HER STORY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1952, 18 April 1889, Page 30

HER STORY.

Specially Written for the Witness. By HUGH BURT. Chapter I. Cain Shafto Lovering had been prospecting. Why he had been christened " Cain "1 1 am unable to state. Perhaps, as the wag of Southern Cross settlement suggested, his parents had considered him a curse rather than a blessing, and had named him accordingly. Be that as it may, the man who now j descended the 1 steep, precipitous slope of the Sierras on to the stage route to Leadville seemed little like the traditional inventor of crime. Cain was a tall, fair man, with a j strongly developed figure, showing to perfection in the broad muscular chest and shoul- 1 ders. His hair was light and curly— not those clinging, clustering curls which make a man look like an angel stepped out from a picture, but short, sharp, crisp curls, which refused to lie down, and seemed to run wild all over his head. He possessed fine regular features, and a pair of frank, honest 1 blue eyes. His face was clean shaven with the exception of a long tawny moustache, which hung down and partially concealed the lines of a somewhat weak mouth. He had wandered about the Sierras all morning in the hot sweltering sun, up hill and down dale, trying tiis -luck in various places with but little success. The inhabitants of Southern Cross said that "'The Angel," as Cain was called, " would never make his pile." He was too fond oji that " cussed prospectin'." Jnst now, as he stood in the road, he' realised that he was hot and tired. The dim pine forests which bordered the route seemed to offer a cool retreat. What little brseze there was sighed refreshingly among the trees, and even the very pines seemed to be holding out their soft green arms and in-, viting him to enter their cool recesses. He crossed the road, and, plunging into the ! woods, strolled aimlessly along until he reached the banks of the little .stream on which the settlement stood, and which here broadened into a wide, shallow river. , Throwing himself down on the soft yedo-

-lent«pine-^Qeedles*which^6trewjedaa4be.rbankj^ he drew a short pipe from his pocket and j began to 'enjoy himself; f (Presently the pipe j dropped from his, mouth, and, overcome by the heat' and a delicious sense of rest, he leaned back against a mighty pine and fell fast asleep. A' Squirrel which had fled on his approach took courage and returned to renew its investigation of a neighbouring tree. ' The river rippled gently past with its cool musical swish, its surface daintily mottled by the ?♦ netted sunbeams " which crept through the thick interlacings of the boughs overhead. Occasionally a fish rose with a lazy swirl 'as, some* 'insect more- tempting than usual s|fsed,'for a moment on the water. The b*e*e"ze rustled weaiily among' the pines, and now and then- a fir corie dropped almost noiselessly upon the rich carpet of brown pine needles. The squirrel grew tired of its investigations, and re.tum^d , to his nest on the top of the pine, but stijU' Cain slept on. . . . • There was a' rustling in the bushes by tne way which Cain had come, and the squirre]l, recognising the' near approach of his enomy, man, retreated still' higher in the pine; Presently the intruder appeared. ,She was'a' young girl,'. apparently some &0 or 21 years of age.' She had small but dcli-cafcely-cut features, and 'a 1 mass of rich brow^i hair, which was daintily coiled onthe top of her' small ,head. Her 'figirje, though not classically beautiful, would have been ac-cepted-as so by the youth of the present generation. She was dressed in a close--fitting dress of blue serge admirably adapted to show off the lines of her piquant little figure, and was swinging a large straw hat in her hand. ' As she stood there, half -amused, halffrightened at the sudden sight of , a sleeping man, she looked the very picture of health and beauty. For a moment she stood and scrutinised the face of the sleeper, 1 and then, a mischievous smile diinpfejd /'across. hex, facfe. Hastily gathering together a few small fir cones, she retreated bebind^a neighbouring tree and calmly threw one at the unconscious Cain. It fellshort, and "she frowned. | Next time the cone was better armed, and I struck Cain upon the head. He muttered | something and turned over, but did not open ; his eyes. Growing; impatient the girl threw harder, this time hitting the sleeping giant 1 full on his somewhat prominent nose. Cain started to his feet and gazed around. . ■ " Cones don't generally drop 'sideways' off ! a tree," he remarked 1 to himself as, he proceeded to make an investigation. " 0 Lor'!" he exclaimed in blank amazement as the figure of the young girl burst upon his asto-nished-gaze. Cain was amazed. The fairsex at Southern Cross was limited to ah old Indian squaw, who disappeared periodically ' for two or three months at a time, and a drunken washerwoman, neither of whom' could be expected tq inspire feelings either of admiration or respect in his bosom. , Therefore, when .this vision of brightness burst out upon him, is 'it' to be wondered at that Caiin, metaphorically speaking, fell down and worshipped? Wfyathe really did was to stand sheepishly twirling his hat about and mopping his face with a 'big red bandana barnd"l beg your pardon," she said, "but can you tell me if there is any place near whore I can cross the river ? " " No, missw' There ain't'any where nearer than the settlement, and that's two miles away," answered Cain. ' ' " Wh'aV a ' plty : ' 1 " she, exclaimed. . " You are sure there is no way of getting across without going round ?" •■ ■ , " No, miss, that's the nearest." For a ; momsgt;, there* was silence. Then the girl turned and said : " You— you,; 'couldn't— — 'Is the wator very deep ? ' Couldn't I— couldn't I wade it?" A happy inspiration struck him. "It's not very deep, miss; but mightn't I I_l thought, perhaps— -p-" "Well," she interrupted, as he hesitated again, "you thought;', what?" , , 'j " I reckoned as you might 'low me to carry you over." ' She looked at the water and then at Cpan. " You are' sure it is not very deep, and t hat . you are strong enough. I', am 'very hea>yy, and you might let me fall., N,o; I thimk perhaps I had better not." " Very well, miss," said Cain, disappointed, but from ignorance of feminine pervemity never doubting that she meant' it. But tiTjis. was not at all what the little beauty liiad bargained for. " I don't know, after all," She said quickly. " It does not seem very deep, and after all perhaps I'm not so very, very heavy; and you do look strong— stronger than most men. But you will not let me fall, will you?" Cain's only answer was to- lift hei gently up in his arms and cautiously wade in. She closed her arms around his neck, and he clasped her close to him. Here was a girl he had never seen until 10 minutes ago, and already her very touch thrilled • him. Such is the magic of the master passion. His foot half slipped on a loose pebble, and she clasped. Her arms unconsciously tighter around him. He was almost tempted to repeat the experiment, but feared a fall, and his reputation being at'stake that could not be risked. To Cain the river seemed all too narrow, the other side 'too soon reached, and his fair burthen deposited. ' • V, Thank you so much," she said with a swe.et, simile which seemed to Cain to more than 'repay his slight service, " but I am afraid you musthave gob very wet." Cain glanced at his lower extremities, and remarked prosaically that they would soon dry. Then followed an embarrassed pause. At last, recognising that something must be said, the girl ' held out a small gloveless hand, brown and sunburnt, and said : ."Good-bye. Thank you again for your kindness." Cain took her small hand in his, and, entboldened by her smile, stammered out :• " Good-bye, miss. You ain't goin' to come back this way, perhaps, nqs&fair you T.° " Oh.'l never thought of that 1 " she exclaimed. " I suppose I must; go round by the settlement. But why do you ask?" she added mischievously. > ': ",I thought," stammered Cain, something like a. blush mounting to big bronzed .cheeky

« ri^th64>-r-that=^wel^^rkinderr'lowed I- might ■ wait here till you, returned and carry you back." t ■'";„ '" • ;; ".".'. - "Ohno J " &he exclaimed, ".you must not do 'that. I could not keep you from 'your work to wait bri me, though you 7 did not look like working very hard on the other side,' ? she added, with a merry laugh. " ; I am only gbing to get some flowers and some, ferns, but ypu must not wait." \ l Don't you think," said Cain, with a sudden craftiness utterly foreign to his nature, ' " that I might go, too 1 It might dry me to walk about a little." , "Oh yes!' If you care to you may come along." ' ( So saying she slipped in among the, trees, and, accompanied „by the delighted Cain, proceeded to burden herself and, him with the common ferns and flowers 'of the woods. ' 1 '* Why don't you ask my name ? " she said in one of the few pauses between hertchatteripg. "My name' is Maney Stoddard," she continued, as Cain did, not answer.' " I live in San Francisco, and am stayipg,with,rqy father at .the Summit, on account of my health. ■ Now what is; your' name ? " < ■ i " Cain Shaffco Lovering." , , 1 " Cain 1 what a: horrid name 1 " she exclaimed^ with,, an' affected little shudder. " Cain killed his .brother. How do I know you will not turn round and kill me any minute? I shall— yes, I' shall-Hd^ir you Shafto. It is ever so much prettier' than Cain, and much nicer sounding." ■ ; \ Cain blushed. When a man first realises \ that he loves a woman his first impulse' is to show her if he is .of at all a sensitive'nature. To his heightened imagination everyone can read his secret, and is inwardly laughing at him for " being in love." Cain loved. He had not realised ib yet, but still though he knew it not, had not even thought of i&— he loved. Why else should his eyes follow her in every action ?" Why should her little familiarities send the 'blood to his face with a rush?- Why else should 'her very touch thrill him ? Why 1 The short afternoon was rapidly drawing to a close when the two reached the river once more on their backward journey. Without a word Cain gently lifted the girl up in his strong arms and bore her to the other' side. His thoughts were far away, busy with bright castles in the air, when he reached the opposite bank. For a moment he paused, and the girl permitted him to hold her ; then,- as if recollecting herself, she said : . - ; " Put me down, please ? " N ! i . " I—lI — I bog your pardon I " stammered the , abashed Cain, suddenly recalled to a sense of what he was doing. I--I was thinking." , " Don't you know it is very rude to think when other people are present?" she said laughingly, extending her hand, too wise to, inquire of what he had been thinking. " Good-bye: You must not come any farther with me, and I must; make haste. It is getting late, and father will wonder what has become of me. .Good-bye, Cain— l mean Shafto,^ she added, with a laugh ; and slipping into the bushes was gone. Cain stood gazing after her wistfully until she disappeared from his sight. With a sigh he threw himself down once more upon the soft ground, and dreamily went over the events of the afternoon. The sun had almost disappeared behind the Sierras,' and the long shadows of the. trees had intermingled their gigantic dis-' proportions in inextricable confusion before Cain returned once more from his romantic musings to the more prosaic realisation of what hour it was. Picking himself up, he lazily shook off' a few tenacious 'pine- needles which had conceived a sudden affection for his coat, ancl stepping hastily out proceeded in thei direction of the settlement. ■ , The settlement of Southern Cross was I huddled . into a small triangular patch of ground between gigantic hills, which reared up on either side in unscalable 'magnificence. Through a cleft in these hills ran, the small river which was the unwitting destroyer of : that mountain solitude which had reigned supreme among the giant hills before the , advent of , the firsf.turbulent diggers. Just t 'before the first' cluster of huts was reached stood a rather more pretentious building. Jt,was,, perched on a small plateau a little • way up the hill and commanded a complete view of the whole settlement.; It was larger and 'better put together ■ than most of the cabins, and even a rude attempt at a garden might be seen surrounding it. A few flowering herbs, a wjld azalea or ' two, and a magnificent Viginian creeper which covered the whole side and roof of the cabin, were all that now remained of what had once evidently been a well-stocked and well-kept garden. It had in fact belonged to an old botanist, who had. preceded the diggers ■there, and who had vacated on their appearance, leaving his cabin and appurtenances to Cain. Chapter 11. A week had passed. To Cain a week of uninterrupted bliss. He had seen Maney every day either in the woods or down by the river, and had been allowed to show her the nicest walks and fairest spots that the place cciuld boast. Cain was at heart somewhat poetical,. and in his long prospecting rambles had seen many places where Nature had in Svild profusion lavished her sweets and glories. He knew of many a pretty little nook, many a little torrent or waterfall) many a fairy dell, where the' sweetest ferns, and flowers grew unnoticed, and unknown save by him. The girl was delighted beyond measure. She possessed a keen appreciation' of all that was beautiful. Ugliness in her creed was almost a sin. As to her footing with Cain, she placed all thought or it deliberately on ; 'one side. That she was conscious of bis love Ido not doubt. No man • can love a woman and keep it long concealed from her if he be constantly in her presence. Cain had never spoken to. her of his love. He had not dared. Whether she loved him at' all or not he was too unsophisticated to judge. If she <3id, she at any rate gave no open sign of it. It was a bright clear day, just such another as the one on which- Cain had first met' Maney. He was busy in his cabin testing a specimen which he had found on his last ramble. The specimen promised so well 1 and Cain became so engrossed in his work' that he did not notice thesudden darkening of . the. sky. Suddenly a dazzling 'flash/ followed almost immediately by a load peal of thunder, ronssd him from his work. Tha 1

111 1 delicate .blue of- the skyrhadigi«eifcplace s to a dull leaden hue, and~a few~largier drops of rain beg an to patter. on the roof of tbeTcabin. Suddenly there was 'a rush of feeirhr'the. garden, and then, came a hasty knock at th& door. ■ ; - '* -^ -■" ' " " Come in," shouted Cain. }.V The door swung back upon its hinges, and Maney entered, followed by a tall, militarylooking man, with grizzled hair and. a long white moustache. Cain started back in amazement at their sudden entrance. " You don't seem very pleased to see us, 1 * Maney broke out laughingly. "Papa, this is Mr Loverin& of whom I have told you." The Major bowed, and said : " I have to thank yon for your kindness to my daughter, sir. May I trespass upon you still further, and olaim shelter for her, and myself until the Storm has, passed t "- Cain hastily, dusted two of his three chairs, and requested his visitors to be seated. An embarrassed pause followed. 11 WilJ you excuse me if I go on with my work 1 " asked Cain. " I have an important specimen to test, and am anxious to get it 'finished." "Certainly, sir, certainly,'* answered the JMajor. " Pray do not allow its to inconveni.ence you in the slightest." . So saying he drevr.a paper from" his pocket, and was. soon immersed' in Jthe! last leader. - ,^v\ ; Cain worked away in silence, 'answering fche occasional remarks Maney' made to him, •but not in any way attempting to dispel the feeling of embarrassment' that'n'ung over them. , ',*. , For an hour the Major studied his paper, then folding it up he returned 1 it to his pocket, and opening the door looked out at the weather. Thet thunder .had' ceased some time ago, but the .rain had) set] in, .heavily. One of those dreary depressing ppurs "which last for h'out^wHepo^ce^Key'co'mmence had followed the, heavy,' l^unaepstorm^^ (! f " I thinkj'; said ,tljfi. Major, ajfter scanning the heavens for sonSl niirftite4^ f *b»t 'I will go up. to the' hpttel 'a4tt<sgjj§;a 4 tt<sgjj§; afMjp 6i ( some sort,,,iri-'you ;wilt w,ait Jhqxe |}l|jl (return, Maney.: < Ifc. looks -as' if the! rain ihad set in for the evening." And, without waiting for an answer, he seized h'id^Mßr«n*anWßet''du't'"for the hotel. Maney ■had^tal&fr^p^ 'one 1 of Cain's small stock of bookstand' yasj' or feigned -to be, too interested to put'ib down on "the departure of the, Major. , ' % Jj // • Cain 1 went on with his testings consoious •'all the time that he was was'tinfe p'rfecteus minutes, , An hour and a-half 'pass'e^* \>kfote he had finished. jAt any Mm?' nQW,'jthe Major might be eXfejfecred to retUrnUf Gain put away his ' specif j^r}d;lai'd |?y't&J t6ols he had , been .tjs.ing", $nd ; tljen a Jpqk of determination hp^dyanfted. j#^a^ey's^iae. " Maney," he said^'i-Would- you putddwn that book for a ijejw mindtes,'an^;,^en to me. I have something" I Vig|i'tp,.teil j[i>p. n She. looked, hastily up:, with- an almosfc alarmed expression of countenance. T "I rau,st speak," he 'continued' Warsely^ "My peace of mind demands' it. V I jmay be presumptuous, Maney, b,qt"T cannpVhelp it. I love you — I love you, Maney! ->On, can you not see how deeply I love- you ? Can you not see in every word, every look, every ''actiori, J how I adbrejjyoTjt. v Man'ey*," lie ?don"tinued more gently, v I am only^a.plainj man ; I have nothing to offer you but myself; I cannot tell ( you '.prettily hoy ; I f loYe 'you. 'There are no word^whicneah express 1 my -love. . I loved you frorm the moment; d' paw you standing by the river side..) )I:««ro you, and seeing you I loved 'you,' and fnjftldve has gone on growing and' growing" Ifk^ja'Aiountain, torrent until it has, become a- mighty flood which would burst all barriers between us. Manejr/ if there is nbKhope for me tell me, and I will trouble you no more." She had sat white as fa sheet until he paused. /Suddenly, she -pr.essecl both ; bands to her bosom, while a look- of '> agony passed across her face contracting the' dainty little features with! pain! , l A death-like pallor 'stole across her face as, she lay gently backin:her chair. " Now, Maney," said(the Major's voice from the doorway, " look alive 1 It's getting dark, and, we have no time -to lose.'? r ■ Catching sight of Cain's horrified'fac6 he advanced quickly. , ' ' ".,'■ . "Heart disease!," he exclaimed. •> "Get me some water, sharp. She's given to these attacks." ' , ' J Laying her softly down, he sprinkled her face with water. ' " Have you any spirits ? " he demanded. ■ Cain hastily produced some brandy, and after having forced a little down her throat and rubbed her temples, ,the "girl began to show signs of returning animation. The Major breathed freely again. " She will do now," he said ; then catching sight of Cain's white face he added : "It is ! rather trying to one's nerves at first,-and it is particularly unfortunate that she should have one of her attacks to-day, as I have , just received a telegram" saying her, husband will be down by fco-nighVs coaoh," ,, , " Her husband 1 ! " exclaimed Cam: " >Yes," said the Majcr, glancing- interrogatively at him. "He has just 'been up to New York ? 'ar^d"is coming here on hisVay back.' If you will help me" to carry her to the carriage now, I think the fresh air will do her good." ' ! ' "' • ' 7' f l Mechanically Cain lifted the almost inanimate girl in his arms, and bore her to the carriage'^ mechanically he, 1 helped to arrange the 'cushions "for her ib lie Upon ; jneohanically he listened to the Major's'tbanks, and saw the carriage driyie off, afad thfe^listle'ssly ha re-entered, his cabin. , It'Vpas ajmbstf dark outside,' and inside the fliri.flickered'Tip o"ccasionaliyV fitfully Hghtihg'the frails, and'farnitare for^ few ( ' seconds] then ;^ylH|f, o%i ajjain, only to repeat ,itßjweifet spasmodic •attempts to- pierce the darkness./ 'Cairf stood oVer it, his; pale'stern face hpned in" his ( hands. Outside the wind had risen and swept down the gulch in angry gusts,. the rain pattered dismally upon the 'roof/the creeper rustled its dead leaves eerily against the wall. Fat off he heard the long, dismal •wail of the guard's horn as the coach arrived at the Summit. What a mockery it all seemed to him. The wind seemed to 'shout ',' : O fool ! * as it swept htirriedly past. -The Tain could but plash the /one refrain/.^Fpol ! 100 lI" Th 6 rustling 1 creeper whjsge.rjed in.his ear «0" fool 1 " - Far below- he could hear the river sobbing "Fool 1" • Ana;evsn the guwa'S

horn seemed' to his straining ears to echo "Fooll" " Her husband ! " he moaned, " Surely he said her husband 1 0 God ! how I love her. How can I live without her now ?— she whom I have treasured in my heart ever 6ince I first saw her ; she whose image, whose every feature is branded upon my brain ; she who has made me pray as I never prayed; she whom I have made a part of my very being, whom I have pictured as my ideal, whom I have exalted into my very religion." He buried his face in his hands, and the hot scalding tears trickled through his fingers and fell hissing among the glowing embers. Heart tears they were, that burn and sear like molten metal, bringing no soft relief as kind Nature grants they shall to womentears that furrow the mind and not the cheek. Chapteb HI. A hot, blazing, sweltering day. The sun> shining perpendicularly down upon the baking earth, seemed to scorch all vegetation into one limp, brown mass. The hard, white, dusty stage road looked glaringly hot. Even the woods looked less refreshingly cool than usual. What little animal life there was bad retreated to where at least shade could be found. The trees and flowers were sighing for rain, and the languid breeze moved listlessly among their leaves, almost too hot itself to cool the parched verdure. Indoors up at the Summit the heat was too stifling to be borne. Taking her large etraw hat, Maney wandered slowly out of the hotel into the woods. Almost unconsciously she turned her footsteps in the direction of the spot where she had first met Cain. ■ ' i Seating herself with 'her back to a huge pine she glanced around, and finding she was quite alone she drew off her shoes and stockings, and let her feet dip languidly in the clear stream. She had been somewhat closely questioned by the Major as to her sudden indisposition, but with a woman's sharpness had made him believe it was attributable to the sudden change in the weather. His remark as to why Cain should have seemed so astonished at the mention of her husband relieved her of one difficulty, though she professed not to understand it. " Poor fellow !" she said half-aloud, as she •sat letting the cool water flow over her feet. "If I had but left him alone when first I saw him all would have been right. Why •am I fated to bring misery wherever I go ? I could have stopped him — I should have stopped him, but I did not know he loved me so. Why did I not tell him sooner that — that I was married? Why? Because I love him 1 " She glanced hurriedly around as if halfafraid of hsr own boldness. " Yes," she continued, " I do love him. Why sfo&uld I not love him ? Does not my own husband treat me as Something better than his dog, A little dearer than his horse ? Why was I ever forced into marrying him 7 Better my father should have been ruined than rescued by such means. Pah I how I loathe him J Ah, Cain," she continued, her soft eyes filling with tears, " yours is not the harder lot. Did you know mine you would think it easy in comparison." Her soft grey eyes were gazing wistfully into space as she stopped speaking. Her thoughts were far away, busy with what might have been instead of what was. Ah, what should we all be without our dreams, our little fancies, the bits of poetry and romance hidden in all our natures ? It would be but a poor sort of world were all castles in the air abolished. Suddenly the girl again pressed her hands to her bosom— again that fearful look of agony shot across her face, distorting the pretty mouth with its intensity. A cold pallor swept across her from throat to forehead. She clenched her little hands, then dug her fingers convulsively into the parched earth. One dry, gasping N cough, and then the agony seemed over. With a peaceful smile she sank quietly back against the pine. There was a gentle hush over the whole wood. The sun, streaming through among the leaves, threw a quivering, gleaming network upon the little figure lying so peacefully beneath. The wind sweeping gently past whispered to the pines, " Maney j s asleep." " Maney is asleep," rustled the leaves. " Maney is asleep," sighed the moving pines as the breeze rustled through them " Maney is asleep," twittered the birds as they flew noiselessly here and there, " Maney is asleep, Maney is -asleep," said the flowers, nodding their fragrant heads listlessly on the soft air. " Maney is asleep," replied the river flowing gently past, and softly washing over the dainty little feet, " Maney is asleep." Let her rest. Poor quiet little spirit, sleep on, sleep on ! Tired Nature's sweet restorer will bring back the roses to those pale cheeks. The afternoon slipped by and drew to evening. The sun sank behind the Sierras, leaving 'only a track of blood-red sky to mark his course, and still Maney slept. By-and-bye the moon rose calmly and placidly from behind the hills, flooding the whole country with its soft mellow light, and turn-, ing the surface of the little river into one shimmering mass of molten silver. There was a rustling in the bushes, and Cain softly made his way into the little glade. For a moment he did not observe the sleeping girl, but suddenly his eye caught her. ■ Her hat lay by her side, where it had fallen off when first she sat down. One little hand still held it by the string; the other lay half -hidden, nestled in a clump of dainty ferns. One solitary moonbeam, which had lost its way in the thick interlacings overhead, quivered down and lost itself anew in her soft brown hair. Cain darted forward, and kneeling beside her gazed anxiously into her face. Hurriedly he placed his hand to her heart, and bending down listened intently. Not a motion— not a sound ! There was a still, fearful hush over the whole wood, Which was broken by a wild, despairing cry— a cry whose agonised intensity of mingled horror and despair rang through the silent wood with ghastly echoes : ;; Bead I My God ! she is dead J " « n Tu> echoed th e mountains, " dead J " uead i moaned the wind hurrying silently 2*<ragb u the «a*k forest. «DeldJ" whispered the pines, as the moonbeams stole

awfully down upon the cold face beneath. i " Dead I " shivered the leaves with quivering i awe. "Dead!" sighed the flowers, sleepily lifting their tired heads. " Dead !"' Cried the birds, softly peeping from their warm nests. "Dead! dead! dead!" sobbed the river as it stole fearfully and silently past, too awed to rush merrily along as was its wont. "Dead! dead! dead!" With ore choking sob Cain took her in his arms, and so they found them. Hearts do not break, we are told. "Cause of death: Heart disease, accelerated by undue excitement." So said an intelligent jury.