Moanataiari Gold; OR, LUCY BENTLEY'S LOVER.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4224, 15 July 1882, Page 1

Moanataiari Gold; OR, LUCY BENTLEY'S LOVER.

By Jenny When.

GHAPTER ll;—(Continued)

" Lucy," said a well known voice, and in another moment he had clasped me in

his arms.

For a moment neither spoke, then Frank led me to a more secluded spot, and wrapping, his heavy overcoat around me, exclaimed, "I have but little time to tell yon what I propose doing, Lacy, for I must catch the express to London in the -moning. Dearest, I am a poor mad now, having only my'mother's little patrimony to depend on, but with that I purpose to go out to New Zealand, and make a home by honest labor, free and untrammelled by the customs and prejudices of English society. There independant, and self supporting I shall be a man, Lucy, not a poppet of circumstances and fashion,, and, dearest, I want you to promise me to keep our secret until I send for you to come and share my home. I do not wish to subject you to the struggles aad privations of a pioneer settlers' life, but as soon as I have feathered my nest, I shall send for my sweet,bird to share it with me."

I could not reply except by my tear«, as I leaned sobbing on his broad manly thoulder. How could I tell him that I would rather brave the trials he feared for me, than remain here alone while be toiled out yonder ?

"You shiver, dearest, you will tak;e cold," cried Frank, I waa thoughtless and unkind to ask you to meet me here, come Lucy, do not aob so, cheer up, little one, I shall soon be able to write hopefully of our future, I have every confidence of success out yonder, but here I am too much hampered by old customs and associates. to turn over a new leaf, as uncle expresses it. After all I am sorry for the old gentleman, I wish people would'nt make such ridiculous entails concerning property, 'tis high time all that was done away, none of that in our new country. Lucy, come cheer up, don't make a coward of me, my dear little wife !" ; : • :

What must Ido to make him understand my feelings, there was no oiher course open for me, so I sobbed oat while my burning tears fell faster, "Frank, why will you leare me, let me go with you and share yoor trials P " " What, brave little woman, are you ready to sacrifice home and comfort for my sake ! he cried, forgetting how much he had sacrificed for mine. Well never mind what more was said, but it was settled that Frank should not go alone to New Zealand. He would go up to London, from whence he would write to me, and arrange for our marriage &c. But it was now nearly midnight, so stealing back to the house like a guilty thing, I retired to rest, but not to sleep, my happiness was too. great for slumbers, my heart beat so wildly that I fancied I should never be able to keep my Becret from Mrs Benson's watchful eyes. The next morning I felt exceedingly conscious as I heard Frank's departure discussed in kitchen and servant's hall, fdrTie'-was a general favorite,;-:and every- ■ one declared "it were a shame to drive him away." ' Continued in Fourth Page, . '*

Alweek,paßsed,~and-I had not heard from Frank. Sometimes my heart mis* gave me, and I reproached myself with being the means* of his estrangement from his home, but lore levelled all fears, and gare confidence to my timid heart. One morning, Mrs Benson called me to the housekeeper's room, and with anxious countenance exclaimed, " Lucy, you have been acquainted with Philip Ashcroft of late; hare you heard of the sudden intention of the family to sell out, and emigrate?" Of course I replied with the most sincere surprise, "No, indeed, I had not the slightest idea of such a thing." "Oh 1" replied Mrs Benson, " I thought perhaps you and Philip had quarrelled, and he had induced his father to accompany him, rather than go alone." Saying this the good woman gave me a searching glance, the tell-tale color rose, but otherwise I was eoabled to recover my self control, and guard our secret faithfully. CHAPTER 111. OUTWABD BOUND. Later in the day, I was sent down to Dingly Hollow to ask Mrs Ashcroft's company to tea with Mrs Benson in the housekeeper's room that afternoon, and then I learned from the girls the real state of affairs. Mr Ashcroft found himself totally unable to meet his liabilities, being oppressed on all hands by the losses he had sustained, Having a brother in New ..Zealand who was pretty well to do, he had written to him telling him all his „ difficulties. The worthy Wnikato settler had written back next mail, advising him to come out with his family to that fair land, where game laws would not oppress him, and where he might become a well-to-do settler, instead of a struggling, perhaps starring tenant farmer. In conseof this advise, Mr Ashcroft had decided to sell his stock -and household goods, throw up his farm and hasten away with his family while yet he had the means of doing so, His brother wrote again, advancing £IPO to enable him to come out so now no obstacle remained in their path, and they were preparing as speedily as possible to bid a long farewell to the land of their birth, not without regret, but certainly, with a good hope of better fortune awaiting them in the land of their adoption, To my surprise, I was summoned to join Mrs Benson in their tete-a-tete that afternoon, and soon I learned that my future had been greatly under discussion between the two ladies,, " Such an excellent chance of my joining my brother in Auckland might not occur again, and they considered it quite a Providence which had prevented me going out to him directly after my mother's death. So now it could be all settled satisfactorily, I could write to my brother, and inform him of my intention of accompanying the Ashcofts, and there . would be. no further anxiety about the matter." So ■ reasoned Mrs - Benson, while Mrs Ashcroft secretly rejoiced at the prospect of. my.being thrown.in Philip's company ..foJ several weeks, knowing his hapless love for my unworthy self, and knowing not of the happy secret, which even now, ~ { as they were talking of my future prospects, sent the crimson blush to my cheek and spread confusion over my whole countenance.' I hardly knew how to reply, but simply said, " I thought I would accept of Mrs Asbcroft's guardianship, but would ask a day to make up my mind." f Mrs Benson appeared rather displeased, and soon dismissed me to assist Emma, while I,' with throbbing brain, wondered when Frank would write, and how matters would be arranged. . That evening I received a letter, carefully disguised, which informed me that Frank had arranged his affairs, and would be ready to sail in a short time, but appointed no place of meeting as yet. promising soon to write again. Quickly I sought my own little room, and penned a few hurried lines in reply, telling Frank of the Ashcroft's meditated departure, and the plan formed for my accompany ing them, and asking' his advice. This I posted secretly, addressed to the friend with whom Frank was staying, and waited impatiently for an answer. In a few days, which seemed weeks to me, I received a loving little note, advising me to avail myself of the favorable opportunity offered me: and meet my beloved Frank in Auckland (as he purposed taking the. roverland-route), where-we could be married immediately, and commence our new life together. So I accepted Mrs Ashcroft's invitation, to the evident satisfaction of all my friends, and wrote out to my brother George, who was now on the Thames Goldfield, seeking precious spoil. The sale at Dingly Hollow, was over, and ontbe morrow I was to leave with the Ashcrofts,- and start for London, as the good ship Glenlora, in which our passages , were secured, would sail in a few days. ; In the short wintry twilight I had stolen out to visit for the last time the quiet Testing place of my beloved mother, in the village churchyard. .Sobbing, I knett beside her grave, on which the early snow- ~ drops were blooming, fit emblems of the purity of that soul which now rested from its labor.. This was all I, had to leave, this little hallowed spot, theonly farewell that would cost me a tear, in leaving my native land. As I knelt there in the gloaming, I almost felt her presence near me, and longed to unburden my heart of its secret, and ask her approval of the step I contemplated taking. But there was One who could hear the cry of His lonely child, as in her, perplexity and trouble she poured out her soul before Him, and when J[ rose from my knees' I was.; comforted by the assurance that all my ways were ordered by an all wise,'all powerful Protector and Guide, even by Him wbo.had hitherto been my helper, my mother's God. Stooping to gather Borne of the lovely little snowdrops, to cherish as a last memento of that sacred spot, I slowly tiirned away; and passed round by the old church, where the.shadows deepened, as the young moon, shone out feebly between the drifting clouds.. ' -. • ; ' ■, • As I turned the corner to approach the road, I heard a stifled; sob, and, -;look ing |

round hastily, Jb.eheld.PrankrT:jes, indeed, 1 I knew that-handsome figure too well to I be mistaken—leaning against a marble < monument,.which I knew to be the family tomb of the Lincoln's. Looking up at the sound of my footstep, he brushed^ away the tears which were no shame to his manhood, and advanced to meet me. "My darliug," he cried, "I was wondering how I should manage to meet you to-night, and here beside my mother's tomb, you come to me. It almost seems like asking her blessing on our union," he added, reverently uncovering his head. There was silence for a moment, and then Frank drew my arm in his, and led me to a sheltered spot, where we might be unobserved by any passer by. "Lucy," he said, "I think it will be much better, this arrangement of yours, and I do trust you may hare a pleasant voyage out. I shall count the till we meet again out there in that land which is to us, indeed, ' a land of, promise.' We will hope thnt this brief separation will only serve to endear us more to each other, Lucy. Tou see what confidence I place in you, dear; Ido not fear Philip Ashcroft winning my sweet bird from my heart. Why these tears ? Can't you trust me, Lucy? Here in this sacred place I give you my troth that I will be true to you while life shall last." . The earnestness of his words almost frightened me, but his loving caresses reassured me, as he slipped a lovely brilliant upon my finger, and called me " his own dear girl." . Then with a tender farewell we parted, he to steal a last farewell look at his old home in the silent moonlight, before leaving by the last up-train that night; and I to spend a sleepless night thinking of the weary days which mnst intervene before I should look upon his face again. Farewell to my village life, farewell toj the good housekeeper at the' Hall, farewell to wealthy, yet poverty-stricken, lordly, laboring, feasting, famishing Lon* don: that great city whose busy millions toil and strive to obtain the crumbs of existence, while their labor contributes the dainties under which the laden tables of the wealthy groan in goodly supply. Farewell to old England, ,whose white cliffs fade away in the distance, as a fair wind speeds the Glenlora down the Channel. # * * * (To he