CHAPTER LXIX.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1595, 23 September 1882, Page 5

CHAPTER LXIX.

Emily was waiting for them, and had prepared a neat little repast. Jack sighed as <iie thought that the little money they had would soon melt away, and then what would he do ? As yet he saw' no way out of his difficulties. Earnestly as he desired to be united to Bertha there appeared no gleam of hope to encourage him to anticipate the joyful event. It seemed that they woujd each have to toil on. 0, for a few hundred pounds wherewith to buy into his old claim 1 He did not Bpeak of this to his 'deaf friends, 1 but, they could easily divine his though" ts — indeed their own minds 'were exercised on the subject of the future. William spoke hopefully, 1 and predicted that the finding of a rich reef in the Hesperus Extended would revivify the district and would lead to plenty of capital being introduced and consequent work,' 'when 'they might look forward to a brighter future. ' ' It was not long before William and Emily retired. Jack sat reading a iroin ' out novel. But he cBuld get no rest. Jt seemed as if an Unseen Being was calling upon him to do something. Now and then the ghastly face of Obadiah seemed to peer out upon him from the corner, and occasionally he thought he saw Hector Macinriis standing in the moonlight at the 'door as if beckoning Kirn. But these were only the phantoms of a' troubled brain. Presently he felt an overwhelming desire to go up the claim and dp some work. It would not be the first occasion ; for .often enough! had he worked until the small hours' bf the morning .in his eagerness 1 tb' find out what the ground contained;' ! So taking a'candle and matches He walked up the hill and decended the shaft. 'It was already 100 feet in depih', and thej were driving a crosiscjit to the, east' to see what" they could' strike.' S&Sar the ground had" ;b'een v yery^ hard, withM|fj water. 1 '- 1 There -was a dnll iri f a,n' nnfitiisMß

it was over, Jack walked out, lighted liis candle and proceeded to examine the dislpdged rock. A glance sent the blood rushing through his frame. Quartz had been struck — a reef, too, for the water was flowing from the face. He hardly breathed, so great was his excitement. Taking up a piece of quartz he looked at it. The stone was white, with blue seams. Here was galena ; there, 0, Great Heavens 1 -gold 1 beautiful, glittering gold ! permeating the stone everywhere. He knew it well. It was the true Hesperus Extended lode! The event was too much for him. He sank upon the ground in a faint. Was it a faint ? That moment the level became suffused with light — not the cold phophorscent gleam of tile moonbeams but a warm golden light — such jas he had beheld in. the dreams of the past. And* hovering above him was the Beneficient Spirit of other days, a bright smile on her face. In front was a wall of golden rock — the white and blue and" yellow clearly defined. And behind the Spirit, he thought he saw his mother — her face bright and happy — her eyes fixed upon him and beaming with joy. ' The Spirit now waved her hand, and amid a gentle melody, floating like fairy music in the air, her voice came to him for the last time : ' " Your's at last : the Shining Eeef 1"