Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-22

stations leaving tho bow-shaped Lake
Torrens on It's left and coming In sight
OF tho peaks Of the Flinders range.
The Gather was warm-the same tenn
perature that Is met with during March
| In countries OF the northern hemisphere
traversed by the thirtieth parallel, such
as Algicrs, Mexico, or Cochin China.
! There was threat Of rain In the at
mosphere, even Of one OF those violent
thunder-storms which the expedition
would long for In vain when once IL had
entered upon the plains Of the interior.
Under such circumstances was II that
the train bearing Mrs. Allaire steamed
into Fnrina Town, the terminal station
OF the road, at three o'clock In the
afternoon. Zach French and his men
were waiting Mt the station, and as
Molly stepped from her compartment
they lifted their caps into the air and
sent up hearty cheer. The shaggy
brows Of the honest old sailor were knit
together upon first catching sight Of
Godfrey by Molly's side, but when he
saw tho transformation which had
taken place In the sailor lad and noted
his intelligent and gallant bearing as
he swung his rife across his shoulder
and aided Mira Allaire 10 alight upon
tho platform, his heart shed its wrin-
klcs and he grasped the lad cordially by
the hand, welcoming him as one Of tho
band Of scarchcrs. But how great was
his Joy at finding himself again In the
presence Of his loved mistress. For
twelve days, twelve long days, he had
not seen Capt Johns wife. Such n
thing had not happened 10 him since
the last return OF the Mollys Hope to
San Diego. Molly herself was de-
lighted 10 meet her faithful friend and
scrvitor again, whose devotion 10 her
bordered upon venerntion, and she
pressed his hand warmly and rewarded
him by n smile as sweet as II was pro-
nounccd and long continued Zach
could hardly believe his eyes.
II was tho first smile he had
seen on that beautiful face since she
stepped on board the steam launch
years ago, lie was almost startled by
H. Was IL good or bad omen2 Had
the captains wife slipped from that
lofty standard OF solemn and religious
devotion 10 the great tas'. Of her life?
And Immediately his thoughts reverted
10 tho handsome lad standing by her
side, and his shaggy brows drew darkly
together again and his bronzed face
took ON n look of almost wrath. Was
not his noble mistress weak ching under
this sailor boys influence? Would she
not, after n few hundred miles had
been put behind them, become soft
hearted, irritable and respondent, like
any ordinary woman, and fret over and
complain Of the hardships of the journey
across these arid plains? lie feared so,
he greatly feared SO, and turned away,
lest the captains wife might read these
misgivings in his countcnancc.
Tom Marks and Zach French had
done their work we'll Everything was
In readiness for the start. Molly was
deeply touched when. upon making
personal examination OF the long line Of
pack wagons, her eyes rested upon
scnman's chest, bearing upon one end
the words Capt John Alluirc." She
turned with parted lips and fearful eyes
inquiringly toward Zach.
AN outfit Tor Capt John" said Zach,
In u low tone OF voice,
Molly could make no reply, but she
reached out and took the sailors hard,
rough hand tendcrly within hers.
Mrs Allairc," said Marks, 80 long
as we follow the government roads the
country will furnish us with all the
forage we need for our cattle, but when
We enter the wilderness il will be neces-
sury to abandon our horses and oxen
aud replace them by pack and saddle
camcls; these we have already sent on
ahead The wells In these vast arid
tracts are often days apart and it would
be impossible for rs To make our way
from one station TO another except 10y
the use Of camcls."
II have complete confidence In your
skill and experience ns a pathfinder,
Col Marks" replied Molly 81 under.
stand that we are To exchange our
horses and oxen for camel train at
Alice Springs station"
Precisely, madam" answered Marks,
''and the moment you have sufficiently
recovered from the fatigue Of your long
railway ride, you may give Ms the sig.
nal TO break away, for everything Is In
readiness, even To the motto painted
upon our pack wagons--'No Step Back
ward"
A faint smile spread over Molly's face
as she bent her shapely head in nc
acknowledgement OF this thoughtful bit
OF sentiment
"Move at once, then, Col. Marks, "
she cried out, chccrilyi III too late To-
day, let II be at sunrise tomorrow
Tom Marks bowed In acquiescence,
and springing lightly on his horse rode
away 10 give the necessary orders
Furina Town was one of those vii.
lagos which spring up mushroom-likC
In single night along the route of an
Australian or American railway, and In
few short months arrognte TO them
selves all the dignity Of a city a century
old The cunning Of the surveyor and
land agent IL visible from tho very
start, and the homogeneous legend City
lots for sale" makes its appearance tn,
day after the town is located. Nothing
Is left 10 chance or individual taste fol
settlement, but streets, boulevards and
squares are laid out with geometrica
aud mathematical regularity which, n
the town is built up gives II n monot
ony that Is rs depressing as II is valu
able, commercially speaking. Tn,
whole population OF Parma Town as
sembled ut sunrise on the following da,
10 witness the departure Of the Draw
lady and her band Of intrepid search
crs About 4le'half OF the men wer'
white, the others being half breeds o.
semi-civilized natives, well acquainted
with tho language. customs and habit