The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-10
MISS HELEN.
Her Part in an Australian Miners
Pathetic Romance.

hoWOy! LIS no worn LOT 1U--COO gen
+, teel by half. We were as wicked set
(, at our diggin's, as New South Wales
could show-no Slight thing. If tn,
worlds kettle had been set Oh the boil
we'd have come to the top as prime
scum-truth, and no lie, mate. Bu
amongst us was man dubbed "the
| squire" because, though he Jared like
the rest of US, lived and dressed just as
| we did, yet there was that in him which
stamped him as of quite a different
breed. Swells out Of luck are to be
found by the bushel in Australia; still
l never came upon his double before or
since. Runor went that he was bar.
onet at home in England, but had been
forced to cut and run; SO he tried New
South Wales and the gold diggin's, bent
on succeeding.
l found him at Green Valley creek
when l reached it; we worked not far
off each other. can't say liked him.
though he was wonderfully quiet and
civil spoken, but cold as ice, and hard
as nails; chap who was never tired,
and who never gave in, but plodded on
and on towards his own end, whatever
that might be. But silent as he was,
and selfish, he opened out bit to me-
pra'aps because, though I-didn;t; set up
either for a swell Or saint, I wasn't
quite so bad as the worst in Green Val
ley Creek. / had been respectfully
brought up, the son of a small farmer
in Kent; but l didn't go in for respect
ability myself; it never agreed with
me; SO / was sent adrift at last with
fifty pounds in my pocket, and the
world before NE. There was a fresh
stampede towards Australia at the
time, and 1 joined the general rush
and scramble; and, as say, when I
had settled down at my claim 1.-The
squire" and l scraped up sort of
friendship
He did not live alone; his daughter
was with him, though how and when
she reached him none knew; she had
reached him, and bore her strange life
as best she might. They dwelt in
small shanty in the midst Of many
pines, poor, rough place, far apart
from the other huts; queer frame for
such a stately picture of woman-a
lady! with the same superior bearing
visible in her father I'd walked that
ran out to meet him. The sight of her
struck me all of q heap, SO unexpected
in the lonely spot, where there was no
other company than the bright-winged
birds, no other sound than the stir of
the windy trees. She was tall, the color
of wild roses in her cheeks, Heavens
blue in her eyes. Her dress, dark and
close-fitting, had none of the fashy or
that women such as we take
up with cram on; her hair, coiled
smoothly about her head, shone like
black satin.
This is one of my-chums, my DEAR"
said ''the squire" with his soft voice
and his hard smile.
Since then, had hung about the log
house often, labor ended. l fetched
water, got in sticks, cleaned boots, or
did such odd jobs which were not fit for
her and said no word: but she found
me out in brace Of shakes, and grew
used to and was thankful for such help
as l could give, knowing that l meant
40 harm. though 1 startled her at first
"a great Orson Of chap in my rough
gear.
One evening came on her watching
N the cleaning. How eerie it was
there underneath the trees; the wind
'oughed through the branches, bring
ng a dash of rain; a deluge was in the
black clouds sweeping across the sky.
Il am anxious about my father" she
'aid, looking like tall white lily that
somehow had been showed into the
wrong pot. and touching my big earth
stained fingers with her fine slim hand.
Il am always anxious about him;
hough, since knowing you. have not
,elt so absolutely distressed, for am
slad to reeollect that you are within
lis call. You would stand between him
md harm, / think"
why, yes, miss; make your mind
,asy on that score; 'twould be done
With a will. But what harm is like to
'ome. that you need flurrv?"
'Oh, but, Mr.. Straightways, it is
1
And for you, misst'
"Ah! but will not think of myself;
hat would never do" she answered,
quickly. And, going indoors, she began
o tidy the scrap of n room, thus try
ng to rout her terrors
Ned" she cried, stopping suddenly
her father always called me sol, Il
lad such curious dream last night l
reamed that l went down into the
title valley beyond the wood and
here / saw my father lying on the
.rass sound asleep-so sound that |
ould not wake him-while the clus- |
ers Of wild flowers sprang up so high !
hat they hid him, and l heard the /
Zines in the distance chanting solemn
lind of litany. l was crying when 1 |
yoke"
You are too much alone, miss, and |
row nervous"
Perhaps. And then-I am troubled /
bout his journey to Goulburn to-mor- !
ow, and his taking SO much value |
With him"
Goulburn. as / suppose everybody |
,nows, is the chief place in the SOUTH
m gold-mining district: we all went /
here at times to get our gains weighed, 4
II changed. or banked.
My father has been very fortunate |
ately, has he not2" she asked. /
He has had some good finds, miss: |
nd to-day he got hold OF two jolly big
nuggets"
Il am glad. VIII he bring them /