CHAPTER V.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1944, 20 December 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER Y.

" These townships change with wonderful rapidity. Only two years have elapsed since we met here, Anderson, yet see how the town has grown. The shanties have disappeared out of the principal street, a fine railway station has risen, and this afternoon the iron horse will snort in it, bearing a burden of politicians and other Melbourne notables. Cockietown is indeed en fete. But I don't see that great fellow you made such a fuss over when we were here last, in the gaily dressed crowd. Bless me ! how amusing the country folk are ; how ill the holiday clothes sit upon them." " If you were to take the clothes off the ; town dandies they would look very poor beside these young fellows if similarly circumstanced. j But here comes the landlord, dressed in his 1 best ; he will tell us what has become of Big Jack." " Big Jack, gentlemen," said the landlord, who had time to talk, there being a lull after the lunch. " Well, there's quite a story about him. He fell in love with the little schoolmistress you saw get off the coach that day, and it made a great change in him. He set up as a selector, gave drink and the like best, and seemed likely to become a model. But we all knew it couldn't last. That little girl had more sense than we thought. She would have nothing to do with him, and then didn't he turn out 1 He was desperate, and the way he carried on was a disgrace. He seemed to do it to show her he did not care ; but he could deceive no one. He would have gone to the devil or to gaol long ago but for that determined, obstinate sister of his, Lizzie. She's the strangest girl ever was known. The day Miss Green rejeoted young Norman, the banker, a fine fellow and well-to-do— a great deal above her — proposed and was accepted. And what do you think she did when she learned Jack had been refused? Eesolvednot to marry Norman just then, and to stick to her brother- and save him. She had an awful segue with the poor schoolmistress, but it was of no use. And she left her homje and went to her brother's selection and kept it going. But she can't save him. He's a gone man, sure enough. I can't make out the little girl. She's never been herself since, and she's got quite old looking. But she won't see Jack for all that, and she's wise. Bless me 1 it's after two, and I'm one of the deputation. I must run away, gentlemen. " That sister of Jack's must be a,nphje girt," said Mr. Anderson, with, a sigh. other girl has made an error ; she has ruined a man whom aha cduld,'have'm>ds." ■ •• I don't, ifoo.w/ about that," said Mr. Ejchard/3. ' "\i his sister cannot save him Iw.ith ep, unselfish love, how could a wife? And I remember enough of the schoolmistress to think she had a temper of her own." " The very thing, in my opinion, replied Mr. Anderson. " There are men who love to rule ; some who loved to be ruled, for their good. Jack is one of these. Bujfc^aeathe crowd is pressing to the station,. We must not lose the Bight, for Wj^&raeet our constituents on th^ As for these openings, thex'sa sa frequent I'm getting sick of The tiro gentlemen walked briskly down to the station, which was on the outskirts of the town, md toon mingled with the motley crowd.moit of

whom were in their "Sunday-go-to-meeting" clothes, and looked remarkably uncomfortable; perspiring- 'and shoving, of course, as a British crowd ever does. " Look there, Anderson," said Mr. Eichards, fts they were pushed towards a pillar where the police were clearing a road for the august deputation. Mr. Anderson looked, and lie recognised by his uncommon stature the magnificent lad he had so admired two years ago. But what a woful change had taken place ! The round, full face was thin, shrunken, and showed marks of dissipation and despair ; the bright eyes were sunken, and bright no longer ; the Grecian beard straggling and neglected. There was no attempt to show off the superb form ; the clothes fitted ill, and the figuie seemed gaunt and bony. " My God ! " cried Mr. Anderson, " that woman has a great deal to answer for — she has destroyer him. It's always the same ; the women are demons." " Hush," said Mr. Eichards ; " isn't that the girl?" He had been directed to her by Jack's fixed reckless glance. The little figure was as trim and as tastefully diessed as ever, and Mr. Anderson felt, if possible, more indignant. But at that moment she turned her face round, and he forgave her at once. The impress of sorrow, despair and regret were upon that once piquant, pretty face ; its fieshness and beauty had withered away, and there was much m it that reminded Mr. Anderson of an old woman. He at once understood that this girl had acted from the most conscientious motives, and that doing what Bhe had, had broke* her heart, though not her resolve. Beside iit stood Mrs. Mackay, gorgeous in silk, but;ur was no Hughie. For him there was now noati traction in the sad -faced little woman with whom he had once almost fallen in love. He was at the other end of the platform with the daughter of the member for the district, a man of wealth and influence. But the attention of everyone was now taken up with the approaching train, the whistle of which had just been heaid. All crowded to the edgen the platform, despite the cries and eflorts of the police. Soon the iron horse and his followers, gaily decoiated with flags and evergreens, came into sight, and a gieat cheer rose from the multitude, answexed by those in the train. A cannon, specially imported, boomed, and a brass band poured forth its strains, filling the air with brazen melody. But above the pufning of the engine, the rattle of thetiain, the music of the band, and the cheering of the multitude, there rose a shriek io agonising that it stilled everything that was not inanimate. A mighty crunch was heard as the driver tried to pull up the train. Almost as soon as the shriek was uttered a mighty form thrust the crowd aside, and seemed to spring in ona step to the spot whence the sound had come. Addie Gieen had fallen off the platform on to the rails. The huge monster was almost about to crush all life and beauty out of her, when Big Jack sprang off the platform, and threw her into the arms of the waiting and horror-stricken crowd. He would have escaped himself, but that he missed his spring and he fell back. With one voice ten thousand people shrieked, and that moment a tall and beautiful woman thiust them apart and was at Addie's side. " My bi other," she cried in a voice that terrified the boldest. " You have killed him ; I will kill you." But Hariy Norman was theie, and the crowd dragged the women apart. And then something was taken up from under the wheels and brought into the waiting-room, and the doctors alone were admitted. "My brother, my brother ! " shrieked Lizzie ; " I must see him ; I will see him ! " "My good girl," said a mild, benevolent-look-ing gentleman, a doctoi, coming out of the door; " you can see him, but be veiy quiet. He will not belong with you." ■' And I must see him, too," said Addie Green ; " I must see him if they kill me. I will tell him all ; he must forgive me before he dies." She was admitted. There was bometldng, mercifully wiapped up, on the couch, and Lizzie was kneeling by its side. Addie threw heiself on h«r knees. " Jack, Jack," she cried— and 'those who were present never forgot her tones — " if you can hear, if you can speak, fOlf 01 give me. I judged wrong ; I missed the way ; I killed your life and mine." His face had not been touched by the cruel wheels. He turned his eyes to her, and the light came into them again, that light that once had been so dear to her, that had nearly tempted her to do right. And in this dread moment the god that had been strangled came to life again, a better and gloiified being, and the birds returned to their nest and the ghouls and dragons fled away for ever "It is for the best, darling," he said, sweetly ; "it is for the best. I have died for you. Tell me that you did love me, and I will die happier than if I had lived." " I did, I do, love you," she moaned. " I did not know my own heart ; I tried to obey my reason, and 1 lost the anchor that would have been my safe stay. Oh, Jack ! live, live that I may lepair the •wrong I have done." He could not give her his hand ; it was elsewhere. But he looked at her, and she clasped him to her breast and kissed him on the lips passionately as one who would by force hold back the sphit that had been called and must go. And in that desperate embrace Jack passed away. The grand form that but a few moments before had been full of love and life, if not of hope, was a mass of clay, fit only to return to its mother earth. 0 ! mysteiy of mysteiies, death !