Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-24
Miss Helen.


worlds kettle had been set on the boil
we'd have come to the top as prime
sc1lm-t11ltb. and no lie mate But a
mongSt us was Il man dubbed 1.-The
SQUIRE because, though he feared
like the rest Of us, toiled, 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, | never came upon his
double before or since RumOr went
that he was a Baronet 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 succeed
ing.
j found him ut Green Valley Creek
when | 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,
pa dps DccstuSc, though L Uluu SET up
either for a swell or a saint 7 wasn't
quite SO bad as the worst in Green Val
ley Greek. I had been respectfully
brought up, the son Of a small farmer
in Kent; but [ didn't go in for respec-
liability myself; it never agreed with
me; so | was sent adrift at last with
fifty pounds in my pocket, and the
world before me. There was a fresh
stampede towards Australia at the
time and I joined the general rush
and scramble: and, as I say, when I
had settled down at my claim, the
Squire and / scraped up a sort of a
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 a
snail shanty in the midst of many of
pines, a poor rough place, far apart
from the other huts; a queer frame for
such n stately picture of Il wOman-a
lady! with the same superior bearing
visible in her father I'd walked that
way the Squire once, and she ran out
to meet him. The sight Of her struck
me all of aheap. so unexpected in the
lonely spot, where there was no other
company than the bright winged birus
no other sound than the stir of the
windy trees. She was tall. the color OF
of wild roses in her cheeks, Heavens
blue in her eyes. Her dress, dark and
close fitting. had none of the flashy
ornaments that women such as we
take up with cram on; her hair cOiled
smooth about her head, shone like
black satin
"Fhis is one of my-chums, my dear
said the esquire" with his soft voice
and his hard smile
Since then I had hung about the log
house often. labor ended. I fetched
water. got in sticks, cleaned boots OF
did such odd jobs as were not fit for
her. and said no word; but she found
me out in a brace of shakes. and grew
used to and was thankful for such
help as | could give, knowing that I
meant no harm though I startled her
at first-a great Orson of chap in my
rough gear
One evening I came on her watching
in the cleaning. How eerie it was
there underneath the trees; the wind
sought through the branches, bringing
n dash of rain: deluge was in the
black clouds SWerning across the sky.
II am anxious about my father" she
said, looking like 4 tall. white lily that
somehow had been showed into the
nI tnnaho1 !, o,.+l
S+ainad fingers with her fine slim hand
II am always anxious about him.
though, since knowing you I have not
felt so absolutely distressed for I am
glad to recollect that you are within
his call. You would stand between
him and harm. 7 Think
why, yes, miss; make your mind
easy on that score: 'twould be done
with n will. But what harm is like
TO come. that YOU need flurry?"
"Oh. but. Mr. Straightways. It is such
a hard, dreadful life for him
And for you MISS
"Ah, but I will not think of myself
that would never do. she answered
quickly. and going indoors. she began
to tidv the scrap of Il room. thus trying
Cher father always called mo sol. T had
such curious dream last night ]
dreamed that I went down into the
wood. and there I saw my father lyins
on the grass sound aSleep-So SOUND
that I could not wake him: whilst the
cluster of wild flowers Sprang up 81
high that they hid him, and l heart
the pines in the distance chanting {
solemn kind if litany. I was cryins
when / woke"
You are too much alone, miss, and
grow nervous
Perhaps. And then-I am troubled
about his journey to GOulburn tomor
row and his taking so much value with
him"
Goulburn' as / suppose everybody
knows, is the chief place in the south
ern gold-mining district; we all went
there at times to get our gains weigh
ed or charged, or banked.
My father has been very fortunate
lately. has he not?" she asked.
HE has had some good finds, miss
and to-day he got hold of two Jolly
big nuggets"
II am glad Will he bring them home
this evening? What's that?" and sh'
sprang to the door flinging it Wild
open. the shine of the lamp behind her
Dearest father she cried, lis i
your But she broke off, alarm in he