San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-10-05
THROUGH DANGER ;
Or
LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
PHILIP BATHURST REFUSES TO SELL
HIS LOVE.

CHATTER |.
PHILIP BATHURST REFUSES TO SELL
Ills LOVE.
with purple heather. \ fresh breeze
from the uplandS. A range of hills in
the distance. \ mile or 50 to the right.
a fine old Elizabcthan mansion, sur.
rounded by dark frs. at the base OF
which stretched a lake into which the
rocky land jutted, forming tiny head
lands and deep-blue silent creeks. De-
caSiOnally blaCk-cOCk or some other
bird would rise up from the heather and
wing its way dozen yards or so. then
drop down again to earth, or at times
continue its flight to the distant hills.
Beyond this no other moving object
broke the landscape of moor and fell,
save the figures of two men who came
tramping through the heather.
The one who walked a little in adj
vance was tall, broad ShOudeTed. mus
Cular specimen of the young English
gentleman, who had never done a DAYS
work in his life; but had gone through
no end of labor in boating, shooting,
and such like sports. His features were
handsome and manly. his complexion
hecOmingly brOnZed. his eyes of clear
blue, giving a winning expression to
the whole COuntenamCe. while glossy
rings of nut-brOwn hair clustered round
the shapely head. His attire was re-
markably well-made shooting suit, and
he carried a gun over his shoulder.
His companion, apparently of his own
age, was of lower grade in society
indeed, his dress was that of a game
keeper. a game-bag, quite empty. was
Slung over his shoulders. against which
also rested two loaded guns. For some
time there had been silence, the black
cocks had risen and flown away I'M
checked. Not bang had disturbed the
autumn air. 1t was doubtful if the
foremost sportsman had even seen the
birds as he strobe on, one hand in the
pocket of his shOOting-cOat, his brOwS
contracted, and his eyes bent on the
ground. He evidently was lost in deep
and not quite agreeable meditation.
The other more than once had glanced
in a surprised, perpleXed fashion at
him, then at the birds that rose almost
from their very feet.
At last, unable to keep quiet longer,
he remarked with comical twinkle in
his brown eyes:
Don't you think, Mr.. Phil. we should
hoNC lltiu Juob IL We VI ltlI
the bag and the powder and shot at
home? And the guns, too. for that
matter. There would have been less to
carry"
Philip Bathurst burst into a merry
peal of laughter.
Right you are, Mark, "he exclaimed:
1.-THE birds need not fear me much to-
day. The fact is, didn't come out to
shoot, | came to think, and as we can
do that as well sitting as standing, here
goes"
So saying he threw himself down
among the scented heather. AS the
gamekeeper followed his example, he
said:
Il thought there was something up,
Mr.. Phil"
Something up, indeed" exclaimed
the young master, his gaze fixed on the
mansion among the frs. "IeighO."
after pause; Il say, Mark, how would
you like to go to Australian"
Australia! Why, Mr.. Phil, I'd 90
wherever you go. But it amt likely
you are going there
Isn't it? That's all you l.uJw about
it, fOster-brother Mark, lr,Jrted Phil
ip Bathurst with an assumption of gave
ty. Know that this day promises TO
be one of the most important in my life,
that's why | came out to think; know,
Mark, that before yOnder jOlly-faced
sun sets and rises again, Phillip Bath
urst, reputed heir of his uncle, Charles
BathurSt-may be homeless, compare
lively penniless wanderer.
You, Mr.. Phil; that's one of your
jokes, sir"
"A joke, Mark, which I'm coming to
think will turn out serious earnest.
Tonight may see the doors of Bathurst
closed on mel being outside, not in"
"Surely, Mr.. Phil, you're mad or in
love-"
mot more mad than man is general
ly, Mark; as TO love-well-p'raps that s
nearer the point. There, old fellow,
don't grin. Pom my word, I'm not
jesting; listen, and I'll tell you all
about it. You're aware that Sir Ken
yon McCrea has a daughter?n
"YOu can't be in love with her, Mr..
PHILIP"
mo, Mark; but my not being in love
makes no difference with my uncle. He
has boarded, and saved, and made all
his lifetime, and now he has set his
s.5art on my marrying an heiress, that
~ b Ocnttnusd]