CHAPTER XIV.—(CONTNUED)

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1568, 22 July 1882, Page 5

CHAPTER XI V.— ( CONTNUED)

All this time Bertha kept green the memory of her early friendship for Jack. While in Sydney, she was ever wondering what sort of a fellow he had become — whether he was as handsome anil fascinating as of old. When she returned to Grit, she yearned to see the dear fellow, but for a time her longings wore unsatisfied. Once she asked her father abont him, but ho sternly rebuked her, and said that her mind ought to have been ele-~-vated above such companionship. But Bertha could nol forget, and where there's a will there's a way ; so she did manage to 6ee Jack. It was difficult, however, for she never moved out now except in the carriage, that wonder to all the young generation of Grit, for when it first appeared it was the only one on the goldfield. She managed, however, quite accidentally of course, to meet Jack. She had taken a quiet walk around the neighbourhood of her father's house, Gritty Hall, and, strange to say, met Jack aB he Avas crossing tho ranges. What he was doing there has never been made clear. His homo and work wero in quite an opposite direction. There was little ceremony in the meeting ; they met just as they did when years ago they herded their flocks in the same spot, with the difference that they wero then surrounded by solitude, and now the air roverbented with tho thunder of tho many battories that reduced the quartz reefs of Grit, over which, in the old times, they had stepped m ignorance. Bertha was to Jack a sort of revelation. Pie had never seen anyone so splendidly dressed, except Madame Anna Bishop, and Mus Catherine Hayes. Sho seemed like a picture that had stepped out of its frame— something like one of those exquisite ladies who aro pourtrayod on a bachelor's shirt -box, picking flowers in an imaginary wellkept garden, and whom Jack had. often admired, as he dressed himself, wondering ■whether there was such in real life. He had no reason to doubt now, for Bertha was even more beautiful than these gaudily-painted figures. Jack could have fallen down and worshipped when she drew forth her snowy handkerchief, which diffused all the odours of Araby the Blest around. He felt a sort of inclination to sink to the earth when he thought of his every-day attire, rough, and claycoloured. But the dear girl soon put him at bis ease, and, ere many minute*, they wero chatting like old friends. Jack would have liked to have put his arm around her, but it seemed sacrilegeit would be like a coalheaver plucking a rose. So they sat there until the shrill five o'clock whistle told Jack that lie was lato for the shift, and with a hurried pressure of the hand he darted away to his work. But he was mistaken if he thought Berth*fwaB in any way disgusted with him. He admired her, but not more so ,' than Bhe did him. He positively appeared handsomer in her eyes than ever. She thought he had grown so atronar, manly, i and. N handsome. In fact, little Cupid had instantly made a second conquest. The ■absence had done all the mischief. So Jaok went to his work to think of the ■ beautiful vision he had seen, and she re- \' tired to her palatial home to dream of the handsome young fellow, and weave around him all the passionate affection of t a loving soul. And thus, since then, the conrse of love had gone on. In some mysterious way - or other they had contrived to meet. .-'Jack always managed to be attired in a '' suitable dress, and wo may say that he was not afraid of putting his arm around the lovely girl, nor for that matter • frightened to steal a kiss. Steal, did we nay? No, it was freely given. These stolen interviews were sweet, exceedingly sweet. How pleasant it was to sit jn a deserted gully and converse of love, of hope, and happiness.- Neither thought of ■ the future, nor did it enter into their „ philosophy how. their dreama were to he' -realised. If Jaok did think of it, he , dreamed of making a lucky-hit some, day, r , „ and thus being enabled, to become & suitor, for Bertha's hand*. . On suoh .occasions he "" could not but thinkof > the vision of ithe* , shining reef. Could that dream be ,real- •• ised what happiness -would be his. But' »;f spirit ever came' to him' nox^ ' except the one by his side,' and she was'

dearer than all. Perhaps, thought Jack, at times, this was the spirit of the shining reef. "Who knew ? They sometimes Bpoke of that strange past," lhe remembrance of which came n6wi;b-<ihem with suoh tenderness. It 'waft how.enveloped in a mystic halo that Bofieiie&.dQsti its asperities, and left only tn^''pfe'ajfomir'- reminiscences. How deligtyiftif "p^J&'to think of the gentle dayß : tiK^Jlit^;^nent together rambling over^lfo^e'lnHafj' wfien the notes of the birds, and tlijy Jb^wof tho sheep, with the ocb'a^di^lMfdf the bullock bell, alone dfc'tuised> t^aglitude. Now all was changed, ' ' '\ \' It is alwayrf thus: Man ever thinks the past infinitely; "better than the present. The young people were .always accompanied by their dogs, Spot and Lassy, both of which had grown old) but were still affectionately attached to their master and mistress, who fully reciprocated the fondness of these creatures, to them links connecting with 'the^.past. Often, too the young pair would see 'tlie* lanky for^/'Of Obadiah SweetcQmfort pass by) aiicfethis/always threw a sha'^ojiv upon tj|lem"fbVthey^could not tell what he might 1 be plo^fcing^ r ' Jack looked upjTnto the sweet face that was looking at-hiib.' 'Be took alarm instantly, howevdiyat the strange troubled look that was in 'Bertha's eyes. He even thought that he could detect tears in them. Jack looked around carefully, and seeing no one near, he clasked her in his arms and gave her a loving kiss. Oh, what a difference was there between this loving modest girl and Maggie ! " Dear Jack," said Bertha, looking around nervously as if she expected someone to appear, " Wo can meet no more. Father's found out all, and he has threatened to send me to England if I speak to you. Oh ! Jack it is hard." Jack shut his teeth fiercely. He felt ahcady in a sufficiently irritable frame of mind without this fresh burden coining upon him. Was he to be overwhelmed with misfortune upon misfortune ? " Who could have told ?" asked Jack, in a fierce sort of way. " I wish I knew." " Obadiah Sweetcomfort," replied Bertha " But he told him more than that ; he told him you were a wild young man ; that you gambled and drank, and — and" (her Bertha hesitated), he said you were engaged to a barmaid at the Patriot Hotel." Jack's face became scarlet ; his breath came and went. He felt as if he could annihilate the world collectively and individually. " The wretch," cried Jack, " when I see him there will be a Jittlo fighting, I can tell you. But you don't believe all this Bertha ?" " I don't know, Jack," said Bertha, hesitating. " I saw you walking with this girl " " Yes, yes," said Jack, impatiently, " But I did not mean anything." " This girl, Maggie's her name," said Bertha, " hap told my servant that you are engaged to her, and my servant, who visits tho servants at the Patriot, has told me dreadful tales about you, Jack " Again Jack could not speak for rage. " But," said the loving trusting girl, with all the affection of a true woman, " I don't believe them. I believe that you love me, Jack ; and although for a while wo cannot meet, I will always love you. Will you always return my love ?" Jack clasped her in his arms and kissed her repeatedly. In these rapturous embraces all was forgotten. " Bertha," said a sharp, decisive voice, which the girl knew at once was her father's. She turned very pale, and releasing herself from Jack, turned towards her parent, who stood a littlo way off, his face red with anger. "la this the way you obey me PlP 1 ' said ho, in a passionate tone. " Have I not told you that you must not meet this blackguard any more. Come with me gill, at once. I will see that you are f-ent away where this person will not have a chpneo of destroying you. You shall leave Grit to-morrow." " Oh, father !" said Bertha, the tears flooding down her beautiful eyes, " he is not what you say. What change has come over you ? Once you liked Jack well enough, and now you have turned upon him.'' " You can easily make a decision," said her father, between his teeth. " Here we are. Choose whether you will go with your father to a home of elegance and comfort, or accompany that depraved boy to misery and destruction ? Decide quickly ; the carriage is below." "Oh, father!" said Bertha, "don't talk to me like that. Why cannctyou be reconciled to Jack ? I love him, father, so dearly." Here she looked up in his face with a pleading expression that few could resist. Mr White did not look at her ; hardened as ho had grown, owing to the influence of Mammon, ho knew her power too well to trust himself. "Bertha," ho said, " your father knows best. I have had every opportunity of being acquainted with this young man's present mode of life, and know that he is not fit to be thought of as a husband for you. He is a drunken scoundrel, who spends his money and his timo at Bunakum'B bar, I would sooner see you buried, than his wife. Make up your mind, Bertha, for I am resolved. Follow your father, or that — that man. Bertha felt as if she could have died. It was a terrible ordeal for one so young and so susceptible. She owed a duty to her father, but did she not also owe one to the man who had obtained her heart ? It was a desperate struggle. But the \ deep love the girl , entertained for her handsome young lover, prevailed. She stepped over to him. Jack kent down his emotions with a convulsive struggle. What had he done : to deserve so perfect, so self-sacrificing, a love as this? Now all his errors came into his mind like flashes of scathing fire. Mr White turned very pale. He was not prepared for this. He loved his daughter, and thought she would have obeyed him. Jack; felt it was time to act. "Mr White," he said, " do not think that I will avail myself of your daughter's generous resolve. lam not fit to be her husband at present ; I am not good, not rich enough'; but I mean' to be ; and not until I am her equal in character and' prospects, will I ask her hand., Bertha,; go with yoift father and obey' him. From this; day ', f ptwa'rd ,1 •will* set Wy' 1 roiftd to the task of becoming worthy to 1 be. yronz huiban^/ and thV time;, Will'sqdn*' c^me ! Lwheii''l : can f ckim'you ; ; , tilUilJen.',' good-byej'deftres^Bertli'a.'' V' l< "/' ,- "\ /•^Ana} irtprfessing'aii'prdM'kiss dnjnjjr! tear-wetted, face, 'fie 1 , jjfrdlfced 'hurri&lly' "" oofya'e spot' , weening

bitterly, while her father stood by, feeling somewhat ashamed of what had taken place. He felt that the boy was not altogether so bad as he had thought. A man capable of so noble a sacrfiice, could not be all evil. "You shall go to Sydney to-morrow, Bertha," said Mr White, as "he lifted her into tho carriage. Bertha did not reply; she still wept passionately for her lost love.