“THE STORY OF HILARY LECH.”

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143647, 15 November 1911, Page 5

“THE STORY OF HILARY LECH.”

By HAROLD BINDLOSS,

Author of “A Brave Man’s Love/ 5 “In Niger Land/* “Ainslie’s Ju-Ju,” etc., etc.

CHAPTER XL—Continued. Legh went out, sat- iu the shelter of the deckhouse watching the haltered driftwood whirl past, and listening to the e)n nsour of many waters, while he tried to forget his shame. lie had feared what had that day been told him, and now it had come lie had let a fit of childish and impotent fury master him. lint that had passed, tne touch of Lilian’s hand east out the devil, and again he saw his duty plain. Ho must leave the woman’s life unsullied, and when for his partner’s sake they had won a little gold, go on his way again. Also, if the scow never came out of the canon it would end his trouble and ensure Lilian’s future, for he determined Morsley should not make the mad attempt with him. Thus it was settled, and. tranquil at last, he re-entered the deckhouse. bade his comrade good-night, and sank into peaceful slumber. Next morning they applied for new papers, and duly received them, ior both had free prospectors’ certificates, and the* commissioners were w illing to encourage legitimate enterprise. so they paid their debts, and. because Mor.dey was communicative, rumours of the project wore spread about. Accordingly it happened that one morning, when Lcgh was up to his waist in snow water shovelling-gravel, Hebert (.Tighten, reining in Ins horse, hailed him: “Busy again. Are you follows making your fortune here?” Legh straightened his back and stood up, dripping ami smeared with the green glacier clay. “Wo have made about live dollars in the last two weeks.” ho said, drily.

“Then it’s lime you quit,'’ was the answer, •‘What's this 1 hoar about your taking the scow down the canon? It’s worse than suicide. Sco here, Lea, 1 don’t know why. but I've taken a liking to you. Pernaps it's because you're trying to plough hard rock as 1 once tried to, and sticking rjght down to it. But a wise man knows when he-as beaten, and you have fought well. Come over to me—i’ll i'md you sometin hotter. ’ ■ _ in grateful,” Legh said quietly, “but it is JUix>ossihle. besides, im not quite beaten yet. and 1 caiiAjiily say r m obliged to you. Cngnlon rode on, uiimiig, and reaching ms homestead, smu ; Jve been talking to those mining iocis. they re delerml ned to take ineir rickety scow down the canon, there s a tinriy-Knot current in the steepest part ot it, hesicto the big sail It and \>lurlpooi. Its a piece oi Heroic ioolery.” jjilian turned towards him with the colour deepening m her cheeks. “It. is almost certain death, J she said.

'•.Somebody ought t<j warn them, bare ly you 0:111 t Jut them rim .such a ter nine riskf”

•'I tan t stop them,” said Crightou, grimly. “L re tried it. This is u Ireo country, and theres nothing to prevent a man dying nho wants to. 'mat hen was magnificent—it lie only ii’.idn t been such a blamed idiot. Stood up smeared null clay, ruined, about Inuf-ied by the took 01 him, and said 111 ins clean crisp .Itnglisli, 'J in grateful, but decline with thaiiKs,' or sometlllng like it. Wish id bad him lor a partner twenty years ago." .ms. might-on went out with her husband. Lilian sat still, with hands twined in the sewing on her knee and a pain at her heart, while her stepmother said to Cnghton; "it wasn t judicious of you, itobert, to talk oi a hair-brained adventurer like him. Girls arc romantic, you know, and inclined to worship any kind of pinchbeck hero.”

Kobert Crightou first frowned at her, then laughon as ho said; “Wilfreds an honest fellow, but if ho wants her he must win her in a fair field. By George, I’d hardly blame the girl if she lanciod that miner; 1 like the man myself; but you needn't worry. It’s ioiig chances the river gets him.” 'mat evening Huntingdon also rode over to the scow, and said awkwardly: '•l’ve heard what you were proposing, and 1 hope you’ll excuse the liberty—could sec it w'as financial necessity drove you. .Now—and 1 guess you’d do as much tor me—if you can transport the thing in sections 1 might be able to help towards financing yon, Vou could repay me at any time, you know. Wouldn't even mind taking interest, to make it a commercial deal if you struck it rich.”.

Legh hesitated ,and for a few seconds felt almost savage. This man had not only clouded the rest of Ids life, but now had even made it impossible to bate him. Then ho was only glad for .Lilian's sake, and stretched out a brown hand, saying: ‘'Von arc good people in British Columbia, and i thank you. This is the second offdr, but J must simply say that it is quite impossible.” “Cm 'sorry,” said Huntingdon.

“Meant it in good part. 1 wish I had the power to stop you. When do you siart: ; ”

“The funeral commences at nine a.m three days from this,” said lUorsley

“As my partner puts it, they raise good people down your way, and out of gratitude woTl try to fix them up a farewell spectacle. I’m only sorry wo can’t have a band, and start off under a banner with the motto—Tins is what comes of too much honesty.’ ” It was a balmy afternoon of early spring, when the snow had almost gone and pale sunshine filled the Cedarvalley, when Lilian Crighton rode up alone to the dwelling of Kennedy, the log-contractor, who held magisterial powers. She hesitated on the edge of the clearing, reined in her pony, and sat still in the saddle a minute or two, fooling strongly tempted to wheel him back into tin? trail, and then fearing her resolve should fail her, rode on hurriedly.

Kennedy, a son of California, who on mo to British Columbia from the wilds of Northern Ontario, was an

elderly man with a stock shrewdness, and a somewhat caustic tongue, but he smiled when she dismounted at his doorstep, saying: "I’m glad to see ye, Miss Crighton, bringing in the spring. It’s no 1 iliat alien my house is brightened with such a visiter.” “1 have come on business,” .said Julian, forgetting all the convincing and trying to treat her errand wim a lightness she did not feel. “You are a magistrate, and as it’s so seldom you get one. ought to he thankful for a case. But you must promise to toll nobody 1 came to warn you.” Kennedy only nodded, and she continued; “To-morrow two men are going to do a very wicked thing—drown themselves in the Black Canon, which is practically what it comes to—and it can’t lie lawful for anyone to wilfully throw his life away. .Isn't it your duty u> prevent them? * Lilion, forgetting all the convincing arguments she had marshalled on the way, broke off lamely under Kennedy’s half-amused gaze, fidgeted with her gloves, and then was filled with righteous anger, or thought she was, when he asked with something approaching a smile of comprehension in Ills eye, “Why should I protent them—would it pleasure ye, particularly'” “No,” broke out Lilian, “not particularly. Whufc am I saying? Of course, in one way. J. mean it wmdd. Why should you stop them, Mr. Kennedy? In the name of humanity.' You have no right as a magistrate to look on quietly while your fellow-creatures perish.” (To be continued.,)