“ALMA.”

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2029, 11 February 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

“ALMA.”

As Original Australian Story, BY * HAROLD STEPHEN, Esq,. M.P. OF NEW SOUTH WALES. (All IVqhU Bc*trrni.) CHAPTER XlX.—(Continued.) "Yoa mean Ainu Tredegar,” b- gan Grace. "Who did yon say?" intorrnptel Ccrtio in an exeitud tone. “Ahoa Tredegar,” replied Grace. ‘‘Cut what ia the mine. Bertie bad started to hi' Mr;, an I. in so doing, nearly un-e; tii “ t»V.-. II; h.iV.cr.ed to apologise, and related hi-, dtvnt ;rr- r! the preceding day, when hj- rk; t v; ir >"i-r of Mies Tredegar, ia coaioiny witu Sir. Cjiiloi Worth. •‘Sir Charles Xrrth!” evil Mr. H'rve-. Wny he had the mute of u in ; one of tho safest men iu the c.;y. it.i h--, too, f-.i! I. and come ou; heron .--.I; i,;-- firt.u-e? \V -d.

well. it ii a strange w.jrliW:;) <■ >a! 1 have thooght he would hav_- male a mtai of

Bertie apliiard that Sir CiitVt ha-1 by oo means “ male a rrv=.«< or it,’ l, r. C.mr sol to Antr ma on b i-. ic-> *. vj i a ■ > -r.i . a fit* to find M.<* Al i’. a ‘ f-r'ina iely," he sdde.l, •• that ; of «I: ’

may be considered v -..F'd. Y M o Harvey, will of c^ur j o be atle I) ic ius ins young lady's addr ss ? ’ “I am afiaid not. ! received a letter from her last week, dated fro - u Tore?! Creek in whioh she said that she and her uncle w r n about to leavs for some new goldneld, and that her uncle had told her that, in all probability, she would not have an opportunity for writing again (or m:ny weeks to oome.”

“ That is unfortunate,” paid Bertie, ” bat ws mi; be able to foil :w them. A’, any rat", I auppose I may tell Sir Claries Worth that M soon at 31 ss Tredecar writ?-: again, you will let him know her o Hr- >•<.'■ “ Of course,” replied Grace.

I matt ark you, however, to keep silence with reference tn the arrival of our friend? in Melbourne. Profear r Tiedrpar i§ at enmity both with hit nephew and w-th Sir Cnarlee, and be it quite capable of preventing them from meeting Mitt Alma, if it liee in his power.”

Grace promised compliance, and Bertie soon after took bis leave, receiving a cordird invitation from the young lady to visit them •gain on hi* return to town—which invitation was formally endorsed by Mr. Harvey in a manner the very reverse of cordial. When he bad left:

“ I do not like that young man,” said the father.

"1 do, very much,” retorted the daugh-

It may be well imtglned that the good Mw* brought by Bertie Leraeorte, was most acceptable to Dart Tredemrand Sir Charles North. At last they had a cue vhicu ihey eoold follow up w;tn ?-ome fcrp" of success, and, hi any event they had every rea-cn to believe that Mia* Ilir.cy would ere long be able to to supply them .vit’u more accurate information. The whole party, including the detective, kit lor Foreet Creek that same evening.

CHARIER XX.

exon's GULLT. It was a high o’.J time at Siob’r Gaily. K»»r sums the news had com; tin: Tag Aimiril had un.-arih"] a n iyg t t-f n u’.rl-r proportion?, ill- towi.s-.ip ha i teen i.i a ferment; (or tits claims ;ia ; ar ick work, and •very man on the diggings had come into viaw the welcome stranger. There it lay—a hu;c misshapen mass of doll yellow g Id. etreskid with vein a cl quartz. Beamy it possessed not; jo; every heart beat high with the hope of one day owning it* like. For it* exhibition, the largest room in the loading public house had be«n chartered by the fortunate proprietors of toe nugget, and all day long a stream of visitors kept p- uring in and out; whilst the traffic in drink and satables threatened to tx'asuit the resouicis of the establishment. Snobb'a Gully was among the youngest of the gold-fields of that day. T;.-; or, dual proepeetor wa* a shoe maker, hence the cup'-o nioua title, which had been bestowed upon it. after digger-fashion, by some wit among the ■hoe-makei's successors. When the original “snob ” first drove his risk into the soil, it was « charming gor ■?, between two high mountains, covered witfi (ha luxurious vegetation of a primeval forest. A ailvery creek wound its placid way through the gully, and tangled masses cl ■upon hung in festoons from tree to tree. (tea abort month later, and the gully was transformed. Trees and creepers had dis•mtared; tbs creek bad become a tlu 'i’im, yellow drain, and the hill sides were covered with tent* and huts of every description. The township—is there cot something oflanaivo to the taste in the very expulsion, “ township ” 7— was situated at the end of MM gaily, when it widened out into a “tlat,” Md consisted, for the most part, of stores MS public botuea. Of these the most pretentions was the “ Snob's Anna," at which 0* noadMs stopped, and than was actually

a bii'-iird-rnun, onT/Jriing a dreadful travel:: Aa • '-h i-’.aV'-, ho.! hum u;a< small tabb.c vl-c ; w--r ■ ni.liily oc;uuU-l ey i ".dire and c;i : . igc p"iv-r>. Tire Snob's A.ms bov'.d si- s ,1 ii.o,!K saloon, and two real, live i;:r;riii.N. of u.iuo oi.e-i p, r.,:iua! attraction’, and ,i:n : ;! .-.a i'lipM.b.nc.'. It »i< a si ■ i h.> n«, or r.iths/a o.i.igregv tion of ~.,.n ..lit- of v.n.i.is lUm-asbus, barkro.d -I. v!! jUTiiogiy connected by covered p'-. r; way. _ I.i t i. di-.ci:' •» .c i! o i, r rodn ’ upon r, rrd blie:-: t, ■ aU •• i a,.- ~.j-1 :,jr the oc;a----f. it; , u: ; f -! A: r j ’.ui o : 1, y the m . - 1 nil,;.,' A’. : -.e .<1 the t \V.-\ teTtel in an anncii.ir, Jh> Ai I: i.y pr, : rioter ol : u iv.ig-i mv 1 ■ ; cu.d, w'didi .•? tr uu tiimi wr--sei! and p.t.cu, uiiitii; Ibon a child, or a dor. O .'y y.svrd.y, o' (be hundreds of meu rvjrk; g at 5.;0..t G illy, li-j was perhaps tire lee-i cI r .1. One moke of the pic*, and benold !.i •» r. king amongst men 1 Oh, winder - wuik’n < enchanter, divine gold I Wiia j it the-, iiie ii a wearisome struggle—with tbee, ;; carnival o' delight ! At least, that is toe poor man’s views of the matter—when I have found my nugget, i shall be able to deal with the question from the other standpoint. Tns A Imiral—so-called, perhaps, because of all living men ha was iu appearance farthest removed from the papular ideal of an admiral—was a week-eyed, wtek kneed, sand)-haired little man, who had hitherto, as hr came one of bis slender pretensions, modestly kept himself so mneh in the hick ground that nobody knew anything about him.

A few hours, however, had wrought a marvellous change, and he now occupied tho place of honor as if to the manner born. ft really was astonishing to find that ho was not only genial, but withal witty and wise. Hia audience listened deferentially to every word that fell from his inspired lips, and never prophet of old commanded mote respect. To each succeeding group of admirers he told tho same words; yet even those who had heard it early in the day, and often tince, listened as eagerly (o its twentieth repetition as if it had all the charm of novelty to recommend it.

" Ye see, gentlemen,” he would say, “me and ray mates knowed there was somethin’ good in that there ground. Folks need to tell us, we'd never como on it; but we know’d better, aod there she is'” Hero ha would point exultingly to the nugget, whilst his hearers smacked their li'th, and wishr d -oh, so dearly I—that it had been their la'o to (til the tale. “ i'll not deny that there was times when we f- it kind- r bad about it.tiraes when tucker wa-- a .arcs, and liekfr-crrcer," —The landlord v.-,.-.cf*l at this remark,for hia conscience smote him a he rec-ill-ii sundry interviews between him e’t and Tne Admiral, and in which ha had displayed anything but a “trusting" spiri 1 , ‘ Xiirro was times even when my mates sex 1 L t’s shift cur peesbut I never g-.v3 in ! I kn.-w’d T,-,; voir bound ler -triko it noli, End s-tiike it riuh we have— gcrul- men, call for yrr Oti-,:,-, i; you please. U’j ray shout, and ch’tnp '..-i.e'.* tne drink to-day.” X-. d r b c vaid ;nat- this epeech of TheAdtnita’ "ai rc-’i .v d wi’h ever-increasing eutrm i--.--:-t ’ V ", that knows any I king of

U! ■ . '.;.i doubt fiat an orator oi toi- • u;ap '.vas Mcredited with the possession of more man C.j average supply of wit and wi«doni ?

'lVaids midnight the fan grew fast and tuii: i-; an i when lire conch from Forest Cr.ek drew up at the d"or of the public-house, i: rosy fsi li he i-aid that not one of its innjatfs (f.e inoie sul was sober.

I'oi’-r ordinary eirc imietancss, the arrival ol the coach—which usually took place at about nine o’clock—was the event o£ the evin-np, and every body turned out to etare at near atr v„l<, and question the driver. tirstt th--i <r-ia the surprise of Jack For res

—G“i t sm»n J.iok, at he was utlled—win V. the reins on the n : ;;ht in qu -rtson, when not ever so much as a groom c-.n:e tc meet him a- ho drew up at tag dror, in af gallant -V-hlon as the fagged honescould accomplish. “ Well, I'm d— d 1” he muttered. " Here’s a start 1 Anybody dead, I wrmtUr ? Tnete's an infernal r.i pr,in;> on inside, anyway. Jj»t held the n'r.i for a minute, please, ’ he added, ad itessine a passenger, who occupied the fcnj-evst. “ i’tn geing ia to reuse up some of the-a duel:?. Confound my cats I I’ll l.t them kn' w wno they’re feeling with, in ai] nr; -r lc then no time.”

Wnii-t Mr. Jack Forrest wa? carrying out his threat, a little v. ice in the interior of the vehicle said, “Ithink we hare arrived, untie,” and pteeent'y the curtains were patted, and such a charming face appeared at the aperture, that one of the grooms, who had at la-t cun je-'C°nded to saunter lazily towards the coach, started as if he had teen a ghost, and fell over into the horse-trough, much to the discomfiture, but greatly to the dtiicht, of the outraged driver; who, accompanied by the landlord, appealed on the threshold at that moment.

11 L:t ms help you down, miss,” said Gen l leman Jack offering his hand. “These coaches are rather awkward for Ip.dies.”

” Tnen wa have arrived, six ?” asked the young lady, timidly. miss, this is Snob’s Gully,” said the landlord obsequiously, but with a lurch to leeward, which showed that he, too, had succumbed to the influence of the petroleum champagne. “ And this is the Snob's Areas —thou hj I S"2 it, as shouldn’t, the leading hot lin the place. Was you for stopping here to-night, miss?” ‘‘Yes—get us some supper at once, and show us 10 our bedrooms,” answered a gentleman who had come round from the other side of the coach. •• Come inside, Alma, the groom will look after oar luggage.” I’oor little Alma—for it was indeed our heroine cold, tired, hungry, and halffrighti ned, took her uncle's arm submissively enough, and they were presently u-dierol into the room oil the bar, which was dignified bv tee name of the best parlor. 4 The furniture of this apartment consisted of a ricketty bub sofa, a round table, covered with a blue blanket in lieu of tablecloth, two or three decrepit chairs, and an oil safe, which did duty as sideboard. Alma sank on the sofa exhausted, and would fdio h.iv," rrliived herself by tears, hut refrained, fearing to vex her unde. " Cheer up, child, ’ said that gentleman, diverting himself of his oviraoet. " A hot glass id brandy and water is wh;.t you v av,t. and that you shall have in a minute. Wont is the mean in ; of that noise r” he asked. Tni.» qr-stioa "’as addr. a-uu to- ; ,;o of the barmaid >, who entered whi'i ho wa' S|wok. in? — a young lady with bril/a it, braly black eyes, very red cheek' a: -1 1i,.«, p.-id a mas? of ( i'y black hair, woci to vr d at l-mst a for. over too crown n: iu-r h- ed, and thcncc acccuded, in a cascade ol tight corkSite » curls, half way to her waist. “ It is a nugget, ’ she rrpli-.d in a mmcmg tone. ‘-The Admiral’s patty hj. >.vc found a big nugget, and they're a- I .aiming it up in the ballroom. Would the young U-tylike to take anything ?” ” Yes, she word 1,” replied the Profess or, sharply, “A gl is.-- of weak brandy a-.d w-rh r, hot, for hft; and a strong glam for raysdif. Look smart ab mt it, if you please.” The damsel looked unutterable things at the person who had the audacity to address her in inch an unceremonious manner, and flounced out of the room with a twist of the skirt which narrowly escaped knocking the aggressor down.

by their breath, whilst her car was rnitninaa by many a muttered oath, and that horrible snoring and gnashing of teeth which attends the sleep oi the drunkard. Later on, the house was opened by the landlord—himself very much the worse tor the debauch —and than, one by one, the sleepers aro'c, shivered, and staggered into the bar in search of a “ pick-me-up.” Mr. Johnson had bacn able to get to bad, and, nicer three or four hours sleep, made his appearance, apparently suffering less than might have been expected He was evidently a seasoned Teasel ; for, after a brandy-aod-snda, he was actually able to smoke a clay pipe, whilst breakfast was in course of preparation. Stephen Tredegar had prepared his niece for the appearance of this guest at their table. He rial risen early, and called Alma into the parlor, longh before Mr. Johnson bad opened hia eyes. What bo told the girl, it ia not necessary to repeat —it was simply a lie, concocted for a purpose, and it served that purpose—at least so far as concerning Alma, that, however objectionable a person Mr. Johnson might be, it was highly important that be should be flattered and conciliated.

Toe poor girl presided at the breakfasttable in a state of trepidation which threatened, at any moment, to euluminate in a burst of tears. Air. Johnson was even more objectionable than she had expected to find him. In the first place, he brought with him into the room an aroma of brandy and stale tobacco, which made her feel so sick that she was wholly unable to swallow a mouthful of food. Then ha ate like a barbarian, uaing his knife as if it had been a fork, and thereafter helping himself to butter w.th the same implement. As-fnr his conversation, it was more than offensive to the girl. His compliments were coai.se, and accompanied by horrible lev-rs, and lewd glances, which even a child could not misunderstand. Moreover ho would talk. The Professor vainly btrove to relievo hia niece by taking upon his own shoulders the chief share of the conversation; but Mr. Johnson could talk and eat at the garni: tiara, and thus enjoyed the advantage which he pushed to the uttermost; being, in' point of fact, extremely well p’eased with himself, and laboring under the hallucination that he was decidedly coming out strong, and making an impression. How long that meal endured, Alma never knew. It seem*! interminable—for Johnson ■vs i one of these happy individuals whore appetite is increased by copious potations, and •c had no idea of ceasing to eat as long as them was anything eatable left on the table. At last he looksd around, and sighed the ti.'h of repletion, then bo commenced to use his fork a' a toothpick. F.ven the professor could not, however, tdsnd this lost proceeding, and he arose hastily, telling Alma to go to her room, and i-reparo to accompany him for a walk, blow gladly the girl took the hint and escaped r.i ty easily be cor.orir.rd; but she was not ,offered to depart without the premise of f i.-thcr torture, for Mr. Johnson, without ruing, intimated a desire, if sha had no obj vtion, to accompany her and her uncle in a stroll among the claims. As the door closed the Prohasor turned to M -. .1 .hnson with a gravity ol manner which - in,pressed that individual, and caused hi.u to ask uneasily—'“ What’s up now?”

“ Can wo be overheard?" anked the Pro. fosscr.”

“If we don’t yell out, arid there don’t happen to bo anybody listening at the door,” .1 Johnson, “I should say we can’t. E-pecially as there is an infernal row going on as it is.”

Truth to say, a large number of the Bacchanalians of the previous night had by i'li.j time assembled ia the bar, and, as they were all still more or less intoxicated, the noise soon became deafening. “ Mr. Johnson,” began the Professor, “ it I mistake not, you have not always borne that name.

The fork fell from the man’s band with a crash upon the table, and he stared, openmouthed, at the ITofo-sor, whilst a pale green tint seemed to spread itself over hia face.

“ I think,” continued the professor, “ that you were formerly known in London by the name of Thomas Sumner.”

Mr. Johnson took up the fork, and recommenced p’cking hia teeth. “ Well, sir,” he said, ‘‘what then ? Many a man does not care to be known by his own name on the diggings.” This was said in a confident, defiant tone wholly at variance with the man's behaviour when first he had been accused of using an alias. The professor scored a point— he concluded at oncethat the gentleman before him bad been known also by another name, and that there were circumstances attendant upon his bearing that name which made him dread its discovery. “ 01 course,” said the Professor, “it very often is desirable to conceal one’s identity. I merely asked the question, because I thought you must be Thomas Sumner,” (7o he continued.)*