The morning call., 1890-11-28
BY.:.STRANGE PATHS
CHAPTER /.

:EsS; lonely lodgings in one of the London
.subtlfbs.' His, head and heart were aching,
= and. tears. which weuld not be suppressed
:: started every now and again in his eyes.
For gears Fred had loved pretty school
Hiistr9sS-CTace :Huutley-and now he was
:; about to be separated from her forever.
:. Her passage TO Australia had been paid for
. by her only relative, bachelor uncle. who
was the Proprietor If large sheep run in
:: the colony. Fred was poor-yery poor-and
: .knew:it was entirely out of the question for
. himeto gowith his sweetheat TO the "land of
promise.
= ga gentleman-ir your sittingroom wish
ing: ii. see you, sir" announced his landlady,
= rs Fred entered the house; been waiting
: these hours; sir" e.:
.. TIE yisit6r.was his old school-chum, Jack
; Raiehtan, who had seen almost every large
seaport III the word.
-" ieilo, old fellow" said Jack: "You do
. look gloomy tonight What on earth's The
: matter? In l0re and been Tilted, eh? Come,
let rs into the secret, so that may sympa-
thize with you"
=. Fred fecounted his tale Of woe.
: And when is the fair charmer to leave
= Engiand?"
"on. Wednesday in the ship Southern
Cross
=. you don't say so. Why, that is the ship
: 1 have just got berth on as second mate.
Handsome, full-rigged ship, bound for sgd
:. ney. Never fear, old fellow, l will not let
Miss Oracle forget you during the voyage at
= all events, and will look we'll after her ma.
terial. comforts, you bet. Rich old nnele,
:. didn't you say? Truly this will be jolly
"trip for your humble servant"
A bright thought had crossed Fred's mind.
Did Jack think lie could get chance of
=: working bis passage out.
Jack would see what he could do. So it
came to pass on the next day that Fred
- signed articles for the outward voyage and
Jack was introduced to Miss Grace Huntley.
An impartial observer might have said that
Jack Bateman was just a little too irqulsl
tive respecting the affairs of Miss Gracie's
bachelor uncle, ard truly in his innermnst
heart Jack had decided by fair means or
=: foul 10 win the hand of Miss Huntley.
=. A week later the Southern Cross was sail
ing gently down the English Channsl. The
tug-boat and pilot had said tlieir last God
speed" and but for the numerous vessels
outward and Inward bound that were being
constantly passed the Southern Cross
. might have been at sea for long time. The
setting sun gave a good promise of fair
o. weather, and the captain was emboldened
to give orders for "All hands to set every
sail"
Come with ME. Fred, and will initiate
d you into the mysteries of unfurling," said
Jack, as he scaled the main-riggiDg. Fred
followed as best he conld. Having reached
the topgalant yard, Jack looked down for
his compa ion. AS he did so he noticed
Miss Huntiey on tile deck. Then came the
Wicked thought, '"Oh, if this lubber was
only out of the way l might gain a pretty
and rich wife" The thought deepened un-
tilt became stern intention, and eventu-
ally realized idea. Poor Fredhad scarcely
reached his place On The yard-arm when the
1Oot-rope beneath him slackened; he Slipped
and Tell headloHg Into the sea-
Man oyeIboardp the cry rang forth.
The. boats. WERE put cut, but the gathering
darkness made their search futile.
= CHAPTER II.
=: g.. The best laid nlans of mice and men
-. ;. Gang aft aglee.-Burns.
.*.Fo. days after this sad event Miss Grace
:Huntley. a'as rarely. seen outside her cabin
. e door: Anxious inquiries were made con-
:eeIhins. her health every morning by the
. -seeohti mate, AID every possible comfort
.,was:s howered upon her by the other officers
of the vessel. By and by, however. the
N6nng lady showed herself, anu long before
- The Ship had arrived at the beautiful harb0r'
Of Sydnry Jack Bateman had come to be
her .ac kup wltdged favorte.
=, AT length the great Australian capital
> was rraghed. and in the morning dawn of
:. one: OF thnSe. gbOriously clear November
=; days; " llich axe found only at the Antpodes
!: tile: Snuthern Cross was lowed past the
-. Heads thrQugh that magnificent winding
:. hab6T ta her quay berth.
-: -N0body seemed at all surprised that the
::secend mate should accompany Miss Hunt
:: 10y t.. tie. hutel where her uncle was to meet
: her;
:. Old MI. Huntley welcomed his niece with
every sign Of affection, but there was evil
dence Of great SORROW upon his face, and he
looked extremely haggard and unwel.
-.:Whai is the matter uncle ?" Grace asked,
e; with strayfge forebodingS.
See DEAR cbiid, for yourself" the old
gentlsman answered, as he pushed copy Of
the Sydney Mail toward her. and specifically
polntPd out an advertisement announcing
the compulsory sale of a valuable sheep
run, only 600 miles from Brisbane, etc.,
etc."
''Surelr this does not refer to you. uncle?"
Il regret TO say it does, child. Great drop
In The price of wool, sad losses through
:. foods, heavy bank interest for loans; such
are the fortunes OF colonial life! But cheer
-up,.lass. we will struggle along to respect
able independence yet If fate Will be only
=. little. more kind"
:. During this conversation Jack Bateman
had been listening iptently. Now he took
=: Gpfhe paper, and after reading the sale ad-
veTtisement he turned to the news. There
: his eyes lighted on paragraph with the
headings: Discovery of a new Gold-Fieid
in Queensland. Sensational Stories of Rapid
Fortunes. Great Excitement. Stampede for
-. the Diggings."
=. Jack read the paragraph with increasing
:. interest: What strange stories there were
:Of penniless beggars suddenly becoming the
',pOssessors of immense wealth! 1t did not
take much reading to excite his avaricious
propensltIes, and III very short time he had
Resolved to forsake both his ship and his
now fortuneless lady-loye for his chance at
the diggings
:, This project he Immediately put into exc
cution, and ere two days were passed he was
passenger on the Brisbane steamer. At
: the northern metropolis he joined one of
the numerous caravans tound for the new
gOld-fleid. Dame Fortune smiled upon him,
and his success as miner became the talk
OF the whole camp. His "claim yielded
q wonderful store, and when he had glutted
bis avarice to the full, he deposited his
hnaings with the Government agent for safe
convoy to Brisbane An enormous sum was
received as tie price Of his deserted claim,
and then he determined to return to the
:. haunts of civilization.
For the purpose Of obtaining some neces-
saIy requirements for his journey he visited
one oil the shanty stores. There he met
with surprise. He was not mistaken.
Beside him stood, purchasing a revolver and
ammunition-Fred Wilton
Mutual recognition led to mutual explana-
= ton. Fred told how he lad been rescued
from floating spar on the morning follow
. ing his fall overheard from the Southern
Cross by the steamer Rufus; how. that YES
= eel had brought him on to Brisbane, and
that in the first rush he had come to the
=: diggiDgs. and had been very successful; in
= conclusion. he expressed his perfect willing
ness TO forgive Jack the wicked attempt he
had made 10 get him out OF the way, and he
:. had to thank heaven that the sin OF mur-
;. Der did not rest on his soul"
=. Jack instantly changed front at this accu-
" satlon, and said he had never even thought
:. eI such thing Why SHOULD Fred imagine
: -: he was in his way9 tVoc n nuar tbat ~,
" eEty-strieken Miss Huntley2 If SO, Fred
was perfectly welcome to that lady's affec-
tons.
Fred, not willing to cause a disturbance.
!: knowing only too well what the consequences
might be in such community, endeavored
:: to make friends. Before the night closed in