The Portland daily press., 1897-12-23
Chapter VI Continued.

When the passengers came on deck next
morning they found the vessel hauling
over alongside that spacious, horseshoe
shaped wharf known as the Circular Quay
and before they went to breakfast she
was secured fore and aft. All was now
a scene of hustle and confusion; friends
and relations, agents, merchants and
steyedores, crowding on board, each with
a most bewildering number of questions
to ask. Rawlings stood alonc at the after
end OF the poop. Among all this busy
crowd there was not one who could posi-
bly, have any business with him. He
cought sight of Marian Marston in
earnest conversation with an elderly look
ing lady dressed in black, whom he
guessed to be her aunt-for the news Of
the Strathnairn's arrival in Sydney Bay
had gone forth overnight, and she would
therefore have had plenty of leisure to
come over from Darlinghurst and meet
her niece. On seeing her, and realizing
that they were now indeed to part, a
strange weight of depression fell upon his
spirits, and not until that moment did
he understand how really deep went his
affection for her. The girl presently
looked in his direction, and beckoned
him to approach.
Let me introduce you to my aunt,
Mrs. Murray" said she. Aunt, dear,
this is the gentleman we call Mr.. Rawl-
1n0S. aDOuG WHO'LL WAS L6l1luE SOu.
He. raised his hat, whilst the aunt, a
mild-faoed lady whose chestnut hair be-
gan to show streaks of silver, bowed, and
regarded him with look of uncommon
interest.
"You are going to stay with Mr.. Har-
tree at DarIinghurst, so I hear, Mr..
Rawlings" said she. Ellis place, Dunbar
House, is quite close to my cottage.
hope you will often come and see Marian
and me.
It was clear from the manner in which
she said this, and the way she gazed at
him, that the girl had given her brief
account of the state of affairs between
the memoryless man and herself.
"You are very kind, 'said he. IT shall
hope to see much of Miss Marston whilst
1 remain SO near. -
ventures. Mr.. Rawlings" continued Mrs.
Murray.
VERY strange" he answered, gloom
''My niece tells me that you are in the
distressing situation of having no recol-
lection of the past
II have lost my memory, ''he answered.
"Dear me, how very trying she ex-
claimed, the look of sympathy she en-
deavored to infuse into her face being
wholly neutralized by the upcontrollable
feminine instinct of curiosity; for an I'M
known stranger, whose life and individ-
uality are shrouded in profound mystery,
is an object to appeal irres1stibly to most
women; and then again Rawlings had
countenance to attract attention at first
sight
"When are you going ashorep' said
Marian.
GAS soon as Mr.. Hartree is ready. I
am only waiting for him now. sup
pose you are going to leave the ship
directly?''
~ have O. conveyance waiting upon the
quay to carry your luggage, my dear"
said her aunt. George, the gardener, is
also there with the trap, ready to drive us
home.'
"Home!p echoed Marian. looking
around her at the glorious scene of the
bay. "WelI, yes, it is home now;
bright, green land. but not like old Eng
land for all that -
my dear, youw grow accustomed to
it, said Mrs. Murray, philosophically.
At this moment Mr.. Hartree came along
the poop. He was short, stout man,
Colonial type; and had got himself up to
go ashore in white flannel suit, and a
cabbage tree hat-the national beadgear
of the "Cornstalks" of New, South Wales.
"Ah, Rawuags!'' he exclaimed
There you are. I have been looking for
you. There is nothing to keep us aboard
here now, think, If you are ready to
land"
II am quite ready answered Rawl-
ings, land will come with you at once.'
He extended his hand to Marian.
II will not say goodbye" said he,
"since we are to meet again SO soon.'
'sYet this seems like d parting, too,''
answered the girl, taking his hand, and
holding on to it whilst her fpe eyes grew
liquid to sudden trimming of tears into
them.
keep ND your heart said he in low
voice. III will be with you as often as I
cam,
s'iThe name of our house, broke in
Mrs. Murray, sis Bungaree Cottage Mr..
Hartree will tell you where it is-he
knows it,
"Oh, yes, know it, exclaimed the
friendly Australian who stood by. "That
pretty little house at the end of the lane,
past my own place. -
A final hand-squeeze, a last lingering
lock, and they parted. Marian and her
aunt going Immediately over the gangway
on to the quay, and Rawlings and his
companion stepping below in guest of
Captain Sturgess, whom they discovered
seated in his cabin, busily writing.
81 am sorry to interrupt you, sir, said
Rawlings, entering, "but could not go
and thanking you with all my heart for
the humanity and kindness with which
you have treated me. -
The skipper put down his pen and rose
to shake hands
Goodbye, Mr.. Rawlings" said he,
although l make no doubt that we shall
meet again soon. l shall be glad to serve
you in any way I can. At all events,
shall be seeing our own agents today, and
viii then make inquiries as to whether
they know anything about the Lady
Godiva-who her owners are, and SO on.
You must let me have your address in
order that may be able to communicate
with you.'
''That we can give you at once, Cap
tain,'' said Mr.. Hartree. Dunbar
House, Darlinghurst, will be sufficient to
find Mr.. Rawlings"
Captain Sturgess made note of the
name upon a slip of paper.
He then warmly shook hands with the
two men, and they quilted hfs cabin and
returned .tosthe deck. Mr.. Hartree had
sent his baggage on in advance; poor
Rawlings, of course, possessed no more
property than the clothes he stood up in.
Farewell to the old ship said the
Australian, when they had gained the
quay, pausing to turn and look at the