The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-07-21


South Australia, and, as the gray morn
ing light crept slowly over the silent
earth, il could be seen that the whole
place from farmhouse to fencing was
in a state OF despair.
Inside the house. ia q barely fur.
nished room, a man lay sleeping Oh a
rough bush bed. Presently he awoke,
and, stretching his arms above his
head, yawned and sbivered beneath the
coarse gray blankets; with an effort he
sat up and stared around then, as If
some notion had jumped into his mind,
he threw off the blankets and began,
very quietly and cautiously, TO dress
himself in the rough clothes which lay
huddled on the floor
Having dressed ne took his boots in
his hand, and stepping softly along
the cold tagged floor, he left the room,
pausing at the door facing the one
he had left TO listen ntently for any
sound from within
Reassured by the silence, he cOntin-
ued his cautious tread till he reached
rough stone kitchen The room was
very bare, aud the hoOr-madc OF pud.
died ciay-sent thrills OF cold through
his stocklnged feet Sitting down on
an old packing case, he proceeded care.
fully to whittle some tiny spars OF
wood, listening intentIy al the time
He carried the splintcrs to the FIRE
place, and slowly and laboriOusly built
up a fire with chips and gum-rOots
which lay Oh the floor. Filling up the
battered kettle from q bucket OF wa
ter, he lifted IL on TO the fire and stood
watching the growing blaze.
A piece OF wood cracked, making n
slight report; the man started and bent
forward IN listening attitude, but as
no sound came from the front room
his face cleared, and he proceeded with
his tasks.
With clumsy hands he cut slices Of
bread from rough loaf and laid them
on the packing case which served as n
table. Going down on his hands and
knees in u corner Of the room he bur
rowed about In zinc lined box until
ne FOUND small piece Of bacon from
which, with infinite care, he cut some
rasbers.
All the mans movements were
stealthy and wonderfully quiet, with
out apparent reason, and had il not
been for the intensity with which he
worked the effect would have been In.
dicr0us, but there was something i'm his
restrained actions, in his uncouth en-
deavors TO move noiseessly. and in the
sternness Of his face, that forbade any
idea OF laughter had there been an
Onlooker.
AS the light from the rising sun H.
iumed the room il could be seen that
ne was still Il young man, with face
tanned and weather worn; his curIy
Drown hair and short beard and mus.
tache OF the same color added 10 his
manliness-a altogether he was n hand
some fellow enough except for an ex-
preston of care which clouded his
face.
When The water in the Kettle bcgnn
to boil, and the fire itself grew into n
fierce flame, he took down n battered
teapot, and, with many doubling looks.
at last made up his mind as TO the
quantity of tea he should use. Having
niied up the pot with water, he put il
10 draw in recess OF the big fire.
pace; then with puckered brows he
began toasting the bread before the
hre and presently spread over ench
slice liberal quantity of dripping.
Now his task seemed nearly over for
slipping pan on the fire, he put the
bacon in TO fry, and as il frizzled and
Missed his face grew brighter. He
turned and returned the succulent
slices. and having taken them from
the pan, he placed them between two
plates and put them before the fire.
with even more caution than before
ne stepped slowly to the back door and
opened IL. letting in blast of cold mir.
Pulling Oh his boots. and softly closing
the door, he made his way TO a ram
shackle old shed, whence he soon
emerged bearing two eggs. Across the
rough. wheel-cut back yard he made
MS way until he reached what had eyi-
IDENTITY once been a garden. and here ne
round few daisies struggling for ex-
lstence. Picking them quickly he re-
turned TO the kitchen and boiled the
eggs in the kettle. Then, with an al
most boyish expression of gladness on
his face he selected an old tin tray.
and, covering IL with clean duster.
spread the meal upon il, placing pep
per and salt i'm one saucer and sugar
in another. With the daisies lying I'm
the centre the meal looked fairly
tempting, and the clumsy fellows face
fairly beamed with delight as he bore
II 10 the room az which he had listened.
Having placed The tray ON the floor.
he opened the door; he drew the
rough blind from the window. A
young girl Of about three or four
and-twenty was lying In the bed. Her
face was very wan and white. and
she breathed heavily i'm her s!eep. At
the noise she woke and uttered an cx.
clamation.
Now then, Annie" cried the man.
with assumed roughness, its past
seven o'clock! Where's my breakfastY'
"Oh, Tom, | am so sorry, dcarr' the
girl said sorrowfuly. "Pye oversight
myself. but I'll be up In a minute" /"
And she spread out her arms TO kiss
him as he bent over her.
will you, wifer' he said huskily.
81 guess you will do what I tell you,
and that is lie down Mt once, you liz.
fle baggage"
She looked at him inquiringly, with
= feeble smile on her thin face. He