The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-10-27
ONLY A STORY.

ONLY A STORY.
1t was rather remarkable ball, this.
Not only were most of the bigwigs of
Brisbane present, as well as the girls for
hundred miles inland-at least, the
best of them-but it was an open secret
that some men were present who ought
either to have been swinging discon-
solately from hempen ropes or confined
in convict prisons for the greater re-
manning part of their mortal lives.
But they We're a rough and ready COM
munity in those days, taking life as it
came.
Edith Castor, rs a Tyrolese damseb
was charming. Every one said so, and
you could see by the bright eyes and sat-
isfed face of the girl that she knew it.
One of her partners whispered to her
to take note of a certain handsome fell
low in a cavalier dress.
THAT is the celebrated Murphy" he
said. Keep it dark. He's not such
brute as the rest. There's speck of the
devil in him, but he's not so very far
wrong at heart"
Now, being a romantic and strong ma
tured girl, it needed no more than this
confidential hint to excite in Edith an
overmastering interest in the handsome
cavalier.
His opportunity soon came. Edith was
waiting for her next partner-waiting
with evident impotence, moreover. Her
neat little foot tapped the floor more
than once, and she frowned. She was
not used to being neglected.
Mr.. Murphy didnot hesitate. He, with
fascinating bow, asked if he might be
privileged to fill up the gap which had
accidentally Che laid sweet stress upon
the word) occurred in her programme.
After the dance the cavalier was loath
to let her go. He took her into a cool
bower Of palms, and for five minutes they
talked on equal terms.
81 consider that you have done me
an unforgetable favor in condescending
to dance with me" said the bushranger,
''for I've not doubt you know who am
better than the police"
81 admit that 1 have an idea of it." re-
piled the girl, with light laugh. "Why
don't you become"-
Respectable? Is that it?"
"Well, more or less. You know it is
not much of profession, this pickingof
pockets, is it now?"
There was real earnestness in the girls
eyes as she said these words.
The cavalier looked hard at his COM
panion. There was deep seated regret
yearning and much else in his expression
I Il
81 shall never forget this dance while
the blood runs in my veins, Miss Gaston,"
said Mr.. Murphy. "Never. l am your
servant, remember that. And now sup
pose some one else wants you. Permit
me to take you back into the ballroom"
Edith remarked that almost immedi-
ately afterward the handsome cavalier
had disappeared from the room. 1t was
more of a relief than seemed reasonable
when she ascertained later that he had
not been arrested.
y
Nov, sir" said the carman to the
Rev. jeremiah Jones when he had seen
that gentleman into the vehicle which
was to take him to his new sphere of
work, 81 hope all will go well with you.
You know as wells me there's rogues
about, but they'll respect your reverences
cloth, make no doubt"
Mods and good wishes were exchanged,
and then Mr.. Jones and his man began
to ride out Of Brisbane toward the inte-
rior. They had journey of about 100
rough miles before them ere they could
get to Leyburn, of which Mr.. Jones had
been appointed vicar.
Two days later they were still on the
road. The forest was pretty thick here
abouts, and houses were exceedingly few
and far between.
Tom had begun to show certain anx-
iety to reach Leyburn-an anxiety that
Mr.. Jones did not share until he learned
that they were now in the country af-
fected by small but effective band of
bushrangers, of whom Captain Murphy,
rs he was called, was the leader.
Even then the parson was not scared.
he had but little money with him, and
his possessions were not of very valua-
BILE kind.
81 don't think, he observed, tive have
much to fear. My poverty and my cloth,
Is they said in Brisbane, are our protec-
ton"
They were at length only an hours
ride from the station where they pro-
posed to pass the night. The parson had,
in fact, just lit fresh pipe, convinced in
his own mind that nothing was about to
happen, when suddenly the scrub parted
on both sides of them, and from out the
towering underground of the forest
stepped sixmsn Of the approved, or rather
the much disapproved, bushranger type
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