Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-02-23

told him how she and Jane mad soon
met her uncle and his men returning,
and how they reached the house in
time to prevent any Of the bushrangers
from escaping, and then how they had
found him apparently left for dead,
and carried him TO the farm, where he
had been ever since.
And YOU have nursed me through 1t
all, he said gratefully
well, YOU see she answered IN a
light tone. to disguise her feelings; I
thought l owed YOU something. l
know all You went through on that day
you came back to the farm"
you know it? Howe
20. YOU told me all about it when
YOU were unconscious"
Did Z talk much?" Jim asked, lit
tie anXiously.
you aid talk a good deal. You
were always tramping, tramplng
through the scrub. and sometimes you
cried for water, and always you were
praying that YOU might reach the farm
/ in time 10 save-it.
/ Ny darling was the term that jim
! had always used but Miss DevereuX
I perheps thought it was an Australian
term for farm, so did not mention it.
Then ensued for the patient most
/ delightful time. In a few days he was
/ able to get up and sit in the garden,
/ and by degrees recovered sufficient
/ strength TO go for drives and walks,
/ always accompanied by Miss DeyereuX.
For a time he resolutely put from him
| all unpleasant thoughts, and gave him
self up to enjoyment of his present
good fortune, but at length the time
/ came when he felt he must face the fu-
ure
One day they had reached a group of
trees, which was a favorite hating
place of theirs, when Jim suggested
! that they should dismount and rest
/ awhile.
Jim looked the very picture of I'M
happiness but Miss DevereuX, though
/ rather anticipating what was coming,
looked supremely content At length
he began, abruptly:
Miss DevereuX, l must 60
Go. Where?' she asked, innocent
ly.
Go away" ne said, sadly Heaven
knows how happy / have been, but
I cant stay any longer.
But why not?'
20. Maudw he burst out don't you
know that love you, and that l haven
penny in the world? 1 must go, if
only TO try and win for myself a posi-
ton 1 could ask you to share. Even
then [ couldn't ask you TO wait-it
might be years first"
No. said Maud. cheerfully, Il
shouldn't like to wait all that time.
After a short pause Maud resumed
Now. Jim-as it's for the last time
/ I may call you Jim-Gsten TO me. You
know the Hughes ranch, to which
was to escape that night; well, they
are going to give it up, and my uncle
/ advises me to buy it, and put some one
i'm to manage it for me. DO YOU know
OF any one, jim, who would undertake
ito"
Jim shook his head.
You don't? I mention it because
my uncle thought-that-pe rhaps-you
would take charge of it for me"
Jim looked up amazed, and gasped
but said nothing.
There is one little difficulty. how
ever she continued. with a critical
air, and wrinkling up her pretty fore
head, and that is whoever takes HIN
head. and that is that whoever takes
the farm viii have to take-me-alOng
with it,"
In an instant his arms were around
her, and he was kissing her as though
he never meant to leave off. When at
length she could speak, Maud said:
Jim. dear, do YOU know you are
dreadfully stupid. You might have
seen long ago that loved you-aud
not have left it TO me to propose. So
The Strand Magazine