A Wasted Love

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1161, 3 December 1904, Page 4

A Wasted Love

Author of" Leslie's Loyalty,"" El

CHAPTER I-Contimicil Presently he arrived in front of tho platform, onwhioh a wrestling bout was (nkiim place, and he stopped short, shouldered himself into a clear space, and looked on with a smiling interest. And at this moment Madge Loo wns drifted to his flido, and the low, clear voita, with its mechanical, almost dreamy appeal, roaeh-. d him. For a moment lie did not notico it, for lie was absorbed by tho performance cn tho platform, Two men were )m:d at work trying to throw each other, and though it was evident the bigger of tho two, ft tremondous Cornislunau, must throw his opponent, the young mm, who understood tho wholo bushier, wanted to Boe how ho would do it. But suddenly tho orowd made one of tho periodical rushes, and the girl was thrown against him. Ho looked down carclessiy, then seeing it was a woman ho put out one hand, and, as if ho wore contending with a feather pillow, Itopt back the man who \m crowding her, and with tho other drew her in front of him.

In doing so he held her a moment. Sho slipped from his grasp, and was passing on when he said:

"Not hurt, I hope? You want to tell my fortune, do you ? Well, I witnessed and exporionced overylhing else in the fair but that, so liore goes," and lie hold out his hand.

Sho stopped, reluctantly as it soemed, and misunderstanding her hesitation lie pulled out half-a-erown, " Bog pardon I Got to cross your hand, of course. I forgot I Come on! Now, mind, I shall only beliovo in tho good luck. No bad luck for me, thanks I" After another momentarily lireHation sh& took tho fingers of his oul-slrotehed hond crossed his palm, otid murmured something in so low a voice that ho bent his head almost to hers,

"What?" lie said. "There's such a row I can't hear," and with an action natural onough under tho circumstances, and far from any intentional oflcneo, he put his left hand on her shoulder artddrow fcor away from the crowd. Her ftico flamed, ber eyes Hashed, and she wrenched, slipped from his light grasp and flinging tho money at his feet, was moving away. Tho young man looked startled for a moment, then ho sleppod in front of her, as effectually barring her progress as if he were e. stono wall. " What's tho matterho said. " Did I hurt you? I only meant to save you from being troddon on. Come, don't lako offenco where 110110 was meant, and tell mo my fortune, tlioro s a good girl," and ho Btnilod.

Sho might have resisted h?a words and gone off, bnt tho auiilß ; was irresistible, ,l Give me your baud, and don't touch me, please," sho said in a breath. Something, ft sudden gentleness of appeaal in hor last wordn. attracted his attention, and ho just raised his hat before' held out his hand with the gesuiro ft gentleman would accord a iad.v. Tho firo dried out of the "ill's eyes, and with drooping head she' murmured hor prophecy hurriedly. He caught only a word hero and there, and his attention strayed back in a moment or two to the platform, and suddenly he shouted:

"No, no I Fair play!" Sho stopped and looked up at his face, half startled by tho stiddcincss of tho exclamation.

" Fair play 1" lie s:'.id, as if ho woro speaking to himself, Tho big man hid thrown his opponent once, and hud sei'.ed him for another bont, potting "hold," oi him, as it is called foully. Tliarn was a great deal of oxoiteiuont in tho crowd round tho platform and soYoral of tho spectator.-), hearing the young man's exhortation, joined in, and cries of" No, No !'• Fair play 1 Give him another hold I" roso from all sides," Tho wrestlers stopped, tho small man panting, tho big ono scowling down upon the upturned faces.

"What's the matter?" lie demanded sullenly, lumbering up tu the edge of the platform, " Who says I aim playing fair 'I If any of yon thinks he knows more about wrestling tban I do, he'd better step up here and teach mo,' 1 lie looked round tho crowd fiorcely, and his small eyes rested on tho young man's upturned race, "l'erhaps this »oung gentleman 'ull stop up and kindly give mo a lesson, Long Bill is alluns ready to learn," Tho young man smiled, and Long Bill, liko a bull enraged by a red cloth, scowled back at him. '• He don't seem to fancy it," he said, his huge mouth twisted into a sneer. " Liko.t shouting bettor, don't yor, sir'? Wei!, just mind yer own business, will yor?" Tho young man laughed, '• All right, keep your temper, mv man," he said. " All I want is fair play for Iho little ono, Go at it again, but givo him time to get hold." " Keep your orders for them as wants them," was the re'ort, " I don't wrestle with him again—nor nobody, como to that," and ho we'it for his coat. "Oh, go on, go on 1" shouted the crowd, regretting their chivdry. 11 t)o on 1" But ho shook his head, and was shuflling on his waistcoat when tho young man called out as silently as before: " Wait a moment 1 " I don't want to spoil sport, I'll havo a bout with you 1" and lie took oil his coat in a leisurely way. The girl had stood looking from ono to the other, silently, almost indifferently,

observant of all that was going on, but at this point an instantaneous change camo over her face, and almost unconsciously hor hand elapsed tho voting man's arm.

Ho looked down at tho hand as it lay, brown is a Hindoo s, hutsninli tiiul shapely, on tho white phirulcovo, nnd tlion at her face,

" Hullo!" ho said bnnteringly and with some surprise, for the face was full of fear and anxioty " Well ?" ho asked, "what's tho matter P"

Her lips quiyered, and all unconscious of tho admiration in his smiling eyes, sho said in a low voice:

"Don't go, Ho is strong and-and craol when he's liko this I Don't ro !" Ho laughed and patted tho small brown hand,

" It's nil tight," ho replied, " Don't you be nlraid; he won't hurt me." Slio said no more but drow hor band ftway awiMy mid stepped buck,

Having finished his peeling loisnroly, the crowd made ut lone for him, mid lie sprang upon tho plut'onn. i\s tho two mon faced each othor ft murmur of iuL miration rose from the crowd,

Thoy woro two fplondid specimens of humanity—ouo lingo, muscular u:i a bull, tho other slim, supple as a tiger, mid yet with tho firm, wiry muscles of tho Ininel athleto. Heside the tremendous bulk of the professional tho .young iuun looM ralhor spare and slight, iukl Long Bill eyed him up and down with what was meant for a siip rcilious si'ire. As (hey stood regarding rach other, Undo Mo limped up to tlin girl, whoso liirgf eyes, dihucd, were fixed on tho two. " Who's that ?" ho naked sharply, Tho girl, without removing her gnzn, shook hor head, and drow away from him. '!' ho eyes oi the two men suddenly grew sharp and intent; thev upproncbod each olher, shook hands, and die atrugslo began. In less than a minu'.o it was seen that tho young man who had dared tbo obampion

. . BY CHARLES GARVICE

laine," " A Woman's Soul," ka,

of tlio district knew tho rnlos of tho game, and that Long Bill had not got a "sofc« thing." Tliev gripped each other, swayed, pressed, and tugged, tho ruusclos standing out on their nr.ns like strained sleol. Gnu moment it seemed as if tho younger iinn's buck must bo broken; tho noxii lie hal rec'JYorod himself and was boiidinj; lii'j antagonist almost double. Then suddenly the young man was aeon tu r ".isa his showier and move his leg. nnd tho huge form of Lojir Bill went down upon tho piatl'orm with ut forco :hat shook every plank. AlO u 1 of astonishment and applause rose from llit! crowd, Long Bill {jot up and looked round with an air of surprise which provoked a louJ burst of applause from tho spectators. I' seemed to maddull liini nnd he amlo a kind of rush at his opponent, but tho young man utoppod nsido and cauiiht his arm.

Hold on I' ho said good-humouredly. " (ict your breath, man, you've been at it before and I'm fresh, Here—" he turned to tho crowd," givo him a "lass of beer," Two or three stone bottles wore held up, he took one mid tossed it to tho Riant.

'■Take a goad drink," ho said. Long Bill seemed for a momont us if he were going to refuse, then ho took ft draught, flung the empty bottlo ;on ono side, and stepped into position. '■ lie,uly ?'■ said the young man oheerfully. long Bill set his teeth and gnyo an ugly smile,

" It's my turn now," ho said between his teeth.

" All right," responded tho young follow, pleasantly, and they gripped hard (again.

Long Bill went to woik mora caretuliy this time, and it looked us if ho meant to ciush the liio out of his too and throw him afterwards, But the young man kopt his ground, though his face grew palo and he breathed haul. Onco his toot slipped slightly, and a kind of gasp roso from the crowd, breathless with exoitcmont, but bo recovered himself instantly and stood as before, firm as a rock. "Bill's got him now," said a voice; tho young girl heard it, and n shudder ran through her, and she looked aside, but, as if fascinated, her eyos-returncd tu the combatants, nnd she watched with heaving bosom and tightly clinched clinched hands.

It looked as if tho day must bo with tho giant, as if it wcro impossible that tho young man could hold out much longor; but presently tho moro knowing ones of his spectators saw that bo wos saving himself, and waiting for tho critical mcmout in which to exert his reserve force.

It came, as all such liiomonts come, and with a sudden gathering of his muscles, a swift movement of his wholo body as it seemed, ho raised tho giantusing his own krmoas tho lever—and literally Hung him to tho ground' A yell of delight rewarded the exploit, and cries of "Bravo, sir I" "Hurrah, young 'tin I" cumo from all sides,

Lung Jiill lay still This young man waited for n second then went and bent over tho (,igantic form stretched out as motionless as a stone li»uro cast from its pedestal,

"flasl killed 'um hid ?' croaked out an old man,

Tho young man shook his bond. "No, ho has only fainted, Give mo some water,"

He was all gentleness now as he bathed tho low forehead of his fallon foe,

" He's all right, Stand back and givo him air 1" ho said, Long Hill roso to nis foot, dazed and staggering, thou whon ho could see distinctly enough to recogniso bis opponent he lurched forward with a savago ontlr

Tho young man caught his arms, l: No, no,' 1 ho said. " Enough's as good as a feast. Don't be greedy! bomo other day 1 Keep your temper, man. Here, shako hands," and ho held out a strong, but woll-formed limd,

But Long Bill had lost his temper beyond retrieval, and would have struck tho hand aside if it had not been quickly withdrawn,

" Shame, shamo 1" shouted tho crowd. " Oh, nevermind," said tho young nun. '/He is'nt finite himself yot, and doesn't moan it," and with a laugh n ad a plonsant nod he leaped from tho platform. Ho was surrounded instantly by an admiring throng oager to shako hands with, and, if possible, touch tho yonngster who, though a gentleman had managed to" down " the champion.

(To k continual.)