Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-09-08
Mr.. NELSON'S WILL.
by Ii. RIDER HAGGARD.
CHAPTER v.
THE n. N. s. KANGAROO.

mighty vessel was steaming majestlcally
out of the mouth of the Thames and shap-
ing her imposing course straight at the
ball of the setting sun. Most people viii
remember reading descriptions of the
steamship Kangaroo. and being astonished
at the power of her engines. the beauty OF
her fittings. and the extraordinary speed
about eighteen knots-which she de
veloped in her trials. with an unusually
low expenditure of coal For the benefit
of those who have not, however, it may
be stated that the Kangaroo, the Little
kangaroo, as she was ironically named
among sailor men, was the very latest de-
velopment of the science of modern ship
building. Everything about her, from
the electric light and boiler tubes up. was
on new and patent system.
Quicker and quicker she sped along and
spurned the churning water from her
swift sides. She was running under o
full head of steam now, and the coast line
of England grew faint and low in the
faint, low light. till at last it vanished
from the gaze Of a tall, slim girl, who
stood forward, clinging to the starboard
bulwark netting and looking with deep
gray eyes ccross the waste Of waters.
Presently Augusta, for 1t was she, could
see tho shore no more. and turned to
watch the other passengers and think.
She was sad ct heart, poor girl, and felt
what she was-a very waif upon the sea
of life. Not that she had much to regret
upon tho vanished coast line A little
grave with white cross over it-that was
all She had left no friends to weep for
her. none. But even as she thought it C
recollection rose up in hermind Of Eustace
Nelson's pleasant, handsome face. and of
his kind words, and with it came pang
as she reflected that. in all probability,
she would never see the one nor hear the
other again Why, she wondered, had he
not come to see her againf She should
have liked to bid him good by. and had
half mind to send him a note and tell
him of her going. This. on second
thought, however, she had decided not
to do; for one thing, she did not know
his address, and-weli. there was an end
of IT,
Could she by the means of clairvoyance
have seen Eustaceis face and heard his
words. she would have regretted her de-
cision. For even as that great vessel
plunged on her fierce way right into the
heart Of the gathering darkness. he was
standing at the door of the lodging house
in the little street in Birmingham.
'Gonel" he was saying. Miss Smithers
gone to New Zealandi What is her ad
dress?'
''She didn't leave no address, sir,r re
plies the dirty maid of all work with
grin, ''She went from here two days
ago, and was going on to the ship in
London"
What wns the name of the ships" he
asks. in despair.
"Kan-Kon-Conger-eel," replies the
girl in triumph. and shuts the door in his
face.
Poor Eustacei he had gone to London
TO try and get some employment, and
having after some difficulty succeeded in
obtaining a billet as reader in Latin,
French and English to publishing house
of good repute at the salary of ESQ &
year, he had hurried back to Birmingham
for the sole purpose of seeing Miss Au.
grlsta Smithers, with whom. IL the whole
truth must be told, he had. 10 his credit
be it said. fallen deeply. truly and VIC
iently in love. Indeed, so far was he in
this way gone that he had determined to
make all the progress that he could and,
If he thought that there was any prospect
of success. to declare his passion
Pity poor young mani To come from
London to Birmingham 10 WOO ones gray
eyed mistress, in a third class carriage,
too, and find her gone to New Zealand.
whittier circumstances prevented him
from following her. without leaving a
word or line. or even an address behind
heri 1t was too bad. Well. there was
no remedy in the matter; so he walked to
the railway station and groaned and
swore all the way back TO London
Augusta, on board the Kangaroo, was,
however. in utter ignorance of this act of
devotion on the part of her admirer; in
deed, she did not even know that he was
her admirer. Feeling curious sinking
sensation within her. she was about 10 go
below to her cabin. which she shared
with lady's maid. not knowing whether
ito attribute it to sentimental qualms in
,cidental TO her lonely departure from the
land of her birth, or to other qualms con
nected with u first experience of life upon
the ocean wave. About that moment,
however. burly quartermaster ad-
dressed her in gruff tones and informed
her that if she wanted to see the last of
'''hold Halbion" she had better go aft a
bit, and look over the port side and she
would see the something or other light.
Accordingly. more to prove to herself
Iilll sue WIS uOl StdSlCh llhu iOf any
other reason, she did so; and. standing
as far aft as the second class passengers
were allowed to 60, stared at the quick
flashes of the light house as. second by
second, they sent their message across
the great waste of sea
As she stood there. holding on to a
astanchion to steady herself, for the yes
sci. large as she was. had begun to get
bit of roll on. she was suddenly aware
of bulky figure of q man. which came
running. or rather reeling. against the
bulwarks alongside of her, where it--or
rather he-was instantly and violently
sick. Augusta was, not unnaturally, al
most Mortified into following the figures
example. when, suddenly growing faint
or from some other cause. it loosed its
hold and rolled into the scuppers, where
it lay feebly swearing. Augusta, obeying
a tender impulse of humanity. hurried
forward and stretched out the hand of
succor and presently. between her help
and that of the bulwark nettings, the
man struggled to his feet. As he did SO
his face came close to hers, and In the dim
light she recognized the fat, coarse feat
ures, now blanched with misery, of Mr..
Meeson. the publisher. There was no
doubt about it; it was heTenemy-the
man whose behavior had indirectly, as she
believed, caused the death of her little
sister. She dropped his hand with an ex
-clamation of disgust and dismay. and as
she did so be recognized who she was.
"Hallool'' he said, with faint and
rather feeble attempt to assume his fine
old crusted publishing company manners.
..Hallool Miss Jemima-Smithers, mean;
what on earth are you doing herer' :.
Il am going to New Zealand. Mr.. Nee
son." she answered sharply, ''and GER
tainly did not expect TO have the pleasure
of your company ON the voyage"
"Going to New Zealand" he said, 'are
your Why. so am l; at least. am going