The Princeton union., 1880-01-21
NEARLY TOOLATE.

but was brought up bysa kind aunt and
uncle. My childhood passed merrily
enough until was about eight when nv
uncle hearing Of the Australian gold
fields, determined to seek a fortune
abroad, instead of tolling for a mere pit
tance at home.
So I was transferred to family by
the name of Graham. They were mid
dle-class, PLAIN, homely people--work-
ing goldsmiths, in fact-and lived in
Northampton Square, Clerkenwell.
They had but one child, daught er
named Lilly, and she 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 week, and drew
nearer to manhood, l should learn to love
my pretty little playmate.
circumstances went on thus happily
until [ was twenty and Lilly seventeen
years of age, and then communication
from my uncle in Australia informed me
that they had a capital opening for me.
I was 10th to leave Lilly; yet, as 1 was
doing very indiferently and had heard
of such rapid fortunes acquired In such
short spaces of time by energetic men, ]
summoned enough courage to tell the
Grahams and poor Lilly that I was de-
termined to go to Australia.
I shall never forget our parting at
Blackwell Pier. I shall never forget my
pretty little Lilly cllnging to nv neck
and sobbing aloud, and implo1ing me not
to go, and I, struggling between love and
fru ,nk tN In,
when felt already that was one.
1t was IN vain that tried to cheer her.
think did not look so very comfort
ing, though, if remember ri gbtly, re-
collect saying:
"Never mind, Lilly darling, shall re-
turn some day and make you grand
lady. 1 shall be sure to succeed, and
shall return to make you happy!''
My tears, I knew, were threatening to
break the feeble barriers that held them
back, and when she said:
"Ah, but suppose you never do return
1t shall break my heart, Robert''
Why, then I think did shed tear or
so; only to keep her company.
At last the boat pushed of, and Mrs.
Graham-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. Invent
miles overland, and at last reached nv
unclc's settlement, but l was not long
there ere I found life in Australia less
easy than | had anticipated. 1 STAYED
with him for a little time, until 1 took &
dislike to tarming-for that was what
my uncle had made most of his money at
and joined party of young fellows
starting for a new gold field farther up
the country. -
Three years passed slowly away, and I
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 eighteenth
birthday, and sending me lock of her
pretty chestnut hair; yet I thought 1
had no cause to fear, as knew that writ
ing letters does not give young ladies
half the joy of receiving them, and I
wrote often enough. "
Well, time went on. / had found a
stanch, true friend about my own age,
and we were like brothers. We always
worked together, and when we had been
four years and half, Tom Thompson
for that was the name of my faithful
friend and were getting rich.
knew that I was nearer home, and
more likely to gain my dear little Lilly
every month I worked; but I also was
also aware of the desperate deeds and
terrible crimes that were being commit
ted around us by the rangers and other
Williams. I knew that our reputation was
as dangerous as gratifying; and so it
was; perhaps should not mention the
incident, as it seems to prolong part of
the story that needs most brevity hut, as
it bears directly upon the ultimatum OF
the tale, shall trespass upon your kind
ness to give it in full.
One night Tom and [ had retired to
the bedroom we had built above the base
rnent OF our little house, and I was al
ready doing, while Tom, having careful
ly seen to the revolvers [for I need not
tell you how necessary they are in q
country where justice is obtained IN such
a rough and ready manner), was also
yielding to the drowsy god, when we