The record-union., 1892-11-19
PORNYTH'N HARVEST.
CHAPTER ].

mans Town, bringing young vic
back with him, greatly to the astonish-
ment of his numerous friends and ac-
quaintances.
Fancy old Val falling victim," said
Terence O'Brien, as he Iounged on the
veranda of the Kimberley Club; such
wideawake fellow as he always seemed. 1
can't understand it,"
Don't try to, Terry; it might be too
much for you, especially with the ther-
mometer at eighty in the shade." said
another man languidly.
And such simple little thing as she
looked, too," went on Terry, not needing
the interruption; ''au bread and butter,
white muslin and blue sash-hguratively
OF course, / mean"
Don't trouble to explain yourself we
understand those beautiful flowers Of
speech which spring from your 100 iervid
Irish fancy. That Is the only thing Ire
land suffers from in my opinIou-Ioo
much Imagination"
ION, drop it, Graham murmured an
eNhausted-looking youth, one of the pill
ars of the civil service, who had just
looked in from an afternoon spent in
hot, stutfy court, interpreting native evil
dence, and who noticed the flash that
sprang TO OBrien's eyes. This isn't
the time to discuss politics. Did either
Of you fellows look at Val just now?"
Il was too much occupied with the
BRIDE" said Terry, who recovered his
temper as quickly as he lost it. she had
nice little face Of her own. l shall make
point Of calling early"
IS, looked at the deluded creature"
said the man who had been called q ra-
ham, as he took a deep draught OF local
WHISKY and soda, "and l never saw u
man look i1iptilQllN- bab,v nv
when he turned round for moment as
they drove past, he positively beamcd,"
and he emplIed his glass with an express
sion Of utter disgust.
Yes, SO he did, ? said the civil service
youth with giggle. And old Nal, too,
W by, that weary smile of his would have
done for one Of Ouida's heroes"
An, well, another good man gone
wrong; let's 90 anu knock the balls about
bit while we chant a De PrOfundis
over him. Pm sick OF watching the dust
flying down the road, and dinners not to
be thought Of yet for another hour"
I'm not SO sure" said Terry musiug-
ly, when the Two men had taken them
selves of 10 the biliiard-roOm. and he
was left alone. Pm not so sure that it's
bad thing to be married in a place like
this. Since l came up here Pve been
losing my native mOdesty with startling
st. Kevin himself wouldn't stand Il
chance. And that reminds mel won
der how the Borlase will take this?
q Whewn' and he gave low, prolonged
whistle.
Meanwhile Valentine Forsyth and his
young wife had arrived at their destina-
ton, house on the outskirts OF the town,
standing in a dusty compound. sur
rounded by a corrugated iron fence,
which shone with painful brIlliance in
the sun.
When he left for his holiday he had had
no intention oi returning a married man,
or even an engaged one, although he had
met Angela Ward before, and been
strongly attracted by her. The second
meeting intensified the impression lett
by the first, and the calui. impassiVe
lnan, carried out Of himself by tins new,
strange passion that held him in its
thrall, did his W0Oing in 50 gentle and
tender yet masterIula 4 fashion, that his
bride was won before she had scarcely
realized her danger. Mrs. Ward was re-
luctant To part with her only child, espe-
cially in so hasty a fashion, but Nalen-
tine eventually succeeded in overcoming
all obstacles. How could he manage 0
exist for a wear without Angela? He
could not expect any more leave for an
other twelve months. Why could they
not have quiet little wedding now-he
Olu not want any tuSs-and 20 back to
Kimberley together! And when Mrs
Ward, as last resource, asked where he
was going TO take Angela-she could
hardly share his bachelor quarters at the
Club-he triumphantiy settled that Ques-
ton by saying that he knew OF a house
that would Just suit them, and he was
only waiting for her consent to write to
his old friend, Dr. Stannard to take it
and get it properly furnished for him.
Angela won't mind things being d
do E,rr I To-, IL
her tenderly; I'VE shall have plenty OF
time to put them straight later on.''
And Angela seemed perfectly content
But" remarked Mrs. Ward, recogniz-
ing that she had better give in with a good
grace, and liking Mr. Forsyth for his own
sake, and aware that he would be a good
match for her daughter. "have YOU not
any lady friend who would manage this
for you? 1t seems more a woman's work
than mans the furnishing part, at all
eVents'
"Oh, l dare say there are plenty of Ia
dies in Kimberley who would be kind
enough to arrange everything for me-.
he said, with the ghost OF a smile, but l
think I'd rather ask old Jim Stannard
than any one else"
So it happened that when, after a briei
honeymoon, Valentine brought his wife
TO her new hOme-which rejoiced in the
misnomer of the Retreat Tor it stood al
AAAOob Oil AlAG Lt AetAi VIII itlb DdEG AGlUt
ON one side, and with nothing but two OF
three sickly lime trees behind which il
could make any pretenSe of "retreatinp''
it showed rather fOrcibly the lack of a
Woman's hand in the interior arrange
mentS.
For moment, perhaps, contrasting it
with the dainty little home OF her girl
hood, Angela may have been smitten
with dismay, but ii so she recovered her
self almost Immediately; and when DR.
Stannard, who had stood ready TO wei
come them as they drove up, apologiZed
humbly for all the short comings, saying
that he was only an unfortunate bachelor
and had not had much experience in such
matters, she smiled upon him SO prettiIv
as she gave him her hand and thanked
him for all the trouble me had taken. that
he iOrgaVe her on the spot for having
robbed him of his old chum, and took uT
the cudgels warmly on her behalf when
his lady patients put him through a
severe cross-eNaminatiOn the next morn
ing.
And you think you'll be able to make
yourself happy here, darling?" asked
Valentine when, dinner over, the doctor
had said good night, and he was lying on
the veranda on rug Of jackal skins at the
feet OF his young wife. Pm afraid YOU
will find it very different from your quiet
life al Graham's Town"
''Of course l shall be happy here. Won
ridiculous boy; are not You here? And
shall ENJOY little life and gavety after
leading the existence OF a country mouse,
You will see, sir, in course OF lime. vour
wife may become one OF the leaders OF
Kimberley society,"
1.-THE saints foreiendl" calculated Val
entine. looking up with an expression OF
half real, half comic dismay. 1t was
rather weary looking face as rule. ljt
up only by pair OF brilliant blue ewes
but tonight it was so sottened and beau