Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-03-06

xull OF the sweetness OF life and hope.
twas new delight to me, this won
derful thing called love, and for some
time was too timid to avail myself
OF the prerogatives Of the lover. Even
when I held her face up to mine and
pressed my lips to hers marveled that
she did not resent the liberty.
There was very little sleep for me
that night, and long after she had gone
below paced the deck burning pipe
after pipe Of tobacco, thinking, dream
ing, hoping. Now more than ever it
was necessary that l should settle &C.
counts with the society. now more than
ever was life precious. the future
thing to be fought for and secured.
had always hated the task that was
allotted me. hated 1t more than ever
now. But l had grown to regard mis-
fortune as part of my heritage. and
fatalistic Indifference, born of too
close an intimacy with despair. had
robbed 1t Of much Of Its terror.
The next day sought out Mrs. Hill
bury, told her Of my love for her
daughter. of my hopes and fears. but
I promised that would not bind my
sweetheart TO any hard and fast en-
gagement. had work to do. and l
meant to accomplish It. II I came back
and Cecil still thought Of me kindly I
would strive to prove by my devotion
the depth Of my affection; II. on the
contrary, she had changed her mind, as
girls will. would go away knowing
that she could live In peace.
Once we had entered Australian wa
tiers the days few with inconceivable
rapidity. and thought with regret Of
the quick ending of my too brief holi-
day. 1t hhd been happy time. the
happiest ! had ever spent, CLEAN Of
sunshine in the dreary fog Of my exist
ence. Every revolution Of the screw
drove us so much nearer the goal. and,
leaning over the side. I watched the
water bubble by, regretful. grudging
the mighty vessel her awful speed.
Like the condemned criminal. watch
ed the days come and go. and the fatal
morrow at length arrived. and we safe
ly made the port OF Melbourne. Then
there were many meetings. hearty
handshakes. embraces and tears of Joy
and the sullen stupor Of the stranger
who has left all he loves behind, who
feels no welcoming handshake. who
enters the new land alone. melan-
choly figure.
Though stood back and saw many
people come forward to greet Cecil and
hor vnothor md fhn,uh INV honrk u,A q
hungry and felt sad and lonely. was
glad to see her 30 warmly welcomed.
She was among her own people, ths
people who loved. her. but not more
than the lonely young fellow who stood
back and watched aud thought.
Presently she. came toward me, q
stalwart man on each side of her, and
introduced them to me as her cousins,
and each In turn shook me by the
hand, sturdy. honest grip. and they
were honest men. too. with eyes as
frank and fearless rs their own sun.
Then was led away aft, where Mrs.
Hilbury stood. the center Of kindly.
sympathetic circle, and was intro
duced to each In turn with due formal.
ity, and from Mrs. Hilbury's lips
received an invitation to call upon her
at the earliest opportunity. Next one
of the aforementioned stalwarts, q
huge fellow with kind gray eyes and q
formidable fair mnstache. took me in
charge and informed me that he had
already secured rooms for me and my
uncle. At this was not a little aston.