NEW ZEALAND SIORIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 77

NEW ZEALAND SIORIES.

- -* ■ r By E. If. Dttnlop.

BELINDA AND THE JUDGE. [Copyright.]

Our settlement in the forest was progressing, and had already assumed the appearance of a village. Axe and fir* had made extensive clearings on either side of the long white road, and peach and apple groves and patches of maize were flourishing where, a short time before, the pine and the rimu, with the dense undergrowth of the primeval busb, had covered all the land. The temporary canteen, which had moved with the roadmen and the survey party, and had halted long in oar settlement, was enclosed by a low, rambling, wooden building, used as an accommodation house ; many 6mall wooden shanties were in evidence, with here and there erections of ostentatious proportions classed as houses, in more than, one instance furnished, with verandahs, over which gorgeous climbing plants made delightful screens.

.We began to speak of our settlement as a township, and many were the speculations as to its future The Maoris delighted to congregate around the accommodation house,' .'discussing tho innovations qf the^timeB r r iJ T ) heir settlement or pa was no great 4f«ttt^ce *way, and they came in troops, often riding two :Oin,- one horse, the wahines, or women, astride, carrying brown-eyed picaninnies securely fastened .on their backs. Many were the disputes amongst the Maoris and the white settlers concerning 'the values and sale or lease of the surrounding lands. These disputes necessitated the establishment of a Native Land Court, and great were the rejoicings both of brown and white at the initiation of the hopeful method of settling difficulties. $Jot only did a peaceful solution of awkward problems appear imminent, but we were promised an influx of population and «n increase of trade. Our township boasted a corner store, which was kept by a Mr and Mrs Smith, and so important .had their business become that, some time previous to that of my story, ttfey had imported help in the form of a young woman, whom they called Belinda, and who was . more formally kdown as Mrs Belinda- Brown. She had speedily becomo popular, and her little boy had found friends of every kind, sort, and description, from the Maori picaninnies to the old billy goat, of 'which, though at first afraid, he had become a familiar playmate. Little Bobby Brown ran' up and- down the village street, or played about the doorway of the store, from morn till dewy eve, watching an opportunity for fun, from a ride on the back of a passing traveller's horse to a combat with the village gander. A tangled mass of brown curls tossed about a rosy face, a pair of blue eyes which a cherub might have envied, sturdy limbs, ever in action, except when firmly bound by- the heavy steep which at laafc became his master. Such was Bobby Brown, his mother's joy and the pride of our township. It was easily to be seen "whence Bobby had received his gifts of health, strength, and beauty. Belinda possessed all these in no stinted measure, and while evoking the enthusiastic admiration of Mrs Smith's customers, was well able ii> repel : any ' too familiar advance with a flourish of a firm, though dimpled, arm.

•.The preparations for the sitting of the Native Lands Court caused quite a flutter of expectation. Premises for the function had been nTrpn.qe'd by the erection of a weatherboard house of consid-eiablo dimensions, which wps intended in tho future to be utflifced as a Town Hall and general meeting place. Some daring spirit proposed that an entntainment should be held to open the new building. Opinions ran high as to the class of amusement to be indulged in, the voiinper people favouring a dance and the older ones a supper. It was finally decided to combine the two, and the whole affair was to take place as a welcome to the Judge and his officials. ■who were expected to arrive en masse at a siven date. Invitations were issued to a large, but limited, number, and the remainder of tho population expected to partake in the fun by flattening their nrses against the window panes, which were the crowning jjlory of the who'e erection. The Smiths naturally took a lively interest in the affair, as the furnishing of the principal part of the provisions fell to their share. Belinda, as their assistant, was very busy and keenly interested, quite invaluable with suggeetions and advice, as well as ■with active work. Settlers were coming from far and near, caper to moet the Judge and to anticipate his dec'sions. Tree ferns had been cut and erected as an archway, and forest greenery decked the walls. The workers, one. of the most active of whom was our Belinda, who had been superintending the decorations, had paused a few momenta to rest and contemplate their labours, when a cry was heard that the Judge was coming. The ■whole population rushed to doors and windows to view the approaching visitors, who were followed by a crowd of eager Maoris, -watching every movement of the advancing rangatira who was to (settle all their difficulties.

A natural procession had been formed, the Judge, mounted on a tall white horse. and with his solicitor riding beside him, leading the way, followed by Native interpreters, assessors, and other interested parties. Belinda had come to the doorway of the new hall, and stood framed in an archway of greenery formed by nikau and tree ferns; her bare arms were uplifted, her white hands shading her eyes from the too brilliant clare after the <le^p shade within; her brown, curly hair, eqmowhat loosened, encircled her head like a halo, and her cheeks, flushed by her toils, had nn almost unnatural brilliancy. Her little boy w^ sittigs on the etej? at

her feet. Thus Belinda stood to watch the Judge pass by. The Judge in riding on and smilingly returning a salutation here or there came opposite this charming picture. He checked his horse as though by some instinct, and, turning, gazed straight at Belinda as Belinda gazed straight at him. Both remained still a few moments as though turned to stone, no salutation passing between them. The Judge himself made a goodl3 r picture as he turned upon his horee and maiuteined i»hat amazed and silent scrutiny; a deep flush crept perceptibly over his brown, face, which still kept the charm of youth. Slowly lowering his eyes, his glance fell upon the boy at Belinda's feet. He turrfed hZ» horse to approach the pair as though drawn by some magnetic agency, birt Belinda awakened suddenly from the spell which seemed to have held her motionless. Stooping, she caught up ..the child and van«hed with hint into, the empty space behind her. The Jucfge agaia checked his horse, eecming lost in some deep amazement, but the crowd closing in decided that the welcome should now take place on the spot, and in a few moments the Judge was surrounded and tli 3 speech-making began. Nothing more was seen of Belinda in public, for the remainder of the afternoon. Carrying her boy, she had hurried away t) Smith's store, where she occupied herself with her usual duties, sometimes casting uneasy glances towards the scene of the gathering. She appeared seized with a mcod of unusual shyness, and even spake oi not being able to join the pariy or perform her duties at the hall. Mrs Smith's dismay and loud remonstrances, however, prevailed, and the young -woman agreed to ctwrv out preconceived plans. Foregoing, however, the more festive costume in which she had intended mingling with the guests, when the hour came she appeared in a neat dark dress and apron, and took her place only as a waitress in the portion of the hall set apart for refreshments. Belinda's admirers objected to this arrangement, andi again and again she was entreated to abandon her new austerity find to join in the dancing, which was a feature of the entertainment. She steadily refused, howover, slipping away from time to time to ran down the road and vi« 4 the cot in which lay tfce sleeping ■Bobby. Meanwhile opinions were divided on tl>e subject of the Judge. Some thought him dull, some thought him proud, oat the women united in considering him both hsuiulsome and interesting. His .fascinated gaze, at Belinda had not escaped notice, and there was a little speculation in consequence. He was grave, abs-ent-minded, and abstemious. It was not until supper tine tbartrhe agtrinrarag'ht sighrt~of-Belinda, and he watched her surreptitiously . and thoughtfully. Survey Jack wps pressing his attentions upon her, but apparently receiving no encouragement. Tbe fu» grew fast and furious, and when the revel wss at its zenith Belinda slipped away. A sound startled her, a step followed her, ajjd an arm was thrown around her. She ghook it off, a,nd fled down the long white road. The Judge returned to the hall, from which his absence had scarcely been - perceived except by the sharp eye of his frlicitor. The business of tne Li.nds Court proceeded, and the township was crowded with noisy litigants. Tie publichouse and Smith's store were bot.'.i doing a roaring trade. The public conscience had not yet awakened, and no restrictions troubled cither the publican or tha trader. The object of each was to make as much money ps possible, and few scruples checked the process. Tho fun was fatt and furious at times in the settlement, but danger was checked . by a good -humoured jollity and fellowship, by a rough wn&e of justice, and by a great ohiwtliy towards women and eln'dren.

The Judge had knotty points to con-.->,dcr in attempting to solve the un'olvable. " Everyone who is in actual pos'edbion must be Le!d io hire a gcrd title iiiHil someone ols-e show^ a r-etter by kicking him off the prenp'rCi" is the <lever summit up of one who well knew the business involved.

Belinda wa» vtry busy in her store, and found little t j roe even ' to play with her boy. The Judge. howe\er. Hal taken a gieat fancy to the little feliow. acd the .iffection was irutual. When t-he greit man occasionally f.hcok hims-elf free cf the roves of office a*xl of tl'e company of undtfsirable sa-tellites to s-iunter on the white rood and e.njoy a solitary pir>e, whi'e cone.dering hi* decisions, Bobby watched his opportunity, and, leaving all other playmates, ran to the Judge, clinging to his hard and chattering in an undeveloped mixture of English, Moori, and baby pr«tttle. Tiioir friendship grew, end the Judge would place Bobby cci the tall white horfe and let lijm ride, at first himself holding the rein°. and by degrees allowing the little fpllow rrore liberty.

Belinda woteh-ed from afar with some anxiety, but offered no interference. The Judge hal once or twice -entered the store to purchase b\s tobacco, bit Belinda hnd left through Ue back entry, and, making some exrus'?, had sent Mns Smith to serve him. Meanwlu'e Sjrvcy Jock continued his attentions. He admired Belinda vith his whole soul, and would have readily died in her fei-vice.

A case was referred to the Judi^e for settlement in which Survey Jack had knocked a roadman down for daring to make frw with Belinda's name. Jack seemed to b? ever on the watch, hovering around Smith's on on* pretext or another. He wes a fine, upstandnng, good-natuTe-l specimen of humanity. c»nd the Judge hated him with a growing hatred. Whfn the Judge and Bobby lu.<l turned their baeko to tha store, and wore sauntering up the read to the.ra.nteon, Belinda would c'-ofn to the door, and, shading her eyes with her bards, to make a telescope, 'you'd watch the pair until the ticor of the canteen was passed, but she never sa,w the Judge enter there, for h? had taken a lodging at tlte_ rejppte ecd^ oiJLhe village^

The people said thai be -was a teetotaller,and that he neected to keep his head clear to attend to his business.* As for Belinda* foll^ said that sh# was lonely ; that she refused company, and loved to wander when- she had a leisurfc moment in the leafy shades of the forest, or to sit alone in the clearing by the great sawpits, ponderiftg over her past or the future of her b»y. It had bee» be* custom to take him with her to the spo* and let him play in the sawpit> while she read or sewed, but, she seldoci had his company in the«e days, as hft was inseparable from the Judge whenever th»' latter was at leisure. Belinda reflected^ upon this ratter bitterly ; people said^ -that, the st&nger was stealing th» aSectitmi ol her boy. The sitting of the court wn coaai«g to a close. Belinda, fiUei witk sad aa4 bitter memories, and fresk fi-oat a painful interview with Survey Jack, took her wtfy one hot, still alteroooa to her favourite resting place. The tall pines threw deep shadows across the clearing, the moss was soft beatath her feet, wbick left their imprint ; the coainess aajl stillness of the spot calmed ik« tumult oi her thoughts, in which the sharp paags oi jealousy mingled witfe a- yeaioing ' wkici seemed almost to destroy her very being. She seated herself o» a falle* log, and knowing herself alone vaatured t« tkr«w aside the mask of sm*le# whjck ehe,habitually wore. She raised her face towards •the delicate tracery oi ]e«,ves bstwcen her and the sky, and tap expression on her face was one of an anguish too does for words to describe. It was well that Survey Jack was not there, for his big heart could ill have borne the sight of Belinda's grief. Meanwhile the Judge was taking 80-boy for a laist ride, for the court wrs to depart upon the morrow. His mood, too, wa-s one of distraction and uncertainty, and Bobby enjoyed more freedom with th« reins than was altogether safe. By-and-bye the pair disapi»£ftred from tho road, and after hitching tha horse to a posi plunged into the forest track. "Take ma to your mummy, Bob," said th« Judge. Bobby" led the way along the familiar track to the sawpits, and, so pushing their way through* the forest greenery they came upon^ Belinda. Then Bobby received a great surprise-, for the Judge, forgetting all his official dignity T ran forward,' and throwing himself down beside Belinda, and kneeling on the mossy sod, clasped his arms around her, burying his face on her lap. Bobby felt cartain that the Judge wu crying. As for Belinda, she did not seem at all surprised, but, beadiag over the Judge, her white hands caressed his curly hair, and it seemed as if their tears were mingled. Bobby stole forward quite dismayed, and though he could not understand he heard : "Forgive me, 'Linda ; forgive me ! lam another man now. Ever since you left me I have tried, and with success. 'Drink ruined our lives, both yours and mine, but I have left it behind for ever. With you and the boy I shall be doubly safe. See what a different man I am from the young solicitor you left. I did not know thai you were here. Say that the past is forgotten, and we may begin our lives anew." When they left the forest the Judge was carrying BobbT on bis shoulder, but his arm was round; Belinda, and his f>co was that of a youth in its . triumphant joy. Wife and husband, long paitect, were united : vice and failure lay behind, and a glorious future before them. When the court departed on the following day the Judge carried Bobby^ before him on the tall white horse and a iadii>nt Belinda rode on his right hand, mounted on the big bay of the Judge's solicitor, who followed, often abandoned to uncontrojlable chucklin?s. on a sorry screw borrowed from a Maori client.