The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-05-14

collected a crowd of diggers, who be- /
gan extinguishing the flames. 1
To one cause alone could be attrib-
uted the attack-robbery, and one Of /
the laws among the respectable diggers
is mutual protection. Thus a guard /
was instantly formed to protect Philips. /
property. while he still insenSible, was (
borne to a neighboTing tent.
The wound proved Of far less dan,
gerOus character than the Jew had
imagined Indeed. it was not serious, /
though Philip Bathurst must give up
gOld-digging for some time. Isaac
Lewis at once constituted himself his:
nurse, taking his place by his bedside.
1t was near dawn when Philip, his
senses clearer, said, regarding the Jew
fixedlv:
Isaac. owe my life to you. But for
you | must have fallen a victim TO those
scoundrels plans to blow me into fTag-.
ments. Yet l am in fog. Tell me
Nothing" -" interrupted the Jew, with.
a quick glance round at the other Occu-,
pants of the tent. - YoU must not talk,
but shleep. Wait. MishteT Bathurst;-
ven you are better you may spheak."
The words were accompanied by
Perforce Philip had to obey; but no
sooner did those who had given him
shelter depart for their days work, than
he exclaimed;
y OW. Isaac. may / speak,
'Eesh. ! viii answer
They talked for a long time, indeed,
until they were interrupted.
"And you have no definite proof as to
who these men are, though you suS~
pect?' asked Philip.
mo- replied the Jew. "But-hushl" Z
he hastily interrupted himself Some
body iSh coming . ...
1t was the third day after the attack,
and Philip was growing restless under
confinement when Isaac brought him q
letter that had beenzsent on 10y the colon
mel. lie instantly recognized the writ
ing Of. the BathurStS. SOLICITOR, WIN
whom he had kept up communication.
Eagerly he tore it open, and read these
brief sentences:
MY DEAR Mr.. PHuIP:-Y our uncle has had
fit. He is much enteebled. lie has Tor Ine
first time made inquiry respecting you. The
doctor says it is doubtful if he can live six
. months Come hack at once Won ought not TO
be so far away. From what I can judge, am
sure he is softeniug toward you Come. IN
haste, mail just starting. yours i4i'hiq-y, ,Ign
/ Isaac" exclaimed Philip, rising up,
wound or no, [ must get back to
I Shady Greek, and from thence to Eng
land" I
England"
/ recalls me. l must lose no time. Pray
/ procure me a horse. Ny gold l viii
/ leave in your care"
Your gold you will take With YOU"
/ answered the Jew. IF You are fit to
travel you are not fit to do so alone. l
shall go too"
Philip grasped his hand. I
you are friend indeed, - he eJacu-
lated. =
Isaac Lewis made no reioinder, but
. fastened from the tent.
He had soon everything prepared, but
50 secretly that none but two or three
knew OF the projected departure; for
/ the jew said, as they had failed to Sc
cure the Villains who had fired the tent,
: they might, for all they knew, be hover
/ ing somewhere in the ranges, and
might lie in ambush for the two.
Thus at about midnight, when all
was Still, aud the moon only beginning
to throw silyery lines down the hillside,
Philip Bathurst quilted the camp, pro-
Ceeding to a cIump of trees by the river,
where Isaac Lewis waited with the
loaded horses.
Before dawn they were far on their
way to Shady Greek. a-..
There are few medicines as eficacious
as good news.
Philip. in the thought Of again see
ing Flo, felt little of his wound. Be
sides. how bright. possibly, now was
. his future. 1t must not be imagined
that he, even remotely, rej0iced that
his uncle'S days were numbered. He,
4 IItlttti. prayed tIdJ ilttN were HDJ- BUJ,
If he would only once more acknOwl-
edge him as his heir, then there would
be no need to dig up fortune before
/ Colonel Granger would consent TO his
marriage with his niece. -.-..
On the morning of their arrival at the
station, Flo sat at work in the Verandah
with her aunt, while Herbert Archer
stood near in conversation, Ticking his
boot with his riding-whip and his dark
eyes fixed on Flo, watching the delicate
curve of her throat, the rose flush on
her check.
After he had won her pity, and his
rival had departed, he had been fre-
quent guest at the station.
His manner, however, had been so
respectful and unObtruSive. that anv
awkwardness Flo had felt SOON wore
Off, and she experienced for him a
greater regard than she had ever done
before.
Herbert Archer was not slow to per
ceIYe TINS and to work upon 1t, taxing
care TO make her fearless in his pres
ence under the belief that he had con-
quered that love which. in TRUTH was
consuming him as furnace the, re-
ceptacle in which it burns. .r ..,-....
Even at the present moment. wild
mad thoughts passed through his brain
of seiZing her in his arms. carrying hei
to where his horse stood at the gate
and escaping into the BUSH
Better wait for Mat, he said mental
ly; "hell do the work safest out there
if he hasn't done it already. and my
| cursed rival put in claim, none vii
care to dispute. to six foot Of earth.n
At that very moment, Mrs. Crane
throwing her head mp. and holding heI
needle high to thread it. exclaimed
'ElO, see on the hill yOnder: are not
those visitors coming TO the statiOnI
They are two horsemen coming this
l NAV annie. hIIT whether HgnpcIalI liz
visitors I cannot say. -
"They are riding FAST put in Her
bert Archer, as Flo, rising, stood by hi.
side.
With the interest of those who live
IN solitary bush stations, the tire,
watched the two rapidly approaching
Suddenly. almost inStantaneOuSly, I
change came over the features of Fix
and Herbert Archer; both of surprise
but one of joy, the other of fury
Eagerly the girl leaned forward, auy
then cried:
at is, it is! Oh. it is. auntie. See
he s-waEipg, ,his hat. 1t is Philip. lie
us meet him.
Not waitngT for their reply. hight a
bird. she ran from the verandah t,
) &c ishe, curse, irini,' rnittereti Her
bert Archer between his teeth; theI
with a bitter smile he added. Il VII
say goOd-morning. Mrs. Crane; l fee
| should be dc t5Op at this happy meet
ing
c.., Poor y09ppg [3l En- nan ,, reelected ed Aun
Tor my money. SO noble. and has takel
1 his disappointment So welL" Il
Herbert Archer strobe to the gat
and mounted his horse. $50
! Miss Granger. he said, in Il lOy
tone, 'you VIII pardon my going.