CHAPTER XIX.—(CONTINUED.)

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1574, 5 August 1882, Page 5

CHAPTER XIX.— ( CONTINUED. )

Many in the crowd could read Obadiah like a book, and thoroughly understood that he was a hypociite, but their feelings were so worked up that even the most irreverent amongst them could not refrain joining in prayer. But hardly had Obadiah lifted his voice when Spot, who had been on the watch all the time, made a dart, and seizing tho apostle by the leg, made him spring a few spaces \he air with a cry as if the evil one bud seized him, whereupon the impromptu congregation started up, incliued to think something serious had happened ; but the moment they saw tho state of affaiis, a universal burst of laughter took place, Obadiah's face changed from white to scarlet, and turning round he dealt poor Spot so hearty a kick that had it reached him, ho would have gone down the bhaft a dying dog. The crowd seeing this at once rushed to rescue Spot, crying out, "That's the poor boy's dog," and Obadiah had to sneak away like a whipped cur. Hardly had this excitement passed over when a startling cry was heard, and a beautiful piil, with her dress disarranged, her hair flying in wild disoider about her shoulders, rushed through the crowd. Every soul kucw at once that this was Bertha, the rich man's daughter, and as the story of her love for Jack was pretty well-known, thanks to the gossiping proclivities of Gritty Gully, they at once underbtood the cause of her distress, and gave way with the respect that misfortune always generates. "Is he dead? Is he dead?" she cried, turning to bevcral miners she knew. "We do not know, jNliss White," said one of the men respectfully, " but we hope not. It is quite possible ho may be alive " At that moment Obadiah Sweofccomfort's long hypocritical face appeared in the front rank. His eyes gleamed with a sort of demoniacal light, ab hega/ed upon the girl with an expression of desire and revenge. " He is dead," said Obadiah in his most sepulchral tones : "no man could have lived the night through in that mine excluded from air. The foul air has killed him long ago." Bertha uttered a disconsolate wail, and sank upon a pile of uutrimnied sLibs near the mouth of the cruel shaft which had destroyed her loved one. Was he dead ? Would she ever see his bright face again ? Would be never clasp her to bis heart and impress those pleasant passionate kisses on her lips ? 0 ! God, to think that down in the horrid depths was her lover's corpse disfigured beyond recognition ; to think of the slow and terrible death that might have been his ! Was ho dead ? Could he bo dead ? She could not, would not realise tho terrible fact. Her mind failed to grasp the stern reality ; and it was a mercy. Several of the women who were present, women who had known the horror of standing on the brink of the shaft in an agony of apprehension for a beloved one, after casting reproachful glances at Obadiah, came forward, and, bitting beside Bertha, began to comfort her, telling the girl many things which they thought would give her hope. Ob.tditih Sweetcomfort stood there and gazed upon this lovely creature with the feelings of a disappointed demon. How beautiful she was ! What torture to gnze on all this loveliness, on this woman whom he so passionately loved, and think that he had not, could not have part nor parcel in her. "When will you know the -worst?" asked Bertha. " By mid-day," answered the woman. She looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was only rising. How many weary hours she would have to wait, and then — In this hour of affliction all were equal. Bertha felt this as her heart went forth to the dear kind creatures who strove to lessen her grief At other times these women were accustomed to gaze upon her from afar off as a being from another sphere ; but now the common bond of humanity drew them together, and earthly distinctions and birders wero forgotten. A very short time had, however, elapsed when a murmur at the outer edge of the crowd announced some new event. Mr White's carriage drew up close.to the engine-house, the horses reeking and quivering, and Bertha's father stepped out. His faco expressed anger and determination. Striding to where the poor girl was, he seized her hand, and in no gentle tones commanded her to come with him. She lifted her weeping eyes to his stern face and shuddered. "0! father," said the girl, "let me stay until I have Been his — his — " Bhe could not say corpse ; "lot mo stay till then, and I will go anywhere with you, —to Sydney or elsewhere, so long as 'I am away from this terrible place. 0 ! father, do." How eloquently she pleaded with those beautiful eyes!

But there was no change in her father's face, it was as inflex ble a 9 ever "What good can it do?" he said, harshly, ''the boy is dead. Leave this place, where there can bo nothing but painful memories, and seek other bcenes where you will forget all." "I cannot forget, I cannot forget," Baid the poor girl. " But you must," said the harsh man, grasping her hcind firmly and dragging her to the carriage. The crowd dared not interfere. The only protest entered was a low growl from Spot, who had recognised Bertha, and found comfort in her presence, although the .sagacious creature easily detected her grief, and began in bis simple mind to think that there was something wrong. Bortha was rudely forced, weeping, into the carriage. The horses were at onco lashed into a gallop, and the vehicle disappeared in a cloud of dust. There was just time to catch the train, for Grit had a railway now, and poor Bertha was placed in a carriago, and the engino shrieked and whistled and departed for Melbourne, conveying thither a, tortured soul, weeping and wailing over the lost dream of youth.