The herald., 1894-07-22


And he meant it.
A bright, fresh morning, with few
white clouds scattered about the heavens,
the better to enhance the blueness of the
sky beyond. A happy spring breeze dash
ing round corners and playing the very
mischief with silk hats and dainty skirts,
whistling through telegraph wire, and
covering the harbor with q coating OF con-
tinuous white foam. A morning on which
to feel thankful for CT istcnce.
1t is easily seen that something unusual
Is affecting the inhabitants of Potts Point,
that fashionable suburb of luxurious Sgd
ney.
At st. Mary's church door find large
crowd assembled, representing all ranks
of society, and for the first time obtain
some dim idea of tho event I am about to
witness. In order to make doubly sure
question an ancient lady, whose dress sug-
gests connection with some charitable in
stitution.
At first she seems inclined to treat my
thirst for information with contempt, but
finally desire for gossip oyercomes her
retioence and she condescends to tell me
all in ono breath that this ere is to be
that Ter name amt Athelwood, but KEEL
larey. 'Er as dow d the arnls ouses down
the street-which times bein bad an q lone
widder rs I'D no husband an whose con is
doin lis last stretch, bein as innocent as q
babo unborn. An rheumatic bein that
bad she could curse, only she wouldn't.
An Miss O'Sullivan, as lives in No. 8,
said as low Miss Athelwood was worth
well nigh alf million of money if she
was worth q pcnny-not but that she
shouldn't be, seein as 'ow she had been
born on the gold diggin's, an every one
knowed them was good times. An
prettier an better lady never stepped, beg
gin 'er pardon for sayin So"
The old woman, once started was hard
to STOP But 1 was interested in Miss
Athelwood, so ventured an inquiry as to
her parentage.
"Ah, well may yer say that; not but
what yer mightn't understand, seein as
'ow ye're stranger in these parts. The
poor, young dear never 'ad no father to
know but Mr.. Athelwood, the lawyer.
card tell she were just fetched up from
them goldflclds by a Teller called Kellarey
"a miner chap who give Ter to Mr.. Athel-
wood along of fortune which o said was
'ers. That's 30 year or moro now-the
the pcrlico for the Orange bushrangin case,
an i'm not never SO much as 'avin alf-
penny Of the money, butt
1 stopped tho dear old lady's family his
tory by asking whom Miss Athelwood was
about to marry. As l put the question an
old and villainously dirty swag1nan placed
his roll of blankets down at the church
door and pushed his way toward us.
In begin yer pardon, my old lady
went on, Miss Athelwood's agoin to
marry, as S's not in my mind to remember
"a dock or hearl but can t say which on
I 'em. Haid dc camp to the governor, they
do say he is But look, look, ere they
comes!"
Carriage after carriage rolled up to the
church door and set down its load of fash
ionables. Then amid continuous cheer
ing Mr.. and Miss Athelwood arrived. She
looked surprisingly beautiful, and l no
ticed that the old swagman was so over
come with astonishnent that be kept his
fss F5Su q as a0oE l0nR atsE shs hes
the church to see the ceremony.
My whole attention was devoted to
watching tho bride. could not drive her
romance out of my head She went I'D the
aisle nameless girl, the product of gold
field, and returned to the music of Men
delssohn's Wedding March" q countess
and member OF one of the oldest families
in Europe.
After all the carriages had rolled away
and was turning to go the old swagman
touched my arm, saying:
mister, I'm agoin to get yer to do me
favor"
Asking him what it was, he replied:
LETS go somewhere out of this, where
we're alone, an I'll tell YER"
When we had adjourned to a more 1T
ting place, my companion spoke.
II guess youd call me liar If I told
you that was the man as brought up
that girl as we've just see married. But
I AMIN Dog Kollarey, sure enough,
i'm as give 'er into Lawyer Athelwood'
lands go years ago, with 'er share Of the
mine tibet panned out so rich
why don't you go to her then? hear
she's been hunting high and low for you"
THAT just it. I know she has. But
dyer think I'm agoin into the company O.
the likes O. er friends? Not me! I'd be
maxim fool O. the girl, an she'd be
ashamed o. 'erself. Mol I've tramped
close on 400 miles to see her married, an
now I'm agoin back into the bush to-
night for good. I want you to write this
ere in letter for met amt much
Say, From Dog Keilaley to is luck penny
on FER weddin day, an put in the corner,
i amt forgot yer, mindl'
I wrote as he directed, and inclosed-
what do you Think A baby's little wool
en- shoel The old man had kept this relic
as his most sacred treasure for nearly 30
years.-Guy Boothby in Pail Mall Maya
zine