A Wasted Love

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1166, 9 December 1904, Page 4

A Wasted Love

Author of" Leslie's Loyalty,"" El

OHAFEERIV,

In an instant he took in tho situation, He had been followed by these two men, who meant to rob him, Ho had no rnoro than that instant of time in which to think for blows from a heavy stick rained down upon his head and shoulders, He put up

his arm above his head to shield it, then bent down almost to the earth, and sprang upon the giant, crying: " Give mo fair play, if yon are men I One at a time I" Long Bill, staggered by the sudden attack, lost his footing and went dowu, and Koyco kneeling on his chest wrenched tho stick away, and dealt the other ruffian a a blow : but tbo effort released tho pros* irate giant, and ho got to his feet and seized Royce, uttering fearful imprecations. All Boyoe'a weariness had fled, and he grappled with his assailant with all tho strength he could command, The wrest-

ling bout on the platform was ohild'j play, compared with this struggle, and tho I giant grOaned and panted under Royce's

steel-like grip, But, alas I it was' two to one, and tho Becond man, recovering from his blow just as Royce felt his foo yielding, crept up behind him. Something glittered dully in the starlight, and Royce foltashaip pain ahoot through his sido, It nerved him to make one more effort, and Long Bill fell backwards. Royce disengaged himself and turned quickly upon the gypsy. '• You infernal coward, you have stabbed mo 1" and he flung himself upon him, The man raised the knife again, and

struck wildly at Royce.who flung him down and tnrned to meot Long Bill's headlong charge at him: but suddenly tho sky seemed to reel, and the earth to rock, and before tho giant could strike him ho fell forward on his face. Tho two men stood over him, panting and tugging at their swollen tbron's, Long Bill kicked lvm savagely, then knelt down and dragged out his watch and chain, In doing so ho started and drew back with an oath, and looked at his hand, " I know—l knifed him I" said the gypsy in a low voice, " We've dono for him 1" said Long Bill in a husky whisper. " He's—he's dead as a herring," and he looked over his shoulder fearfully, Tho gypsy knelt down and put his hand over Royce's heart, " Not he I At any rate not yet, Anyhow, you have had your revenge m<it», eh 1 And if I hadn't given him an inch or two of steel, I reckon he'd hive doue for one or both of us. 1 never saw suoh fight in a young un I" Lpng Bill shook his head. "As strong as a lion," he muttered, " and as gamß.", The gypsy lookod down at the white, lifeless faco. " W»ll," he said, philosophically, " it's no use crying over spilt milk. Bosidos, it was his own fault. What did ho want to try and best of us; twoagenono? Here, look sharp! We'd better make ourselves scarce, for there'll bo trouble ovor this business," Silently and|rapidly thoy ernptid Royeo's pockets, tho gypsy viewing tho smnllness of the plunder with disgust. " Only this- and him a geniieman 1" he exclaimed with an oarth, " What's this ! 'ere—a lockot ?"

Long Bill snatched it out of his hand. "Pat that back—it's worth noxt to nothing—and tho watch and chain, and a shilling or two. It'll put 'cm off the eoent, Do you hear?" he added savagely, as the gypsy hesitated. "li's the bast part of tbe swag!' 1 he grumbled, II Yes, and it'll hang us if he don't pull round. Don't argify. There's no timo; some one may come np. Why, look there —1" And ho ducked down as he pointed behind him. The gypsy looked, A girlish figure stood against tho dark bluo sky, " It's Madge I" ho muttered. "Keep, on your hands and knees, and crawl till you get to them bushes. You're right about tho, things! 1,11 put 'em back," Ho put tho watch and chain in their place, and the lockot in Royce's pocket, and went off like a snake in tho grass, The figure of Madge Loe stood motionless on the sky lino for a moment or two; then shocsme slowly across tho common Preaently the girl who hod sat upon the shafts came running after her and ogling ber. "Where are you going Madge? Supper's ready, and Mother Kafo aon t me after you, (Jonie baok Mafyo," Madge looked down at her dreamily. " Did you hoar anything, Lottie ?" she said, her dark brows drawn togother. "Hoar anything? No. What's to hear?" " I don't know," said Madgo absently. " I thought I heard something, but all is still and quiet now,'' They walked on slowly. Madge's oyes bent on the ground, Suddenly she started and pointed. " There's something ttiero I" 6he said in a whisper She advanced a fow step*, stopped suddenly, uttered an exclamation, and flung hersolf down beside Royce, 11 1 knew it!" she said, moro to herself than the girl who stood looking down at the motionless, figure in silent horror. " Hush, Lo!tie,,dQn't be frightened. Run back to the van- and tell the mothor to come and bring tho cordial, Run as if for life,"

"Iwill-I will, Madge," gasped the girl, and she turned and sped ovor the heath,

Madge laid her (ace, white as death, against Royco'aboast, and listened; then aho raised her head and breathtd a sigh of relief, and with quick butgentlo touch un- , fastened his collar. Thon, like Long Bill, flho started, and looked at hor hand. It was wet with blood, Shi, tore open his coat and waißtcoat, and, snatching the shawl from her head triod to staunch tho wound which the second stab had made ,'< in the shoulder. l Hor movements, gentle ns (hey woi 0 caused Roycosuch agony that he ou ao to, and with tho remnant of strength i' , a t was left him, ho seized hor by tho < d rm and dragged hor down to a lovol wit) j his face,

The grip was n terrible ono, a n j] hor slender arm felt as Hit wore™ ppinein twain; but she made no effort t 0 releaso it, and uttered no cry. His br< Jnt |, onme hot upon her cheek as he hold b ifr ne (anted in her ear: 1

. . BY CHARLES GARVICE

laine," "A Woman's Soul,'\*o,

_ Sim Vokcd at with tightly-compressed lips, and a Hingulnr expression in her dark eyes, and as tho girl and a woman running over the heath, Bho turned up the 'orn sleeve, so that it hid (ho crimson murk, her fico growing for a second ar rod as the shin itself.

"Fair play I If you are men—" Then he seemed to discover that it was a woman's face above him, "Whois it? Am dreaming or—or doad ? Speak to mo or I shall go mad! My head my head!

tihe pressed her lips together to steady them, for his hand strong in his dolirium, was inflicting untold pam upon her, •' You are safe," she said in his ear, ' I —I am a friend I"

Ho loosened his hand, but tho lingers closed spusmo ic illy on the sleovo of lur dross and tore it, reve«ling the arm wi'h the band of crimson which his grasp had caused,

(To be co n timid.)