one can live their own lives without fear of Mrs. Grundy. Small events produced as much excitement, and created as much interest, as large ones in the Old World cities, where society is so blase that it has almost ceased to feel excitement or interest in anything save the grosser outcome of the hot fever of overcivilisation.

Thus' the arrival, and its fashion, of Captain John Otley at Silver Peak was a very considerable event in Gladys' life. It was something to think of and speculate upon when lying down, or in the morning on rising up, while the excitement reached its climax on the day he was to descend among them.

" He had best have stayed a day longer," remarked Mr. P.ushwin, as he left the break-fast-table. "He is certainly not so well as yesterday; appears more languid, weaker. But he has set his mind upon coming down, a.nd a wilful man must have his way. He may be more amenable to you women-folk. You must keep him amused, pet, or it will be up in the saddle with him and away." " Indeed, George, you are quite right to hand over the task of entertaining the young man to Gladys," put in Mrs. Hepburn, "for to-dav is the washing, -and the giving out of the stores ; and I shall have enough oa my hands, for girls are just the same in the colonies as at Home, and are up to idling at once, if they are not looked after." " Oh, auntie," cried Gladys, aghast, " how could I ever entertain Captain Otley alone? Wihat should I do? What say? Oh, I could rot!"

"Do, child? Nothing. Say? Why, tell him about Australia, and he will tell you about England." responded Mrs. Hepburn, decisively. "My word; but Ido not fancy young people are ever at a loss for topics of conversation. Should he find the coming downstairs too much for him,' why, Soph and I shall be close at hand."

Taking her key-basket she quitted. the room, -Mr. Rushwin having previously left it by the window, and Gladys found herself alone. She had not calculated for this. She was half pleased at' the importance it gave her, half frightened ; then she rearranged the room, set the easiest wicker-chair in the verandah, and shook up the cushions. A table stood near on which was a cooling drink, and a vase. In the latter Gladys: arranged some flowers, then placed a book by its side.

"Now. really, that looks comfortable," she remarked, contemplating it with satisfaction. Then she started and felt her face hot with blushes ou hearing her words answered:

"It does, indeed. And.if it be for my comfort—as I am vain enough to suspect— how shall I ever be able to thank you'! 1 " Gladys, raising her eves, beheld Captain John standing at the open window, one hand resting as for support against the side. The clothes he wore were, of course, the same that Gladys had seen him in before; but somehow —no doubt owing to the wearerthey looked far better, setting well on the erect figure. There was no mistake about it. Captain John was handsome, and certainly, as far as one may judge from appearances, a gentleman. Never had one of his bearing and class came across Gladys' path before. Her heart went beating its wings in her throat; she felt terribly nervous, wishing her aunt were there, until she remarked the interesting pallor on Captain John's countenance; when instantly she forgot everything but sympathy and concern Tor the invalid. " No thanks are necessary," she exclaimed, moving a little forward. " But was it wise, Captain Otley, to descend alone? You are, I fear, still too weak. Soph should not have allowed it."

"I am not so strong as I am generally in my normal stata, I confess," he smiled, at the same time leaning a trifle more heavily against the side. " 1 own, too, that I am weaker than I thought, but really I could not remain longer an invalid, so, while my kind nurse, Soph, was absent I slipped downstairs."

" I am very glad you did not tumble down them." said Gladys, trying to hide her nervousness with a mild joke.- " Do, please, come .and sit here. I fee! i'C concerned. Perhaps you need support. I*ll call Soph.' ■ - " No, prav, on no account," quickly interposed the captain, who, had lie chosen,

might have reached the chair with ease. " See! I can manage it without difficulty." So saying; keeping one hand on the wall, he rested the other first on a chair, then on the table, finally, with a sigh of relief and breathing a little quickly, sank into the easychair Gladys had prepared. " This is indeed comfortable," he remarked in a low tone, bending his eyes gratefully upon her. " How good you are !" "Good?" laughed Gladys gaily, for she was recovering her composure. " Good to assist those who are ill and in need ? Why, Captain Otlev, who would not have done the same?"

"That may be in your beautiful laud, but in England, I should say, who would have done the same? We cannot afford to be so hospitable and generous there. We are a great, big, selfish people, everyone living for himself." , "Oh, I hope not!"' said Gladys, sitting down on the verandah steps. " I have often wished to visit England; but I should not care to a bit, if what you say, Captain Otley, be true." "I don't really think I can withdraw my Words. But if the Old Country is selfish it hides it so skilfully under the cloak of philanthropy that one does not guess its existence; so let us believe it does not exist, eh? Let us rather enjoy the benefits of this beautiful Australia." •

" The sun scarcely treated you hospitably, did it?" said Gladys.

Most kindly, Miss Bell, since it brought me acquaintance with your very excellent grandfather and yourself—a pleasure, I can assure you, for which I would have gladly suffered two sunstrokes."

Gladys blushed; compliments were quite a new experience ; somehow she did not like them, and yet she did; they grew upon one, especially when they were accentuated by a pair of good eyes. "I don't think you should say that." she remarked, gravely. " One you may recover from, but never from two. Then what should we have done?"

" Buried or cremated me, I suppose," smiling; but the startled glance in the girl's eyes, succeeded by one of —indeed, her eves were bright enough for tears made him regret the gruesome jest, and he took up the book to turn the subject. When in a tete-a-tete one is able to talk well, and is bent upon making himself agreeable, the time flies with both, and Gladys was amazed when she heard her grandfather's step as he returned to dinner. Certainly he had come back earlier than usual, for while in the stockyard he had recalled his sister's remarks "anent washing and store day. ° Quite aware she meant what she said he dreaded his guest- should find cause of complaint against his hospitality; so, giving orders to the men. he returned to the house" "I trust you will excuse my leaving you like this, Captain Otley," he said, ascending the two steps 011 to the verandah. "But you; know business is business, and no wise man neglects it. I bade my granddaughter try to entertain you, and I trust she has made up for my compulsory deficiency

"Indeed, Mr. Rusliwin," laughed the captain, pleasantly, " no one better could have carried out your instructions than Miss Bell. It may not be complimentary to you, but had you not returned -until much later your grand-daughter would more than have compensated for your absence." (To he continued daily.)