CHAPTER XIX.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 160, 10 July 1886, Page 8

CHAPTER XIX.

CLARENCE LEARNS THE NEWS. The night before the events narrated in the preceding chapter, Clarence Ashworth retired early, saying that he expected to start for the mountains by daylight, and asking if the cook would kindly leave a cold lunch in the dining-room for him. When Minnie informed Mury Brady of the young gentleman's request, that worthy person said ; "An* why does Mr Ashworth want a cowld male that early in the mornin' for ?" " Because," replied Minnie, "he's goin' offhuntin'." *' Well, upon me conscience, so long as I'm cook at Berisford Manor, Mr Ashworth can't lave this house without a good warrum male to sit down to— no, not if I was to sit up all night in ortherto be up early." u Oh, if you sits all de night oop, Maree," said Hans, "den I sits mit you oop too." Whether Mary Brady, assisted by Hans, sat up all night or not we cannot pretend to j cay, but we do know that when Clarence entered the dining-room a half- hour before daylight the next morning, he found that apartment illuminated and an excellent breakfast awaiting him, — in addition to which there was an ample lunch put away in his hunfcing-bag. Mary herself waited on him, and she stoutly refused the money he offered her, saying, in her hearty way : " Whin it gives me so much pleasure, sir, why should you want to spile it by offerin' me pay ?" "I ask your pardon, Mary; you are quite right," said Clarence, as he gave her his hand It was still dark when Clarence, with the dog by hie side, passed under the Hanging Rock. He had gone by th» place a hundred yards or more, when his attention was attracted by the whining of the pointer behind him. He whistled for the dog, and when the intelligent animal came up and began to cower and tremble at his feet, he patted him, saying : " What has scared you, good boy ? Come, keep to heel." He went on, the dog keeping close behind him, and continuing his whining until Clarence sternly commanded him to silence On the previous day Clarence had also been out hunting, and it was near night when he returned with what the doctor called "a very fair bag indeed." He wag more intent on finding the abode of the hermit than in securing game, but as he had not succeeded he determined to try again. In addition to this, it muet be confessed he did not care to remain at the Manor during the day, for in doing so he must talk to the doctor about Hindoo myths and occult sciences, and be brought in contact with Shirley Benson, whom he detested. It was a bright, beautiful morning, with the suggestion of a white frost in the air, and a golden haze hanging over the hills, that enhanced the dazzling splendour of the autumn foliage. With daylight the well trained dog went in the advance, and he came to " a point " a number of times without attracting the attention of the abstracted hunter. But no man with eyes could walk through such scenes and remain long indifferent to their glories. The call of quail and the whirr of the mountain partridge brought Clarence back from the realms of unpleasant speculation, and the hunter instinct that is dormant in every robust man's nature leaped up into vigorous life. He had rare good luck, and his tramping gave him such an appetite that while it was yet lacking an hour of noon, he eat down in the shadow of a rock, from the base of which there bubbled a clear, cool spring, and prepared to dispose — with the help of his dog — of the luncheon Mary had prepared for him. He had completed his very satisfactory meal, and was in the act of bending over to drink in the most primitive way from the spring, when he heard a light step behind him, and a shadow fell on the water. Clarence looked quickly up, and to his great surprise there stood before him the erect, picturesque form of the hermit. He leaped to his feet and. seized the extended hand, while The Jooke said : "I thought you would come again to the mountains, Mr Ashworth. Let me welcome you." " Thank you," replied Clarence ; " and believe me when I say that my coming to the mountains was largely influenced by the hope of meeting you." Then looking down and seeing the pointer licking his lips after finishing the luncheon, he added : "I wish you had come a little earlier and shared my dinner." " Better as it is, for my home is near by, and you can come and share my midday meal with me. But, before you go down to the valley, tell me why you wished to see me ?" " First, because I became intensely interested in you when I first saw you ; and as for the other reasons, why, if I stopped to give them, I fear your midday meal would have to be postponed till long after the meridian." "The interest was mutual. The waters of this spring flow past the door of my cabin. Come let'us be getting down." The hermit, with his gun at his back, strode ahead, and as Clarence followed. him he thought he had never seen a more soldierly figure. More than ever he felt that this strange man was not born to the life he now lived. At some time in the past he must have mingled in the world's busy strife, and been a leader of men. But what calamity had befallen him that made him a self-exile ? Clearly he had not a misanthrope's hatred of the world. Why, then, had he left it ? Again and again, as he followed his mysterious guide into the beautiful valley, Clarence asked himself these questions, without being able to imagine anything like a satisfactory answer. As they neared the cluster of cabins the great bloodhound, before referred to, bounded out, and atter saluting his master with glad leaps, he saw Clarence, and drew back with a growl. •• A friend, Czar — a friend !" said the hermit, pointing the dog to Clarence, to whose heels the cowering pointer clung. On hearing these words, the hound came up and licked Clarence's hands ; and, after the manner of strange dogs, he introduced himself to the pointer. " I have wondered why you live away from men," said Clarence, looking over the beautiful spot ; " but I can now ccc that it is your love for nature." " You would be wrong to think that I do not associate with men because I hate them ; far from it. It is because I love the race and wouldjmake them happy thatl am here.'i He stopped, with his hand on the latch O£ the door, and added, slowly and solemnly .

" I have left the world because I am afraid of myself." r a Clarence,, n^ade no comment, His own; good sense prevented hie seeking for any, other light on this strange man's life than' he chose himself to reveal. :r He was conducted into the room whiab, Miriam had occupied during her stay, and his glance was at once attracted to they strange arms-aiid the many trophies of the chase that nearly hid the log walls. " This will be your room during your stay. Make yourself at home while I visit thekitchen." ' ;, The Jooke went out before Clarence could say that his stay must be necessarily shorb. " Why, these swords and spears are fromv, India— at least, some of them are," said 5 Clarence, as he began to examine thY weapons on the wall. His eyes were soon fastened on a carved r aword, the scabbard of which was covered* with arabesque figures in gold, while a great diamond glittered in the hilt. On this scabbard Clarence read tha following, which was finely engraved in, English :