NANCE GRAINGER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XXVII, 31 December 1898, Page 862

NANCE GRAINGER.

(By

A. T. Little, Napier.)

Nance Grainger stood at the door of the whare, looking down over the mining camp, half a-mile away. Her tasks for the day were done, and she was waiting now for her father to knock off work at his claim, and come hotnie to his tea. A tall straightlimited girl was Nanee, with the clear complexion and bright eye begotten of hard work and constant exercise, and as she leant negligently against the doorpost. more than one passer-by allowed his gaze to dwell admiringly on her. She took little notice. In a catnp where the proportion of men to women was five or six to one, a young and handsome girl was bound to attract attention. Most women of twenty, which was Nance's age, would have been flattered by it. but Nance was not a common girl. Some people said she was hard like her father, and the glint in her eye showed temper. These possibly did not know enough of her to be able to judge. Resolute and prompt she was in all her actions, and intolerant of foolish talk: impatient of restraint perhaps, as was only natural from the freedom of her life; but nevertheless dutiful to her father, and studiously attentive to his comfort. She was the apple of old Peter Grainger’s eye. though he made little show of the pride he took in his handsome daughter. The sun was casting long shadows over the gully before Peter came up the slope to the whare—a stalwart, grey rough-bearded man. curiously like Nance about the eyes and upper part of the face. He held up something in his hand. ‘We’re in luck to-day. Nance. Look at that.’ and he handed her a small nugget of coarse waterworn gold. ‘Six or seven ounces. I should like

to do as well every day, we would retire in a year or two.’ ‘And keep racehorses like Creeping Tommy, eh. father?’ This with a little spice of sarcasm. ‘Not I, my girl,’ said Peter with a laugh, ‘we would go and live in Dunedin. and see a little more life than we can in Dead Horse Gully. Gad, the young chaps would be round you ay- tlijpk as flies in a honey pot.’ ‘I think I would rather stop here.’ said Nauce. with a shrug of her shapely shoulders. •Would you! Well, put away the • nugget. Nanee. and let us have something to eat. I have some news for you.’ ! J When they were seated at the table. Nance asked with some curiosity. ‘What is your news, father?' ‘Just this, my girl. T am going to take a partner in the claim. Tt is too big for me to work satisfactorily. I have thought of it for some time.’ ‘Who is he?' When is he coming?" said Nance. ‘His name is Arthur .Taekson. and he will be up by to-morrow's coach. 1 think you will like him. He is a very decent young chap. What do you say to having him live here with us?’ and Peter looked at her from under his shaggy eyebrows, as if doubtful how she would take it. Nanee paused for a moment before replying. ‘He could come, father. We have plenty of room and we can send him away if we don’t like him.’ •Verv well.’ said Peter. ‘We’ll fix it at that.’ On the following day Jackson arrived. and was properly impressed at the sight of Nance, when hefl father brought him up. He was a tall young fellow, who looked like work. ‘You are to live with us. you know.’ said Nance, surveying him with a critical air. ‘that is if you like.’ ‘Thank you.’ said the young man promptly. ‘I do like.' ‘This is your room then.’ and she showed it to him. ‘You’ll have to be regular at meals, and yon can smoke as much as yon like in the kitchen. T think we shall get on together. You llon’t drink, T hope?’ ‘No. T don’t drink,’ replied Jackson gravely, wondering what was coming next from this very handsome and decided young woman. ‘l’m glad of that,’ said Nance, ‘we shouldn’t hit it, you know, if you did.’ ‘I know what to expect then,’ said the young man. as gravely as before. Then their eyes met, and by a simultaneous impulse they both began to laugh.

Jackson fell at once into the ways of the house. He was cheerful and good tempered, never in the way, and always ready to help everybody. Peter Grainger speedily took credit to himself for having made such a good choice of a partner, and developed a great liking for him, which was somewhat unusual. Nance said nothing. She was studying the newcomer. Sometimes she snubbed him. and he did not resent it. Sometimes she was amiable. He took it just the same. Her nature was one that led her to think very much about the perplexities and incongruities of life, and she could not view them in the same way as most of her neighbours did. She wanted to understand things. Jackson on the other hand was of that easy going disposition that is content as a general rule to accept things just as they are, nnd let what is beyond its knowledge or control take care of itself. Nanee at times felt impatient at this easy indifference, as she considered it, and her manner varied accordingly. Whatever she thought of Jackson, however, it was evident that his interest in her grew daily. He sought her society whenever it was possible. At nights instead of smoking with old Peter, he talked to Nance, and in the course of a few weeks he had to acknowledge to himself that he was in a fair way to becoming very infatuated indeed. 'Nance, you are like no other woman I ever met,’ he said one evening, as she sat sewing by the table, while he stood by the fireplace opposite her. •Why?’ she inquired, looking up.

‘I cannot tell. I don’t understand you. Why aren’t you fond of dress like other girls or of being admired. I don't think you care two straws about anyone but your father.’ T don't think I do,’ said Nance coolly, a flicker of a smile crossing her face. She eould read this young man easily enough. ‘They say I am

rather hard in the grain, you know,’ she added.

‘You are not,’ said Jackson warmly. 'But you are masterful, and like to go your own way.’ Nance flung baek her head. ‘And why not? I don’t want to run in a groove like other people. I like to think for myself.’ ‘And what do you think about, Nance, if I may ask that?’ ‘About many things. You would not understand.’ ‘Perhaps not,’ said Jackson, catching the glint in her eye that some said showed temper. ‘You are cleverer than I am, I know.’ •Nance looked at him with a softer expression. What woman is there who is not susceptible to a compliment she knows is genuine? Though Nance as a rule was ealmly indifferent to praise or blame from anyone but her father. •A man does not generally acknowledge that. Arthur, especially to a woman.’ She had got into the way of calling him by his Christian name, because old Peter did so. •It is true enough.’ said Jackson. ‘Why weren’t you a man? You could have done anything.’ Nance laughed scornfully. ‘Why not, indeed! But I am only one of the inferior sex, made for you men to trample on.’ ’Don’t talk like that, Nance,’ said Jackson, flushing. ‘I don’t like it.’ She looked at him with her critical glance. ‘lsn't it true, Arthur? Don’t the women generally get the worst of it in the world? I think they do.’ Jackson sat down beside her. ‘Let me show you differently, Nance. Give me the right to prove it to you. If you will marry me. I will do my best

to make life easy and happy for you.’ Her eyes sparkled, but she did not change colour. ‘I really believe you would. Arthur. I do, indeed. You are better than most men I have met. But I am not the kind of woman you want at. all. It would never answer.’ 'I want you, Nance, and no one else. We would make it answer if you liked me even a little.’ ‘I do like you, Arthur; but I should never make you happy. I am harder than you. and I ought to be softer. You would repent before a month was over if I married you.’ ‘I am quite willing to take the risk,’ said Jackson, earnestly. Nance shook her head. Tt would never do,’ she said, with decision. ‘I want someone to rule me; someone stronger than myself. Could you do that, do yon think. Arthur?’ ‘I don’t want to rule you, Nance.’ ‘You must put the idea out of your head,’ said Nance, unrelentingly. ‘Let us forget it.’ T can't forget it,’ said Jackson. ‘I will wait a little, Nance, and ask you again. Perhaps your no to-day may not be no to-morrow.’ Nance rose and gathered up her sewing. ‘You must take my no as final. You are a foolish fellow, Arthur. Please don’t ask me again, or we may have to part.’ Jackson winced. ‘I begin to think you are a little hard, Nance.’ I told you I was. And now. good night. We will forget this talk has ever taken place.’ And she retired to her room. She had been stirred out of her usual calm, however, for she sat a good hour pondering over the matter before she finally put out her light and laid her head upon the pillow. She even gave vent to a little

sigh. But she would not admit to herself that her answer had not been the right one. Jackson was so different to his usual self for the next few days that Peter Grainger noticed it, and made a very shrewd guess at the cause. 'What's the matter, lad?’ he asked bluntly. ’Have you been quarrelling with Nance.?’ ‘1 asked her to marry me,’ said Jackson, judging it best to tell the old man the plain truth. ‘The devil!’ said old Peter, gruffly. "And she said no, I suppose?’ Jackson nodded. ‘lf she said no she means no, you may bet your life on that,’ commented old Peter with a shrug. ‘I am sorry, Arthur,’ he went on, more kindly. ‘I wouldn't have minded seeing you two make a match of it. But if she won’t have you there’s no more to be said.’ He took an opportunity of speaking to Nance on the subject, however, the first time they were alone. ‘Don’t you like the boy, Nance?' ‘Yes 1 do, father.’ ‘You might do worse than marry him. He is a good steady lad.’ ’I know he is,’ said Nance. ‘But we should not suit one another.’ ’Very well, please yourself, my girl. You ought to know best. But he is rather cut up about it.’ ‘I am sorry,’ said Nance, looking Her father gave her a keen glance, and she came over and kissed him. ‘1 am going to stop with you, old dad, until you turn me away,’ and old Peter said no more. By common consent the episode was allowed to drop out of sight, and matters went as before. Jackson was not the man to brood over his rejection when the first sting was passed, and he soon resumed his usual cheerfulness. Nance made no change in her manner to him, except that she no longer snubbed him, and he, mindful of her injunction, did not renew his suit. So another month or two slipped away. The claim was now turning out better than ever, and the partners prospered accordingly. Their success was the talk of the camp, and there was much speculation as to the amount of gold that old Peter had stored up in the whare. It was a careless habit of his to let it accumulate for lengthy periods before taking it over to the bank at the township, seven miles away, and Jackson one day took occasion to point out the danger they ran of being robbed. There had been an epidemic of lawlessness in the neighbourhood of late, and it culminated in a gang of seven or eight desperadoes sticking up the monthly gold escort not three miles away from the camp. There was a brisk fight before they were beaten off. ’How much gold have we, Nance?' said old Peter directly he heard the news. ’About sixty ounces, father.’

•It’s time we banked it,’ said her father. ’These fellows might take a fancy to stick up the house. I'll go down with it first thing to-morrow morning.’ Nance looked at the three guns hanging on the wall. ‘Did ever you have to fight, father?' she asked. ’Yes,’ said old Peter, gruffly. ‘Did you ever shoot a man?’ ‘Never you mind, my girl. Fighting and shooting are not for women to meddle with.’ Nance laughed. ‘I think I would shoot anyone who tried to rob me.' ‘By'- I think you would,’ said old Peter, admiringly. A few minutes later Jackson, who had gone down to the camp earlier in the evening, made his appearance. He looked grave. ‘I wish that gold was out of the house,’ he said as he sat down. ‘We shall be short of it to-morrow,’ said Peter. ‘Have you heard anything? ’ ‘I had a hint just now at the camp that people are talking about it. and of course exaggerating the amount we've got. They say- we are foolish to keep it here, and that long chap they call Big Jimmy called me aside and told me that we had better not sleep too sound at night. I asked him what he meant, but he wouldn’t tell me. All I could get out of him was “You done me a good turn once and I don’t mind doing you one now. You tell old Peter Grainger what I say.” ’ ‘lie’s a precious blackguard.' said Peter. ‘I daresay he knows something. At any rate I’ll load the guns,

and if anyone takes a fancy to come around during the night he'll stand a good chanee of getting a hole drilled in him.’

He was as good as his word, and took down and examined the guns one by one. loading them carefully with slugs. Two were double barrelled muzzle loaders, and the third a single barrel. He also went and examined all the fastenings of the doors and windows. •Now, I’m going to sleep with one eye open to-night. Arthur. You and Nance had better be off to bed. I don't believe anyone is likely to disturb us, but if they do I'll give you a call.' He would not hear of Jackson sitting up, so they all retired to their rooms, taking a gun apiece. ‘l'll have one of the guns,’ said Nance. ‘You know I can shoot, father,’ and she was allowed to take the single barrel. It was well on in the small hours of the morning when she woke suddenly, and, sitting up in bed, heard her father and Arthur talking in low tones by her dbor. Outside, the dog was barking excitedly, and she fancied she could hear the sound of horses’ feet. She dressed hurriedly and stepped out of her room. AVhat is the matter? she whispered in Arthur's ear. Have they come after all?’ "Yes. 1 believe so. We shall see in a minute or two.’ They listened, and presently heard footsteps going round the house. Someone tried the handle of the back door, and then that of the front. ‘Who's there?' called out Peter. "Open the door,’ said a gruff voice. •<)h. yes. I'll do that.' said Peter, with a grim chuckle. ’Who are you, and what do you want?' 'Open the door. Peter Grainger, or it will be the worse for you.’ said the same voice, threateningly, and a volley of blows was showered on the panels. ‘Keep off.' said old Peter, loudly, ‘if you value your hides.’ This was the signal for a string of

curses, and the blows on the door were redoubled. Peter did not hesitate, but, raising his gun, tired through one of the upper panels. •Pm shot,' cried one of the assailants, with an oath. ’And serve you right, too,’ said Peter, as he put a fresh charge in his gun. There was now quiet, lor a few minutes. ‘I think you’ve scared them off,’ said Jackson, who had listened intently. •Not a bit of it,’ jerked out old Peter. ’Here they come again. Go into the back room. Nance; you will be safer there if they start firing.'

•Indeed. I won't,' said Nance with spirit, and she kept her ground. Their assaihuits had now gathered round the front of the whare again, and with a heavy crash the door was suddenly burst from its hinges and thrown flat on the floor. They had brought a log and made use of it as a battering ram. ‘lnto the back room.' said Peter, sharply, pushing Nance towards it as he spoke. He and Jackson followed quickly, and stood by the door with their guns ready. One of the bushrangers. for such they seemed to be, now sang out. 'Drop your guns. Grainger, and come out of that. We won't hurt you. but we want the gold, and we mean to have it.’ •Come and take it. then,' roared old Peter, whose blood was now up. 'Don't be a fool,' said the fellow. We're five to two, and we're better armed. You won’t get any help from the camp, if that’s what you reckon on. You'd better give in quietly.’ •And if we do. what then?' said old Peter. "We promise not to harm you. or the girl either. We only want the gold.’ ‘And suppose we don't?" queried Peter again. 'Then we'll shoot you like dogs.’ said the bushranger, brutally. 'You murdering scoundrels!’ cried the old man. 'Yon won’t get the gold without walking over my

body, and my partner’s too. Keep off or we’ll fire. A shot from the bushrangers was the answer, the bullet crashing through the wail of the room, but without touching anyone. Another ami an-, other followed. Peter fired at the flash, and Jackson immediately did the same, but without effect apparently. They both reloaded rapidly. Jackson looked anxiously at Nance. She was very pale, but there was no sign of flinching in her face. 'You aren’t afraid, Nance?' She gave a grim little laugh, and handled her gun significantly. 'You’ll see when the time comes, Arthur.’ There was a short pause, and then a bullet came through the window, grazing I’eter’s arm. 'That was close, Arthur.' he remarked. coolly; 'but it was only a chance shot. They can't see us.' 'I don't like being shut up here,’ said Jackson, uneasily. ‘1 wish we could make a dash at them.' 'No use.' said Peter, shaking his head. '»»e are safest here. Well drop some of the devils yet if we watch our chanee.’ The old man meant fighting in grim earnest. They waited anxiously for the next move of the bushrangers and it came before long. One of them had evidently been posted at the back of the house, and he began to fire through the window as fast as he could load and discharge his gun. Under cover of this the remainder of the gang crept up to the broken door and made a sudden dash down the passage. Old Peter fired both barrels of his gun amongst them and one man dropped. The next moment he was hit in the leg himself, and fell. Jackson sprang forward. Three of the bushrangers were left, and he fired directly in the face of the nearest, whom he could dimly see. The man staggered back, with his cheek scorched and bleeding. His second barrel missed. The remaining two flung themselves upon him and they were locked in a deadly struggle, when there was a warning cry from without, and Nance, who stood with her gun levelled at the bushrangers, but afraid to fire for fear of hitting Arthur, heard to her joy the hurried tramp of a. number of men approaching the house. She ran to the door and gave one scream for help, and then darted back inside. Jackson had nearly succumbed, though he made a gallant fight, for it. until one of his assailants managed to get him by the throat, half strangling him and bringing him down heavily on the floor. Nance hovered round them, watching her opportunity to deal a blow, and the moon suddenly breaking through the clouds which had hitherto obscured it, gave her a plain view of the three forms writhing on the floor. Arthur was undermost, and. swinging her gun by the barrel, she brought the butt down with all her strength on the head of the nearest, bushranger. He rolled over and lay motionless. The other, who had now become aware of his danger. jumped to his feet. and. aiming a blow at Nance that sent her staggering against the wall, ran out of the house, anil, jumping on his horse, got clear a wav.

The next minute half-a-dozen miners rushed in breathless, and the danger was over. The sound of the firing had been heard at the camp, and guessing what had happened, they hail started off at top speed to the rescue. The man whom Nance had stunned was promptly secured; but there was no need to do more than look at the one who lay in the passage. He was stone dead, old Peter’s bullet having struck him in the forehead, just above the left eye. The other three, including the one wounded by Jackson, had got clear away, and the sound of their horses’ hoofs could be heard as they galloped furiously off. They had turned loose the remaining horses, so pursuit was useless for the present. When a light was obtained Nance ran to her father, who had struggled into a sitting posture, and was cursing the bushrangers with great vigour.

'Where are you hurt, father?' she enquired anxiously. 'ln the leg,’ said Peter. 'But I'm till right. How many of the scoundrels have you got?’

'Two.' said Nance. 'One is dead.' 'A good job. too." said Peter viciously. 'I wish we hud shot the lot.’ Nance now turned her attention to Jackson, and was relieved to find that he had sustained no injury beyond being half throttled. 'That was a near thing. Nance,’ he said when he had recox Ted his breath.

‘You are a brave girl. That blow of yours saved me?

Nanee shuddered. ’1 tried to shoot the man, Arthur, but 1 couldn't for fear of hitting you. 1 am glad now that 1 didn’t.

It was arranged that two of the miners should remain at the house for the rest of the night, and the others returned to the ramp, taking the prisoner, who had now recovered his senses, with them, and also the body of the dead man. They promised to send a messenger at daybreak for the nearest doctor, and by ten o’clock the latter arrived at the house. He extracted the bullet from old Peter's leg and pronounced the wound to be in no way dangerous. The news of the attack made a great stir, and the police made an active search for the three men who had escaped. They succeeded in running the wounded man to earth, and old Peter subsequently had the pleasure of hearing him sentenced, with his compan* ion. to ten years’ penal servitude; but the others were never traced. And that should be the end of the story. 1 suppose; but there is one other matter I should like to tell you about. A few weeks later, when old Peter was able to get about again, Jackson said one evening to Nance: I am going away, Nance. 1 did not like to mention it while your father was laid up, but he is all right now. and there is nothing to keep me.’ Nance looked up with something like dismay in her face.

•-My father won’t like it, Arthur,’ she said, at length. ‘He doesn't. 1 have told him. But the truth is that I cannot stop, Nance, and you know why.’ They looked at one another for a moment in silence, and a little flicker of a smile played round Nance’s mouth. ‘Would you stop if I asked you?' she said. .‘What do you mean?* said Jackson quickly. ‘What difference can it make to you, Nance? If 1 stay 1 shall want to marry you as much as ever, and you have forbidden me ever to speak of it again. That is why I think 1 should go.’ ‘But suppose,' said Nance, very distinctly. but looking away from him, ‘Suppose I have changed my mind, Arthur?’ Jackson jumped up, and with one look at her face, which was rosy with the sudden colour that came into it, put his arm round her and kissed her. And once not being enough he did it again, quite unconscious of the fact that the door had opened and that old Peter was standing jon the threshold viewing the scene with great astonishment. ‘Perhaps you'll explain what all this means, Arthur,’ he said presently. ‘Ask Nance,' replied Jackson, catching hold of her hand. ‘You must ask Arthur, father,’ said Nance, as she ran away in confusion from the room.