Chapter XIV.

Otago Witness, Issue 1855, 10 June 1887, Page 33

Chapter XIV.

so' that,- -coming upon' him suddenly'^ tfaclc pauzed, ; amazed. • ' ' '''* "I "Old man!" he said at lengths-laying ! his*'' hand upon his shoulder, and rousing him' from his reverie. '' * • ! '♦• Dear boy ! " responded Bret. . ' ' ' ' Presently he said in a' tone of voice that ' puzzled Jack : ';* '>.• " This is Easter time, is it not V Do you [ believe in resurrections, Jack? k 'l dot" l ~ ' ' y- ' "It is quite refreshing to hear you express a belief in something," responded Jack. r " You will be going on presently 'to: say you ! believe in love and friendship,' 'and' that would be an event, as you don't usually 'recant or abjure an opinion until fully con» ' vinced of self -error,' " ■ ' ; ;i " " Suppose I am convinced of i self -error." "Are you poking fun?" ' .-••';• • "I am in sober earnest, Jack." • ■' • " • "By Jove! I'm glad to hear it.- Laura's had a hand in that, I'll bet ;' none .but Laura could convert such a doubting Thomas. >It generally requires a vast amount of evidence to teach you implicit confidence. You've got a critical and questioning mind, Brett" . Bret smiled, but made no answer. Jack ' proceeded to light a cigar, but after; a few whiffs, threw it away with a. muttered "Vile!" ■ • '-•;,' V "There is something | should like' to tell you, old fellow," Jack'' 'Said presently. 1 "I Have often intended ' to" do so before, but '] somehow never have. ' Your 'cynical way of ; looking at most things isn't at all inviting to confidences," went on the'*young man in a tone of apology ; " but if it won't'bore you, I will tell you now." ' ' Bret looked at Jack with some attention ; ' ' then, lighting his cigar,' said quietly'; 5 " Out, with it." ,''■'-' What did Bret expect to hear, I wonder 2 ' Another tale of Jack's' foolishness, perhaps, * that he leaned his back so quietly against' a ■tree, the smoke from his cigar curling upward, waiting patiently ' for his friend to begin. Jack seemed to find that beginning rathe* • difficult. At last, drawing his fine figure to its full height, he looked straight at Bret, and blurted out : " I love Laura ! " The cigar fell from Bret's mouth ; he> stooped to pick it up, aud quietly knocking off the ashes, replaced it, with an "Ah,'* that might have meant " You surprise me," or "I am not surprised," or nothing! at all ; ' it might simply have been a catching of 'the ' breath. When he resumed his - position against the tree his face was slightly avertedfrom Jack's gaze ; but he smoked, on, never 1 interrupting by a word, while ' Jack with, a - rude eloquence poured out the story of i his > love — his cousin's disbelief in it, his hopes < and fears — concluding with the words, pas« ■ sionately i spoken : ■ , . <• • ' " It means the making or marring of my life, Bret. The world without Laura would be simply empty; and she — she cares no more forme than she does for you, and <Idon't believe so much." (To be continued.)