AN UGLY HEROINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 82

AN UGLY HEROINE.

Br Alien:

i.uthor of "'Another Woman's Territory," "Over the Barriers," etc., etc.

CHAPTER XHL— TWO INNOCENTS KURTHER ABROAD. Bartie looked anxiously around. There -*as nobody and nothing to be- seen — noIhing to bo heard except the downpour of the rain ami the occasional cry of some bird whose nest was not weather-proof. At last a faint rattle, rattle, was heard approaching, and both boys turned, peering through the darkness eagerly. Harry gave a low cry, there was a light, dim and uncertain, now burning out of the darkness, disappearing and re-appearing, then broadening and steadily approaching, the creaking of a waggon becoming distinctly audible. "Hi !" Bartie called shrilly. "Hi !" The> driver, whose head and shoulders were coveted with a sack, peered from under th& waggon roof and pulled up his horses. "Who's this?" he queried, trying to make sure of the small dim figures in the road. "It's me and Bartie," explained! Harry, his heart thumping partly with fear and partly jvith hope of rescue. "Well, it shouldn't oughter be," answered ibe man, nearer the truth than he suspected, "not a night er this sort. Where be ,goin'?" Bartie nudged Harry to keep quiet. But Harry could not have t6ld where they were going because he hadn't the faintest notion. "Ter the next tarn," answered Bartie stoutly. "Not Wimborne?" "Yus, Wimblebun," affirmed Bartholomew Brent, unflinchingly, stumbling over frjae name he had never heard' till that moment. The man whistled. "Yer can't get there to-night — it's five mile or more." Bartie expressed his surprise. H© bad no idea it was so far. "Everywhere seemed a, good distance in the country," he casually remarked. "Where be* come from?" asked the man quickly. "Sarthampton," Bartie reserved London for the hour of compulsion. The man whistled louder 'than before. "I call this a pretty go," he remarked suspiciously. Both boys- had come to the conclusion that they were at a standstill. "Well, it ain't; no use standin' there in the rain — you'd*, better jump up behind. The missis 'ull settle it." Without a second l invitation they jumped tip behind, and found a dry and 1 comfortable seat in a corner among some sacks. Harry nestled with a sigh of deep thanljl•fulness. The country had begun to pall. He had lent his enthusiasm for Robinson Crusoe-; h© began to believe it wasn't true. Ami Ins heart turned backward to Noll and Nell s, comforting.

— UgEKgMinnwi "n " ■' »■ '■' Tfi« "missus' will settle it." And his little wan face smiled up conSdently at Bartie. Bartio was a. little older, a little bigger, but a good deal stronger and bolder ■than the othe-r. One was confident, with the spirit of the leader; the other desired to be led. Bub not into darkness and hunger. "The 'missus' will settle it." Bartie turned on him fiercely. "Nar then, Toff, what are yer gettin' art? 'Oo's goin' ter settle it? Not the 'missus' an' nob yoxi. You're a reg'ler one, you are; wort with yer wantin' ter do a bunk an' not wantin' ter do a bunk, yor'il git me chawged agen. An' yer 'erd the b&ak ; 'c sed if I wer ohawged egen I'd lose me ,-arecter — an' 1 won't lose it — I'd sorter dran fust. An' yer've got ter know it!" "Well, bub," said Harry, "I don't see how it can be helped. The man says his 'missus' will settle it, and if she does settle it ". "I'll dran mcself !" interposed Bartholomew Brent, with a melodramatic air. "You said yourself that drowning was nothing much," observed Harry. "I'll dran bofe of us I" the desperado declared. "I don't want to be drowned," said Harry; "I want> to go home." "Oh, yer do? Well, then, so yer shall. Wish I may die before I'd brought yer. Dcin' a bunk fer two i- — I mean ter sye, yer weren't 'appy an' I brought yer. Anywye, an' no mistake abart it, the missus isn't goin' to settle it !" The waggon came to a halt. Peering out, the boys could trace dim outlines of hay-ricks and a house — evidently a farmhouse. To Bartio it was a terrible reflection that the "missus" was de-le-gated to "settle- him." Harry had! resigned hinr-Eolf to the inevitable, and in a confused way to thoughts of comfort. He could not recall just exactly what he wanted, except perhaps to go to sleep. His past ambitions seemed very remote. The boys were ushered into a large kitchen, the beams of the ceiling hung with bacon and strings of onions. A huge fire burned on the hearth, and standing before it was a woman of about 35 years, with a hopeful, energetic air about her. "Well, now, missus, here I be," said her husband, "and here be company." The "company" looked at the hostess, each after his kind^ — Harry wistfully, Bartie with a brave attempt at unconcern. "G-ood evenin'," he volunteered, assuming country manners. "It's a narsty night." i "Good lawks !" ejaculated the missus, turn- ! ing to the master. "Did yoa over!" The master never had', heretofore, and said so. Said he had picked the youngsters up on the road. They had footed it from Southampton, and were making for Wimbcrne.

"I never did!" declared the "misre," neither had the- master." But both Bartholomew Brent find Harry the Toff had — and they looked it.

"Well, did 1 you ever?" the. farm wife reiterated, "an' not a s;hoe on their four feet. Drenched through, too ; and who's yoiu" mother and father — come over here to the fire, you naughty boys, this moment ! Who is your father and your mother to let you do it?"

Hadn't got any father, Bartie informed the missus. Hadn't got any mother, neither of 'urn. But ho, Bartholomew, had got a. Ole grandmother somewheers out Wimbledom way, an' he'd got to get there. He'd tell her to-morrow, lie added ; he was bind of off talking to-night. Tho missus didn't wonder. She set chairs at tho supper table, pnd fed the famished boys on ham and eggs, home-made bread, and hot milk ; then, when their clothes we-re drying before the fire, and she had placed shoos and stockings hasidc- tho smaller suit, sho said to the ma&ter:

"The little one is just the size of our boy. And he don't look long for this world either. There's some mystery in this; we'll have to settle it.''

Harry, tucked up snugly in bed and sleeping profoundly, was oblivious of pa=t or future. Bartie, with his ear at the door crack, heard the knell of his own doom.

To-morrow things must be settled. That meant that he must account for himself and Harry. He was perfectly certain about himself. The law oould not touch him for honestly paying his way from London to the country — but how about Harry? Ho had a torine-nting fear that Harry meant abduction and disgrace*. Ho c/rpt into bed beside the Toff with a shamefaced sense of unworfcbines 5 . A feather bed and sheets ! It cecmed sacrilege to He down — a double sacrilege to lie beside Nell's little Harry — a third betrayal to accept hospitality under false pretences. Somehow hs felt in the wrong. His good intentions had resulted in confusion, and many a night tho street boy had f-lept moro happily on a bundle of skins at the "Annie Erskin" merchants than he slept on his first feather-bed. • • • * "Harry, wake up !" The white dawn streaming through tho windows wa.s cold and cheerless. Uncertain fitful notes of birds came from the trees. "Harry, wake up !" "Yes, Nell," murmured Harry drowsily. "Nar, young 'un, wake up!" Harry sat up suddenly, his eyes wide open. "Why did you wake m© up?" he asked wearily. Barfcie explained that if they did not go the people of the house would institute inquiries, and what he, Bartie, objected to was being- "nabbed" for "nothink," and losing hk character because he had consented to give Harry a treat. The treat was now over, and Bartie proposed restoring Harry to London and his home without the aid of the law.

"Wyte a minit," said Bartie, when Harry wa-3 dressed. He left their last sixpence- in the place ofi iMie shoes and stockings. He believed he had honourably boug-ht them, and felt himself a benefactor, as he, with the smaller boy's hand in his, stepped lighily forward.

"How cold it is," whimpared Harry; "I wish we had stayed to breakfast." Tho realist beside him ventured no remark ; his inherent love of adventure rose at every sbe.p, and with the rising of the sun and circulateion of his blood, Hany's spirits also rose-. For when the sun cam© up it instantly turned the grey, sad scans io cfio of bsav.ty. "Nar we'll see 'oo'l e-efctle- is! I ain't 'er goin' ter be settled in quod an' lose me o'rackter for no 'bloomin' missus. I pyd fer yer shoes an' stockin's 'onest." "But we shall want our dinner," reflected Harry.

"An' we'll 'ay It a " affirmed Baltic, in Hveczy optimism.

"What did you mean about us coming into the country to aae your grandmother?" asked Harry, after they had plodded on in bilence for time. Tho led head turned quickly in Hany's direction; tho small blue eye.s twinkled. For a moment Bartholomew Brent was on tho poinl of laughter. But Nell would not telorate lies. Barti3 explained — "Isn't tho country wheer my muicr was born? An' if 'er muver is knocking abart, isn't sho my gran'muver?" This was conclusive, but Harry liked detail. '"What ia your grandmother a nam«: he asked. beginJiing' to take an interest in the fictitious old lady. Bartie was getting iri tated. "Sims as if yer didn't think I oughtcr 'aye no gran' mm or. Ther' ain't no extra chawge, I s'pose, fer 'avin' a gran'muver? It's respectable, too. is a gran'muver." Harry hastened to explain that he me-aat no offence — that not having a grandmother I'imself, he was a bit suriiriisecl to hear of Barbie's claim to a pedigree. If Baitie knew her name and where she lived, it would bo very pleasant to go and se& her, and ehe- no doubt would be equally pleased to see her grandson. Bartie declared "frh&'d oughfcer, arter comin' all that wy<? tcr see 'er. She'd be a nioe onnatei'al sort er gran' muver if shs weren't, an' if she weren't 'c was blessed if ever 'ed 'ay nnyfink else t9r do with the ole woman, draggin' 'im all this wye fer nufink."

This was a new aspect of their jaunt. Bvit coming to a bend in the road they were attracted by cows standing kneede-ep in a stream. The cows evidently belonged to a farm, the thatched-roofed barns and granaries, hay-rick, and styes, and a pond of ducks, surrounded a substantial farmhouse, where, to add to its allurements, there was doubtless plenty of food. After their long walk in tho fresh, rain- washed air, the boys wore ravenously hungry. While Baitie was cogitating whether it would be wise to n=k another "missus," a gentleman rode to th/> gat© on horseback. The Rate was barred, and th-s quick-witted London boy, seeing his opportunity, made haste 1o take down th? rail.

"Thank ye," said ihe young gentleman, with a Scotch accent, riding through. "Put up the rail again."

"Nob me," retorted Baitie. "I 'ardly knows whart British boys is comin' to, workin' fer nuthin'."

The young man on horseback reined up and stared at Bartholomew Brent in amusement.

"Mind yer keprful wich that theer 'orso." proceeded Bartie, irrespective of the consequences, "it'll come in yoosful fer cat's meat," and ihe-n ho gave such a droll imitation, first of the cry of the Pats-meat man, and then of a cat walking away in disdain, ai>d phaking the diivt off her paws, that theyoung horseman bur«t into hearty laughter.

'"Re's not a bad boy, but he's rather rude," apologised Harry.

"Rather! Hero, you young rip, take this, To ought to be whacked."

Tho gentleman, threw a sixpence and rede on. Yvhe-n he> turned back to look he- «ny Bartie executing c ome sort of a dance- on his head.

'"When you'vo put up (he rail, come here, you young imp of Satan," called out, a woman's voice. Bartio promptly reversed himself, and saw a young woman standing at the door of a- bj re with two foaming- cans of milk in her hands.

She set dovn tho pails as the boys approached aft--»r a prompt obedie-nce. "As Dr Carew says, you should be leathered, but would the two of you like a dipper of milk?"

No second invitation was needed. They drank so eagerly that she replenished the mug. Then, diving into a capacious pocket, she brought forth two huge, mel-low-cheeked apples. "There's one for each, and now gefc out of th:s before the mistress sees you!" '"We're truly obliged to yer, lydey," said Bartie, resjiectf illy. The woman laughed. l> Oh, I aiii'fc no lady; I'm a dairymaid," she said. ''Now off with you."

Fortified by their me-01, the- world became beautiful to them once. more. The sun shone, the birds sang-, pnd it did indeed seem as though they had reached the paradise they had 1 set out to seek, for they had come to no less picturesque place than the model village of Canford, famed throughout Dor=et.

They passed thp vicarage, a quaint old hou=e, whose garden wall ran a'ong the clean, finely-gravelled road, with a porch like a church door breaking the evenness of the wali. E\en here in this -wilderness of trees the vicar's garden was remarkable, and in the centre of the wide green lawn was a cedar of Lebanon. Such a tree Harry had never seen before, its sweeping branches were magnificent, and it was an aviavy for birds. The blackbird, thrush, and linnet, in their season, gave their harmonious concerts.

Harry's faith in bis guide, philosopher, and friend was restored". At every st-ep Barhe's statements were verified. Evidently he had known from the. start what they had come forth to see — and the way. The cottages had gabled roofs and dormer windows curtained 1 spotlessly — how Nell would love to live in one ! — the windows were full of flowers, the porch at each door was garlanded with honeysuckle, woodbine, or roses, and the little gardens were bright with all the old-fashioned autumn flowers.

Hairy longed with all the- strength of his wish for one of those lale-flowcring ios&s climbing: round the porch. "I wish I had a rose," lie sighed, but Bartie knew better than squander their precious sixpence on flowers. "I wish I'd got a baked pe-rtater!" he replied 1 . Bui the beauties of Natuve were affecting him, nevertheless, aud when they came to the model s-ohoolhouso built of gvey stone, standing in its gaidcn. where the monol school children wore playing, some 30 in number, rosy, well fed, clean aiid

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comforbably dre=sec! — the perfection of it all, or the contrast to Great Peter's and St. Brmin's streets, where his lot had been cast among children who had never owned a flower fresh from its garden bed, and in whose cheeks no roses e\er bloomed, and who went hungry every day, the contrast and injustice some-how got on Bartholomew Brent's nerves. If he had been a girl he wovild have cried, but, being himself, he acted strangely — ;O strangely that he scared the rural wits of the small model children, who came- to the fence to watch the strange boy in tho road who first mimicked a baricl organ-grinder, then Cha;i Chu\ then a number of street cries, and finally ran down -the road on his hands.

Harry followed listlessly, feeling the incongruits' of such pjoceedings with the snrloundings.