THE BOUNDARY-RIDES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4858, 24 November 1883, Page 4

THE BOUNDARY-RIDES.

(Adelaide Ohsmer.) (Continued.) Ohaptbb 111. Mervyn did not go to the station day. He had his regular round of duties to per-form-a oiroumstance whioh heedleßS Harry had entirely overlooked. It was nearly duck when he cot baok to his solitary hut, and as he entered he stumbled over a bulky package Bear tbe door. " Confound that idiot," he muttered, as he struck a matob, " how often have I told him not to dump down the rations right in the entry. The cart, has been here, I see. Flour, sugar, mutton — oh, yes, all the luxuries of the season. What's this P" He pioked up a parcel, neatly made up, and addressed to himself, in - fair Italian hand. When opened, out fell tl- maointosh he had lent to Harry on the pnvious day, and the fur oloak whioh he had thrown over Maud's shoulders. " Not a word of acknowledgment, of course," he soliloquised satirically. "A boundary-rider oould not expect the civility with whioh a Bank olerk would be treated." Poor Frank was not in the b?st of humours it was evident, but he regretted his hastiness when pioking up the oloak, the result of many months trapping, and many cireful hours of work, a tioy note dropped from its folds. It was from Mies Stanley, a brief acknowledgment of his kind loan, for whioh she begged him to accept her brother's and her own thanki. But there was a poatooript •— therlT always is a postscript — which said that the writer, " his sincerely, Maud Stanley," took the liberty of retaining for a few days his book "Bomola," whioh Bhe had found in her basket on arriving at the station, though ■he had no idea how it oame to be in such a position. Mervyn, however, knew well enough, for he had himself placed it there A smile stole over his fare, and be placed the little note carefully in his pocket-book before addressing himself to tho business of preparing supper. Thai done, he settled himself in his ohair, aft< r \ n ting another log en the fire, lit his pipe, >•« ' lapsed into meditation. Hour after hour * o sat silently, till the watchful and affectiouute companion ol his solitude, with an impatient whine, recalled him to consciousness of external things. He rose, caressed tbe dog and moved towards his sleeping room, but paused and looked baok at the chair in whioh he , had surprised Maud Btanley. " She's a lovely girl— and as kind and eood as beautiful. But what's that to me P I suppose I oan see and speak to a lady without falling in love with her. I'm not snob an idiot as that, I hope. Absurd idea! But it's so long since I held a lady's hand in mine that I may be excused for waxing slightly sentimental. Wonder if I ■ball see her again to speak to. She was friendly and kind to day ; but to-morrow ? Let to-morrow take care of to-morrow. Fair vision! Good night" — and he kiseed his hand in half-jesting, half-serious vein to the empty chair, put out the lamp, and withdrew. It waß natural enough fh«»fc the boundaryrider should be at the st->'i m every day just at this season, hut tho cone a /c at the " men's hut 1 ' oould not at first &.'•• unfc to its collective satisfaction for Merv; >. 'a changed habits. They knew very well that, lie had preferred not to come into head quarters except on business, and that even on those occasions his stay was brief. After careful considora- j tion and observation, however, they came to ! the conclusion that Mervyn was " cottoning up to the young boss." It was in reality altogether the other way, and the " oottoning" was done entirely by Stanley, who had taken a great fanoy to the quiet, well-bred young boundary-rider, and was fond of his •ooiety. Harry's talk was of beeves, of wool, and of horses, with lighter and more airy flights of fanoy in the realms of tbe turf and the arcara of sport- and athleticism, and he found Frank quite au fait on suoh topics, and able to converse on them in an intelligent and attractive Bfcyle that was, aooording to a competent local sporting authority, "equal to SdVs Life:' Marshall declared that " the lad's knowledge of wool was just wonderful," considering the time he had spent in the Colonies, and his compar.? was greatly in request at the evening symposia in " the office," where in an atmo<»here of celestial tobacco- smoke, scented w th the ambrosial fragrance of " GlenleevaV samples of wool were passed round from hand to hand and opinions given thereon, the pointß of horses and cattle canvassed and bucolic matters generally disouised. Frank did not decline these invitations ; it would have been ohurlish to do so, and besides he oould always learn tomethinjj from the conversation of the ■hrewd old manager-. He caw Miss Stanley occasionally at a distanea and had even spoken to her once or twice, but she was not j muoh at home cow, and her days were taken | up in visits to her old acquaintances at the lurrounding stations and in the neighbouring township. Her ponieß were for the first week or so constantly flashing along the shady byroads and bush roads of the district { ana tne boy Jim, who accompanied her in the capaoit? *bf" tiger," was the envy of all the station hands who thought that suoh holiday work night have been more evenly meted out. Jim himself had a deep-seated love for more dainty fare than the hut afforded, and a looted aversion to hard wo k, and he enjoyed his trips amazingly, thovah they took more out of his " Sunday rig " than a year of ordinary wear. But the shearing soon cot. naenced in earnest, and from sunrise till dark every one was busily employed. Every one but Maud, who took little lonely walks and rides, hunted for botanical treasures, and drove the gardener to the verge of despair by the efforts whioh Bhe made to imbue him with the notion that the picturesque should be studied aa well as the utilitarian in the arrangement of the grouads. She positively objected to his growing cabbages among the fruit trees, and oarried her point, after an Appeal to the authorities, who utterly ignored the gardener's arguments, and instructed him to obey Miss Stanley's orders in all things. Every morning she took her way up to the «hed with a little basket of strawberries, temptingly arranged in a nest of vine leaves for Harry's delegation, at 11 o'clock " smoko," and dtspite her horror of the detestable tiok, she -waited in the wool room, And watohed him sitting on a bale dismissing the grateful frnifc. Frank was of course at the shed ten r ;•->-<? a day bringing in the sheep to fill th> -•<>, and he nearly always had a word and « smile from the dainty little lady, who 1> ted so fresh and ooolinher simple white -tress, when everything else was hot and dusty, and jadedlooking. Bhe had returned his "Bomola" with graceful thanks, and the vlayful intimation thither appreciation of its beauties would satisfy even his oritioal taste. She was leaving the shed one hot morning to go for a ramble over the hills, and had just passed through the wioket of the shed paddock when Mervyn came hurriedly ap to her. She turned to him frankly, but with a slight feeling of wonder ; for though she knew intuitively that he took a great interest in her, he had never made any outward demonstration of it, and unless she evinced a wish to speak to him, treated her with «■ eimple respectful politeness that was even cold and distant. He evidently was not inclined to take advantage of her friendly feeling towards him, or inflict his looiety uninvited upon his employer's daughter. "Good morning, Mr Mervyn. Am I wanted at the station or at the shed ?" "Not at all, Miss Stanley. I have taken the liberty of coming after you, to beg that you will not go into the hill paddook. We have put some strange cattle in there this morning, and among them there is a roan bullock, whioh I think is vioious. It might be dangerous for you to go near him on foot." " You are very good," replied Maud, gratefully. " I am afraid you must think I have forgotten all your kind services during the past month. And I never have a chance to thank you for them." Frank ooloured slightly through his brome. "I am kept very busy, you know, aid yon are always occupied when I do Bee you* Do not mention my 'services.' Ido not deserve any thanks for giving myself a pleasure. Don't forget that bullook. I must hurry baok to the shed." He bowed hurriedly, in acknowledgment of her parting salute, and went baok to his dusty work of forcing stubborn, senseless, greasy wethers into the shed entry. Maud went on her way, avoiding the dangerous paddooks by a circuit, and thinking what an engaging, good-looking young fellow he was, how attentive and solioitous about her, what a melodious voice and high-bred manner he had, and what a pity it was that he should be obliged to hide his talent and accomplishments in a bush hut. Ff *» had been a good deal in 'her thoughts fro aa the day of their first meeting, and she had resolved that her .father, who was obedient to her lightest

whim, should exert himself to get him a post that he was better suited for— but not just yet. She would not write, but would wait till she got back to town and could urge the matter personally. Perhaps she was unconscious of the chief motive whioh induced her to postpone the pntting of her project into immediate execution, and would have been grsatly startled if anyone had told her that it was her unwillingness to lose sight of Frank Mervyn. Bhe sat down in a shady little grove of wattles, and dreamily listened to the woodland sounds that echoed around her. The clear, trumpet-like ringing notes of the magpie, facile princeps of Australian songsters ; the grotesque cacchination of the great kingfisher, and the gentle mueioal call of the wattle-bird came to her ears softened and harmonised by distanoe through the still moving air. At last, still deep in " maiden meditation," if not altogether "fanoy free." Bhe took her homeward way, instinctively taking the nearest route, and quite oblivious of Mervyn's warning. She was half-way down the open slope, and in sight of the shed, when an agry bellow startled her into active perception. Some fifty paces off stood the vioious Ivnat, a perfect pioture for an artist, hs ho tore the turf with his horns while insane fury flashed from his wioked eyes. Ho waa evidently preparing to charge, and there wa<i no friendly bush, no tree, or fenoe behind whioh the girl oould shelter herself. Bhe knew it would ba madness to run, and bracod her shrinking nerves up to face the furious animal. As he came en with vindictive haste, one terrified scream esoaned from hsr lips. She thrust her open sunshade in his face at the oritioal moment, and sprang quiokly aside. But in doing so she slipped on the soft sloping turf. The bullock missed his charge, but quiokly arresting his career turned baok, and when Maud had regained her foot he was in full charge upon her once more. But her ory had been heard. At the shed door Mervyn and Stanley stood in business talk whea the shriek reached them. "My God! it's Maud ! " exolaimed Harry. Mervyn sprang on his horse, whioh stood close at hand, without a word or the delay of a second. He ntruek the spurs home with desperate haste, cleared the obstructing fenoe in a tremendous bound, and bore down upon the oharging bullock with the fury .and speed of an avalanche. Maud had sunk on her knees, the vicious animal was dose at hand, when a wild shout aad the thunder of galloping hoofs smote the air. Thp bullock glaren vioiously at the fast approaching horseman for a moment, then changed his at' aok, ard with lowered horns and menacing bellow, sprang forward. But he h«d a wary end experienced opponent — Frank Had graduated in the soieneo of wild cattle hunting in n rough school. He easily avoided the charge, and wheeling sharp round a dash of the spurs brought him olose on the bullock's flank, and the heavy iron-handle of his whip fell with fatal force and precision on the vital spot between the horns. Down the huge beast went with a heavy crash, the welltrained horse Bwerved from the fallen mass, and the victory was complete. Harry had by this time reached his sister, who, thoueh pale and trembling, still retainer* her selfpossession. Mervyn threw tho reins on his horse's npck, and walked baok to the brother and si'^r. H* responded to tho effusive thank" «rj<i hrrvrty hand-shake of the former in his i'»nal a»lf contained easy manner ; but when Maud stretched a little oold quivering hand, and murmured her gratitude for the timely succour whioh had, in all probability, saved her life, he replied with embarrassed abruptness, that it was a mere trifle, and deserved no thanks. "I told you," he said, to the exoited Harry, in tones which Bounded rather sharp, coming from a station hand to hie employer's son, "that the beast should have been shot yesterday." "So you did," replied Harry, self reproaohf ully ; " but it's oil right now. There's no harm done, thanks to you, Mervyn, and I'll get the rifle, and settle the brute this very hour." "You need not trouble. He does not require shooting now." "Is he dead?" enquired Stanley. Frank nodded. "Weft, it was devilish well done, my boy. Smartest thing I ever saw. Bat come, Maud ; take my arm. You ought to go and lie down for tho rest of the day, pet, after suoh a scare. Will you come down with us, Mervyn ?" Frank deolined, and went baok to the shed, where he was reoeived with a chorus of acclamations from all handß, for work had been suspended, and every man had witnessed the feat. He took it all quite quietly, and resumed his work of patting sheep in the pens as if nothing had happened. The shearers were soon busy with their shining blades, but he caught a sentence of the talk whioh passed between two of the ! men, as they paused to apply the whetstone. " That cove won't be here long, Jack." " Why not ?" asked the other man. " Why not ?" '"Cause old Stanley's bound to get him a better billet after this, ain't he, stoopid ?" There was a general consensus of opinion on this point, and Harry Stanley broached the subject to him that very afternoon. Frank had checked him in the oounting out of the shearers' pan", the " (allies " had been made up, and work was over for the day. Ha was going off when Harry said, " You're not going home now, Mervyn ? I want to have a talk with you." " Can't it wait till I've had a dip in the river ?" " Oh, if you're on for a swim, I'm with you. We can talk by tbe way." The pair walked off together, and Harry began— " You're wasting your time here, man. A fellow of your abilities ought to be in a better position. Now, look here— the governor wants me to go up to a station of his on the Darling, near Wiloannia, this summer. He has a good rough-and-tumble bush, manager, and I waa to get wrinkles from him, keep the books, and be generally viceroy for the old man, and gentleman overseer for tho manager. I don't want to go. Melbourne's much pleasanter than the baok blocks of the Darling. Would you take the billet ? If you like I can get it for you." Poor Frank did not particularly care for the baok blocks of the Darling, but he oould do nothing less than thankfully accept the offer. It would under ordinary oiroumstanoes have taken years for him to rise to suoh a position, which he well knew was a steppingstone to a managership. The young men took their bath together, and Mervyn aooepted Harry's pressing invitation to spend the evening with him. Maud bad reoovered from the nervous shook of her morning adventure, and the little quartette spent a very pleasant evening. Frank threw off for once his reserve, and devoted himself to the task of entertaining his entertainers with eminent sucoess. He had a few soft words and a gentle pressure of the hand from Maud as she bade him good-night, whioh were an ample reward for the service he had rendered her. He started for his distant hut in a mild fervour of spirits, whioh communicated itself to his horse, who danced with suppressed vitality in the moonlight, while Frank lit his pipe and made his adieux to Marshall and Stanley, who stood waiting to see him off. He waved his hand and slackened the reins, and the impatient horse dashed off like a thunderbolt. Marshall looked after him with an apnroving air, and remarked, " Bh, bub yon' s a devilish fine lad, that is he." " Hadn't any idea he was so full of life," said Harry. " Seemed quite another man to-night, and I don't expect to meet with better oompany." Marshall grinned sardonically. "Bh, lad, but ye are wrong there. A glass o' quid toddy's far and awa" better company than any roan. Come along and we'll open a fresh bottle." (To be continued.)