The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-02-09
ONLY A STORY.

1t was rather remarkable ball, this.
Not only were most Of the bigwigs Of
Bris5ane present, as well as the girls for
o hundred miles inland-at least, the
4 best of them-but it was an open secret
that some men We're present who ought
either to have been swinging discon-
solately from henipen ropes or confined
in convict prisons for the greater re-
manning part Of their mortal lives,
But they were a rough and ready COM
munity in those days, taking life as it
4 came.
Edith CASTOR, us a Tyrolese damsel,
was charming. Every one said so, and
you could see by the bright eyesand sat.
isied face Of the girl that she knew it.
| One Of her partners whispered to her
to take nosa Of Il certain handsome fel'
low in a cavalier dress.
"That is the celebrated Murphy" he
said. Keep it dark. Hes not such a
brute rs the rest. There's u Gpeck Of The
devil in him, but he's not so very fsi
wrong ut heart"
Now, being q romantic and strong M
turea girl, it needed no more than this
confidential ,hins to excite in Edith aii
overmastering interest in the handsome
l cavalier.
His opportunity soon came. Edith was
waiting for her next partner-waiting
with evident impatience, moreover. Her
neat little foot tapped the floor more
than once, and sho frowned. She was
not usad to being neglected.
/ Mr.. Murphy didnot hesitate. He, with
a fascinating bow, asked if he might be
privileged TO fil up the gap which had
accidentally Che laid sweet streas upon
the word) occurredin 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,
Il 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 lam
better than the police"
Il admit that / have an idea Of it, re
piled the girl, with . light laugh "Why
don't you becomo'---
Respectable? Is that itf"
"Well, more or less. You know it is
not much Of a profession, this lickingo Of
pockets, is it nowr
There was real earncstness intllc girls
eyes as she Gaid these words.
The cavalier looked hard at his com
panion. There was deep seated regret
yearning and much else i'll his expression
80 Edith assured herself alterward.
II shall never forget this dance while
hebloodru runs in my veins, Miss Gaston,'
said Mr.. Murphy, "Ecver. 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 relief thal seemed reasonable
when she ascertGinsd later that he had
not been arrested.
~ n y y n
"Now, sir" said the carman to the
Rev. jeremiah Jones when he had seen
that gentleman into tile vehicle which
was to take him to his new sphere Of
work, Il hope al will go well with you.
You know as wells me taero's roguef
about, but they'llrespect yoGrreverence'G
cloth, make no doubt"
Nodsand good wishes were exchanged
and Then LII. Jonas and his man began
to ride out Of Brisbane toward tho inte
rior. They had journey Of about 1O(
rough miles before them ere they could
get to Leyburn, Of which Mr.. Jones ha(
been appointed vicar.
Two days later they were still on the
road. The forest was pretty chick here
abouts, and houses were exceedingly few
and far between.
Tom had begun to show o certain anx
iety to reach Leyburn-an anxiety thai
Mr., Jones did not share until he learned
that they were now in the country af
fected by small but effective band o.
bushrangers, Of whom Captain Murphy
as he was called, was the leader.
Even then tho parson was not scared
He had but little money with him, AMI
his possessions were not Of a very vSlua
BILE kind.
II don't think, he observed, i've hay,
much to fear. My poverty and my cloth
as they said in Brisbane, are our protec
ton"
They were at length only an hour
ride from the station where they pro
posed to pass the night The parson had
in fact, just lit a fresh pipe, convinced il
his own mind that nothing was about t,
happen, when suddenly the scrub partet
= on both sides Of them, and from out tn
& towering underground Of the foges
lstevhed GzMsp d tbespprosed, Or rathe
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