CHAPTER XIII.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2003, 9 May 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XIII.

Aranoah's Htory had not, save in ono inRtanco, been interrupted, so full of interest it waa and ho good the style of the narrator. Interest in it had almost made the young men forget the terrible revelation that had been mado to them : their lifelong imprisonment in the Enchanted Island of the Sea of Dreams. How often in boyhood had they thought such a fato tho happiest that could bo theirp. Now, when the reality was before them, it had for them unspeakable horrors. For some time after their host had finished there was a deep silence. Ho was thinking over that strange evontful past ; they were reflecting upon their future. An interruption camo when tho two maids appeared bearing trays, on which were fragrant tea and ooffee and delicious pastry. Theso were partaken of in nilence. " These are luxuries I greatly prize," said Aranoah, lying down his empty cup. " Tho store of tea and coffee on board our ship was large, and there still remains a quantity. Had there been tho seeds of tea or coffee on board I would have tried to cultivate them, for this climate is suited for coffen, at leant. And now, gentlemen," be continued, turning to his guests, " let me hear your history. It can only be brief. But, Mr. Gifford, in your history you can give that of Australia, and that will bo to me of enthralling interest. I thought never to have known what happened in the great world. Try and oblige me with its hintory since I vanished from the scene." Herbert had a rare gift of narration, and ho proceeded to give a concise history of Australia and the- world. The old man listened with rapt attention, his face expressing his feeling aB each groat ev#t was touched upon. Tho Crimean War, tho finding of gold, the Indian Mutiny, the colossal strides of enterprise and Hettlement in Australia, tho creation of now colonies, wore to him like the scenes of a drama. " So," he said, when Herbert closed his review of the " strange eventful history" of the world. "Reeking Monto Christo I loft it behind mo in Australia. Such is tho irony of fate. Ido not regrot it ; I could not have been happier ; probably, I would havo felt deeper pangs than here. And now tell me of yourself, young man ; of your father and his fortunes, for I knew him slightly in thoso long past days." If Aranoah .had listened'attentively to the story of the world, and been agitated at the fltiring scenes of tho fifties and sixties, ho was still raoro absorbed in following tho story of one of the units in the great drama, William Gifford. Herbert touched gently on his father's early history, and when describing his hardness and cruelty, laid most of the blamo on William Whinstun. When ho camo to the later evonts, the battle in whioh ho had wornted Whinstun, and discovered John Mqrden's wife and daughter, he noticed that his' host turned his head away. Evidently not from lack of interest, for when he had fininhed, Aranoah turned round with a flushed face, and spoke eagerly. " Then William Gifford is dead, and William Whinstun has Been all his ill-gotten gains wrested from him when ho thought tho wages were secure Young man, you did well and nobly. But tell me, is this Mrs. Morden at all like the Alice Horton I knaw, for I saw her in Sydney when they camo out ? " " Sho was but a wreck when I first knew her," said Herbert, "and an invalid. But hor restoration to her proper sphere has worked wonders. Sho is now quite a different woman, and ever still retains traces of the beauty which must havo been hers in youth." " And the daughter, Alice," continued the old man, " she must now bo fully doveloped. Is aho very beautiful ? Is sho all a woman should be ? " Herbert's face flushed o,s ho thought of his loved one, and then paled as tho agonising thought camo that ho had lost her for ever. " She is not only superlatively beautiful " ho replied, " but she in the beat and purest of women — and I have lost what I prize moro than life." " Tho ways of the Great Power aro insorutablo," said the old man quietly. "Wo havo only to obey. It is a true Raying : ' Vengeanco is mine ; I will repay I ' You wero tho instrument of vengeanco. Your story almost makes me believe in tho Old Book, whioh, as a whole, I hava long rejected, though looking upon it as one of our guidOH." Again silenco fell upon this strango party. The old man leaned his head on his hands, and remained for somo time buried in deep thought. Tho others ga/.od on tho enchanting landscapo, now lit by the sun's declining rays, and also indulged in reverie — reverie of the most painful kind. For them, in their present mood, tho marvellous scene had no charm. "Boforo our evening recuperation I have timo to tell you my system of government," said tho old man at last, " tho codo of morals, and tho religion I havo established."