The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-10-30
NEARLY TOO LATE

-N--FN'
NEARLY TOO LATE
was left an orphan.-at the age of four
but was brought up by kind aunt and un-
Gle. My childhood passed merrily enough
until l was about eight, when my uncle,
hearing ofthe Australian gold fields, determ-
med to seek fortune abroad, instead Of
toiling for mere pittauce at home.
So was transferred to a family by the
name Of Graham. They were middle class.
plain, homely people-working goldsmiths,
in iact-aud lived in Northampton square
Clerkcnwell.
They had but one child; a daughter, nam
cd Lily, who, being only three years young
er than myself, we became great friends. 1t
was natural also that as grew upand went
proudly out to earn my few shilling week,
and drew nearer to manhood, should learn
to love my pretty little pay:elow.
Circumstances went on thus happily until
was twenty and Lilly seventeen years liiy
uncle in Australia informed me that they
had capital opening for me.
was loath to leave Lilly yet, as l was
doing very indllierently and had heard of
such great fortunes acquired IN such short
spaces of time by energetic men, summon
ed enough courage one day to tell the Gra
hams and poor little Lilly was determined
to go to Australia.
| shall never forget my parting at Black
wall Pier. shall never forget my pretty
little Lilly clnging to my neck and sobbing
aloud, and imploring Inc not TO 60, and
struggling between the influence of love and
enterprise, trying not to be coward, when
| felt already that was one.
| 1t was in vain | tried to cheer her; |
think | did not look so very comforting,
though, if l remember rightly, | recollect
saying:
"Never mind, Lilly darling, | shall return
one day and make you grand lady.
shall be sure to succeed, and shall return to
make you happyl'
My tears | know, were threatening to
break the feeble barriers that held them
back, and wh,n h said:
"Ah but suppose you never do return-l
shall break my heart, Robert"
| Why, then think did shed tear or so
only 10 keep her company.
AT last the boat pushed of, and Mrs. Gra-
ham-good, kind old soul !-still kept her
arms around Lilly, as she waved her final
adieu to her orphan protegc.
arrived at last at Melbourne. | went
miles overland, and at last reached my un-
cles settlement, but | had not long been
there ere found life in Australia less easy
than had anticipated. stayed with him
for little time, until took dislike to
farming-lor that was what my uncle had
made most Of his money at--and joined a
party Of young fellows starting for a new
gold field farther up the country.
Three Yeas passed slowly away, and
began to get along much better, aud had
sent many nugget TO Melbourne. ! had
only received one dear cherished letter from
Lilly, written on her eighteenth birthday
and sending me lock OF her pretty chest
nut hair yet thought had no cause to
fear, as knew that writing letters does not
give young ladies half the Joy of receiving
them, and wrote often enough.
Well, time went on. | had found q
staunch, true friend about my own age, aud
we were like brothers. We always worked
together, and when we had been out four
years and half, Tom Thomson-ior that
was the name of my faithful lriend-and
were getting rich.
knew that was nearer home and more
likely to gain my dear little Lilly every
month worked but also was aware o.
the desperate crimes and terrible deeds that
were being committed around us by the
rangers and other villains. knew that ouI
reputation was as dangerous as gratifying
and so ii was perhaps / should not men.
ton the incident, as it seems to prolong a
part Of the story that needs most brevity
but, as it bears directly upon the ultimatunl
Of the tale, shall trespass upon your kind
ness to.giye il in full.
One night Tom and had retired to the
bedroom we had built above the basement
of our little house, and l was already duE-
ing, while Tom, having carefully seen tc
the revolvers (ior ! need not tell you how
necessary they are in a country whero jus.
tice is obtained in such a rough and ready
manner), was also yielding to the drOwsy
god, when we fancied we heard something
move in the room below.
Both were quickly, though silently on the
alert, for we knew that, though not much
we had still some gold that had not been
dispatched 10 Melbourne. We knew that
somebody, acquainted with its hiding place
had, escaping our notice, secreted himself in
the csbin 10 gain possession Of it.
When we heard him move again, and al
we correctly thought, he had gained our hid
den nuggets, we crswled silently to the hole
that gave entry to our little bedroom aud
looked down.
All was dark, yet We could see the dim
outline Of man moving hither and thitheI
as though he knew every inch Of the ground
be trod Now, we knew he would be Ger
tain U carry arms aud so we had h lie ex-
eeedingly cautious.
Tom ooOlly placed an old fgT hat oR I