FOOTPRINTS; OR, STOLEN AWAY.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4634, 10 November 1883, Page 1

FOOTPRINTS; OR, STOLEN AWAY.

[An Original Stoby..]

CHAPTER X.— (Continued).

THE COTTAGE BY THE HILL.

Very few, though very sincere, were the words with which Inez replied to the glad look of grateful happiness that shone from the almost eager eyes of Balph as she approached his couch. But they stirred his heart with a strange sense of delight, and as she moved, about so gracefully, yet with such tender solicitude-' for his comfort, he wondered what could be the meaning of bis own feelings of intense pleasuve, and lay quietly questioning himself regarding them, as of some entirely new interest and object of attraction. ' But now the door opens softly, and, little Queenie enters, looksntfith eager an--licipations towards liis couchi and with one glad spring places herself beside him, while she seizes his thin hands and coters them with fon^l kisses.

: ••. Oh Balph, dear Ealph !" crieg the child, "you really are better at last; I -a-m-ao-^tath — it-4ir^ro-gOo^-to-tAT«^youJljffe to tea." .■.•■. . : '..-•-

"Hush, darling," said the Countess, " you must remember he is still an in> ralid."

V Yea, indeed, I wilL be very quiet, Grandmamma," replied the child, seating herself demurely beside Ralph's couch, " and then perhaps he can stay up for the evening.". , •'. -/,.'. /'.;" 7/- . ;'. --.';■

.Ralph placed his left arm round hig little friend, and drawing her sweet face close to bis kissed her fondly. Then with a heart too full for words he lay quiet for a while, accepting all the loving attentions Queenie lavished upon him, and delighting the heart of the Countess; by " really enjoying " his tea. And while the happy group are thai, engaged, we will indulge in a brief retrospection, and learn the facts to wbickthis pleasant picture is but the sequel. - When the hapless Sea Queen had perished with her precious freight of living souls it had happened, it was said, hut rather let us attribute all such merciful preservations to an overruling Providence, that Ealph Egerton and the little child had clung together to a broken spar, and by almost a miracle bad escaped being submerged in the whirlpool caused by the sinking of the unfortunate vessel. By another strange Providence it so happened that Ealph had secured a life-buoy, and being also an excellent swimmer, was enabled to support himself and the child for some time. As they were borne along by the still storm-tossed angry waves Ralph, by an almost superhuman effort, grasp* d another spar that floated towards them, and by the means of some ropes that still hung to it, managed to lash the two together. These formed but a frail raft indeed/ but by the aid of the life* buoy he was enabled to keep up, while he I: placed the almost fainting child upon it, and to his delight became conscious that it I would bear her fragile form. His strength was fast failiog when yet another piece of the wreck drifted towards him, which he secured, and with great difficulty fastened so as to form a more reliable raft. His little flask of brandy, and some biscuits in a small bag at his belt were ail that stood between tbem and starvation, yet, by ..the greatest possible care, he fanned the feeble flame of life, and the child was preserved. Night came on, and the sense of loneli* ness and desolation was great indeed, and if it had not been for the' child, Ralph would scarcely have troubled to maintain, his existence; but for the sake.of this precious trust that had been given him he must strain every nerve, and hope and pray that He whose footsteps are on the great waters would not forsake them now. Morning dawned, the sea was so calm, the sun so bright, the horizon so clear, that scarcely could he realise that but yesterday that sea had been the grave of over three hundred souls. What was that little, black.speck that rose upon the white crest of the, waves ? Oh, the burning thirst that assailed those two on that fragile raft! The child moaned as she slept the sleep of utter exhaustion, and Ralph dreaded the waking of that patient gentle sufferer. That little speck comes nearer; he must try to secure it, but how P He must not

Dfor»baitnsc thsir frail fofuae, iest he - twtotfet the lifi^-ilirihtfrwwiwrr'"* Oh, jo^ ; ,itf ;J 9fiineߣpearerJ it conies -_n«arer-f-it-«-within bis eager-grasp, that precious, preciout kittle cask of pure, fresh watery £;-•'*" Did ever miser clutch his gold as Ralph grasped that treasure P 'Twas life, 'twas dear sweet life for that day at any rate, and perhaps some sail might approach ere another night should spread its gloomy pall above them. Queenie awoke, and as he held to her lips the draught of cool, refreshing water she revived, and smiled upon her protector with lovely childish confidence. ' That day passed, no welcome sail appeared, food and water were alike exhausted, and we have seen how? near to despair was poor Halph ere the little raft was floated to the lonely island, whose delicious fruits were the means of reviving exhausted nature.

We have seen too that when the Countess heard of the sailing of the Troupe with which Queenie was connected, she decided to follow forthwith. The Ida May had been detained for some time by adverse winds, and through some accident or misadventure had become short of water.

la great distress the crew and captain were on the look out for' any available assistance, when early one morning there was a glad cry raised, and "Land ahead " i echoed from stem to stern of the distressed ■hip. It was but a small island, bat surely there would be water there, and gladly the men launched the boats that were to convey them to the island. " Ahoy! " cried the captain as he stood in the stern of the boat, "is not that a flagstaff I see, and surely—yes, surely—a faint. smoke on the top of yonder hill; pull away boys, there must surely be someone in distress on that lonely spot." The brave, true hearted sailors pulled with a will, and soon the boat touched the shore, and they sprang out upon the ■and. ;

" Aye, aye, Captain, look here," cried ibe mate, pointing to the sandy beach, • " these, are the ' footprints' of a child, * and quite fresh too." ; Almost forgetting, in their eagerness, the teal cause of their visit to the island, the men followed those " footprints " till they came to a rode hat, Where stretched on a bed of leaves lay Balph Egerton, while beside him Bat the little girl weeping piteously, as she bathed his burning brow with the cool water she held in an empty cocoanut shell. 14 Hash, hush ! " said Captain Thorn, instinctively uncovering his head, as the tones of earnest prayer fell upon his ear. "Just listen to that now, and say is there no truth in religion." ' All unconscious of observation, Queenie bent over her buffering friend and pleaded that " God would send help, that he who had saved her from the storm and the wreck might might not be left here alone to die; that God would hear and. answer, because He had promised, because he had said 'I will.deliver thee, I will help thee,' and for Christ's sake—Amen."

The sweet voice ceased its tender pleading, and the men, more than one of whom robbed their coat sleeves convulsively across their eyes, made a slight noise ' which attracted the child's attention, and with a great cry of gladness she sprang " np, exclaiming, " God did hear; He has sent help; Oh, Ralph!" and then fell into Captain Thorn's outstretched arms in a deathly swoon. He lifted the light form , so tenderly in his strong arms, and gently fas.a woman he carried her out into the fresh morning air, while the men raised the suffering, almost unconscious Ralph, and bore him gently towards the boat. They were soon on .board the Ida May, when the good surgeon exerted every effort ta restore them.' Then it was that the Countess and Inez had. again recognised their lost treasure, and having told . their story, and listened to little Queenie's account of herself and her trials, friends,

. and wonderful preservation, had clasped her joyfully to their hearts, nevermore to be separated on earth. Simply and earnestly the child told how - Balph had saved her from the wreck, how ' they had lived on the island for several weeks, sustained by the fruit that grew there in rich abundance. How he had , built, the hut, erected the flagstaff, and kept his beacon fire constantly .burning, until one night he had been seized with ibis sudden illness, which, bat for the intervention of Providence, would nave certainly proved fatal. . What then would have been the fate of the little Wood Nymph Queen, the Countess shuddered to think, and turned her attention directly to the noble fellow whoße life now hung in the balance. ' -

,- Having obtained full supplies of water, the Ida May soon left the lonely little island behind her, and as the Countess

watc: ed ils receding shores, they realised an almost sacred awe for the Providential circumstances that had occasioned the visit of the captain to that lonely spot.

Very, very lingering was the illness thatfollowed the-rescue, of poor Ralph, and even after they reached Melbourne, he did not seem to rally, but rather to sink gradually day by day, as though the reaction were far too great for his feeble frame to endure.

Little Queenie had almost recovered ber health,, but her grief for Salph was so excessive that the Countess felt she would never rally if she were to lose this precious friend.

Physicians advised removal from the

exhilarating climate of Australia to the more temperate one of New Zealand, 10 with every possible regard for the comfort of. the beloved invalid, they had taken the short voyage to Auckland, where they had ultimately settled as a family in '.' the cottage by the mill."

Here, very, very slowly, the health and rigor bo much desired, returned to Ralph's exhausted frame, and the bloom to the cheek of the little Wood Nymph Queen.

Bat it had been a very anxious time for the Countess, whose affection for Ralph almost equalled that of the child. Queenie's - life appeared literally "wrapped up" in that of her beloved

protector, of whose heroic rescue from (he wreck and tender derotion on the raft she never wearied of telling again and again. And bow, after nearly three months' residence in Auckland, he was able to rise from his bed, and walk with assistance into the pleasant parlor, where loving hands ministered to his comfort, and grateful hearts anticipated his every desire. His right hand and arm still remained helpless, but the doctors, spoke hopefully eren of this, and a new life seemed dawning upon .Ralph, as with thankful joy he looked,back upon the past and realised that though " he had been led by a way which he knew not," there would* yet remain fbe " footprints " of Bpbje purpose »nd high. resolre, tbe ««'

deaces tbat^asfat as it had beea gifen

CHAPTEE XI. QTJEENIE's ENGLISH LEITfcB.

Directly on their arrival in Melbourne the Countess had written two letters to England, one to the Lady Teresa, informing her of the realisations of ber fondest hopes, and the other to Egbert St. Aubyn, telling him the glad tidings of his young kinsman's safety.. \ On their removal to Auckland, she had written again, but as yet no answer had been received, and they were anxiously awaiting the arrival of every mail. But this evening, as they gathered round his couch after the tea-things had been removed, Ralph fancied there was a strange- eagerness in the voice of little Queenie, as sitting close beside him, holding his hand, she fondly enquired " if he were very tired ? " "No, little onrf," replied Balph, " I am most delightfully rested; no one allows me to be weary now, and. I have been wonderfully free from pain to-day." " What a pleasure to hear you say so," exclaimed the Countess, " dear boy, we hope soon to have you about again,* when we shall ail do our utmost to tire you. Really, Ralph," she added, " the scenery here is delightful; you must take us out, you know, and enjoy with us the beauties of our new country." A grave look rested upon his face for a moment, as be answered slowly "Is that all I shall have to weary me, Countess? Methought this new country held a nobler destiny, a higher work, than mere idle admiration of its charms. I wonder what will be given me todo ;?r"

" Oh, you shall have a mission, if that's what you are thinking of, never fear, but you must get strong first; don't talk of working just yet," replied the lady, with a look of thankful love in her eyes, as she stooped to kiss his fair broad brow, adding, " a mother's privilege, Balph; I claim you as my son now, for Queenie's sake. But we hare little piece of news for you tonight, if you will promise to be very good, and—•

His eye brightened, and the color rose to his pale features as he said eagerly, " Is the mail in ; is there a letter from Egbert?" " Now you must be patient, dear," replied the Countess. " Yes, the mail is in, and, Inez to 0k,,, Queenie put t0,.. the Post Office this afternoon, but as yet there are no letters from Lancashire. Let us consider the many changes and chances there are, dear boy, and -wait patiently a little longer; but," she continued, as his eyes fell, " there are two letters, one for me and one for Queenie, which she will gladly enough read to you, and if it gives you only half the pleasure it has afforded us, I shall indeed be delighted. Now Queenie, pet, for your big secret P " The happy child came closer to the hand that caressed her so fondly, and kneeling beside the Countess, drew a letter from her pocket, which, with one glad eager look at Ralph, she read distinctly through. It ran as follows :— " Dear Little Queenie,— " Can I ever tell you how delighted, how very thankful I was to hear of your safety. I know you, and have seen you, little one, though you do not know me, and I am so happy that you are re* stored to your loving friends, so thankful to the brave noble man who rescued you from the wreck, that I beg of you to accept my love and sympathy, and to express to that most good, most true Kalph Egerton how highly we all appreciate his noble services. And as a token—just a very slight remembrance of this—l further beg that he will accept tbe small present here enclosed from one who always will remember with pleasure the little Wood Nymph Queen. —I am, " Tours very truly, 11 Tebesa Egmontine." ( To be Continued.)