CHAPTER XXXIII.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1583, 26 August 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXXIII.

" Of life I ha\c no Laic • My friends h,i\o turned to foes ; Abandoned to debpaii I would the world oppose. Aimlessly Jack wandered through tho streets of Melbourne, feeling himself a stranger, and taking little interest in the now md strange sights he behold. During the afternoon he walked through the crowd of men who were assembled under the Verandah, " doing," and being done. Jack met Jolliboy and Bill Flynn, who certainly did not appear very much the better for their proceedings the previous night. They had that peculiar parboiled appearance which indicates dissipation. Of course there was the usual smiling on their part, and the customary inuendoes, but they were boon ohecked by the unusual gravity of Jack's appearance. "You do look sedate," said .Bill. "Well, things are very hot here to-day. Since I came down at twelve, I've made £100 in profits and commission. Hesperus Extended are rising like five o'clock. Why, you'll be as rich as a Jew. Yo'i'll be a long way richer than old White." Jack winced. " Don't you see them all staring at you?" said Joe Joliboy ; "they know you are the great Meldon of Grit, reported to bo worth a few hundred thousands." Joe was right. The buby fellows around found time to have a look at the supposed millionairs of Grit, and sentences like the following were muttered — " Is that Meldon ?" « Why he is quite a youngster. Rather a handsome fellow. 1 ' " How much is he worth ?" &c. " Read this message," said Joe. Jack looked at the telegram. It was from the renowned l'ennitoe. "Buy Hesperus Extended at lowest figures. £15 offered. Great excitement. At that moment a thought entered into Jack's mind which it would have been well for him to have acted upon. Would it not be us well, thought ho, to sell out, and, finding his capital, take a trip to Europe, where he would be far away from the scenes which tortured him with memories of the past. But no, he would carry on the struggle ; he would become the proprietor of the Hesperus Extended, and thwart Obadiah and Mr White. He would destroy Hector Macinnis, The accusing face of his unrevenged mother appeared to rise before him when he thought of leaving Victoria. No, no !he had a duty to perform, and then he could i?o anywhere, anywhere, to wander without hope or aim. When he returned to the hotel a telegram was awaiting him. It rau :—": — " Grit is terribly excited. Splendid specimens have come in from the Hesperus Extended, and the mauager has been on 'Change, stating the reef is GO feofc wide, showing gold throughout. Shares have rhei to £18, and we are still buying for you. Come up to-night. Tho streets are crowded, the pavement blookecLjmd the roadway full. People aro matl. W. Brown." He .would go up to Grit. The very sight of Melbourne was offensive to him. After the feveriah excitement of the night and; day, how quiet seemed the train as it sped away through the swamps and plains of Melbourne. He had a compartment to himself, and, stretching his •form along the cushion, he tried to banish reflection by sinking into a lethargy' that could not belcalled sleep, > jit was phan; torn-troubled slumber., •< At first able visons' flitted , aoross, -hia brain. Bertha was near him ; her arms -were itrotchod iorth , toleufold him,, wheq, sud-

denly Heotor Macinnis who appeased like a demon, sprang between them, and the 6ccne vanished. Then his mother arose in the gloom, in a luminous cloud, her features dibtorted in the death agony. Jack rose as if to call the phantom, but it faded away, and in its room there was only a black vacuity. Again a silvery light grew into the gloom, and a fair vista appeared, wherein was limned in silver the day dream of hi 6 life, the beautiful villa he had thought of building for Bertha, surrounded by parterres and gardens and trees, silveied by the luminous beams of the phantom-created light. But ft strong hand appeared to come out of the shadow, and to crush the fair scene out. Then there fell again a terrible gloom, through which occasionally flashes of lurid light came, revealing demon forms that appeared to be in wait in the dream-peopled outer darkness ( After a while, a ravished strain of music was heard, gaining in strength until it filled the air with melody. A strange golden light began to dispel the gloom. He knew the light ; it was that which always accompanied the vision of the Shining Reof. He waited in breathless expectancy. A panorama appeared, passing into and out of the darkness. He saw himself a boy on the hills of Grit, playing with Bertha ; then a youth working in the claims ; that passed ; the terrible scene of his mother's death appeared — Hector, with the face of a demon, doing something, but what, he could not see. Then followed the vision of his success, and the wonderful pageant closed with the tableau he had witnessed a few hours since— Bertha finally rejecting himself. But the' moment this faded the music ceased, and again appearrd the beautiful being of his early dreams. There was a pitying expression on her face — a gentle indication of sympathy. Beneath her feet appeared the golden reef, wlnto as virgin snow, with rich veins of gold running through it. He gazed with transport on the lovely vision and, like the strains of a forgotten melody, catno the words, thrice icpeatod — " Tho Shining Reef : Noli your's yet; but soon to be. Not your's yet; but boon to bo. Not your's yet ; but toou to be." And the voice died away, the vision vanished, and a great noise was heaid. Waking suddenly, Jack found that he had reached the GUit railway station. The boll was ringing. It was the sound that had awakened him. A great crowd was on the platform ; amongst them Snicker Sniggles and Maggie. She stood at the window, her face radiant with smiles, eager love depicted in her beaming countenance. Jack sighed despairingly. "Oh! how glad I am you are come," said Maggie, pressing his haud : " I have been so sad and dull siucc you were away. You look ill, dear Jack." "I am not well, Maggie," said Jack, distantly. He was glad to notice that William was coming towards him. Tho friends <yrti3ped each other's hand. " Well, millionaire, back again," said William. "I wanted to get aAvay, for my dear Emily has at last arrived. The ship anchored in the Bay to-day." "Is the excitement still on?"' asked Jack. " Higher than ever," wag tho rejtly. "Thousands of people ere ,now congregated near the Busy Bee." "I must go down at once," said Jack. At that moment he noticed Obadiah emerge from one of tho carriages. He was warmly welcomed by Snicker Sniggles, and tho two entered a cab. Aa they drove away, Jack heard Obadiah shout to the cabman, " To tho Hesperus Extended." Jack knew what that meant. Jack noticed a tall woman with a thick veil on her face, stand lookmg after Obadiah. " You will come and see mo first, won't you, Jack P" asked Maggie, appoalingly. "I can't Maggie," he replied ; "I must attend to business first." A dark shadow came over the girl's face. Maggie stood on the deserted platform, stunned and heart-broken. Sho had been at the station to see off a fiiend and having met Jack thought he would pay her the compliment of seeing her home, and thus give her a few minutes' pleasure. She lived on day after day in the hope that he would forget Bertha and in his loneliuess aske her to be his wife ; and what a wife she would be to him, she thought. She would worship him — live for him— die for him. Poor Maggie !