CHAPTER XIV. " HAPPY IS THE BRIDE THAT THE SUN SHINES ON."

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1893, 23 August 1884, Page 5 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XIV. " HAPPY IS THE BRIDE THAT THE SUN SHINES ON."

Falkland's first net was to Bend a telegram to his coupin, informing her of his success. By the fiirafc post he also sent her a letter, fully explaining the circumstances that had oocurred, and promising to return next day. His next step was to settle with White, the detective. That individual pocketed his cheque with great satisfaction, and informed Falkland that through the influence of his old Friend Forrester, he had been offeied a good position in the London detective force, which he intended to accept. In taking leave of this worthy, we may state that he succeeded in proving his acuteness in the conduct of several diffioult oases, and that he still flourishes in the British metropolis, being often alluded to in the newspapers as " that able and indefatigable officer." In private life, Mr. White is much given to boasting of hia intimacy with the Devonshire " bar'net." " And now it only remains for us to shake hands and separate," said Fowler to Falkland, as they sat at breakfast on the morning after the death of Edmonds. " Nothing of the kind," was the reply. " I must ask you to confer another favor on me by remaining at least a week longer." "I Will do 'so with pleasure, if my remaining will prove of any seivice to you," said Fowler. "But I really cannot see in what way I can servo you fay doing ao." Falkland smiled, as he replied — " The fact of my wishing you to be present at the marriage may have great influence in inducing my cousin to name an early iay. What do you say. Cotton ? " " Not bad tactics for a beginner," said the Colonel, laughing. "Besides," said Carzon, suddenly, and trifling with his fork as he spoke, " I intend going back with you Fowler, and I really can't get my affairs in trim under a fortnight at least." This speech created unqualified surprise in all who heard it. "Going back with me! " exolaimed Fowler. " May I ask the reason ? " " A very clubbable man, as some one has termed it, like you Percy, wanting to return to the wilderness," exclaimed his,brother-in-law. " Whavever will your sister say ? " " She will probably find out the reason long before her obtuse husband," said Falkland, who had • been -watching his friend's countenance. " Confess, Percy, isn't there a lady in the case? " # After some further badinage, Curzon con. iessed that during the fortnight he had remained an invalid at Nundle, he had fallen a victim to the fascin&tions of an Australian beauty — the daughter of a neighboring squatter. The lady, he explained to C*tton, was of good family, being the daughter of Major Powis, a retired officer. "By jove, you must have made desperate losfjujto carry the citadel in a fortnight 1" exclaimed Cotton. " But seriously, my dear Percy, lam very glad to hear it. You have fortune enough for both, and I know that your sister is very anxious for you to settle down." - ( ' - "By-the-bye, Falkland" said Curzon, "I, forgot to tell you that Steel, the bookmaker, who stood so heavily against your horse for tha Derby, was killad in a 'railway accident yesterday." - - ' 4 - ■ > " 1 ' "Po6r'Baleigh," exolaimed Falkland, bis thcWghfcj'reverting to the past. "He costim>

a heavy sum — aye, and morothan mere money. Who bought him, Gotten: ? Ton naver told ( me. Indeed, we have had no settlement yet." " I got two thousand for him from Count Laplace," said Cotton. " Yon can well afford to set aside a thousand a year out of your income for a few years. I don't suppose you will ever sin again in the same direction." " Heaven forbid 1 " ex&laimed Falkland, fervently. " I have a lingering suspicion that the poor fellow who nominated the colt for the Derby, and who died so suddenly on the eva of the race, fell a victim to some diabolical plot of Edmonds and hie associates, fto— l have paid very dearly for my experience, but it has proved effectual. Some one else m&y register the rose and blue if they choose ; my colors will never agSin be seen on a racecourse ; unless it becomes impossible for scoundrels to degradp a noble sport into a vehicle for swindling and crimes still worse." "Which will be about the time of the Greek Kalends," replied the Colonel. "I am very glad to hear you Bay so. In your proper sphere, at Falkland Court, you will find many sources of pore happiness infinitely preferable to the feverifth and dangerous fast life you have quitted, I trust for ever." " There is one individual we have forgotten," said Falkland, smiling. " Tom Grist." " Yon have anticipated me," said the Colonel, ringing the bell. •' Send up the young man named Grist," said the Colonel. "I don't think he'll oxaotly be able to attend you immediately, sir," replied the waiter. "Ho is out, I suppose," said Falkland, carelessly. "Never mind, when ho comes n " Oh no ! If you please, sir," replied the well trained servant, " he's not out, sk, not by any manner of means. On the contrary, he's in, sir. But he's just half.fcilled the boots for saying something about his country, and when you rung, sir, he was putting the night porter on the kitchen fife, sir." The Colonel and his friends laughed, and the waiter was directed to tell the Australian ho was wanted immediately. Shortly afterwards Tom Grist entered the room, "flashed, but triumphant. " What's the matter, Tom ?" asked Fowler, who knew how to hnmor him. " Oh. not much," replied Tom. " I was jnst having a bib of a pitoh to those gals in the kitchen — pretty tidy looking ones they are, too— when two fellers— jealous, I s'pose — turned on me, and begun to poke borack at me. 1 let 'em rip, till they begun to talk fight. Then the gals screamed, and one of the ohaps let drive at me. So I gava him one, two for his supper, and then put his mate on the ashes to take the steam out of him. He managed to wriggle off, and make tracks, but I'll bet A note he won't have so much yabber about convicts and g&llusbirds the netfc tima he rounds me up." " You mustn't notice such things, Tom," said Fowler, kindly. "If yon flght with every man that displeases you in London, you will have a rfeugh time of it. But never mind that. These gentlemen want to speak to you." " And let me speak first," said Falkland. " Tom, my friend, shake hands." The Australian extended his mighty palm, which Falkland took, shook warmly, and then continued : " If I have not thanked you before this for the service— the priceless service— you rendered me, it is not because I hate forgotten it, but because I have had very weighty business affairs to look after. But now I cftn tell you that your bravery on that night at Falkland Court, in All human probability saved me from the most dreadful calamity that could posaibly have occurred. I owe you more than my own life, Tom — you saved the ! lives of my friends and of my future wife. I ; have thought over many ways of showing '■ my gratitude ; and I thick I have found a way to prove it, though nothing can ever cancel the debt I owo you. Tnere is a fine farm vacant on my estate — yoa shall have it, and I will see that it is well stocked. You will not huit my feelings by refusing it, I hope?" • Tom Grist Was, as he was wont to express it in after times, " euchred on his two I bowers "by this speech. He shifted uneasily from one foot to the other; twirled in his hands the cabbage-tree hat which he persisted in wearing, and finally burst out with : ' It won't do, boss— l'm not on ! You mean the square thing, I know ; and I'm thundering glad I was up in time to fit that blackmugged chap. But as to my turning farmer and stopping in England, wny you might as well expect a warrigal to drag round one of them hencoops you call four-wheelers. A lively sight I'd cut, riding about among a lot of cattle brought up as tame as rabbits, and me longing for a scurry, with my stockwhip in hand, after a savage old ' stag 1' Why, I should get as fat as a prize shorthorn in a few months, and die from want of exercise, like Iroiabark Bill of Narandera, when he was laid up with a br«ken leg. Thanks all the same, mate, but it can't come off." (To be Continued.)