The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-05-07
THROUGH DANGER;
% r.
LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.
CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.
Marks SUSPICIOUS INCREASE.
In the joyous excitement of meeting
Philip again Florence had almost for
gotten Herbert Archer's proposal. and
Jne alarm and Indignation it had Occa-
stoned her. She had had neither time
nor opportunity to acquaint either her
aunt or uncle with what had occurred,
and the blow on her temple which
might, by being remarked, have led up
TO n, was concealed by her hair.
When. therefore. in her own chamber
she recalled the events of the day. both
her alarm and indignation We're mOdi-
fed. How could She feel alarm. with
Philip, now her acknowledged be-
trothed, near to protect her? And her
own exceeding happiness made her eX-
perlence pity for the suffering of one
whose fault was loving her too ardently.
rejecting upon it. she deemed it the
greatest kindness to her discarded lover
merely to state he had proposed and
been refused, without entering upon
the manner of his proposal, which she
felt, by arOusing her uucle'S scOrn. if
not anger, would shut the doors of
Shady Creek against him for ever. AS
to Philip Bathurst, when he awoke the
next morning. he found it at first rather
difficult to believe that he was really
under the same roof as Florence; and,
what was more, her accepted lover with
her uncle S consent. There was only
one obstacle to be overcome before he
made her his wife-the getting enough
TO keep wife upon.
But l don't despair Of that" f" he ex-
claimed, as he Sprang up. What men
have done surely can l, and III not let
the grass grow beneath my feet either.
II once l can bag enough nuggets to-
buy station and stock it, III work like
the shepherd kings of old. and withthe
cOlOneIs experience and advice, viii
soon get sufficiently extensive sheep
run TO make my sweet Flo mistress of. -
Charles Bathursts anger against his
nephew had been so extreme that his
dlsInherltance had been pItiless, and he
had refused him the smallest assistance
to commence his new life upon.
"tTO and work if you will" he had
exclaimed. .-and if your white hands
prove unfit. staTve-dOvOu understand?
-starve. / VIII not help you.
If will and energy be present, D." Phil
lp had rejOiued quietly, the hands,
however white. that can pull an oar or
handle rifle, can use spade or pick,
and the fortune So gained viii be sweet
er than the one obtained by dependence
and the sale of ones liberty"
''E hope Won viii find il so. g." was the
sucCTiEg ret0rt.
"Nhe.LerL do or no, of course viii
not matter co YOU went on Philip. I
may Derisn I'm The bush or sUccumb to
fever mt the digging; but be assured of
this Uncle HgtuUrst..I win staTve and
die before / viii ask You for one shilling
to prevent either
So they had parted. Philip had
packed his pOrtmauteau, and that very
night had slept In his fOSter-bTOthoT,S
cottage. and the next morning had com
meuced their new life with just a hun
dred and fifty pounds between them.
The spirit of wisdom and economy at
once had seized Philip, who had pre-
pared the most serviceable Of outfits,
and as now he looked in the glass, after
eXpending an extra quarter Of an hour
over his toilet. he laughed heartily in
comparing his brOnzed bearded self
with the aTistOcratic young gentleman
who had saunteTed away life at Brigh-
ton.
s'What do I care?" he thought; "this
existence is far more manly; 1t seems to
give one q better right to live, and | II
wager it makes no difference in my dar-
Ing's love. HallOI there she is fitting
among her flowers like a butterfly.
What a slugTard she VIII think me-
And. with a last glance at himself in
the glass, he ran downstairs. There IS,
however, many a slip 'twiXt cup and
lin. and on reaching the verandah Phil
ip found that Flo had disappeared; but
the colonel was there. on the point of
pavinC a visit to the StOck-yard. to
which he persisted in carrying off his
guest, who had to consent. though he
cast a wistful glance round for her be
had lOnged to see.
Only a few seconds before his appear
ance Flo had passed from the garden
into miniature wilderness of bushes
to gather some large brOnZe-hued leaves
with which to surround her flowers, bel
dog trOtting by her side.
As she stopped to gather them, low
growl and then bark OF welcome
caused her to raise her head, and she
stepped quickly back upon perceiving
Herbert Archer within two PAGES OF her
"NIr. ArCher." she calculated.
MY presence, l perceive, IS as dis
tasteful as unWelcOme, he SAID sadly
almost humbly Il knew it would be
thus. Yet I could not help but come
Florence. | have been waiting this Op
pOrtunitv to speak to you, to crave
Your pardOn-fOT-fOr- my words OF
yesterday.
merit II. - she responded COldlv.
Il know it. I know not what pos
scssed me ! was mad-mad with love,
he calculated No, no. do not fear;
no longer urge that; I am aware of my
fate. and accept it. There IS another
more fortunate than another to whom
l must give pace tlH't-ri- WHO - y
receive your smiles. your careSses Sti5
while have but your coIi lIoWns. On
did you but know lle VIZ. t3iled !llsIiC my.
have passed. ' Lo proceeded passionate
". '.frnn the remembrance of the las
look y9a gave me, from l.e htioWLeqg WI, 9 3
lh3l aaa oil1Ily'. y" ,.,t !, - .
.love-you would ply me. ,'lil-:T ~ pea ,,
1t: such &nol'sf hi--tJ "oula IN 7I-,IEi. LLiT
Florence 1 am mere I'd pray 70 lullOI,
I antreat pardon. DO not refuse"
lie La3 flung himself at her feet, anC