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


Il one Tree Gap. Another night passed,
aud a third and "a fourth. and still there
was no sign of Carter's return. Ihen
Farley concluded that under some pecu
liar circumstances OF which he knew
nothing, his partner had ridden into tho
mining camp. So, locking up the slaL-
and bark humpy, he saddled his horse
and star ted on his way into the camp.
Arrived there he rode straight up 70 the
lone one-story hotel whicn he Knew
Carter must visit, and asked the landlord
when bis friend had arrived.
" Haven't seen sign of him since no
was here with You
THAT was how the landlord put It, and
that was all the information Farley could
gather in the township. The two young
Englishmen had been rather popular dur
ing their stay in the camp, and wnen III
became known that Carter had disap-
peared, a good deal OF regret was felt and
expressed. Tho day happened TO be sat
urday, and work not being brisk,
dozen mining bushmen readily laid aside
their tools ana offered to form search
party under the guidance OF Ronald
Farley. The EnglishInan was glad enough
TO accept this offer, and so IL happened
that party Of l3 rcde out OF tho camp
early that saturday afternoon, Intending
10 reach Warroo Hills by daylight next
morning, ana camp there before begin
ming the search.
M TttkpD We II lDu tIc b'N "a
he's anywhere this side Of the border,
said "A shaggy Old bushman who rode
blood chestnut handsome and wol!bred
enough 90 have stood in a royal stable.
Farley folt moro comfortable with
thsso rough, good hearted fellows riding
nc his side. They had for the most part
been born IN the bush, and could read the
shape OF creeks and gorges. ridges ond
gullios, that were all more or less alike
Ia tito Englishman. Then again, as the
night wore on ana the party drew nearer
20 the Warroo country, which Farley hau
begun TO look upon as belonging To him
self and his friend, IL struck him that
they might find Carter nj the humpy, and
his spirits rose accordingly.
Tho party travelled faster than they
| had Intended and shortly after midnight
reached the heavy timber aud the dense
scrub which began some ten miles TO the
eastward of Farley's bumpy.
- Say, boss said man who rode n
! little weed OF "a brumby pony, might
rs well walk the prads through this
| mightn't weY
There was nothing TO be gained by
| hurrying, so the pace was slowed down
| to n walk; and when tho party was cross
| ing a little bare ridge OH which the
moonlight shone, white and clear, several
of the men were filing their pipes and
| all were lounging carelessy In tho sad
| die. On the crest of the ridge. the bush
| man who rode blood chestnut reined in
| his mount with a half-suppressed oath,
| and with the stem of his pipe pointed
| toward the gully which slopcd away on
| his right In an instant the horses were
| a. a standsiil, and some one said What
| the - IS up nowY
Hold on minute, boys! muttered
the old bushman; and. bending low over
down among the gray boulders OH the
side of the ridge, toward where the
moons bright light was cut off abruptly
by the gully's line OF black shadow. The
rest Of the party sat quietly on their
horses waiting.
came looping up the ridge side again, anu
the bushman drew rein by Farley
q" Boys, he said, in hushed and al
most reyerential tones, we neetln'J go any
farther. Then ne stretched out his brown
band to tho name OF Farleys mare. ana
said, as though speaking to child;
Sonny, you must take things as they
come in this God -forsaken bush We can
none of us do anything for the boy now;
but / reckon he's being taken care of
right enough
"At this two or three OF the mon dis
mounted and hitched their horses To
sap.ing, before walking down To the big
kangaroo acacia, In the shadow OF which
they had seen tho old hand pause. AT
Grst they tried 20 prevent Ronald Farley
riding down there but he went In spite OF
them, and knelt bareheaded By the. side
of tho thing under the acacia bush. "
Kerr paused in his story, as though re-
calling to his mind the picture OF some
such sight that be had witnessed. Then.
turning toward me In the moonlight, he
continued:
1.-The hawks and the crows had been
there before Farley. you see; and there
were marks Of dingoes' paws all round
- I.< OH Glatt,n IN
recognized the body ut onuo as that OF
young Carter, and tho soft doeskin gaiters
he wore were things no one had ever seen
round Narrannulla way anyhow. Atur
while two or three men role on to Far
lev's humpy Co fetch some shovels; and,
just as day was breaking, they buried the
remains on the side OF the white ridge.
Farley took locket from bis nook, and,
kneeling down by the body, he laid 1t on
the dead mans breast where the crows
had not been There was only an old piece
Of torn lace in the looket. but Ronald
Farley said he reckoned Bob would as
soon have that there with him as heap
of wreaths, or any other sort OF colin.
Kerr paused again, aud this time
hogan 10 rool a cigarette. Fancying that
his story was told, | said "les, L mis-
judged Farley. did not think there was
anything like that in the man. 7"
"Ahl" Kerr inhaled the first puff of his
from the mining township had n little
food with them. so thoy camped In tho
next gully, after burying the body; and
Young Farley lay down with them, and
smoked. Everything seemed very empty
g. him, and he haa no thought OF the girl
I'm Lincolnshire. When tho men awoke,
toward noon that day, some of thom
offered To ride out To the bumpy with
Farley, but he Just thanked them for all
they had done % help him, ana said no
would rather so alone. 20 they parted.
tho H. men starting for the camp end
Farley for tho humpy among the MGrroo
HIS.
9" Good hy, sonny, said tho old, tush.
man, ms Farley mounted his horse; and
II you feel lonesome out there any time,
come IA and stay with Us in the camp.
/ Wen always bo glad To see you.
Then Farley was left 90 himself, and
/ in the humIy that night he bCgan 10 rgal-
! ~ wnat being alone In the bush ineaNt.
! lie was 80 miles odd from the nearest
! ECusc, you know, and that WyGah country
/ is wonderfully dosolate. Day after day
/ won't hV and iusfead of growing acrgg-