A WAR ROMANCE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 31, Issue 27, 8 April 1919, Page 4

A WAR ROMANCE.

MAEEIAGB to an heieess. A romance that has every element in it fox a novel, but the facts of which are guaranteed at their source, is being related widely along the western line, says a Sydney paper. It concerns the /rise of a young rouseabout oh a Gilgandra station to a position of fame in England, and his pending marriage to a young lady who, in the early days of the acquaintance, was not permitted to continue the friendship. In the meantime she has inherited a fortune. The story goes back several years. The young lady was 17 years old at the time, and resided in a western town. On one occasion she visited her uncle 'a station at Gilgandra, the old man having made much money out of sheepraising. It was here that she first met her intended husband, at that time doing service as a general handy man round the place. One thing that he became noted for was his natural genius in the mechanic ’b line. He was reputed as capable of handling any job from a sewing machine to a station pump, via the shearing machines of household windmill. He was regarded with genuine favour in the home till the niece came along. Glances were exchanged, and it was not long before the two seemed to display mutual affection. The aunt came into the drama at this stage, and insisted on chaperoning' the girl closely, while the young man was given the direct hint that if he did not turn his thoughts in some, other direction he would -find himself out of a job. And that was what happened. He got clear of the station, and the young lady went home. The uncle and aunt were then quite satisfied that the whole business had been cleaned up satisfactorily. "The handy man returned to his home in South Australia, and allowed his engineering capacities to have full play. He went to work with one'of the large engineering firms. Meanwhile the girl went to England with her parents, who were well off, and had a general look round the world. Then the war broke out. The ex-farm hand threw down his tools and bolted for the recruiting office, n Being accepted, he went into camp with a company 'of engineers, but on reaching the other side was transferred to the Eoyal Flying Corps, in which he rose to the rank of a commander. Not only did he perform well with the company, but he went in for inventing, with the result that a useful contrivance found acceptance by. the authorities. The young lady was > still in England, and she, too, went in-for war work. Her health, however, gave way, and she afterwards returned, to Australia. _ln the meantime two relatives had died and bequeathed her a fortune mentioned as close on £IOO,OOO. , Next April she vtill leave for England to fill in the final chapter, the wedding arrangements having been completed already. The uncle and aunt have lived to see the culmination of her romance, but they have left the Gilgandra district. ;