Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-04-03

l "
than once year; and here he opened
the trenches, not angrily, but collected
! ly, calmly, deterlninedly, informing me
his daughter could never be mine, fol
that he was tolerably wealthy mar
and he had resolved not to wed his
child to one not possessed of a portion
equal to her own.
{ In vain I told him how much loved
: his daughter, that she loved me in re-
4 turn, and we never could exist apart
from each other. The old gentleman
| merely smiled sarcastically and, point
ing to my uniform, said:
"The man whose very coat is not his
! own, and whose pay is only seven
1 shillings and sixpence day, cannot
marry my heiress.
He laid long stFess on the last
| word, and I don't know what possessed
me, but replied:
"And what NAV be the extent OF
your present wealth, Mr.. Martini"
"Well, three months ago had
| $4,000 in the bank of Australia, but l
took it all out and expended it in the
purchase of additional stock and i'm
provements on my farm; / dare says |
am worth altogether $4,000, and Ger
trude will be the sole possessor when |
| die" 49,. .ea.
ssThen you don't object to me in my
self, Mr.. Martin, but only because am
poor?' l said bitterly.
! Gust SO, my boy. / object on princi
| pie; but to show you that I bear no
personal animosity, come into the
kitchen and we will honor your last
evening among us by a glass Of my
best grog and some tobacco, such as
! you have not tasted for many long
day." ...a.. ....-...
s'Stay moment!' I cried. "W ere
1 as rich as you, Mr.. Martin, would you
give me your child?" ....,
"Aye, that l would lad, right willing
ly,," was the reply. s4
'And directly l am as rich as you, if
Gertrude is then single, will you consent
to our marriage? persisted. le
"Aye, verify, I will on my word of
honor, Mi Rush But you talk of i'm
possibilities" he added; where are you
going to realize a sudden fortune:'
All! where Mas [? My heart sank as
| asked myself the question, and l fol
lowed the old gentleman into the
kitchen in almost heart broken silence.
A fire was burning on the hearth, for
CRATES are still very scarce in Australia
in fact they would he i'll adapted for
the logs Of red gum wood that
form the invariabe fuel.
Presently glasses and pipes were laid
on the table and l did my best to re
kindle hope within my breast by the
aid of Holland and Barretts twist, but
it was no good. =,
On the other side of the fire sat Mrs.
Martin, comely dame of ffty years,
fully as broad as she was long, and with
mind wholly given to the concerns Of
the dairy and the making Of orange
marmalads. Gertrude, knowing some
thing was wrong, but scarce guessing
what, nestled up to my side, but to my
great joy her father did not rebuke her.
And thus we sat for q long time,
neither Of US speaking a word, but
listening to the falling rain and the
bowling wind without, and to the great
forest trees aud their branches, as they
were swayed and tossed by the blast
Anon came another sound-a loud yet
soothing m,umur, like the signing of
summer breeze amid cork wood.
No one seemed to notice it but me,
and I only did so as wondering how so
gentle and SO musical a murmur could
make itself audible above the uproar of
the wind and tempest. Suddenly, how
ever, there broke upon our ears the
dsshing open Of a gate and s. man 8
voice as he shouted: .,
"Master Martin, if you value your
life, look sharp! The river has overfown
its banks and the waters are out .
/ Then we heard the splash, splash,
splash of the horses fost as the warning
visitor rode away. '.'-.' ~
"Water out! Impossible" muttereG
the old farmer. "Why bless my heart,
the river was not on a level with the
banks by some inches this morning, and
we've had no rain to speak of since.
''You don't Know what weather it
has been up in the mountains, Mr.. Mar
TIM" I said. "Ah, bark! Put your ear
to the floor. Heavens! the warning
was timely one. We have not a
moment to lose!" .al Eel.
We all bent our heads down and
listened, aid now we could hear a
hollow, gurgling sound under our feet
and little jets Of spray leaped up from
between the crevices Of the flooring.
| The house, according to the common
custom in the colonies, was built on
piles, and thus the downstair rooms
were about four feet from the ground,
Ebetween which and the flooring the
angry waters were now fretting and
foanling and dashing against the stout
woodwork with momentarily increasing
power. r
The women began to cry, the farmer
was too stupefed to move. p
sThis will never do, T said, there
is not moment to lose. ] can take
one of you up behind me on my horse,
and / know that Carlo and / will get
through it somehow The rest had
better get up stails-or if possible, on
the roof, and with the first peep Of
Edawn I'll send boat to take you off -
Now who am I to take charge .ot?"
was very much afraid he would
bid me to take the old lady, butte my
| great relief both parents cried out:
ssSave Gertrude y 9al
Z lost no time in acting. ] flew
down the four steps that led to the gar
den and, with the water, over my Ma.
[poleon boots, made my way to the sta
I b1a Mine wac the only stood til ara =