The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-02-10
A Timely Arrival.

aunt and uncle. My childhood passed
merrily enough until was about eight,
when my uncle, hearing of the Austria
llan gold fields, determined TO seek a
fortune abroad, instead of toiling for
mere pittance at home.
So 1 was transferred to family by the
name of Graham. They were middle
class, plain, homely people-working
goldsmiths, In fact-and lived In North
ampton Square, Clerkenwell.
They had but one child n daughter,
named Lilly, who, being only three
years younger than myself, we became
great friends. 1t was natural also that
as grew up and went proudly out to
earn my few shillings a week and drew
nearer to manhood, should learn to
love my pretty playfellow.
Circumstances went on thus happily
until | was twenty and Lilly seventeen
years of age, and then u communication
from my uncle in Australia informed me
that they had capital opening for me.
was 10th to leave Lilly; yet as was
doing very indiflerently and had heard
of such rapid fortunes acquired in such
short pace of time by energetic men, L
summoned enough courage one day to
tell the Grahams and poor little Lilly l
was determined to go to Australia.
shall never forget my parting at
Blackwell Pier. l shall never forget my
pretty little Lilly clinging to my neck,
and sobbing aloud and imploring me not
to go, and L, struggling between the in
fuence of love and enterprise, trying not
to be coward, when 1 felt already that
was one.
1t was in vain tried to cheer her;
think did not look SO very comforting,
though, If 1 remember rightly l recol-
lect saying:
Never mind, Lilly darling, shall
return to make you happyl"
My tears, knew, were threatening to
break the feeble barriers that held them
back, and when she said:
"Ah but suppose you never do return
shall break my heart, Robert |"
Il
50, only to keep her company.
AT last the boat pushed1o and Mrs.
Graham-good, kind, old soul l-still
kept her arms around Lilly, as she wav-
ed her final adieu to her orphan protege
Iarrived at last at Melbourne. L went
miles overland, and at last reached my
uncle's settlement; but l had not long
been there ere L found life in Australia
less easy than had anticipated. stay
ed with him for little while, until /
took dislike to farming-for that was
what my uncle had made most of his
money at-and Joined party of young
fellows starting for new gold field
farther up the country.
Three years passed slowly away, and
began to get along much better, and
had sent many nugget to Melbourne.
had only received one dear, cherished
letter from Lilly, written on her eigh-
teenth birthday, and sending me a lock
of her pretty chestnut hair; yet L
thought had no cause to fear, as knew
lhob WllbAhS lCbtCio uCCo NV BlNO JOunR
ladies half the joy of receiving then, and
l wrote often enough.
Well, time went on. l had found
true friend about my own age, and we
were like brothers. We always worked
together, and when we had been out four
years and Il half Tom Thompson, for
that was the name of my faithful friend,
and l were getting rich
Il knew that was nearer home and
more likely to gain my dear little Lille
every month l worked; but also was
aware of the desperate crimes and terri
bic deeds that were being committed
around us by the rangers and other viii
lains. l knew that our reputation was
as dangerous rs gratifying.
One night Tom and L had retired to
the bedroom we had built above the
basement Of our little house, and was
already DOING, while Tom having care
fully seen to the revolvers (for l need
not tell you how necessary they are in
country where justice is obtained in such
rough and ready manner) was also
yielding to the drowsy god, when we
fancled we heard something move in the
room below.
Both were quickly, though silently on
the alert, for we still had some gold that
had not been dispatched to Melbourne.
We knew that somebody, acquainted
with its hiding place, had, escaping our
notice, secreted himself in the cabin to
gain possession of it.
When we heard him move again and,
AS we correctly thought he had gained