CHAPTER VII.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 268, 30 May 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER VII.

AS.TLKY PRKSKNTH A UiTTICH Ol' 1 JNTUO DtIOTION Almost immediately on hisanival in VV , New Zealand, Astley Berwick set about dolivering the letters of introduction he had brought to gentlemen in that city. He arrived in August, a wintry time—not tho l

brightest) season to arrive anywhoro. Astley's lirst impiossions of the climate were anything 1 but favourable. For the first two days there was nothing but wind and rain ; on the third day, however, the rain that had fallon in torrents was almost dried up, and was only called to mind by puddles here and thore in the partiallypaved streets. It was liko a boautiful spring day in England, the sky was a lovely blue, and the sun delightfully warm, while scarcely a breath of wind could now be felt. As Astlcy stepped forth from his hotel on this delightful moaning ho felt all the charm of tho splendid climate of which ho had heard and read so much. Instead of the dulnoss that rainy weather almost invariably brings with it, and especially in a New Zealand city, he felt, the buoyant, clastic spirits of youth which ho had carried with him before the blow fell that had played havoc with him. For ho had Millered much, poor follow, and looked ton years older than he had looked si\ months pioviously. He made Ins way to the warehouse ot Mr Turner, fooling as ho walked lightly along all the fresh life and \igour which the serenity of the weathci combined with tho hopes that he had for the future lent him; thinking that heie, where nobody knew ol the trouble that had fallon upon him, and where his name was unstained, ho might hold up his head with hih fcllownion and oii|oy lite. Ho was shown into Mr Turner* ollico, and alter ho had waited a lew minute^ that gentleman himself made his appearance. Astlcy tound him a t-hoit, pompous little man, who appaiently enjoyed the good t.liin**-* of this lite '\ ou wish to see me, I believe ".'' said the trentli man, with a smile. ' 1 havu biought a letter fiom Mi Bioadlo\ ,ot the him ot Bioadley and Son. I onl\ anhodatew da} sago, and h.i\o taken t heeai lii'sl oppoi tunit\ ol ( ailing upon you,' said As|| L \. 'Oh ' Oil ' de,u me, take a .-eat, Mi '• 'Beiwiekus n\\ name, mi, Astley Bcr- \\ iek.' Mi Ttiiuu opened the lettei w hich Astley handed t'» him, and lead as iollou.s . - ' Buildings. ' Street, ' London, Mm 2Stli, IS - - I>l \K Mit, -Permit me to introduce the biaio, ,\lr A-lhn Herw iek, to you. Jle is !he sun oi a \ i r\ old mend of mine, and has been, until ieieiitl\. in m\ otlice, \vlu;re he held a position ol liihi. lie lelt at his own wish, to ti> his loilune in New Zealand As\mi will posmblj si r b\ tin* papers that his name figures pionunen!l\ in a leeent divorce ease. I ma.\ tell you that he is held to In- entnel.\ mnoeent b,\ his iuum dtalt 1 It lends, injsolt included. It has been a ra»enll\ allair, trump d up for some purpose \s inch weilc not understand, but whieli ue shall d<i our utmost to tind out and expose. [ introduce Mr Horwiek to \ou with e\eiy ( onlidem c thai \ ou w ill und him, \\ hat [ kno > him to be, <m .ipn^l't, honomabk' uning leilow. 'Tuistiii'; miii will do vt hat \ou i an for him bj intiodut mi: him to people and, should he dt-i't il a>-i-t in_r hint to jnoi in c suitable em plos mriil ' I am, deal 1 V ours \ cry truh . ' Rich \ut> Bito \i>i,k\ .' ' De.v nir ' Imm — \o - - \ci\ odd, unit lei ed Mi Tinner. r l hen tuimn<_r to An(U\, lie siul '1 .mi \oi\ gLid to soe you, Mi l>ei w ick, but you 111 1 all\ must e\cu-emethis morn nig fam \ei\ !>u-\ : when cm \ou make it touxenieut to see me again '" A-tks thought this rather a cold leception, IniL did not say so ' Anj- time th.tt will siii' \ou 1 will make il cunu'Uiout to call. 'Oh ! well, suppose we say to-monow morning .it t le\ on, will that do said Mr Tin net. 'I shall be heie a!. ele\en," s ;i id Astloj , and, bowing, took his depaituie If Mi Tuiiili had boon Jruthful in say iii' 4 ho was biis^ hi^ menidiy must, ha\o boon \ct> bad, toi <i^ soon as Astlcy had It tt ihe ofln c lie letm tied to his ehaii , took up Mi Uioadk^V letter and auain perused it. ' StiMn^e,' he mused, ' \ci\ sti.mnc; the Lid looks li^ht enough, but surely thoie must be suniesciew loose, oi wh\ should lie come to the colony ilncttl} .litei this (•\posuie ' I leinenibei the ea>-e, [km !ecLl\ , now. It was fulh lepoted in the cash home ji.ipii- \oung follow, would Miiclv iic\ii tluow up a billel in -ucli a house as Ilioadlcj s (.o come out hen i,n '■-jut ' unles.s something was wioiil; And a peisonal luend of old !>ioadle\, too' Tiie tiling is ])iepo-teious i must speak to ll.ikiu .ihout i( am! -cc wh.it he s,iv> bijou 1 int;o'lii(t % mv \• > 1 1 1 1 <_; tnend into -o.'iel^ Who knows*' he miu'iit jilaythe \ei ■> deiu c. H.i\ing come to (his conciu sioii, hotan'_r a hand bell The summonww f ..^ aiisw el ed b\ a ele k. ' Oh ' wiil )mi tell .Mi Dakin I shall be glad to -ec him at once,' -aid Mr Tin no. Mi I'akin was Mr Tuiuei s nianauing ( lv k and, -ome s,ud, k.i(l"i. ami wasentraLied to Mi Turner- dtuighlei. Mi Tium > did no hingofain mipoi taneo w ith out (on-iiltuiLr Ml 1 Dakiu. It I'akin Niid Ik w a- ot opinion sin h a ( lung shdiild be done, it wa-. ahno-L nw ,u iabl\ ilum —in f.U t , Ml D.lklll %va~ ,i -oi r ot ilmikinn machine I(ji in- employ oi and futuie tathtl in-law Tho dooi o])Oiif .1 atid Mr I 'akin uitoud •Oh ' take a seat, Dakin ; ius< lead this lettci. and tell tne what \oit think otil, -aid Mi Tuiuei thiowing, Mr !!ioaille>'s icttel o\ci to him. Mr linnci, .is was hi- cu-idtn, watched Mi D.ikiu as he lead, and noticed each < hangc ot expiession. * W ell, w hat do you think ol it ' 'In wlnt way do yn\ mean '' -aid the cat of ii J Makin 1 1 mean — do\ou think what old I'toadloy s.a\ si^ all right"' Do jou think 1 ou^ht to I take ii|> this young .spark, and lutioilueo him to our women, and place the .suno coutidenee in him that Mr Bioadlcy docs, oi s iy s lie does '/' '.Says he docs l ' rep( > alcd J)akin, ironically: *\ery a|)piopi lately put, sir. W'h) does Mr liioadley scud him out hcic it all isiiixhf' ' Hut ho say-,' rejoined Mr Turner, ' that ho left by hi.s own wish,' I 'Yes, 1 sec he docs. 'Well, perhaps* ho did. You ha\c seen thi.-. Mi Bciwiek, I suppose? What do you think of him V' ' Oh ' he seems right enough, but then one can ne\er tell these fellow-.' 'No/ said Dakin, 'you might think ho is all right, intioduce him. and then find out, when too late, that you have let the wolt into the fold. What did you say to him ?' ' I told him I was buj-y, and requested him to call to-moirow, which he said ho would do ; just you think it o\ cr. will you ? and let me know the lesult between this and then.'