Australian Tales and Adventures.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2047, 25 March 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

Australian Tales and Adventures.

No. 19. VANDERMANNS’S LUCK. By Grosvenor Bunster.

He came up to Mad Tom's Gully a fortnight after the tush had set in—a great, lumbering, slow, awkward, slab-sided Dutchman, with a red nose and small grey eyes, end a large mouth. This latter feature however, bore a remarkably good-tempered expression, and when stretched in a smile, as it generally was, revealed the possession by its owner of a set of white strong teeth that might have aroused the envy of any dentist. The man stood over six feet in height, the breadth of cheat, width of shoulders, and length of arms were of the herculean type. Like most strong men, bis legs were disproportionately short. Altogether Henrich Vandermanns was as quaint and grotesque a picture in breeches as one might meet in the travels of a life time. That this was so, was seen in the fact that he excited universal attention amidst a community, the members of which presented every imaginable eccentricity of form and feature. He had not been on the lead an hour ere every man had heard of the long new chum Dutchman.

Of course he was chaffed immensely, and he bore it with the most perfect good humor. Nothing seemed to arouse him from his amiable stolidity. It was not until some of the more reckless and rode ventured upon playing some coarse practical joke upon the new chum, that it was discovered that as still waters run deep, so do quiet good natored people occasionally exhibit a temper of an exceptionally violent order, Henrich Vendermanns speedily put a stop to unreasonable jokes, by knocking the jokers down right and left, dislocating one man’s jaw, throwing a wild Irishman down a deserted claim, cracking the heads together of a couple of Cornish miners, so that they lay stunned for full two hours, and in other and divers ways showing that while be could tolerate considerable familiarity, it was extremely dangerous to trade upon his patience, and tempt the limits of bis forbearance. After this display of bis powers, he was left alone, and was as universally admired as he had at first been generally jeered at and ridiculed.

Henrich Vaudermanns took all this as a matter <jf course. His temporary anger over, he became once more the good tempered, slow, lethargic Dutchman he appeared when he first came to Mad Tom’s Gully. He made no haste to peg out a claim, nor did he respond to the offers which were tendered by many disinterested gentlemen to put him on to a good thing—for a consideration. “All in goot times mine frens,” he said, “ Dere is no hurry I guess—nein. I vill vait mine obberdunity,” and then he would stand treat. But day by day Henrich used to pass up and down the gully, hands in pocket, pipe in month; bis shaggy yellow beard uncombed his unkempt yellow hair flowing over his broad shoulders from beneath his dirty old wide-awake. So he passed bis time for the first three weeks, until the diggers came to think that he was a sort of harmless lunatic, with some money which he was afraid to invest in any venture, and which ih all probability he would some day lose in some speculation into which none but a madman would have entered.

This view was speedily strengthened by the hews that Henrich Vandermanne bad applied for a lease of land on the face of a bill—the last place in the world that any experienced miner would have hit upon as likely to prove auriferous. The news spreading, half the population crowded down to see the Dutchman’s claim, They found him and a surveyor pegging out his selection of full half an acre surface extent. Henrich, dull as he seemed could not but mark the amusement which his proceedings appeared to affect the lookers on. He laughed good naturedly. “Ahl you links me one vools eh—Aohl veil let dem laugh vot vina, mine poys. Home op to der blace and have ein drink.’’ This was an invitation to which all responded, Some of the better natured of the diggers deplored the Dutchman’s folly, others enjoyed it as a good joke. The man whose jaw had been knocked out of gear by Henrich’s iron fist, grinned maliciously, and while he drank the Dutchman's treat, hoped that honest person would sink every cent he owned in the speculation he had adventured. To all the chaff and remonstrance to which he was subjected Henrich had but one reply.

“ Batience, batience mine tear poys. Don’t you laugh too moebe all at vonce at von time. You jooat vait und vatch, und you shall see maybe dat you vost not so clever so mouohe as you dinks. Again if you please Mrs. Dompson"—and be threw down a sovereign. In truth, he was very free with his money, spending little however, upon himself but apparently taking a hearty pleasure in treating others. Of course he was voted a good fellow. Even Tipperary Pat, whom be had thrown down a deserted claim, and nearly killed, swore bedad, that the Dutchman ought to have been an Irishman, for he knew how to make the money fly. The great event of each day on Mad Tom’s Gully was the arrival and departure of Cobb’s coach. All the idlers of the place used to congregate in the verandah of the “ Welcome Nugget” at the hour at which the coach usually arrived and departed. It was the only opportunity afforded the inhabitants of seeing new faces, and gaping at passing strangers. Much as weddings and funerals excite such supreme interest in the minds of all the females of the neighborhood in which they occur, so did the coming and going of Cobb’s coach arouse the gossips of Mad Tom's Gully. It was while the Dutchman was treating his friends that the up coach from Melbourne, tooled by long Garter, dashed up the street and drew up before the “ Welcome Nugget." Instantly everybody rushed out of the bar on to the verandah, there to stare at the passengers, as yokels gaze open-mouthed at the animals in a menagerie. Upon this occasion, however, there was some room for curiosity and speculation. It was seldom that the gossips of Mad Tom’s gully were treated to a passing vision of a woman. The diggings lay out of the route of such towns as Sandhurst or Ballarat, and it was rarely that a female passenger passed through. But to-day not only was there a female, but one evidently of a superior type to any which the golly boasted —the lady denizens of which were, to speak with all courtesy, anything but fair and far from gentle. Men therefore, accustomed to regard the weaker sex from the stand-point of their contemplation of Drunken Bet, or Scolding Sally, and whose highest appreciation of the sex found its satisfaction in the presence of good Mrs. Thomson, the comely landlady of the “Welcome Nugget," might well experience a lively interest in the circumstance that a lady—evidently a real lady—bad not only arrived in the coach, but desired to alight therefrom. For a moment the realization of this astounding incident paralyzed the chivalrous instincts of the spectators. It was not until Henrich Vandermanne suddenly appeared with a step ladder, which he placed against the side of the coach, that the crowd realized the correct thing had been done by the Dutchman, and manifested their approval by a general murmur of applause. Grotesque as the Dutchman ever appeared, there was something in his awkward gallantry as he banded the lady carefully from the coach which inspired the lookers-on with admiration, And as be gently led the way

into the hotel, still holding the fair one’s fingers at arm's length and with gallant air, and altogether with a certain raediioval old fashioned politeness, the crowd echoed the remark (though hardly realizing its illustrative application) which was made by the Swell: “By George boys, its like an old picture. The Dutchman only wants a suit of armorand Saneho Panza to play Don Quixote to the life.” And indeed the Swell’s criticism was apt.

Henrich Vandermanns escorted the lady into the little bar parlor, which was held private by the landlady, and to which she only admitted special and select company, suoh as the doctor, the lawyer, and the bank officials on tho gully. The Dutchman, a permanent lodger, was of course held free of this sanctum, where he was ever welcomed by Mrs. Thompson, who, with womanly shrewdness, discovered the worth of the man beneath the veneer of his awkwardness and'eccentrioities. She was there ready to receive the visitor. With a profound bow Henrich Vandermanns presented his fair charge. “ Matam," said he, “ dees ist Misdress Dombson, der landlady ov der housen. I haf great bleasure in regoomendin you to her civility.” And with this, and another profound bow the worthy fellow retired. If he had been a prince he could not have borne himseli more gallantly. That evening as Henrich Vandermanns was quietly smoking his after dinner pipe, a message was brought to him by little Lilly Thompson, requesting his presence in the bar parlor. He arose, knocked the ashes from his pipe, set it aside and obeyed the summons. He was not in the slightest degree nervous. It may be remarked that hia awkwardness was part and parcel of hia peculiar physical development. It was by no means due to any moral cause. He had the easy confidence of a man conscious of his own worth and not a little alive to bis own merits. He was as cool and stolidly composed as usnal as he entered the room and once more made bis bow to the lady. “ I have sent to you Mr. here she paused.

“ Henrich Vandermanns, at your service Matam.”

“ Mr. Vandermanns,” resumed the lady with most engaging smile, •• to thank you lor your civility towards me." The Dutchman raised his eyebrows, smiled, and shrugged his shoulders.

“ Aoh Matam, you jest—mit me. What haf I done more nor what anybody would do.” “But it was you sir, who did it. Pray take a seat. 1 want to ask your advice. Mr. Thompson tells me yon are wise and cautious.” “ Aoh I” and he laughed, “ Der boys in der gully does not dink so, matam. Day think me a little crack here,” and he tapped bis broad forehead and showed bis teeth. When he smiled,'Henrioh Vandermanns’ face was lit op into'abaolutc beauty. The lady evidently perceived this, for she regarded him with new interest, nor was the DuCShman unobservant of her facial characteristics, which were altcg'thu to his taste. She was a woman about thirty years of age, tall, plump, but of a certain grace. Her face was handsome, its features well out, and betokening great intelligence. Her eyes were very expressive, exhibiting every shade of emotion, and reflecting every passing thought by which she might be moved. Altogether as the Dutchman returned her gaze respectfully, he was able to realize that he bad rarely looked upon a more comely specimen of a sex which, to his simple mind represented every virtue and admirable quality inherited by poor human nature. The lady informed him that she had come up to the gully for the purpose of ascertaining whether there was any prospect of success in some little business. Henrioh Vandermanns smiled, and shook his head.

“Nay, said ha decidedly, “Nay, Matam. Not vor auoh like ae you. Die Ist a rough blaoe. Dar ie noting that you would do here. Aohl Hemmell nay." " Oh, but I can rough it too, Mr, Vandermanna," said the lady, “ I can rough it too.” He laughed. “ Yes, yea—you can rough it too. Goot. I link I see you mit dose pretty hanta, and dose dainty ways, among der beoble ov Mad Tom's Gully. “ Upon my word," here cried Mrs. Thompson, entering trom the bar, " that ia a very pretty speech Mr. Vandermanns. Why, you have made the lady blush.” “I beg pardona a touaand dimes den,” said the Dutchman, earnestly. “ Yon zee madam I am a plain mans, and speaks what I tints.” “ Another and a bettor compliment, I tow,” laughed the lady. “I thank you sir. But I am rude. I have not told you my name. It ia Mrs. Spencer—-Mrs. Adelaide Spencer.” It you had given the honest Dutchman a thousand pounds, there and then, he could not have explained to yon why it was that as the lady said this his heart seemed to cease beat ing and all the blood left his face. Nor could he have told you what moved him to echo, in an idiotic and inconsequential manner, ” Mrs. Spencer,” emphasizing the word Mrs. with a certain doleful cadence of voice that moved the lady to a burst of musical laughter. “ Yes sir Mrs. Spencer. Would yon take me for a Miss. Do 1 look so yonng.”

" Aoh, patden me,” stammered the Dutchman,” I am a fools. Nay—l did not t?kc you for a Miss, und I hope you was not—bud what ist this I say I 1 am glotaaay. Forgive me matam. lam but a rough mans.” The lady's eyes danced merrily, while the landlady whose quick woman’s wit realised the humor of the position burst into a jolly laugh. “Law Mr. Vandermanns" otied Mrs. Thompson. " A woman may be one of three things, a maid, a wife, or” “ A vidow 1" suddenly cried Henrioh Vandermanns. “ What avqnl 1 am. Yah—a vidow. You shall be a vidow matam, so 1 guess." “ You are right air, and though a widow I hope I'm not amiss.” Toe slow wit of the honest Dutchman did not seize npon this joke at once. When it did however, his hearty laugh might have been heard across the road. Perhaps his appreciation of the pun was all the more enjoyed that it conveyed a fact to his apprehension which onoe more restored his heart to normal action, and returned the blood to his melancholy visage. At any rate, it seemed as though the information which had been imparted to him was extremely welcome. He talked with a vivacity and spirit which surprised his landlady, accustomed as she was to his slow, letbargie and ponderous speech and aotiou.

That night as the Dutchman ensoonsed hie huge bod; between the blankets, he was conscious of the fact that for the first time in his life perhaps, be had gone to bed to think rather than sleep. At anyrate the morning had broken ere slumber came to him. His thoughts had been so interesting; so full of vague possibilities half sh;ly recognised by this simpletion of nature, that sleep had been impossible, even unwelcome to him. And when ho arose and proceeded to make hu simple toilette it was with a start and a blush that he found himself donning a clean white shirt, and taking such pains in other ways to render his appearance more attractivcthau was usual with him. As a general thing the only virtue Hannah Vandermanns practiced in this direction was that of cleanliness. He had heretofore taken little heed what manner of clothing he wore. As a general thing his boots were never polished save on Sunday, and he had worn his old hat from time immemorial. But now, for the first time he bocams conscious that his slop clothing hung ungracefully upon hie person ; that his boots presented ft shameless disregard of the decencies of society. As for his hat, he threw it from one end of the room to the other. And never before had the Dutchman contemplated his tugged stolid face in the mirror with suofa curious scrutiny. It bad mm be-

jfre occurred to him that ho would be the bsttcr ‘or a visit to the barber and the tailor. l*aus•og in his slow way, to think over this curious development ol mental and moral analysis, be blutii once more returned to his wholesome cheeks, and bis eyes dropped as a maiden’s might, who first became conscious of those mysterious movements of the soul which presage love. We may be sure that when Mr. Vandermanns presented himself at the breakfast table, the quick perception of the women revealed to them the slight signs of personal improvement which indicated the emotions I have referred to. A smile passed over the good tempered face of the landlady, and the quick glance which she exchanged with Mrs., Spencer testified to their mutual appreciation of the position. Even the other lodgers stated at the Dutchman with puzzled curie sity, as though seeking to inform themselves what manner of change had come over honest fellow, and the cause thereof. That the object of their scrutiny was conscious of this was observable in the fact that his usual stolid composure had somewhat deserted him, and a singular nervousness and absence of mind characterised his conduct. If asked to pass the butter, he passed the salt. I f requested to serve some person with bacon ho passed his plate to the landlady under the impression it was a tea cup. The widow and the landlady were intensely amused. Mr. Vandermanns that day was very silent and reserved. He passed his usual time at his claim, directing the labourers he had employed to sink his shaft, but it was noticeable that he bad but little to say to the cheery salutations with which he was greeted as he passed up and down the gully. " The Swell," with the superior knowledge of mankind, which an early training in good society confers, hit the mark when be declared that the Dutchman had been “ bedevilled ” by the new woman.”

That evening he passed in the society of the lady, who was delightfully -.familiar, and exhibited the warmest and most flattering interest in his affairs.

“Why don't yon open a store Mr. Vandcrmanns," she asked seriously. “I find that there are only three, and from what I hoar none are popular. “ Dat ist so,” gravely answered Vandermanns. “But you see raatam, I haf von glaim, which it do take oop all mine time.” “True, true,” murmured the lady. “ I’iay smoke Mr. Vandermanns. I adore the odour of tobacco.” {To be conlinuril.)