NO WOMAN'S LAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1938, Page 10

NO WOMAN'S LAND

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT COPYRIGH'

BY

JANE ENGLAND

CHAPTER XIII. It was really a very simple story that Wentworth told there in the moonlight. Only its simplicity, its amazing simplicity, struck Dolly as being frightening. Her mind saw it all plainly. Saw old Howard and his brother, •both young men working on the farm, saw Nella’s mother, very young, with corncoloured hair and a delicate, wistful face; saw all their hopes and fears and ambitions in the long, hot days. And then saw very plainly the younger. Howard growing restless, resenting his brother’s happiness, resenting his possession of a wife; going away occasionally, going down to Johannesburg, and in Johannesburg meeting Charlotte Engleburg. Charlotte, who was tall and sturdy, blue-eyed and loud-voiced, with a ringing laugh. Who but a Howard would have brought Charlotte Engleburg to that solitary farm? Who but a, Howard, temperamental, idealistic? And inept. Without much judgment. All those adjectives crowded into your mind when you though! about Young Howard bringing Charlotte Engleburg across the empty sunlit veld in an ox-wagon, imagining that she would be happy in that hot solitude; forgetting that Nella’s mother, small and delicate and narrow-minded would despise Charlotte, would shudder at the idea of a barmaid, even if that barmaid happened to be hopes 4 and kind. But Charlotte was alsc blowsy and bouncing. And it wasn’t hard to imagine how Charlotte loathed it so much that she went to Young Howard, with tears in her large, stupid blue eyes, and told him that she couldn’t stand it, must get away, couldn’t marry him. And Young Howard, temperamental as ever, sick with disappointment listened to her; and then went and harnessed the mules and started to drive her away. In those days there wasn’t a railway siding. He had to drive her a long way; and they drove silently through the heat to Bloots Mine. And even then Bloots was not working. The gallows-like superstructure stood above the pits, and the river gurgled mockingly underground, chuckling, it seemed, at the futile efforts of mere man. ■He pulled up the mule cart. “We’ll eat here,” he said. Or at least that was how it seemed, because the picnic basket had been found lying on the ground. And it must have been very quiet. Only the sound of. the river could have broken the silence. And the posts above the shafts were black and blistered in the sunlight. He must have had a brainstorm, must have seen himself going for ever and ever without her, and so grabbed her and threw her down the gaping shaft .... and threw himself down after her. Dolly shivered, and stood up. The moonlight poured down on the field like a silver cataract, and the air was as cold as the moonlight itself. “It’s a horrible story,” she said. “But I don’t see why it should have affected Nella.” Wentworth drew an elaborate pattern on the shifting sand with the toe of his highly polished boot. “Well, Nella’s mother died of shock. She was delicate, foolish young thing. Nella was born one morning, and her mother died that evening. And the father was never quite normal again.” He added pensively “But—old events cast a long shaadow. There was a young brother of the Engleburg woman. About fifteen he must have been at the time —about thirty-five or six now. He was a brainy sort of boy—surprising when you consider his sister and his family, she was a barmaid and his mother and father nothing, just poor whites. But this boy was brainy and intense, and Charlotte had adored him and done everything for him, even paid for his education. “In fact, I should imagine that the only reason she ever thought of ,marrying Young Howard was that he gave her the idea that he had more money that was actually the case, and that she would be able to help Cedric, her brother, still more. She had a pathetic belief in the value of education. “Well, when the tragedy happened, the boy nearly went out of his mind. He made threats, he raved, he swore that sooner or later he would be revenged on the whole tribe of Howards. “Then he had a breakdown, and faded out, went off somewhere. No record as to where he did go. Naturally. Nobody was interested, nobody really took much notice of his threats. Boys often make dramatic threats and then forget ’em. But the point is. Mrs Hastings, did this boy forget after all? And if he didn’t, where has he been all these years, and where is he now?” Dolly was silent for a minute. Then she said thoughtfully, “So you seriously think that this boy might have had something to do with all this?” Wentworth pulled his nose gloomily. “He might, and if he did, Mrs Hastings, then it means that he’s not quite sane. And that he’s still brainy, because there’s no talk about a strange white man round here, at least, only the merest thread of gossip in the kraals.” “It sounds rather fantastic,” said Dolly, and began to stroll back to the house. “I mean —well, slightly delirious. Is it your idea that we ought to keep Nella Howard with us? Or wouldn’t it be better if you got her somewhere into a town? Or have you just been indulging in a little moon madness?” Wentworth shrugged. “I haven’t any ideas at all,” he said. “I’m staying round until I get some sort of idea about the business. And I’d feel happier if I thought Miss Howard was with you. But I suppose you won’t be here long, will you?” Dolly made a grimace. “Heaven knows. It depends on whether we get the mine working or not. ” Then she shivered. “But I shan’t say a minute longer than I can help, nor after that story of yours.”

(Author of “Sjambok,” “Trader’s License,” &c.)

As they got back to the homestead, Wentworth saw that Archie Fellowes was just about to ride back to his own place, and saw that Brown was gazing at him with a bright, impertinent eye. There was no sign of Nella Howard. Archie’s horse stamped and shuffled. “Good-bye Mrs Hastings, and many thanks,” said Archie. I shall be at my own place, Wentworth, if you want me at any time.” x “I don’t want to see you,” said Wentworth, “I want to see a number of people, but at the moment you are not one of them.” Archie grinned youthfully. “Well, call on me unofficially,” he suggested. Wentworth looked non-committal. He was in the habit of doing very much what he liked; but Fellowes was not out of the wood yet, and social calls by the police were not encouraged. “Well, so long,” said Archie, touched his horse with his heels, and cantered away. Dolly went into the house and poured herself a drink. There was no sign of Nella, so she concluded that the girl had gone to bed. She stood by the table sipping her drink, and staring glumly under lowered brows across the room. The story she had just heard had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. She wished she could pack up and go, and leave the wretched mine with its gold to rot. But it was crazy to do that. Impossible and stupid, after all the money they had spent, and all the time. Not fair to David, anyway. He’d never been so very keen on coming out; so it was out of the question now to say, “Let’s leave it all.” She could hear Wentworth and David talking outside, and wondered vaguely where the funny little trooper had gone. She glanced over at the door of Nella’s room, and considered whether she ought to go in and see the girl. The verandah doors had been opened and flying beetles zoomed round the lamp and blundered against the walls, their hard wing-cases making little metallic thuds. One flew into her face, and hurt her. She gave a faint cry, and put her hand up to her cheek. Everything seemed suddenly horrible and hopeless. She was frighteningly aware of the silent mine, of those gaunt gallows in the moonlight, of the dark river that crept underground like a serpent. Her thoughts were growing wilder and more distraught; she thought that she must look a little crazed. But when Wentworth and her husband came in, they did not seem to notice anything, and she heard herself saying lightly “Better see if there’s anything left to drink.” “Plenty,” said David placidly. She looked at him incredulously. It seemed impossible that David, who her, should be unaware that she was a knew her so well, who was so close to little mad, and that she was horribly frightened. He filled his glass and smiled at her, and she saw that he was simply feeling pleased, that he thought the evening had been a success. * * Sjt $ “Where have those two policemen gone?” said Dolly when she was in bed. David looked ovei’ his shoulder at her. “Camping down by the river,” he said. “They’re going off at sun-up.” “Have you thought about the Howard girl?” said Dolly. “Doesn’t bear thinking about,” he answered. “That blighter Wentworth is a cunning brute. He's practically turned us into an orphanage. He pulls his nose and looks gloomy and portentous, and then you agree that the girl had better stay here until things are settled, and then when he’s gone you realize that things won’t be settled for months in all probability. All the time I was talking to him I was under the impression that I was being very clever, using his brains, as it were. It’s only now that I realize that I was the sucker.” “I’m glad,” said Dolly malevolently, “that you do at least realize that. He told me a horrible story. Yes . . now you merition it, he did make a sucker cut of me. He knew quite well that if he did tell me that story I should feel obliged to look after the Howard girl. You’re right, David. He knew just what sort of idiots we are.” Suddenly she began to cry. David stared at her through the darkness with incredulity. He hadn’t seen her cry for years.

“Dolly,” he said, “Dolly, my poor sweet idiot! Stop at once. ‘l’ll take you home tomorrow. You shan’t be put upon, darling. And the mine can go to blazes. We’ll go back home. And I’ll get another job, and we’ll find a flat, and we’ll catch lovely fat omnibuses, and ride home late at night down the King's Road. We’ll be broke, but we don’t care. We’ll clear out. Darling, not for one moment shall anyone make you cry.” “First thing tomorrow?” she gulped. “Promise?” “Promise,” he said grimly.

“Wentworth can look after Nella,” she gulped. “He certainly can.” Dolly gave a forlorn and broken chuckle. “Won't he be mad,” she murmured. “Somewhat mad,” said David thoughtfully. (To be Continued).