Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-18
CHAPTER XXI.
THREE MONTHS AFTERWARn.


 A hot December day, with a cloudless blue sky and sun blazing down on the earth clothed ill all the beauty of summer gar. ments Such description of snowy Decem. Der must sound strange to English ears. and hot Christmas day must strike them as be- ing as fantastic as the play in a ''Midsum- mer's Night Dream" did to Demetrius, when he remarked of it: "This is hot ice and wen, drous cold fire" But hera in Australia is the realm of topsy turvydom, and many things, like dreams, go by contraries.
 The Frettlby homestead of Yabba YalIook station was long low house, with no mn stairs, and with a wide veranda running nearly round it. Cool green blinds were hune between the pillars to keep out the sun, and all along were scattered lounging chairs of basket work, with rugs, novels, empty soda bottles and all the other evidences that Mir. Frettlby's guests had been wise and stayed inside during the monday heat. Madee was seated in one of these comfortable chairs. and divided her attention between the glowing beauty of the world outside, which she could see through narrow slit in the blind, and a new novel from Mullens lying open on her knee She was not looking we'll, for the trial through which she had passed had been very great and had left its impress of sorrow on her beautiful face In her eyes, too, usuallv SO calm. there was a troubled look as, lean ing her head upon her hands, she thought of the bitterness of the past year.
 After Brian's acquittal of the murder of Oliver Whyte she had been taken by her father up to the station, in the hope that it would restore her to health. The mental strain which had been on her during the trial had nearly brought on an attack of brain fever, but here, far from tba excitement of town life, in the quiet seclusion of the coun- try, she had recovered her health, but not her spirits. Women are more impressicnab ble than men, and 1t is perhans fer this reason that they age quicker. A trouble which would pass lightly over a man leaves an in dellble mark on woman, both physically and mentally, and the terrible episode of Whyte's murder had changed Madge from A bright and merry girl into a grave and beautiful woman. And Brian, he also had undergone change, for there were a few white hairs now amid his curly, chestnut locks, and his character, from being gay and bright, had becoms moody and irritable. After the trial he had left town immediately. in order to avoid meeting with his friends. and had gone up to his station, which was next to that of the Frettlhys. There hs worked hard all day, and smoked hard all night, thinking over the cursed secret which the dead woman had told him, and which threatened to overshadow his life Every now and then he rode aver and saw Madge, but only when he knew her father was away in Melbourne, for he seemed to have taken a dislike to the millionaire, which Madge could not help condemning as unjust. how her father had stood be- side him in his trouble But there was an- other reason why Brian kept aloaf from Yabba Yallook station, and that was he did not wish to meet any of the gay society which was theFe, knowing that since his trial he was an object of curiosity and sympathy to every one-a position which was very galling to his proud nature, At Christmas time Mr. Fret tlby had asked a lot of people up from Mel bourne, and though Madge would rather have been left alone, yet she could not refuse her father, and had to play hostess with 8 smiling brow and aching heart. Felix Rol- leston, who g manth since joined the noble army of benedictS, was there with Mrs, Rol- leston, who ruled him with a rod of iron. Having bought Felix with her money, she had determined to make good use of him, and, being ambitious to shine in Melbourne society, had insisted upon Felix studying politics, so that when the next general cleo tlon came around he could enter parliament. Felix had rebelled at first, but ultimately gave way, as he found that when he had good novel concealed among his parliament ary papers time passed quite pleasantly, and he got the reputation of a hard worker at little cost They had brought up Julia, Mrs. Rolleston's sister, with them, and this young person had made up her mind to become the second Mrs. Frettlby. rShs had not received much encouragement, but, like thu English at Waterloo, did not know when she was beaten, and carried on the siege of Mir. Frettlby's heart in an un- daunted manner. Dr. Chinston had come up Tor little relaxation, and never gave a thought to his anxious patients or the many tick rooms he was in the habit of visiting.