The Yale expositor., 1902-12-26
CHRISTMAS, 1902.
The BushranScr's Gift.

Christmas In Australia.
II Is hard FOR us dwellers In the
north 20 realize what Christmas
weather Is IN the antipodes. Hot and
dusty and dispiriting. Il would seem
there could be- little thought Of re
ioicing az such season. but the fcs-
tlyal spirit was strong In the race
which fashioned far-off Australia into
a great country. and Il will not be
robbed of It's traditional merrymaking
Such mcrrymakiug had been
planned at the farm of John Wickham.
near what Is now the city OF Victoria,
but then Gin lSi2) lonely shepherd
cr's hCmc. for In February. Milly.
Wickham daughter. was Co marry
Frank Goodwin. a rider or the adIoin-
Ing farm. though many miles away.
and Frank was 10 spend the week
with them.
Naturally the girl had been looking
forward impaticntly 90 this visit OF her
lover. Distances in those days were
immense and the only means OF travel
was the horse SO that the young peo.
pie did not see each other very often.
and Milly was almost counting the
hours that must elapsc before his ar
rival.
On Christmas eve she stood In the
twilight AT the door of the rude house.
and watched anNiously for Frank
coming. tie was late. for she had cx
pected him since the morning. and
these were the days OF the bushranr.
ors. II Frank had been waylald by
thom. she thought with n shuddor
there would DC little mcrrymaling FOR
her
Mnly stood there for some time.
shading her eyes with her hand and
peerng IN the direction from which
she expected her lover to appear. The
sound of fastfalllug houfs rapidly
nearing her caused an expression OF
joy to cross her face. still mingled
with a little anxiety. for Frank had
not given the joyful "Cco-cc'' which
he always sounded M the same dis.
tarcc and her heart misraye her tha,
the fastening rider could not be him.
but casual stranger
Rapidly the horse drew nearer. TAX.
ing shape In the darkness, and st!ll NO
joyful hail from the rider. Alarmed.
she hastily sounded the well.knuwn
call. No answer, Then with a mad
rush which told ot his terror tho horse
his horse rushed past her and
stood trembling IN the yard. 10 which
his instinct had brought him for safe.
". and Mllly saw that the saddle was
empty,
Quickly calling 90 her father inside
the house. she hastcncd 90 calm the
terrified horse. and lead him to the
door The light from the lantern held
by her father showed her what she
had feared 10 scc-thc saddle wet with
blood
No accident with which the rider
might have met could account for that
dark stain, ard the terror displayed by
the horse was proof positive that n
tragedy had been enacted. The one
question now lu Milly's mind was
whether there was yet time 10 help
her lover. lie might be dying ON the
trail or-as bad. or worsc--a helpless
prisoner In the hands o. TIE bush.
rangers.
Her mind was made up instantly.
Without a thought OF the danger she
faced, or stopping 20 answer her faith.
er's call to her Co walt. she sprang on
the back Of the horse. which knew her
well. and turned his head In the drec.
tion OF the bush. where she knew her
lover was either dead or In the hands
OF the rangers.
What she meant to- do she hardly
knew. Fear she felt none. and the
wild ride and the thought Of what she
might meet stirred her blood To mad.
ness. few minutes OF fierce GALLON
ing and she realized that In her haste
she might pass the object OF her
search II he had been wounded and
fallen from his horse though she felt
sure the faithful beast would not
have deserted his master. and that her
lover must be n prisoner.
Checking the ~ eed OF her horse. she
rode along for some time. scanning
with sharp eyes every spot on the