THE BOUNDARY-RIDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4857, 23 November 1883, Page 4

THE BOUNDARY-RIDER.

(ddalatda Observtr.) Ohaptkb ll.— (Continued.) " Poor fellow," she murmured, "it must be oard for him to come home from his day's work md have to oook and sweep and do •verything for himself. I wonder if he 'washed up' his breakfast things. Men never do anything of that kind until they are forced." She was quite right— he had not "washed up." She found the "breakfast things " in the porch resting tranquilly in a large tin dish. A moment's deliberation— if he should come baok suddenly and oatoh her afc the work— and then she took off her gloves and set to work in housewifely fashion. Tery pretty indeed sbo looked, with an impromptu apron and her -boves pushed up, as she washed and wiped <n<s dishes and put them carefully away. 3 hi* done she went out for her ramble, and c*me baok in an hour er two with her basket full of spoils. Bright green velvety mosses, delioate maidenhair, star-like flowers of varied hues, pink, scarlet, and whito heath bloßßoms, purple carsaparilla, and the graoeful orange bells of the wild fuoheia. She found a large •hallow bowl on Mervyn's shelves, in which ■he artistically arranged a portion of her treasures. Placing it on the oilcloth-covered table she stepped back and contemplated the effect with a little nod of self -approval. ihe looked at her watch— there was still an hour to wait for Harry, the reports of whose gun came frequently but faintly over the swamps. Bhe would apply herself to that last volume of Tennyson whioh she had brought with her ; but where was it ? A careful search resulted in the discovery, not of the missing volume, but a well-worn book that lay half-hidden under tho furs of the couoh. It was " Bomole," * book she had never read, and ejttirg down in Mervyn's easy chair she re■lived to glance over it. In five minutes sho was lost to all outward tilings, absorbed in the wonderful creation i<f George Eliot' a genius, and unoonsoious r<i place, time, or surroundings. Her hat a."i gloves were flung carelessly on the oouo'.i, one little foot rested on alow stool, a stray _ penoil of sunlight stole in through a crack in the blackened roof, glistened in her chestnut looks, and brightened the pale fair face and threw into relief the cwar-cut delicate profile. Bhe did not hear a firm elastio Btep, nor was she conscious of a shadow cast from the upon door, but unconsoious magnetic influence caused her to lift her eyes. Frank Mervyn stood at the door, gazing on that entrancing eight with his soul in his eyes. SKe started ap with a sudden flush, and the expression of Frank's face changed into one of ceremonious politeness on the instant. He entered the hut with a deferential bow, and ■aid, " I had just arrived Miss Stanley, and you seemed to absorbed in your book that I hesitated to interrupt you." Maud's colour rose again as she recollected that it was his book that she held in her hand, and that she was in fact an unauthoriß9d trespasser in his house. "•' beg your pardon," she stammered, "my brother — we— l fear «>i have intruded." But Frank denied the intrusion promptly, expressing himself with g 1 r»i-. truth as highly honoured by her virit. lie saw she was embarrassed, and hastened to relieve Ler by talking of her brother, bis Bport, the weathet, everything in fact from whioh conversational ■null change can be made. Harry still delayed his return, and the pair soon glided into easy friendly chat. Frank did the honours of his bush home with a frank grace that his fair guest was far from quarrelling with. He showed her, through bis fieldglass, the boundary-rider's constant companion, which had to be adjusted by mutual agreement to the proper foous, a dim peak whioh rose on the horizon fully seventy miles to the westward. The natural beauties and picturesque views of the district he knew apparently by heart, and refreshed her fading early memories of them. The book whioh she had dropped on his entry afforded a fruitful theme of discussion. " Bomola," Frank said, " You have not read it ? I envy you the pleasure whioh is in store for you. Hot many women like it, but I am sure you can appreciate it." "Is that a compliment, Mr Mervyn?" asked Maud, with. a slight blush. Frank laughed. " I suppose it is. Bemola is a sort of test-book with me, and people who don't care for it) I think have something wrong with their moral nature." " I have only just commenced it," she replied, " and cannot tell yet whether my moral nature i« up to your standard." She pioked up the book, and turned over the pages mechanically, while Frank gave her a sketch of its meaning and object. This topic naturally led up to a disquisition on life, its duties, and aims. Maud looked up at him, shyly, and said, "Your life must be wretohed and lonely here, Mr Mervyn." "Our lives are what we make them," he replied, with a short, hard laugh ; "I must do my duty in the station of life to whioh God has called me— as the Cateohism has it— and grumble as little as I caa." Maud was sympathetically silent; sbo felt intuitively, how galling his situation mn*t be to him, and though anxious to learn how he had ootue into it, she forebore to hint that ■he would like to know more. Ho walked to the window and looked steadily at nothisg for a minute, then turning round abruptly, ■aid in a sharp clear voic^, " I'm afraid you must think me dreadfully rudo, Miss Stanley. Solitude has turned me into a bear. Perhaps it wouldn't bore you to hear my history. I eu tell it in half-a-dozon sentences, and "— with another half-bitter laugh— " it might amuse you." Maud was quite certain that it would not amuse, though it would certainly interest her. She glanced sympathetically at him, and tacitly begged him to go on. He did, and briefly gave an aooount of himself, with many a satirical comment and light jeßfc to hide the pangs whioh the recollection of days gone by caused him. " Well, Miss Stanley, you have listened very patiently to this modern version of a prodigal son, who is blbo, like the ' Pirates of Penzanoe,' an orphan. I hope you haven't been quite too utterly bored by my affecting story?" Mervyn's voice faltered a little, despite his assumed oarelossoeu of tone j and Maud's lustrous eyeß were saoiitwith sympathy, as she extended her hand to him. "We are friends ?" he whispered softly, as he pressed it gently, and was answered with a silent affirmative. The report of a gun rang out olose at hand ; Maud started for a second, and then said gently — "My brother has return^ 1 it last, I hear." Frank said — "Yes;he ,- had good sport, I think;" the first thin: , ;doh ooourrod to him, and went out to m «■'; the triumphant «portsman. "Ah, Mervt .!" cried Harry, who was radiant with jnod humour; "had ■a glorious day, twenty-fire brace,, and birds Tery fast and game. Is Miss Stanley in the hut? Oh, she is, well then I'm ready for lunoh." Lunch was not, however, quite ready, and Harry bad to wait} but this did not trouble him greatly. He oast a rapid glanoe round the hut, assured Mervyn that he had made the place Tery snug, examined and approved of a kangaroo-skin girth, and narrated the details of his day's shooting, giving special prominence to one or two "splendid doubles, clean light and left, sir." * Frank was withdrawing to leave the brother and » iter to their meal, when the former called out in his hearty, unceremonious way, " Don't make a Btranger of yourself in your own honse. Sit dawn, man." "I have my horse to attend to," said Frank. " Pray join us, Mr Mervyn," interrupted Maud, and he was not proof against the temptation. Harry did ample justice to the lunoh, and took the lion's share of the talk, but although Mervyn said littlo what he did say evidently raised him in the young squatter's estimation. "' Seems to be a deuced well-informed young 'fellow, Mervyn; a leetle too good for his billet" was Harry's sotto-vooe remark to Maud. " It's going to rain, Mr Stanley," .-remarked Frank, who had gone to the door to inspect the weather. " The deuce it is. UVnfl pack ap yonr fal-lals at once ; we had better harness up." It had, indeed, begun to •rain in earnest by the time the buggy was 'brought round, but Harry wsuld not wait. v Got a opare overcoat, Mervyn," he asked. Frank produced a mackintosh, with whioh Stanley was about to envelop his sister. *' Keep it yourself ; I have something bettor for Mua Stanley." "All right. Give me the ribbons, Ji«n, and tumble up behind. Now, Maud, are you coming ?" Mervyn threw a •fhort glossy oloak of water-rat fur round the girl's shoulder, and was rewarded by a smile •a he helped her to her seat. "Ta-ta, Mervyn ; see you in at the Station to-morrow." " Good-bye, Mr Mervyn," and Frank lifted bis hat in mute farewell as the impatient hones dashed off at a hard >>?,Hop. He watched .the receding figures, an. then turned baok iinto his hut, whioh sen..<sd to have grown •strangely cold and comfortless. ifTe be continued.)