CHAPTER I.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1415, 24 December 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER I.

The suburb of Albert Park is generally regarded by Melbourne folks as rather a picturesque one than otherwise, though at the time of the opening of our story — somewhere about the end of September — it certainly wore its more uninviting aspect. For September winds were blowing chill, and September rains were coming down with dreadful violence. There was. a general feeling of dampness in the air ; and a blusterous and aggressive kind of tumult going on that made the wide streets look all the more forlorn, by reason of its driving people into the shelter of the houses. Thio was the general characteristic of that particular September, and on the day on which bur story opens it was more marked than ever. But though the wind and rain and cold and damp were rampart outside, inside the houses it was snug enough, and quite attractive. In one especially ; for though it was a modest-look-ing house, and it might be almost said, a house of rather uarrow proportions, still in one room particularly there were all the elements of attractiveness and even happiness.

For— to sum it all up in a word — two young people were making love to one another in a very demonstrative fashion in the room particularly referred to. They were good-looking young folks Were these two lovers. The girl was dark and shortish, but with a beautifully clear skin and finely moulded features. Her eyes and hair were both dark ; but the former were extraordinarily brilliant, and the latter was extraordinarily long and thick Altogether, she boasted an appearance somewhat out of the common ; and even if not quite that, at least striking and characteristic.

Her companion was a young man in vivid contrast to her. He was tall and fair, and his features were refined, but his face was extremely pale, aDd wo>e that tired look that comes either from overstudy or over- work in other forms of mental exercise. Indeed, to make no mystery of the matter, he was a reporter of one of the Melbourne dailies, and showed palpable traces o* the night- work his duties entailed.

However, though he was pale, ho was a good-enough hand at making love, that was pretty evident, for he kissed the young lady, and embraced her, and held her to him in very vigorous fashion. " I am the happiest man in Melbourne, '' he said, "to think I shall win you at last, Nellie. After the tremendously long time we've waited, it seems almost too much happiness to think that I shall gain you. But, by jove ! I will now ; nothing shall separate us now this good fortune has come at last."

"I-hope not, Anthony," whispered the girl softly. "I am sure," continued the young man excitedly, "that if I report this meeting well and. send it down to be the first in the field, I shall get that billet. The editor has promised it me, and so I looked upon it as good as secured. Wish me success, Nellie ; for it means gaining you for my wife ; it means making me the happiest man in Melbourne."

"I do wish you success, Anthony," replied the girl fervently, " you know I do." "And tell me again, my darling. Do you really love me ? "Yes ;" she whispered.

"Of course you do ;" he answered, kissing her ripe lips with lover-like devotion. Haven't you waited for me all this long time ? How can I ask you such a question ? During two long, weary years you've waited until I was in a position to support you, my poor darling. You are the best and truest of girls, Nellie ; and I love you with all my heart." He might, in good, earnest, well say that: For a better, nobler-minded girl than' Nellie Cottrell it would have been hard to find. He — Anthony Langford — and. j»he had fallen in love with one another Some two years back, but instead of falling , out again as most'l young people do, they had opened their hearts to one another, and had exchanged vows of mutual constancy. Those vows had been rigidly kept, and, by the young girl, in face of many difficulties. For her parents had opposed her course of action in binding herself to the young man. Anthony Langford was one, about whom not an evil word could be said, and He was respectably connected ; but, after all, he wanted that very necessary-article which enters so largely into the composition of a good husband — money. When he first m9t Nellie he was not in a position to marry, and so the long years of probation had to run before the two young people could "hope to enjoy wedded happiness. ,

But now there seemed to be a good chance — a chance that was almost a certainty — of their being able to do so, for

Anthony had been promised promoti on that meant increase — and considerable increase, too — of salary. A vacancy had occurred in the office, and the wielder of the thunderbolts who ruled the literary roast — the editor-in-chicf — had as good as promised that Anthony should haye the situation. But at that time, it happened that a very important political meeting was on the eve of taking place in Sandhurst, and in default of anyone else, on that very afternoon he had been hurriedly summoned by the editor, and informed that he must leave for the mining metropolis that night.

It was not a very unusual thing for Anthony to be despatched in that manner up-country. It had occurred several times before ; but on this occasion, the young man felt that the manner in which he executed the task would be regarded as a test of his fitness or otherwise for the post he coveted. ' He felt intentively that if he sent down an interesting, comprehensive, ably-written report of the important meeting, success as regarded his obtaining the post would be assured ; whilst if he failed in doing so, he felt that his chances of advancement would be very small. It was no wonder, therefore, that he determined to put all his energies into the task before him, and work heart and soul for success.

There was no occasion for him to be in Sandhurst before the next morning, and so he was in no particular hurry. It was so pleasant talking about the future with Nellie ; discussing probabilities ; looking hopefully forward; and prophesying unlimited happiness for the future, that the youns man was in no hurry to depart at all. The time-table informed him that the night train left at midnight, and so, unwilling to tear himself away from his ladylove until actually necessary, he decided to take that train, so as to arrive at his destination at an hour well in advance of that when his task would commence.

In the meantime he laid himself out to make the most of his few houra with his inamorata. He was explanatory, loverlike, literary, and oracular, all at once. He dwelt on the advantages — pecuniary and otherwise— to be derived from the situation he hoped to procure on his return, and gained the young lady's consent to a very lover-like and characteristic proposal, namely, that when hehadsecuredthe post, theyshould then aud there get married right out of hand.

"My darling Nellie," he said, when he had wrung a shy consent from the young girl ; "you make me the happiest fellow on earth. Whenever I come back, then I shall come and claim you, for I know I shall be successful. Oh 1 my dear girl, it will be a happy day for me."

He was honestly in love with her, as she was with him. That much must be said in extenuation of such foolish demonstration as he indulged in. It might have been highfy ridiculous for him to take her in his arms and Mbs her as tenderly as if the bloom on her cheek would come off; it might have been highly ridiculous ; but it was honestly meant, nevertheless, and expressed a good deal of manly love.

Nellie believed in it, that was evident ; for she neither made any objections, nor did she seem to dislike it. If she was not so demonstrative as he, she showed her love in a quieter but no less plain manner, and so the two billed and cooed, and sighed and kissed, very much in earnest, and very much assured of its' being mutually appreciated.

It was fully half-past ten before Anthony made any sign of departure ; and it was fully eleven o'clock before he did depart. Leave-taking is always a lingering process between lovers, and with Anthony and Nellie it was no exception.

' ' Good-night, my darling," he exclaimed for the sixth time. " I really must go now."

" Good-night, dear, dear Anthony. And I wish you all success possible." "Thank you, my darling. The next time I see you I shall come to claim my wife, remember that. One more kiss, Nellie ; and now good night for the very last time."

But this one more kiss was continued for such an indefinite period, that Nellie must have been the most patient young woman in Melbourne not to have become thoroughly out of temper at her lover's pertinacity. But she did not, strange to say, exhibit any signs of impatience, whicfi fact Anthony took advantage of by lingering, longer and longer. However, even such sweet sorrow as parting must have an end some time, and so, with a final kiss and a final embrace, the love-smitten youth turned away and took his departure. But even then he looked lovingly bagfc more than once, as though he were in two minds as to whether he should return or no. He remembered that he had not yet made his few preparations for his journey, and so tearing Nellie's image resolutely from his mind, he made his way back hurriedly to his lodgings in order to put a few things in a bag,