THE STORYTELLER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11466, 14 August 1915, Page 2

THE STORYTELLER.

THE CALL OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS.

(By JOHN S ANDES.)

(Al.l Rights Rmwrvbd.)

CHAPTER 111. V' IB? CAMPAIGNING Off BIDDS Tf^SS. ! ' "See hew. now, *■» i<f>". mkl ?Zs Fljmn, when Juana awoke from a good Seop wwral hour* later, and found her S3\r.'and beside her with a c.p o , coffee and a handful rf>» ■ yo mufrt be after takin' thitn g«old ear . ring* out av yer pretty oars, or wan u-rf them murchrin' blayparcW nv 1 or- - tuaee muleteers will b* ; te*mn era out arfrobbio* ye entirely. Juan-* icoked at Biddy-with a pathetic little Mnile. She did not uncta■band a word of the Oonnemara dmbxt, ~ *hat inspired the. speech.. bh " '^ , fcidcrv take tho big gold rings out ot ' her ears, and Biddy made Mgns to hoi * that they would be My **&• ' Talking aI the time to her m he* "soothenn"' -ay. Biddy Helped the ' girl to drew herself m her white chemisette, her dark blue bodice laced out- ; aide, and her short red skirt veaohinE v to the knee... Thick woollen stockings end stout buckled ehoes completed •coitwmo . , . i ■ „, *- Just r-j the girl famihod dressing. ".Mittanaled bead was poked in through « the openly of the tent in which Mre ifenn bad deposited her charge, and ■ a £:ir of twinkling brovn eyes survey- " '*h* newcomer wir,h interest;. *'ooh come in bore, Anita, ye poor Stjthen. and help me to talk to this ... «Jnld of tho battlefield, for I have only , enough of the Spanish to curse the '■VrfioJemen, mid she haven t any bug-. ,lishuat. all, at all.' This war, Bidd> r - t Flyan'-- ingenuous appeal, and m re- • swssiso to it Anita popped m \ery wiii- ' 3» fc < J° wn cross-legged on tno and' lighted her cigarette. xtas one of those girls of tho »(WQHtrv who bad elected to follow the ■ 4mm.' 3h« had nilowcd. heT*elt to bo - wiapiped up bv an enter prying loot- *' rol4jeT, wh.i di«-OTerr<l her while he " m& jjngaised on a private foraging ex- "'' 'nedition. Sha wao strictly loyal to man, nnd wa; rather a favoui'ite '* --with Mns Kly.in. .. .\ ' "Ax lior is she willing to jiup. the TM.tita.Uoin, for be U'<is an' that; 'tis a ;,- I harn3 life, but if ~>he don't come wid "■ n» T don't know what I'll do wid her at : all,, at all." . , .. -So Anita, diowing n set of perfect ■ teeth, in h«r very friendly Miulc. en- ' gaged Jucna in rapid '<»nvwsation, ,j pu-.|fitiiaktl ttilh pitfiH r»r lie.- cigaretce. .- - " She -sav she go whore you go. , Didi," interpretrid Anita: " >he vcrra i. happy -nit' yon. But she ask all ze '• time where is za ftonoa*. I not know «■ ■ *oo ia~ ze Bonor." •..»-«-Ar coorse ye wudn't, me gin. 4 Share, 'tis Verner she's a.tin' for, the *" po&t lamb. Him that's the ginentl's '- own aecretary. 'Twae him that found ■' her down oil tlio battlefield, keenin' * -oroy her father's corpso an' he brought - (her"'m on a mule an' gov' her to me to tak« ca.re of." i "'Anita's cy m ■ sparkled with renewed '■ snt*-'€st. She proceeded to question ' Juana, discharging her interrogations 'with incredible velocity. Very quickly * » red Mgual was hoisted .in Juana'a. : eheekn, (showing that Anita, who had fii'lteen eye for c romeuitio situation, had struck home with her questions. " She saj sli-a make a- prayer to ze ' fcJ f,ood God to send somebody to take care of her when her fazzaire die,'' interwpted Anita, " and he good God fie J3«id immediately Senor Verner. I .' aflk her if she loves Senor Verner. She Bay,,she not know what ib to love, but ■ she ;fc» 'iT-Ppy 'with Senor Verner, a.nd - her heart boats faster vrhvn lie speak to .her." , ,VOch! that's it, is it?" said Mrs •- Flynn. " Well, the likes of you an' - the- likes of me, Anita, is quare com- - pahy for such an innocent lamb; but if she's got to thravel with the battalion, > faix there's only the wan thing for Bt." "Wat tou tink, Bidi?"

-"Senior Verner must marry her, •"'" 'Anita, an' l>e this an' be that from '" the hik T saw him give her whin T . tuk her away to me tint, I think he'll

find it aby nn' plisint enough to have ■ Juana for a -wife, an' 'tis nay belai'e that a good wif? she'll bo to him too. * Bo you con tell her that now." fc Again Anita poured forth a flood of B earrniated Spanish patois, until Juana, ft tfith her neck and cheeks suffused with H&jhfwhes, half-laughing and half-crying, HPfrtujihed her bold-eyed visitor out of the if' *entft"- Biddv Flynn determined to arrange *7,*41t0 whole matter. She would leave |T tmem alone for a week or so, until she t-f **■ *ure *h*t the silent Verner really rf * lomd the girl, and then she would act ' dteeiedvely. But one morning, just befoT© the - «nay marched out of Vrttoria, Verner oame to her in his abrupt way and ■ spoilt all her good-natured scheming. "Mrs Flynn,' she said, "I am going - to, marry Juana to-day at 12 o'clock. OFte new battalion chaplain will per<fflrm the ceremony in his tent We RhaH be very glad if you and Terence jritt come and see us married.'' ft was a very quiet wedding, for Terence and Biddy were the only visi- ' tors. Biddy would have preferred a '"praftte," and she had her own private doubts as to the ability of the - jnervous little "Prodestan" to tie the knot securely. But tho Rev Mr Tinkler, fresh from his country curacy in Khgland, rose to the occasion and read the toarriage service with quite an air of .authority. Verner had duly received his colonel's sanction to the marriage, which was also cordially approved of by Brigadier-General Brisbane. Biddy and Terence both affixed their '.'marks" to the marriage lines as witnesses, writing not being a strong point with either of theni; and they listened in wonderment, whilo the Rev ' 'JVLr Tinkler addressed a few remarks on the' mutual duties of the married state '- to Jthe bride aud bridegroom, quite oblivious of the fact that the bride did ■ ' not understand a single word that he •i. was saying.

' .Al'tor the ceremony there wit* an inh formal drinking of healths in tho mari;kc| women's quartern—between the im'munitioa bullocks and the transport ?r mules—Juana settled down very happ\\v and contentedly in that now sta- '"' tion of life to which it had pleased the

good God and Senor Verner to call her. Tfcer» was wenty oi' hard lighting ~. after Vittoria before the war was over, '- £or "Wellington, pressed hard on the retiring French army. Geaeral Brisbane, with the first bri-

gade of Pioton's division, was in the forefront of the lighting, fln( j tho new-ly-married Verner fought side by side with Terence Flynn through the nine '. dayV conflict in the Pyrenees, and afterwards in the battles at the Nivello «tnd the Nive on French soil, arid at Orthez and Toulouse. Then came the abdication of Napoleon at Fontainebleau, and the How. of tlie war just ten months after the Lattlo of Vittoria. All through those ten months Juana followed the column, happy in the love of her tall, strong husband, who, though silent and reserved with others, found plenty to m.y to his lovely vouug

•:, THERE'S SOME CAUSE. - : When there is & tickling in tin- throat yOtl"may rest assured thorn is some cause, probably inflammation. 'lake ■oh'ani'bertain's Cough Remedy at. oimo jj3ad'"you will realise its quick, soothing and-,, healing influence. Not only docs Chamberlain's Cough Remedy reduce the inflammation but it also m& the throat, making it .stronger uud more able to resist disease.

■_!>!. I —!■ I lI'II II '* *" " ** * ""* " "* " ' SHORT AND SERIAk

wife, to -whom ho was motrt pasarionatolv devoted.

Biddy Flynn and Juana rode their burros sido by side in the wake of the column-, along with tho other -women attached to tie brigade, all the way from VittOTW. to Toulouse, camping, ©very night with the troops. Verner was "always sure of seeing the .little white donkey that Juana rode plodding into camp alongside of Biddy's big mou»e-co]oured burro, ajtid as the two wiv«s sati with their hu«bands by the camp fire Biddy was accustomed to relate, the adventures of the day and to enlarge upon the hardships which attended the wife of a soldier. "But shure," she would vsay. "'bad an.' all an it in now. it isn't, HJinyt.hi.ng to what it was when I was along o' Mick Donovan, God rist his sowl!" "That'll do now, Biddy." said Terence, who was apt to «how a bit of temper when the virtues of his predecessor were enlarged upon ; " lave Mick Donovan resit in his grave.."

" An' a good man. he wae to mo, too.'' continued Biddy, ignoring the interruption. " Well. «» 1. was say in', 'tis a luurd life for a woman, hut cowld an* all au' tired an' all as I am this minnit. shure 'tis Hiven itself to what I winfc through in tho rotrate fo Oorunna. .Tuana. me darliut, 'twnd ha' made yer heart bleed to see them pnor women that dropped an" died in the snow, for they cud not kape up with the arrmy ; an' them that didn't die foil into the hands av tho Frincli'. nod then I.don't know wat happened to them at All, at all."

And then Juana would look at \ er- j uer with a brave 'smile, winch said r.-s j plainly aS possible, "I know that my i husband will protect, me, and 1 do not fear any danger as long as he is with j me." She was able to understand Mrs Flynn's strange language fairly well now, but better still she understood Mrs Flynn's warm and generous heart. Sometimes Biddy would decide to make an early start and march ahead of the column, instead of at the rear of it, in order fo hare a fire lit and some food ready for Terence find Verner at the r.ext bivouac. Jnana would always go with her on the little white donkey. She was.getting used to the life now, though at first the hordo of women ; who accompanied the battalion terrified her, and without Biddy'? strong arm and read'v tongue to help her she would have fared ill with her youth and innocence in that extraordinary throng. Englishwomen, Irishwomen and • Scotchwomen who were the bona fide wives of men in the ranks were mixed up with Portuguese and Spanish girls whom the soldiers had picked tip on the march, and who speedily acquired all the arts of the skilled campaigner. Their plundering and. fighting and disregard, of ad discipline worried the Provost Marshal more than the misdeeds of the worst offenders in the ranks, and occasionally the Provost Marshal asserted his authority. As the usual four sat round their camp fire one evening at a bivouac in the Pyrenees. Biddy related the abominable conduct of the Provost Marshal. "Me an' Juana, an' about forty of the gurls were ridin' ahead of the column this moruin'." she said, "an' the thrack was so narrer an' curly that the dunkevs blocked the pass intirely. I looked behind me, an' there was the battalion comin' up., the pass? wid the band plaviu'.. 'MiTlia murther!" sez I. " Shure. we can't get on, the* way the women her got the thrack jammed,' j sez '[, ' an' the whole of the army wid "Wellington and the Shtaff will be blocked, too,' sez I. So T called out to the gurls in front to push on, or we'd be kilt intirolv. when 1 seen the Provost Marshal an' W gyard beyant." " Shure. what_ wud he be dom . annvwav?" inquired Terence. '•'Ho"calls out." said Biddy, "/You women were ordhered to kape in the rare, and I'll taehs you to obey orders in the future.' An' wid that he gives a TVHirrud of command to his min; an' what does the blayguards do but stip out an' shoot three of them poor dunkeys dead. Judy Callaghan an' Mary Murphy, an' Anita,, the Spanish gurl, were ridin' dunkeys, an' the three of them pitched into the road wid all their pots and pans on top of thtm. An' och, murther! Ye njvev heard such oussm of the Provost Marshal, the durty spy of the camp. Bad cess to him. But the road was cleared, and the three gurls came along wid us on fut loaded np wid their baggage an' eryin' and cursin' like their hearts was bruk. Me and Juana helped to carry their bits of things, didn't we. JuanaP" Juana nodded and looked at Biddy admiringlv. Her protectress was extraordinarily efficient. No contingency found her unprepared or resoureeless. Moreover. Juana had picked up a kind of English from Biddy, and she spoke her remarkable diction with surprising fluency. ''And see. also my Henry, she said to her husband ; "the good Bidi, she is strong like a boule-dogue. She say to me, 'Juana, take care of dat Portugee spalpino, dat spalpino was dronk, oh. very mooch dronk. 'E came by me. 'E try to put his arm .round me, an' I cry at once 'Bidi!' At once comes Bidi running wit a btioket ar water, very hot, an' she throw it over ze durty spalpino, Gomea. an aeh, he Ja«us, he runs off like z© devil was behind 'iru." Terence roared with laughter # at Juana's serious and dramatic recital of her peril and of the rescue effected by his adored Bidi, hub Vernor's browgrew black. The "spalpino" Gornea would' certainly have a bad time if ho ever happened to cross the path of Private Verner. "When a battle was expected, Flynn and Verner would take leave of their wives with serious faces. To Biddy these leave-takings were nothing. She was inured to them, but poor Juana used to get terribly upset. She cried her eyes out every day in the Pyrenees, and afterwards at thoNivelle and the Nive. Then it was that Biddy Flynn showed that she had a true, womanly heart under the rough great coat that she had picked up on a fire-swept ridge outside \ ittoria and invariably wor© on the march. "There now, alannah." she would say, taking the little Spanish bride in her capable arms, "don't bo cryu', aftthore. for faix the bullet isn't mowlded that ud harrurn that great long, lanky Vcrnor, an' share enough ye'll see him this, night in the bivouac. An' haven't yon the great news to tell him intirely." Then Juana wonld smile, though her fa«e was very white. She found it hard work marching behind the army those davs. She needed all the care and kindness that Biddy Flynn could give her. On April IS. 1914, when the Peninsular Army wius at Toulouse, the news of Napoleon's abdication arrived, and hostilities ceased. On the same evening, Juana's baby was bom in a tent in the lines of battalion. The regimental surgeon and Biddy Flynn both d'eqlared that they had never seen a liner eld Id. A proud and loving husband was i Honry Verner, as he held Juana's hand ! while" the roar of the field guns that I saluted the end of the war reverberat--1 ed through the camp, and Juana, witn the child beside her. looked into her ! husband's hronml and furrowed face i with an expression of ineffable love. " It's all right, darling, said \ erI ner "The brigadier himself has proI mised to sUnd godfather to tho boy Little Tom Verner will make a tino smi dier sotno day. . . " Arrah. how could ho heip a.' mteri jectcd Biddv. who \vm> arranging tiio . : hbmkelH of "the narrow camp bed cm j which J nan,i. lay. "an' bun adollowin ■ the army behiro ho wiis born.'

I t.'HAI'TKIt fV. ! i>n to acstu w.n. | < In flip six y;\y> thai I'ciiuW".! Hi? j ' iih(! ; c:iMtni ui' "Xaiidlcnii. many .import-j j ji:it even!-, urfiirrc']. j ill LilO UIU l'l'".'".. T<-i.i '-'..Tij.-r :<1- I

j tained In? sixth birthday, vikicli he I spent, in tho company ot his tnthcr j and mother and little sir.ter ;it Bri.;j bane House, Largs, Ayrshire, v here ! Henrv Verner was retained in the j capacity of .secretary. At the okree of j the war, Major-General Brisbane made a K.C.B. So, Henry Verner, who had gone with Sir Thomas Brisbane to Canada, when that distinguished officer went there and ! commanded a. brigade missed being present 'at Waterloo- -smj abidm* disappointment ix> him. Brisbane, hurrying back to join Wellington's army. when ho beard of Napoleon's escape from Elba, arrived too late. Waterloo bnd just, been fought. But his distinguished friend, whose acquaintance be bad made many rears before in tho Gahvay hunting field, did not, forget him. and MajorGeneral Sir Thomas Brisbane commanded a division in the British ,\rmy of Ocupation in France. Ho sent Henry Vomer hack to Ayrshire to rejoin Juana and his little son. who were attached to the household during his absence in Canada.

.Tuana received her husband, whom the good God had sent to her on the battlefield of Viikvria, with al! the pat'sionute jor of her warm ,S)>anish henrt, and little Tom surveyed his father with wido-eyed appmv;vl. crowing lustily. So the years passed quietly and haopily. until little Tom was six years old. "But Henry Verner, in spite of hi.s happiness, could not forget the endless variety and adventure of those old campaigning days. 17e often found himself wondering what would be the next move of that distinguished soldier and man of science, Sir Thomas Brisbane, for he had a strong impression that wherever Brisbane went his secretary would go too. T.t was not long after little Tom Verner's sixth birthday tb.nfc Sir Thomas Brisbane, walking in Paris one summer morning on the boulevard, happened to meet his old friend, the Duke of Wellington, who took bis arm very cordially and wnllvcd along with him. while the passers-by turned their heads to see the famous Duke strolling arm in arm with one of hie generals. " Ah. Brisbane, said the Duke, " Othello's occupation's gone.'' The army h to go back to England, and wo are to go back with it. Well, we've seen some great days together—you and T, but there's no more campaig'ing for us now. What do you propose to do with yourself?" ■• T confess to you, your Grace, that I should like very much to eervo his Majesty the King in any situation where my experiences and abilities, such as they are. may be of value."

" Ah, there's tho rub. Brisbane Now that there is no more fighting tar be done, it will not ho easy to find employment for all the officers who are anxious to serve his Majesty. But, have you any particular opportunity in mind r"'

" Well, your Grace, since yon ask me, I must be frank with you. Ilearnt that the governorship of New South Wales is likely to bo vacant shortly, and if without displacing anybody else from such an honourable situation, I should be considered worthy of it, I should be proud to servo his Majesty in that capacity." " Ha, very good. And how is the astronomy getting on?" " Excellently, your Grace, but I can assure you that I never allow it to interfere with mv military duties."

"Of course not, Brisbane; of course not. By the way, do you remember tlie crest of that ridge- where Reille made his last stand outside Vittoria, and how I found you when the stormers had carried tho hill standing on tho summit admiring the scenery?" " I have not forgHten it. your Grace." " And as yoij looked ronnd while our fellows were'still in hot pursuit of Marshal Jourdan. on tho Salvatierra Road, you exclaimed to me, ' What a glorious eite for an Observatory.' Egad, Brisbane, the ruling passion, you know. You'll have to beware of it."

Sir Thomas Brisbane war, secretly amazed at liis distinguished friend's power of intuition. How had the Duke of "Wellington guessed the secret ambition of his heart which was to make a thorough astronomical .study of the southern heavens that had been very imperfectly etudied by Laca.ilhi from the Capo of Good Hope, but save for that single observer, formed a virgin field, for the astronomer? Brisbane gloated secretly over the prospect of watching and classifying tho constellations of oho Southern Hemisphere----never adequatel.v observed before. He almost hated Lacaiile for having, however, incompetently, forestalled him.

It_ was the Southern Cross that specially fascinated Sir Thomas Brisbane. He felt its lure. He confessed to his own heart that but for the chance of observing the Southern Cross—so imperfectly charted by the impostor, Laoaillo—the thought of going to "New South Wales would never have occurred to him.

It was the Southern Gross that drew him on.

And so, the Duke, after shaking his old friend warmly by the hand, went of chuckling to keep big appointment with a very great lady, and Sir Thomas Brisbane resumed his walk alone, wrapped in entrancing; muthematieal meditation, concerning his famous method of determining the time with accuracv from a series of altitudes of the .sun 'taken on the rane sido of tho meridian. But, a, few weeks later ho met tho Duke again, and tho Duke informed him that Earl Bathurst had told him that he wanted a governor to ruin the earth and not the heavens. However. Karl Bathurst liad evemtiiaJ.lv decided to appoint him, and he was to go out to iSew South Wales at once.

Sir Thomas Brisbane was highly delighted, and expressed his thrrnks in tho .somewhat formal diction that was habitual to him.

"Why, d it all, man," said ilio Duke, genially, "one must not forget one's friends. Good luck to von, and remember that I havo told Batburst that I hold myself personally responsible for vou.

And ro it oanie about thai in May 1821, Sir Thomas Brisbane, with JLady Brisbane, to whom ho Lad hee,n married not very lone; before, au<l their infant daughter and hor ladyship's sister, Miss Makdougall, and their personal buiimginfjs, and Bir Thomas's staff, and his two assistant astronomers and. his astronomical instruments, and finally his as-sistant-secretary, Henry Yerner. with Juana and their two ohildr<m. were all embarked in the merchant ship Royal Geon/e, Captain Pondito, theji lying in tho Tlmiins. and saJHI. from h)nu,hmd bound for New .South Walo-s, arrivine: in Sydney harbour five months later. Soudinc: a swift, glance back iuiroys tin? intervening year* one descries rim Roval George lying at anchor in Sydney (Jove, while, the guns at DaAves I'uint Latterv discharge their welcoming saluto. unci. Li*Miu.mant-Gorornor .Ere kino, in the of Governor Maoquarie. who ia travelling in the northern settlements, gooN forth in his pirmaco U> receive the new governor. Tom Yemer. now kotod team nf n.ge.

NOT TREATING IT PBOPKHLV

If you cannot get rid of a. uokl it, if? becjiiiiso you are not treating ii properly. There i*x no reason why ;; cold should hang oil for Tr-poks- or until some terious throat or tronbio is <!o----volopecl, and it will aoi. ii' 3-011 Uko Chamberlain's Cough Roinedy. Taken in double'' dosea evory hour afl'T th» first symptom;-, appeared (. handjorlain'ji Ooujih. Rouhml.y would havo countoi aci> <>d i\u* of tho cold and rr-stnred vour i-y.su.'iii iu a healthy condition. V/VCMi al'u-r tli' 1 cold' has heroine soti.lod in the i\y»U"m ('iiumbpibi in's ' will prompt; rt'iw'i ami ro'sn--1-oraJ-t. a-ny temmnvy of its rruhiii;: in pueuinotua.

holding Jus ear. all sister by the hand, observe.'; with intense interest the arrival of the pinnace and tiio appearance of Lieutonant-Govercior Erskinc, brilliant, in atmrlet and goid lace. Vet not half •■*> lvrillia.nl as Sir Thomas Bri.shatu>, •who, after being fiorluded for more than an hour in liis stateroom, appears on deck in the full uniform, of a MajorGeneral. K.U.R.. with a'big sword that Tom Vomer regards with veneration mixed tvtill suv.v.

Sir Tlmmua majestically signifies his intention to maV:<» hit- official landing on the following morning, and engages the Lieutenant-Governor in conversation onthe ."tate of the Colony, whilst Ida ladyship and her sister, Miss Makdougal!. nnrvey the coa.'d and the building'; alone the foreshore with disn>n::nlßlo apprehensions writ largo in their troubled eyeK

Henry Verner ic down in hi? cabin. busy wi!h official coiTespondeuce. but. .J nana is on deck with the children. Sim is 3 different Juana now from the blushing' girl in her father's cottage m the valley of the Zaclora fiiver. A beautiful young; matron of twenty-four. »v]io ip the pride of Henry Verner'* life, unci with the marvellous adaptability of women, .she suits .herself without effort to each now phase of her ever -oh an git. g environment. Bhf» speaks English fluently now—with a slight Bootoh accent. contracted in Ayrshire, though at rare internals some -word suggestive of Iliddy Flynn and Oormemara still makes it*; appearance. This Hear aimo-sphero. in which the outlines of the buildings and the contours of the hills around 1 the harbour (=.ta.nd out so sharply cut. remind her of her native Spain. TTiis bine t>ky is very liko the sky of Andalusia, and not at nil like IJIO grey and mi&ty sky of Ayrshire, Juana's heart warms already towards her now home. Home for her is truly where the heart is, and her heart is with Harry Verner, the man whom the good (rod wnt to her at Vittoria and who han brought her out over unimagined leagues of sea to thi<? new country, where the white buildings (rtaud out against the blue sky just as they used to do in Spain and where the wind' that laughs along the water is m«n-warmed like the bveezo of the Mediterranean

>7oxt morning, at ten o'clock, the guns at Dawes-point battery give tongue again a« soon as Sir Thomas Brisbane steps into the boat that is to take him ashore along with Lady Brisbane and all his household and retainers, tattle Tom Verner counts "die number of guns in the salate. He feels a. personal pride in every one of them, and. thetrfe are nineteen in all. Stepping ashore at the private landing place at Binnalong Point, Sir Thomas is received by the LieutenantGovernor, and the whole party walk the short distance up to Government House, where they are received by Mrs Macauarie on behalf of (Governor Macquane, who is not yet returned from the northern settlements.

Mrs Macquarie is most gracious, and pha-kas hands with all the ladies, including Juana, while littlo Tom Verner at once rushes to the lawn, where the hand of the Forty-eighth Regiment is playing the martial music that his small soul loves, for little Tom is every inch a soldier.

Then, nt tho request of Sir Thomas, the gates of Gorernm'ent House grounds are throw,i open m order that the Australian publio may come in and ho may make their acquaintance. Thus Tom Verncr, among the rest of the party, has his first glimpse of the Australian public, and fraternises with, the-m merrily. But ha goes back at frequent intervals to talk to the bandsmen of the Forty-eighth Regiment or the sentries on duty in their sentry boxes. The quarter in which all his interest ie engaged is quite plain. Jn tho afternoon carnages were brought round, and the whole of Sir Thomas Brisbane's large party journeyed out to Parramatta to take up their abode there in the fine Government House that had been completed three years before to take the place of tho first unpretentious structure built by Governor Phillip at Rose hill. The mounted escort followed by the carriages clattered* into George Street at a canter, and then settled down to a steady trot for the journey in front of them. Passing along the street where every shop bore its sign as well as every public-house, tho escort soon left the Rose and Grown in George Street north behind them. An important place was the Rose and Crown, for the four-horsed stage coach for Parramatta started from ite front door in great style, with the driver cracking his whip and the guard blowing hw lone; coach-horn. Governor Brisbane, surveying th© scene from the carriage window, was not greatly impressed by it, and Lady Brisbano and her sister, Miss Makdougall, were frankly steeped in melancholy. The objects of interest along the route were few. They paw the two small pottery furnaces at the brickfields without emotion. Even the handsome* (Jothio gateway, through which tho tollhar was approached, left them cold, and they refused to show the slightest signs of enthusiasm over Brickfield Farm, which belonged to the Government, the homestead being surrounded with hand«>me grounds, in which golden wattles bloomed luxuriantly. Lieutenant Stirling, the voung officer of the Buffs, who occupied a, seat in the Governor's carriage for tho purpose of supplying him with local knowledge, pointed out tho various objects of interest along the rout*, but Lady Brisbane sniffed, and Miss Makdougall steadily refused to b? comforted. Y.vvn the country house of tho late Colonel Johnstone, with its tine avenue of tell tapering Norfolk pines, failed to move them, and they list tied with resignation to the story of Colonel Johnstone's famous coup ilVtet by which he deposed Governor Bligh and. took over tho government of the territory himself. Not by such scanty features of interest in the depressing landscapo of this new country could two Indies from

Ayrshire bo beguiled into acquiescing with any other feeling than one of (\eep melancholy in tho mysterious dictates of Providence which had brought them to this re/not* country, where members of the Presbyterian. Church wore few, fi.nd far between, and where redfaced, rum-drinking officers and their wive* were almost the only eociety. They could see nothing to admire even in Underwood's Inn, eight- miles out, where the stage couch whanged horses, and they sniffed critically at Mrs "Daroy AVentworth'fl fine mansion, Homebush. with its (surrounding park of 1000 arre3 of cleared land. Thank goodness, they reached the Parrsmarta tollbar at last, <iml from the top of the hill saw the whole town spread before

them. The sight of the Church of England Church, with lis ivtoeplo, wa.s not pleasing to Miss Makdougall. and she direetcd a glance that was positively uostiie towards tin'. Rev Marsden's fine brick house, which crowned

tho rising ground t<» the lett, surrounded by olumps of trees. Mora tolerant wns her g-jzo when she looked. upon tl)d rcn*i> of nen( do Import rot tntj.cs, each standing in its garden, nn( i upon tho considerable number of twosiorey residences, built v.-ii-h taste, find stigywtins possibilities of eo*iin 1 intercourse.

The Governor's oavah-nde <•!n pa-;h " The Golden Fleece." n-hich vfis tben thr principal inn nt Parramatta, oTKi slopped fit best at Government Hous«. The mansion at which Gfireroor Brisbane looked T \ itb satisfaction on that lovely summer evening, and which wan surveyed with obvious nmjrivin.g*t by liitd.v Brisbane and her lister, the melancholy and deep ''eligioiu-i Miss .Makdou<j:.dl. was a substantial .sirmd.ure, designed by Lieutennnt Watts, and bud: of stone three feet

| tliieb. The rooms were large and lofty. i particularly tbe dining-room and the halivooni. and tho guard-room and oflices at the baek. ] In l-hw plans of those early military j nothing is moj-o reumrl'.afl,e

{ than the rare)ul provision which wsm j i,i;tde for the convenient bestowal of j uniple siipj.ilies of liquor. I.ieui-nanf ! Wi,t!~. die de-'isiimr of tbe Parr." mat t a ' LiLM'vi'umenf House, w «,> evidently 01.

the opinion that the official occupants of the residence would bo great topers. All 111e ground under tho bouse was excavated, a. ml in the excavated sp.ye huge cellars were constructed, with bins for the re-ception of the rr.ukitudinow* bottles. Aiso there were " horses"' of wood, in tho collars to support many barrel;; of beer and spirits. Torn Vomer, making a. delightful tour of exploration with Aileou. immediately upon bis nrijv".!. discovered 't.bo brick steps leading from the. courtyard into fclie. celiacs, and promptly d'eseendcd into the depths. A gorgeous phice for all ma it nor of games, but it was so dark that on« hunrped. oue'.S ] bead against tho barrels. Adeen. clasping him lightly by the hand, dragged hmi out. much against bis will, from the fascinating catacombs designed by Lieutenant, Watts; for the reception of the vice-regal liquor. Next morning there were other, delightful explorations to make. Tom and ATleen sallied forth, hand in hand, and, climbing the bill, discovered the wonderful bath-house that had been erected for tho ablution* of his Kxcellmioy and bis household. Therf was a big tank on the lop of tho bath-house, supplied by pipes through which water was forced by purrmmg. Tom was examining the tank with keen interest, and was privately speculating on. the possibility of being able 1,0 climb r<r> and look into it when he heard voice;:'- just round the acgie ot the little, building. • ( f tink dis rill Jo ainniy, ecgselfp.ntly. Sir.''' honimed a. vo ; ce. which Tom"t'f'cog nisei! at once a.s rlißt of Mr Rumcker. the Chief Assistant Astronomer, whom Brisbane Imd broupht out. together with tho second assistant. Mr James Dun!op. in the .Royal George, from England. , , . " A varra gnid pta.ee I mrni.i. ths-iik that vts can 'better H. Sir Tawmas.'

added Mr Dunlop. "I am quite of joe. opinion. said f"h<-> Governor. "X .shall ijiro nisti-ue-tb)iw today to have tho buihhn.t; of i.be. (')bsernitory eounneeeed on this vc flt mice." Tlir two eiiddaon uway down the Inil. •')« soon u.s ".bey henrd ih-;' governor. But Tom was the prn<-i>e<'t- of inforinrii!'" !, -t the eon.struetion of thr- Observaiory. Mr James Dunlop, in an esj>an>iv.' nuirncnt on board slii]>. had pyoniiflod to lei Inn: s*"o the man in the, moon jhrouirb hw !,i<' t*'iosoei/e a.s e-oeti a.-- tbe n!:-.,,.'!'v:ifory via? built/ r-HAI'TMII V. THI-: s<ii;tu!'i;n" ■ auss cm ).. So .oi dii" oo,ox- ;!./- (>hs,-rva >or\ v. a.-, I,uilt to t.i:e iia.ibboi!-e. ! I waii small donn .■>. 'I h<- mo-. ;-b am! In" .--('ii' n .-ai-.'.s bud live windows ca<-l:, (,;:: there ivefe no w ioV-si;, on die oT.ber .sides-.

Tom Verner peeped in when the building was finished', and all the astronomical instruments tba.t Governor Brisbane had brought out with him were installed. The inquisitive urehin saw that the interior of the building was divided into two halves by a cross-walk strange objects, of which Tom knew neither the name nor the use, were int-talled in place... A great achromatic telescope 40 in long, through which one might easily see the mar: in the moon, was placed under the south dome, and a repeating circle under the north dome. There " was a. transit instrument m

place, an eight-day clock keeping sidereal time, and other strange and fascinating objects. Also there were Mr Rumcker and Mr Dnnlop, who abused little Tom Verner angrily .in their respective dialects whenever they caught him meddling with their precious instruments.

Soon after the Observatory was finished, and Governor Brisbane had entered, upon the entrancing task of observing \be stars in the southern heavens, instead, of worrying ovov the distracting quarrels between the ''V«xelt' skives " and. th« ri emancipist-:''' that formed the politics of tho time, littU? Tom Verner experienced another delightful surprise. Ho iicqnnvd a hftlo brother.

Juan;' was just »i» proud <>*" her son, who w:w born under the Southern Cross, as of her firstborn, who saw tho hjrht amid the thunder of the guns at Innlouse, and her husband who was kept: busy vnth x.ho private sekntiho cor-re.'-po;:d'"")'-." of the Governor his official correspondence beim: Jui.udled by lii-: official" private secretary. Major Ov -p-was equally dHighU'd.

' '• \\hr..i name fhal! wo yive to tin's I liH'!». ' -palpino ■'?" ;i.>kr-d Juana, her / thoughts going hack by do* a«sr«*irii.io!i | of ideas to her lindhorn. and then to ) Biddv Flrnn. who had minist'Tcd to I J "' r - ' * ' i " Why not orvli him Sydney, dearf ost." said Vonifi', str' ! V;>)c; b; r - wife'* j heautnul hair, "'for Im- w our lit-do f Australian svm." < So S\di:ey n- was. ! !\\on as, ji baby Sydmvr Ycnier was ! fasoinn.i in'/ above :( !1 oi.ho?- babies. M'Vtr.i I Wi.s a -eeond «rdu.ion of his iadier-• - I advem-urnu.s, to s>'o and do :i.l! I dial- l.biTO w :i>' *o in'- v.;rn and (b)in 1 . ! but solid .'ind stcM-Jinst. slow in formI iue his idea,., ami earnest, ni-ib'T than ! brilliaait in o\j>ressin;.; t.he-ni. Sydney Mind, bis in"i,b'M'\ ej-acoful ehunn - -the i ebarni thai had '•;•. 10 ir.'d •-] Venior, am] ! uit'do even dun hardened oM ea.m- ---! j-i.moer. Hidd;. blviM'. mm -tan-mli : ; ri( i'.d and unwearying helper dinnm.h :S\ dmw \el mm ->s .-!:- si ardim.dv 1' ; ,o he- ' i w;-~ .1 e-mi ■ si'.dn. to -■• <• mm w In'?)

he was three years oTdL toddling about with his big brother Tom, who adored him. ■ ■ . Tho plae-e that the Uo children loved best- of all was Governor Brisbane's (>lv:c'i'vatorv. which was built near the bath-house' on the hill, and tho Governor, with bis kindly nature, could, not find it in bis heart to deny them admittance. , Air P mucker, the first asswtajnt, bavquarrelled with the Governor soon aft** the Observation' *'*» opened, retired, jn erea.t dudgeon to his h.ne farm which/he called "'Stargard," *{tor hw nntivo plaof in Pomerama, *nd viuch wfl.s situated at "the Oow Pasting.-odioAV.-in-ehariN. of tho Observatory : un<Uv Governor 13 ri>baue, cud it was to Mr Dinilor. ihat Tom Mid Sydney aj>übfd for permission to look through tho bur fortv-,-.ix-)noh telescope, in order that they might see the -Man in T.he /.loot. . Thev did not .see the Alan m tho M,.,,,' b„t. thev «iy +h» starry heavei.« ineludiiie; the Soul-hern < Voss. and it, n.afb, r, profound inrpieswon upon ti-,.'r voiuhiui mind".

rv.il V-Jtvo o! 'magic, jhio the wizard who iv,iuibiv«i it. ncs Mr James I>inilop : Uov"ri>nr Brisbane's iiswonomer-a slnn-<lo.-lv buiU, num. mwjtrthy nua'palo. with pioranp; dark eye!-. tU vu;-"'a bhio ' l o;U ivii,h brass Imtt-oiw on, i and niinkr-n i.■miser*. Tie pliowwi ■Jotii .wi lat-!o Svd. T.b.G wondors of Urn ...-,] sMni of rlir- Southern Cross, and iwvit.lw-'.r of l.lic bovs ever forgot, what {,)k:\' s:nr ib.nt bier, acliromauo i,o] ( >rop->> -bis I"'-'' t^vw <myv--'H!k;:! Mr "r>.itilnp maninnlntod so carefully. .1 U!>it-'r, banning; in ike dark &K V « for r ,ii <,},,-. ... ,>r!(l !!'■•> --"in p)v>rnious peari. v'i'tb bU four brk'bt bU-lo moons around him. inmressfd the- boy.« profound! v. snd Tom wa.? old oooxij-di to ;••-(■ l r. IVlllllM'-riiir- idea of tin* l;K>)U)ii.;;c of Mr Duulop'c urnarhs on tbo t-üb- " Hccb, b-ddiiy' tat-i tlio Scotchman, v.'-'-.b bnu i'L'bt- of orithusias'iii in bis j,i,..•(•)');<' r\o. ''yc'r' '•vein' tho noo T,-b.'!.t- (r,;t;i',*•!) *a\V ilirOUt.':}! tl If lil^t. t! ; ,MiK < V ;;. .! i'|'it,:c iv.'ts She lii Mot tJio vvoih'-m's oi ibi nieht, tbat, ( : a! ; .!oo pomU'i •'/, r,.-v,-!:':::io a ; , ;li ,' •)k. n'.iiv'.'iix'in of tboso ii' M!' \>co bricbr inuii'. ■-■ i-'bv in (.-iiiilo'i that Copto'nu'us v :; ,. r ; j.iii. .•■if'.ci' a', ll v:;x l.lu'oii).';ii ob-■,;,i'-viii", vuii i.'Tcisl pearl of tla nb.-t: ,),.,-( I-Mfiit ;,bi> init-h ahont, our airih. hoidio ; ; 'i" l;'i;li iiini. >iic moves n , u ,1,; ib" -'.in. in>iiil ol (lit l sun m,n- ---,,,.. .-"urn! lar. .a. -am-. I'alsob tanvrht by i' ;l ,i ( "li:i:-ch of 1 ha: : u,i,., "t'hov v, nti'al

they hnrned Giordano Bruno, but thef dauma. Yet 'tis- naid that they toiv tured him for telling what he saw inf yon brio-lit globe, with, the four wee \ sma' nmnes, around it. that ye are' lukrn' art this mennit, laddie." There was a tremonr of profound emotion in Mr DnnJ<>i>'si voice. \ Tom was only vapiely aware of th<* meaning of Mr ?hni.lop'« talk, but it excited him. There wia« Komjetimig eerie and mysterious in this dome of metal plates, painted black, with ita panels that, were hauled tip by cords running through pulleys. Moreover, irt that small circular chamber the aooos* tic effects were startling, and even terrifying. When Mr Dunlop spoke at the far side of ill© dome, his voice travelled, rouxsd the circular wall and boomed,' into Tom's ears from behind him. _Mr Dunlop became to him and to Ettte Syd. a Wizard of Darkness. Little Syd. listened open-mouthed trt the braw Scot's tongue, that boomed: in his ears from behind, while ho plainly saw Mr Dunlop in his blue Dra«*buttoned coat and white nankeen trousers in front of him at the far side of the dome. The child's imagination was stimulated by the weird «ir rounding!?--and so was Tom's imaginatioß a'iso. They desired to see fresh wonders. So Mr Dunlop showed them the Southern; Cross.

Neither of them ever afterwards forgot that niglit in the little Observatory at Parramatts, when they saw the Southern Cross--at first pointed out to them low on tbo horizon, by the bony forefinger of Mr Dunlop, ana afterwards &een star by star through Mr Dunlop'& big achromatic telescope.

Mr Dunlop pushed, against & handß and the whole of the black dome moved: in its bed until an aperture, formed by the raising of a panic 1, earn* opposite to tlie Southern Cross.

" Noo, Tom," he said, " ye canna see a* the five stars at once, laddie, forbye they winna. gae upo/ the objeo' glass thegither. ISo w© wull een ha© .tak' 'em an* by ane." Ho pointed, the telescope on its stand and applied his eye to it. Then making room for Tom on the stool, which he had placed there for his personal convenience, he went on: " Ton's Alpha Gnicis. twa stare that lufk like ane, a' brich't an' gletteriu' like a bonnie big diamond."

Mr IXnxlop's telescope _ was nob big ©Bough to divide the binary into a triple star. Probably Governor Brisbane's big astronomer, with his piercing dark eyes, never found, out to ih® day of bis death that Alpha Crucia is a triple star, and not a binary. Then ho turned the telescope upon Beta Gruoia, the second white star of the Gross, and upon Gamma and; Delta Qraoas, the two red ones. Just above Beta, the sharp ©yes of Tom Verner could make out through the gkss innumerable faint points of coloured light. What ho saw was Bersohel's. " Jewel Cluster," now known as Kaeta Qrucds. Long and earnestly Tom and little Syd. stared at the stars of tho Southern Cross—that areas of fire that pointed to the south. The two boys could no* tear themselves away from, that big telescope. One after the other ihey sat there with' thdr eyas glu-ed to tihe eye-pieoe, watching the coruseatians of Alpha Graoift. ™ Why are those starrs called the Southern Cross, Air Dunlop?" " Because they aye point to the south, kddfe."

"If a boy was to walk away from here and go on and on, and keep them always ia sight, where would he cojbw t^MrDrailopf"

"He micht coma to a bad end, I'm thenkinV' responded Mr Dumlop, cautiously, ' " But if he didn't com** to a bad: end, where would he come to?" persisted Toni. -/ " I suppose he would come to th> most southern part of Australia, laddie —the country that Master Hume and' Mester Hovell hae discovered on the ither side of that great river o' theirs—an' a fine country it i&, too, they've telErr 1 me." " I would like to follow the Sooihern : Cross aaid go down to eee that country/' said Tom, the adventurous,, jus he took on© last fond lingering took at Alpha., Omm.

" Me, too>" eaid little Sydv. with, eyeawide open. "Me go there with yon,. Tam," He clasped his big brother by the hand. He had an. idea that if he. and. Tom were to follow th© great white star that Mr Dunlop oonjtrred up out of the night and placed at the end of his big telescope, thev would reach a very pleasant lajtd—a. land of unknown deBght*—batter perhaps even than Paara/matt*.

When Mr I>onlop at last, wtth great difficulty, drove them off and sent them dorm to the biff house where Juana put them to bed, tney dreamed aft night of the Southern Cross, and of the beautiful ccmitry and mysterious treasurer that they would come to if they followed if.

Both Tom, and Mttl© Syd. determined firmly to follow the Southern Qross as booh a:s they Were big enough, and explore the unknown treasures of that land in the south, of which Mr Dunlop, the Wizard of. Darkness, had ppoken(TV> bo continued.)