BIG PETER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144858, 9 December 1915, Page 8

BIG PETER.

STRONG ROMANTIC LOVE STORY.

By JOHN SHUTE,

Author of “The Bullion Baby,” etc., etc. PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS: Big Peter : A miner on the Kampurli Gold Field. The real Lord Cambray. • ■ . The Swell and Scotty: Chums of Big Peter. Robert Walter: A solicitor’s clerk. Endeavours to sell a secret to Big Peter. Mi;. Fearon: Acts as solicitor to Big Peter. Lord Cambray: Selfish, old, and with a vicious past. Lorrimer: Servant to Lord Cambray. Miss Parker; Aunt to Margaret Parker: With whom Big Peter is in love. Mrs. Saunders: A poor widow whom Big Peter helps. Tommy Saunders; Her sou. CHAPTER XVl.—Continued. The next evening Peter made his way to the temple by the lake in a frame of mind that may be well imagined. He did not want to run any risk of being last at too rendezvous, and consequently had a considerable time to wait in tho company of tbu swans that sailed placidly on the lake, and the birds that were, twittering good-night to one another in the trees by which it was surrounded. But presently sue came from amongst the trees, and' stood on t.te gi a •• oy his side. She had been so long coin nit; that he had begun co ieej sue wou.il nut come at all, ami now she was here iuhad nothing' to say that seemed to lit the occasion. Ho could only look at her in a way that must have shown her at any rate that her presence was welcome. 'T can’t stop very long,” she said, giving him her hand, and smiling at him with a face far less troubled than she had worn the night before. "But 1 wanted to thank you again for all you have done for me.” Ho was just a little chilled, in spite of her smile. He did not reflect that she must want some little excuse' to herself for coming out to meet him there in secret. They sat down together on the marble seat, and Peter had the chance he had looked forward to np on the Broad, if he had been able to got her to come sailing alone with him. Bin he did not realise that in these matters it is not exactly the things that a man may have intended to say that get themselves said—at least not unless the woman is ready to hear them. And apparently sho was not ready this evening, for they talked about quite ordinary things, or things as ordinary as the somewhat unusual circumstances of their common experiences permitted. She told him that sho loved this retired spot in the gardens, and often came there when she wanted to bo alono. Nobody else over came there at all, except once in a way a gardener ; but the gardeners had so much to do, and were short-handed besides, that it was very seldom any of them came to this part of tho grounds at all Peter was pleased enough to hear this, and asked if Lady Cambray didn’t come there sometimes. “Why?” sho smiled at him. “Arc you afraid of her finding us hero and ordering you off the premises? You needn't bo alarmed.” . “Tell me what she is like,” said Peter. “1 was hearing about her today. They say sho is very proud, and that hardly anybody about here has over seen her.” She looked down on tho marble floor. “I don’t think sho is very pfoutl,” she said. ■ “I am afraid she would say she had not much to be proud of. She is often very sad, and perhaps that is why sho has been so little seen when she has been here. Sho lias very few friends.”

"Sho has you,” said Peter simply. “Since 1 have known you 1 have thought that you olten looked sad, too. Is it because she is your friend and you are sorry for her? \ou ought not to bo sad on your own account.” Once more sho smiled at him, and seemed to shake off her mood of melancholy. “1 am not going to ho sad now',” she said. “1 want yon to tell me things, as you did up in Norfolk. Tell mo all about the free happy life you led out in .Australia. X have often thought about it since. It has made me wish sometimes that I could ho a man and got away from all the troubles of this old country, and live a life like that. Why did yon ever leave it? Don’t you like it better than being here?”

“No,” said Peter stoutly, with his eyes fixed upon her. Sho gave a little nervous laugh, but blushed, too, as she said hurriedly, “Well, I suppose you will go back some day. Now tell me some stories about the Bush, and give me something to think about.” Ho could have given her a good deal to think about if he had told her who he was, and answered her question as to what he was doing in Jtjigland. But ho had made up his mind that ho could not do so yet, so he allowed himself to be drawn away from the sort of talk he would have preferred, and amused her with his yarns of adventure. And she sat with her chin in her hand, looking out over the water, or leant hack against the marble with her hands clasped in her lap, listening to him, or perhaps thinking about something quite different, but at any rate content to be there with him, and, if her face showed anything, for this hour, at any rate, in peace. Then, just as on the night before, she sprang up suddenly and said she must bo going, and again Peter remonstrated and said lie had not begun to say to her what he wanted to say.■ ' . . “Why, we have been talking for nearly an hour,” she said, “and you have been doing most of the talking.” And then, fearing perhaps that he would say something she was not ready to listen to, she put up her hand, and said with that sweet smile he loved so much, "Perhaps we might have another talk to-morrow evening if you care to risk it,” and again she was gone, leaving him to stand there, with his heart fluttering like a bird in his great strong body. She came to him next night with a serious face, arid when they had. talked together for'a little he asked her what was troubling ber, for she did not seem to be attending to him much, and he was fearful lest this time she had only come because she had promised to do so, and would soon want to leave him.

V,'lien ho .rkod hi.- rjni'Mimi she look;l ai him si at -iiineiy. and then said ,-nu' n-m,ls tln.i v-vro as r.v.v--i to him IS anv ill' had < VO.- he.inl iiom her lips. Yrm’ have hao.i a very liood friend

to me. 1 think I will 'toll you, and ask your advice.” I’lioii beiore he conic! speak, she added munediy: “It is not my own diinculiy—it is Lady C amlnay Bui 1 know you will u*ii nobody, and she has so lew people‘to aaviso uer. ’ Peter was a utue disappointed that ho was not to help her out oi a. trouble ol her own, but only a little, because wJm.se-ever ddhcnhy it was, it was her contKleme that mio was giving io hun. »\c uardiy ivucciea that Lady Cambray was .something mure to him man he had admitted to the gul who was her friend, until she said; “ine most extr.njkd.nary Ildus' luus happened. l/ady Camhray’s Mdicuor came down from London to see lier tins morning, and told her lilac there was a claimant to her title and her property. Ho had not been g.veu all the details, but he had been told on the authority oi n man whoso word he could trust, that the claim was a good one, although there might be some difficulty in establishing it. Ho hail been (old to ask her wnether she would undertake not to resist it, if she could be satisfied about it, and she were given very handsome compensation.’’’ So Mr. Foavon had already begun to move.. Peter hardly knew whether lie was glad or sorry. But he did lor the moment feel very uncomfortable at having this confidence thrust upon him. However, he reflected that whatever he might hear, no harm would be done to Lady Cambray. and that if lie knew' how she lelt about it, it might help him to take the steps that would be most advantageous to nor. ' it she were to get a very handsome compensation,” ho said, when ho sceineu 10 Uc expected to speak, “and too claim is really a good one, she might bo bolter oil man n she lougnt ii.” '1 ins maiter-ot-iaci way oi looking a: it did not seem to please her. “Bat don’t you think it’s a most extraordinary thing,” she said, “that tins should happen ‘t How can tho claim be a good oner I don’t know how it would bo about the property, but surely nwc.mig mat anyone could do could deprive nor of the title which is hers by right.” “is she very keen on the titlei'” asked Peter.

This did not seem to please her either. "The title will he nothing by iuself,” she said, “but it is hors by right. It means that she belongs to a very ancient iaiuily, and anybody has .a right to be proud ol that.” “Uh, yes,'' said J’oter. “But she would still belong to it, wouldn’t she, even if she-wasn't head of it!' Did they say anything about who it was that was claiming it!'” “They said it was a man whom she needn't be ashamed of recognising as the. head of her family; and a rich man who would act very generously towards her.” “Oh, I expect he’s a decent fellow enough,” said Peter, greatly pleased at this testimonial. "Of course, ho wouldn’t want to bo hard on her; no man would in his position.” ‘‘You scorn to take it lightly enough,” she said. “Don’t they think anything of such things in Australia? She has looked upon this beautiful place as hers i all her life—at least, as going to be hers when the time came for her to succeed to it all. Is she to give it up to a stranger without » word, and to go aud live somewhere else where she will never see it again?” “1 did hear.” said Peter, “that she wouldn’t bo able to live here, anyhow. I heard that her father had played such havoc with the property that there would be verv little left for her. “Ah!” sho said with a deep sign. -* am afraid that is only too true. She is only just beginning to find out how difficult everything will be for her. She threw out her hands. “Ohl she cried, “1 think if 1 were sho I should be content to give it up for the sake of a little peace and contentment in life. It isn’t much to ask. 1 have thought of her while you have been telling me of the freedom of that counter where rou come from. I have thought, perhaps, that out there, away from all the trouble that seems to come to those whose families have grown so old and perhaps worn out, living for so many generations in one place here, she might begin a now life altogether, and never for a moment regret the old one. She might have to work with her hands, perhaps, but no woman minds that if ” . She broke off Tn confusion. If Peter had only known what was being said to him! But all he could find for an answer was; “From what yon say, I am afraid she has been very unhappy. I have ■ heard a good deal about her father, and I don’t wonder at her being sick of it all. He must have been a terrible hind of man to live with.” She sprang up from the seat and said to him with cold displeasure, “Her father is dead. You must not speak of him in that way. Now I must he going; I have stayed here too long.” tXo be continued.)