A STORY OF THE EARLY DAYS OF Tom Hungerford: THE OTAGO GOLDFIELDS. By William Baldwin.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 255, 19 December 1872, Page 9

A STORY OF THE EARLY DAYS OF Tom Hungerford: THE OTAGO GOLDFIELDS. By William Baldwin.

Ceaftkr XV. — Nelly Fitzherbebt accepts a Present. On that very self same evening that fids gang of miscreants sat together discussing Tom Hungerford's death, doing so in the words and manner just narrated, Tom himself was busily occupied in the discussion of a matter of an entirely different nature. He and his friend Fitzherbert were sitting together in Tom's room, discussing the contents of an open letter that lay on the table -*a letter Henry had received a few hours before, from his sister, Bertha. After visiting that station of O'Neil and Nicholson's, Colonel Fitzherbert bad, ' upon his return to town, called upon tbeir agents, Dutton and Rooke, and after sundry interviews with these gentlemen, Mr. Rooke, the managing partner of the firm, had closed with the Colonel's offer, and the Colonel and his family were now on their way upcountry to reside on this new place for the present, at all events. Bertha's letter announced this fact, and the two young men were taking counsel together as to their arrangements. "We shall sleep at Tokomairiro on Tuesday night," wrote Bertha, "and expect to be with you on Wednesday evening. Of course, it is not to be expected you can manage to accommodate us all ; but if you can possibly arraDge it as to give Nelly, Rebecca, and my_jelf any kind of sleeping accommodation, papa says he and the boys can put up at one of the hotels." "Of course your sisters will take my place, Fitzherbert," said Tom. "And, I have no doubt, we can persuade Mra. Honeyman to stow the servant away somewhere." Mrs. Honeyman, it may be observed, was a policeman's wife who waited upon Tom and Heary. " You can give up your own bed to your father," continued Tom, " and as for the rest of us, why we

must just manage as best we can." " But it's a great shame turning you out of your quarters." "Nonsense, man. You know well enough I am only too glad to do any thing I can for any of your people.

And, by George, it isn't every day we bave lady visitors. Perhaps though," he added, after a short pause, "I had tetter see Mrs. Honeyman about the matter, before she turns in. She might turn crusty if she were not told of the matter to-night." " Well, sir," said Mrs. Honeyraan, when she came fully to understand what was required of her, "if the ladies ain't particular, and don't mind taking things as they find 'em, I'll do the best I can to make 'em comfortable." "Thank you, Mrs. Honeyman; I'lU leave the matter entirely in your hands," said Tom, and then he returned to his companion, glad in his inmost heart at having thus easily secured the co-operation of such a useful ally as was Mrs. Honeyman — a cooperation that he knew from bitter experience was not at all times to be secured thus easily, was sometimes, indeed, not to be secured at all on any terms. Then after his return, they spoke together a few words as to what tbey had best have for dinner, making a {note of sush Jittle delicacies as it would

be advisable to order on the morrow, and then Henry Fifczherbert wished his companion good night, and took his departure. Tom Hungerford sat up some time after. For the first half hour he gave himself up to the writing of some official letters, which behoved him to write that evening, and after the letters had been written, he sat there for some time thinking. His mind was busy with thoughts of this visit of the morrow. He thought of his first introduction to this family, and bf that pleasant evening he had first spent with them ; an evening that had been present with him on many an occasion since then. It was the very evening that the subject of this run had been first mooted. How well be remembered it. How well he remembered the walk borne tbat evening, and the pleasant nature of his thoughts as he went along, dwelling on the good things in store for him, if only it should ever come to pass that he might be fortunate enoughs to .get. as his neighbors such a family as this one was. Well, here now were things come to pass just as he bad wished — here was this family about to settle down next him upcountry as neighbors ; but now that tbey were about to do so, of what Avail was it to him a« regards these good things he had promised himself? What pleasure could he possibly derive from the neighborship, seeing! tbat .here he was, settled down as a fixture at Waitahuna, and that a fixture he was likely to remain for some- time to come ? And Helen Fitzberbert, with her pleasant ways and her bright, merry, laughing face — poor girl! — how lonely she would feel, she and her Bister, buried up there on tbat station, without one single soul in the world to speak to. Well, it would be very pleasant to meet them all again ; pleasant to have them as his guests, and offer them such little attention Add hospitality as lay in his power. It was not much certainly be could crier them in the way of hospitality,

but they would understand that — understand that he offered them of the best he had, and did so from the fulness of his heart. Yes j he would certainly use such efforts as in him lay to give them a hearty and a cordial welcome. He would do that, and he could do no more. Nelly indeed would, by her merry lightheartedness, do much to make things go off well. What a fund of good spirits the girl possessed to be. sure, and how bright and sunny sheidways looked. He had never before^ his life, he thought, met such another pleasant, loveable girl. Thought! nay, he felt quite certain be never had — felt equally certain he had never met a girl he liked half so welt And she was a good girl, a good^ionest, genuine girl, who would give aj charm to some home bye and bye, a%d make some man's life happy. Ah ! thrice happy indeed the man who was fortuate enough to woo and win her for his wife. He wished to heavens such happiness as that might, by any possibility, fall in his way ; but tbeis was not the most remote possibility^ that anything of the kind could happen. What had he to do with wooing and winning ? Ten years hence itfwould be time enough for him to think seriously of such things. But if it ' ever should come in his way to think "seridusly of things of the kind, he should certainly like that the girl of bis choice might in all res peels prove herself just such another girl as was Nelly Fitzherbert. Tes ; she certainly was a prize worth the striving for ; and, if he were only in a position to do so, he would strive for it as far as in him lay. , Strive for it heart and soul, and might and main. No striving of the kind, however, must, under existing circum- , stances, be thought of by him, so he told himself, and told himself in a way that put the matter beyond the shadow of a doubt. And in so telling himself he was thoroughly sincere, never for a moment calling in question his ability to carry out his intentions. But Nelly Pitzherbert bad, in truth come to occupy a larger portion of his mind and heart than he himself was aware of.

He admitted to himself, as we have seen, that the man who was fortunate enough to win this girl as his wife would have bestowed upon him a large measure of happiness, threefold larger than falls to the lot of most men. Now when a young man mstkes such an admission as this to himself, the chances are, I think, that he who makes it will strive that the happiness shall pass into no other hands than his own. Tom Hungerford, indeed, would have it ap pear that his was entirely an exceptional case, but other men, besides Tom Hungerford, tell themselves the same thing every day in the year, using words full of cogent reason and wordly wisdom in the telling. But what, I should like to know, has reason or wisdom to do with it ? .Reason, wisdom,^- indeed !—-Jkr! — -Jkr bright glance, a pretty girl, a soft pressure of the hand, and pshaan "a fico" for all your reason and your wisdom.

The Fitzherberts arrived late on the afternoon of the following day. Both the ladies looked tired, especially Bertha, who was far from strong, and suffered from the effects of the journey much more than did her sister. So wheu tea was over, they betook themselves to their beds. "We shall have to make an early start of it in the morning, remember," said the Colonel, as he wished them g<sod night. " Surely you're not going to start tomorrow," put in Tom.

" You are very kind, Hungerford ; but we could not think of taking up your quarters longer than tonight. We have given you trouble enough as it is already."

" Indeed, you have done nothing of the kind, and I trust you won't think so for a moment," answered Tom, earnestly. lam sure the rest will do the ladies good, and if they can put up with the poor accommodation they find here, I can only say they are heartily welcome to it as long as they like to use it."

" What do you say, ray dear ? " asked the Colonel, of Bertha.

""Well, papa, do you know, if it would not very much inconvenience Mr. Hungerford, I should really like the rest to-morrow." And then it was agreed that the party should remain where they were the following day. This was on the Wednesday. On the Thursday, after lunch, they all went ou* to have a look at the township and the workings. Bertha had declined to accompany them, giving as her reasou for not doing so, that she still suffered from the effects of the fatigue of the previous day. The two >oung lads, Q-eovge and Prank, were away with Tim Dwjov. Nelly, the Colontdj Henry, and Tom consequently constituted the party. The father and son kept together, and the charge of Nelly fell specially to Tom's lot, I need scarcely say much to his satisfaction. I am afraid, though, he abused the opportunity. In getting her safely across the workings, it certainly was necessary for him to take her hand in his frequently, but I am afraid he took it much more frequently than was necessary, holdiug it longer and more warmly, perhaps, than the occasion required. As they passed along, the men rested on their long-handled shovels, throwing admiring glances after her, and whenever they stopped at any of the claims to waten the working, she bad pressed upon her