GREATER LOVE

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 October 1913, Page 4

GREATER LOVE

A NEW ZEALAND ItOMANCE. (By Mrs. E. May.) [The following story lias been awarded first prize by the literary judges ot the (Jisborjie Competitions Society in the short stofy competition. The author's name was disclosed at the Festival as that of Mrs E. May, of Clisborne.] (Continued from last issue.) Arrived at the fence he grasped the wire and raising himself surveyed his surroundings in childish wonder a butterflywinged its way alighting for a moment upon the grass within the enclosure; the child's eyes rested longingly upon the intruder. A desire for possession tilled the childish breast. Slipping between the restraining wires, he stood panting triumphant within the enclosure. The butterfly easily evaded the tottering footsteps of his would-be captor, until at last he abandoned the pursuit, ami seating himself was soon busily engaged in arranging his rustic boui'iuet. Old Hirini, rambling slowly around the conJines of his habitation, raised his head to carelessly scan the surrounding' country: a patch of scarlet in the centre of the adjoining paddock arrested his attention. and straining his failing eyes, the old man watched it intently; suddenly it moves, and recognition conies with startling suddenness. The child of the pakeha was in the paddock, and the bull ! A rapid glance satisfied the old man that the animal was grazing peacefully, and had not as yet sighted the child. Tightly grasping his staff, the old man hastened to the rescue. He gained the fence and climbing unsteadily over landed iu the Held, but not unobserved. The bull, instantly discerning the figure scaling the fence, raised his head with an angry snort, and intentlv Avafched the intrud-

Ilirini reached the child, and. raising lum in liis arms, prepared to retrace his steps. Tin 4 sight of the sc; irlei costume instantly galvanised the animal into immediate action: lowering his head, with an angry bellow lie charged full tilt at the wearer of the hated colour.

Clasping the child in his left arm, and firmly grasping his stall', the old man bravely awaited the onset. Pausing until the horns of the infuriated animal were almost upon him. he stepped nimbly aside, and at the same time sriking with his stall at the charging enemy.

Turning swiftly he again charged, but again the old man clevely evaded, and at each, respite he was enabled to get nearer to the fence and safely: but age had sapped the agility of the old veteran and each successive charge brought the bull nearer to Lis (|iiarry. Another charge, an evasion and he reached the fence, and lifting his burden over, he essayed to drop him beyond the reach of the assailant.

I lie child cluni;- to his hands, retarding his movements: but as the animal turned he swiftly disentangled his clasp, and bravely faced the maddened brute.

Again canic I lie wild charge, lie al tempted to leap aside- too late a crash, the shock of the impact, and the old man wenl down beneath the hoofs of his snorting bellowing adversary.

Meanwhile the hasty departure of the iiged ilirini had been noted

in the kainga, and as soon as the object of his mission was revealed several came Lurrying to Lis assistance, and hardly had he fallen beneath the onslaught of his antagonist thaii help was at hand.

Several stalwart young Maoris beat oli the assailant and the old man was lifted and speedily conveyed to a place of safety. An urgent message was also despatched for medical assistance and everything was done 1 hat would tend to alleviate the suffering of the victim.

-But it wa:i of uu avail, the shock and the wounds, in addition to .Lis advanced age, sot at naught all tliLi skill itiul .medical science enlisted in las aid. and it was soun evident that the old warrior's days wei'e numbered. The last visit of the medical man and his verdict

"only a question o.l r Louts," speedily set all doubts at rest; ami in the shake of the head that accompanied the message the old man read his fa to.

"'l ake me without, ' ho said* feebly; "lot me lie where again J. ca ( ii see the blue sky, and the land J love so well." And on his rc--11 tie,si being complied with the old man raising his head .surveyed the scene in silence, then turning, iie beckoned feebly: "Draw near to me people of my race for Hie time has come, and to you 1 "would speak before I depart.'' "Hirini-te-Eruera is like unto the tall pine (hat old and withered awaits on the axe of tLie woodmon ; 1. go out into the land the laud ol: darkness and mystery. 80011 I must tread the lonely paths, so many of my race have trodden. The bones of my people lie at rest in the waliitapu, but their spirits await me 0.11 that borderland, tliat land of mystery; there will I join them, and there will 1 hear not weeping and lamentation, but the glad "powhiri"—-the song of welcome ; let not grief follow my departure, rather rejoice—eagerly,

gladly do I go for I am old, old and weary, and the glory of my people have departed.

There on a grassy knoll beside the river's brink they laid to rest all that was mortal of Hirini-te-Eruera, 'ncath the shadow of the pines, that stretch their arms like grim old sentinels above his resting place—he sleeps peacefully at last. The birds sing above him, the rays of summer sun filter through and light up the dancing leaves, and play Hide-and-seek among the waving boughs; the giant ranges rear their jagged crests above the last resting place of Ihis warrior patriarch of a fighting race gone, alas! and for ever. Eor never again will they meet amongst the forests and glades they loved so well fought so bravely. Wherever the white man's pathway leads, (Far, far has that pathway gone), The earth is littered with broken creeds, And always the dark mans lent recedei, And the white mar pushes on; Eor Ihis is the law, be it good or .in, All things must yield to the stronger will. .. -Ella Wheeler Wilcox. * -:r. « -S V * * Several years elapsed before 1 again revisited the scene of my story, the shades of evening were falling as .1 rode slowly towards the clump of frees which marked the last resting place of the old warrior hero. Passing through the avenue of giant tree trunks 1 *!ood once more beside the grave, iron railing now surrounded the enclosure, and the head stood a tall granite coliiVhin, the sun was setting and a hush lay over the land. The rush of the river came to my ears mellowed by distance, and the air was fragrant with the scent of bowers: in the distance a bird sang softly, far up through the great feathering branches >1 the pines gleamed patches ol blue sky. The sun dipped behind the distant liillsi one straying beam lit up the granite column, and binding reverently 1 read the inscription : Sacred to I lie .Memory <>i: 11 I K I'NT-TIC ERPERA, Who died .January PJ. ISUS. Aged 81. "He gave his life for another. "Oreater love hath no man than this, That a man lay down his lite lor his friend."