The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-23


hat 10 Howard Kerr.
We were standing together on the upper
dock of "A homeward bound MessageTies
Maritines hoaL in the saloon OF which
there had been when we left Mauritius.
only four English passengers. Including
our two selves. Now there were only three
for Young Sinedley, the travelling coinphn.
ion OF Ronald Farley. had been purioi
that afternoon. lie had come aboard a
doomed consumptive. and dled before we
entered the Rod sea. Ronald Farley a
wealthy man, whom 1 had met once or
twice at Scott's in Melbourne ana once
on toard II. and o boat had beon
standing beside us smoking an evening
cigarette; and Kerr. thinking, / suppose
that the man was depressed OWING 10
the death of his friend, had endeavored
with considerable tact 10 cheer MN ana
divert his thoughts
Farley bad listened for some time with
.old indifference 10 what Kerr had To say.
'nd then remarked, as he tossed Ms
cigarette over the ships side. "Nesl be
hsd no more stamina than mouse 10
begin with, you know. Excuse me, TINS
weather makes me sleeply, and think
I'll turn in. Good night Steward, bring
me a SQUASH to my cabin!
So the rich mau Ind sauntered oil, fol-
lowed by the English speaking steward;
and, turning 10 Kerr, | said: There
goes a man whose money does not Seem
much good To him Wandering Farley
thoy called him in Melbourne, and aun't
think any one was ever accused OF being
a friend of Farlev's. l hardly fancy
friendship comes within the scope OF MS
philosophy What do you tninky
korr looked up from his chercot END TO
my face, and said thoughtiully IL s
pot good to Judge passion-fruit by lts
skin; but TO judge "a man by bis appear
ance is huge mistake.
\ ''lrue: hur, hang it i have always
found Farley tho same whenever haNo
met him. and one cannot help receiving
imprcssions DO you think he is the sort
OF man 10 have ever felt real friendship
Amigo, don't be too ready TO condemn
rnen 80 was not quite clear rs TO whether
Kerr was serious or not till l caught
CLINT of moonlight shining across hall ms
face. Farley knows more OF irlonushlp
than ever hopo to know; and-and- d-has
had one friend. Yes, no has had one
friendl'
II am sorry Tell me about It, will
you! You are always making me feel
ashamed of myself, Kerr" And, with
feet resting on the ships rail, / settled
down in a deck chair and lit fresh
cheroot that might better listen to my
friend
You know, suppose how Farley
made his money Y" said Kerr, drawing
his chair little closer TO mine.
Indeed DON'T" was the reply. Il
fsncied be was born rich, and was lar too
languid a man TO have ever made any
money"
"Ah. the cover of the book Is very de-
ceptive In this case ;" said Kerr. Far
ley father WAS Lincolnshire farmer.
tie greater part of whose life was spent
on tae verge of ban kraptcy. There were
Two other small farms close TO Farley s.
one owned by Mrs. Carroll, widow with
one daughter. aud the other by John
Carter. n widower, with two sons. When
a boy q. twcnty-one, Bob. the younger OF
these two sons. was youthfuily. deyotodly
in love with pretty Florence Carroll, tho
daughter OF the widow. Ronald Farley,
then aged twenty three, also loved Flor
ence; and he and Bob Carter were chums.
The three families were as poor as church
mice, and the two cbums, when they al
lowed themselves To think OF marriage.
were each forced TO regard it only in the
light OF n very far-of ideal. Then came
an evening when, as Carter and Farley
were walking home together from the
widows house, each suddenly realized
that the other loved Florence. Probably
both regretted the circumstance bur IL
did not in the least interfere with the
friendship which had grown between
them since childhood. Leaning that night
over the gate leading into Farley's farm
yard, these two made soleno conn "a u.
and swore TO keep IL with an even nina.
Neither had up Co that time spoken OF
love to Florence Carroll, and tbey swore
that neither should till after two
years had elapsed.
- We'll go away together for two
years, Bob said Ronald Farley, and SEQ
what we can do In the world. Then, mt
the end of the second year, We'll come
E>g here; and whoever is in the best po-
aSS.on to do IL shall have first chance OF
speaking to-her
"Young Carter agreed, and so shortly
nfterward the two set sail for Australia,
some relatives of Farley's having put
down q hundred and fifty pounds Tor him,
and Carters people making shift To start
tEoir son on his travels with fifty pounds
In his pockets Pretty Florence said good
bye TO both, her soft eyes illing as much
with wonder rs regret. and dwelling per-
haps little more tenderly ON young Far
ley than on his friend.
ARRIVING In sydney, tho two went
straight out west beyond the Lachlnh
river. where several gold diggings were
then in full wcrk. They stayed awhile
at a big mining camp near NarranDuila,
ind then. having picked up some little
knowledge Of the life, they rode away to
yether, prospecting in the Mydah coun-
.rv. Out among the Warroo Hills. eighty
odd miles from the mining camp. they
struck little alluvial colCring; and the
rich look Of that part OF tho tuntrv made
them determine 20 establish headquarters
there and settle uown To work. lhey did
not want all the Iachlan e. know what
they were doing and were aux ous tJ
avoid having To bring RAJ ions from the
mi ining township. 30 they rode into
Narrannulla anu having purchased few
head OF sheep. drove their ittio flock ont
70 the WarrOo Hills, with two or thruo
packhorses and OIL Hour supply, thus
giving the impression that taey intended
taking up land Tor fquatting.
"FaIley's notion was 10 seen fossicking
away at tho ailuyial lind. which hrnugat
in little more than good wsEes--i six
or seven pounds week apiCcr. Young
Garter, however, was keen OF prospecting
among tho hills Inrthnr hnUk, and after a
few months had passed be catro gradually
TO putting in tbroo DAYS In tBe saddle for
every ono spent in fossickiDe w ith Farley.
IIia OF course. was all in tho hope uf
striking something which would place
thoin both beyond he reach OF worry; aud
n raised 10 shadow OF difference between
the two lrieEds.
r" Al last there came an evening when,
altar waiting for hours In the comfortable
liiinfY fncY Ind hullf Rnnn q Enrlnr ,rns