Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-08-22
CHAPTER XXI.
"rHE DARKEST HOUR IL NEAREST THE
DAWN"


CHAPTER XXI.
''rHE DARKEST HOUR IL NEAREST THE
DAWN"
Next morning on awaking / could
hear the go-go-burra shrieking and
cackling in It's hsppiest fashion and re-
member being somewhat mystified. for
that bird--"ths settlers clock newer
begins to assert itself and expostulate
with drowsy humanity until there is
some light in the sky, while a. yet IL
was pitch dark.
Then the awful truth came crushing
down upon mel was blind Oh. TO
shink that I would never again see tho
stars go ont one by one in the blue
heavens at break Of day or the lemon
glow change % silver gray in the east
ern sky as the glorious sun rose, kissing
away the gauzelike mists from tie palm
girt and lily draped lagoons / could
never again go TO the door OF my tant
and. spying to that go-go-burra, throw a
billet Of wood'at it by way OF playful
response TO its premature greeting and
out of sheer light heartedness and good
feeling. II had not been passing
dream. II was a stern, horrible fact.
But then came the thought Of the
love that had won II had lost my
sight. That at least was mine which in
this world seemed 10 me best worth
having. My blindness mattered not 10
her. for she had told me that she had
eyes for both Of us. There was no dream
about that. Ii was a glorious reality
Jack took me down 10 the creek for
. wash, and then / went over with him
10 the camp and sat down in the shade
of great overhanging fg tree until he
was ready 10 come and take me TO break
fast. Before many minutes l became
aware of woman approaching. had
always maintained, strange TO say, that
even a blind person could tell Norah
Mackenzie's step. and now that sight
was denied me the truth OF what had
been lightly said struck home. II was a
light, buoyant, but firm step, indicative
of her character Instinctively rose to
nv feet 10 show her that was cheerful
and not brooding over my misfortune
indeed that rather rejoiced in the
hope she had given me- / wished her
GOOD morning" and held out my
hand. could not see her In the flesh,
but could see her with wonderful dis
tinctness in my minds eye at that mo-
ment as with shy gladness on her
face she came toward me and caught mp
my two hands.
'Is this all You have for met" she
cried and kissed me on the cheek with
out more ado.
Considering how things had come
about, was altogether to be pitied'
Actually my specslations that day
shaped themselves into the question,
Did not owe something to my blind
ness, after allf
We made an early start 20 as TO reach
the station that night. The spare pack
horses belonging TO the surveyors and
the squatter were called into use' and
every one was mounted. Jack attached
checkrein TO Sir Henry. So what
with the former on one side and the
company Of the squatter and sometimes
his daughter on the other the time
somehow slipped so quickly away that
when at noon we stopped TO camp and
have dinner was taken by surprise.
In the course of the afternoon we met
Mooney and the other stockmen coming
at brisk pace up the creek. 1t seemed
that some Of the horses which stamped
ed from us when the blacks had attack
ed Ms in the cave made back toward the
station. When they were seen. Moo
ney had taken alarm, and. leaving the
station and everything in it TO look aft
er itself, started out at once with plenty
Of ammunition TO find out what had
gone wrong.
By continuous travelling we reached
she station late in the evening. where
We found everything as it had been left
| It seemed like getting home again after
the terrible experiences We had gone
through In that fateful cave.
In a couple Of days the surveyors,
who were a capital set Of fellows, left
for the Macarthur amid many expires
sions Of good will Il was arranged
that after few more days Of rest and
preparation we should start for Burke
town in Queensland again. Chilcot was
| TO be left in charge Of the station, with
four or FIVE other good hands BY this
time Gordon would be more able for the
journey, a. he, with his sister and Sa-
vile, was going back again overland TO
Tarragong. Jack Of course. would &C
company me to Burketown.
| At last the time came 70 say goodby
| to some Of my old friends. There were
Gordon was now fast recovering
from his wounds-his sister and Ssvile.
| It was indeed hard thing to part with
them at the wharf. They had been %
kind and attentive to me in my affaic-
ton, and 30 delicate with IL all that at
times / was almost inclined 10 forget
my blindness. II the essence of true po-
liteness is 10 conceal the fact that one
n comforting favor and TO make the
recipient lose sight Of any indebtedness,
then they were natures own gentle
folk. They were starting overland the