Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-09-22

CHAPTER Xv1I.-(Continued.j
"By the bye" said Nickers, Il sup
pore we shall have TO get that fellow up
for the trial We have to identify the
villains"
Cant you and | do thatT asked
Frere, uneasily.
II am afraid not. wouldn't like TO
swear TO a man after five years"
1--WE had better get up few prisoners
who We're at the hnrbor at the time ,"
said Nickerl, Il wouldn't let the villains
slip through my fingers for anything"
And are the men at Port Arthur old
menT' asked Meekin.
"Old convicts," returned Nickers. ITS
our place for 'colonia-sentence men.
The worst we have are there. II has
taken the place Of Macquarie Harbor.
What excitement there will be among
them when the schooner goes down on
Monday. Most of the prisoners are
hiers you see. and a trip to Hobart
Town is like holiday 10 them"
And do they never leave the place
when sentenced for lifeT' said Meekin.
How distressingr'
Never except when they die" said
Frere. with a laugh; "and then they are
buried on the island Oh. it's fine
place! You should come down with me
and have a look at IL, Mr.. Meekin. Pic
turesque. ! can assure you"
MY dear Maurice" says Sylvia. going
to the plano, as If in protest to the turn
the conversation was taking. chow can
you talk like that?"
II should much like to see IT," said
Meekin
The convict-servvant. who had entered
with some official paper for the major,
stared at the dainty clergyman. and
rough Maurice laughed again. "Oh. It's
a stunning climate" he cried: land moth
Ing to do. just the place for you There's
regular little colony here. All the
scandals In Van Dieman's Land are
Matched at Port Arthur"
This agreeable chatter about scandal
and climate seemed a. strange contrast
TO the graveyard island and the men
who were prisoners for life. Perhaps
Sylvia thought so. for she struck few
chords. which. compelling the party. ont
OF sheer politeness to cease talking for
a moment. caused the conversation to
flag. and limited to Mr. Meekin that it
was time for him to depart.
Sylvia burst into laughter as the door
closed. what a ridiculous creaturer"
said she. BLESS the man. with his
gloves and his umbrella. and his hair
and His scent! Fancy that mincing moo
die showing me the way to heaven! I'd
rather have old Mr. Bowes. papa, though
he is as blind ms beetle"
MY dear Sylvia" said Vickers. ser-
ously. "Mr. Mee,ln is clergyn an, you
know"
"Oh. | know" said Sylvia; "but then.
clergyman can talk like a man, can't
he? Why do they send such people
here? | am sure they could do much
better at home. Oh. by the way. papa,
dear. poor old Danny's come back again
told him he might 20 into the kitchen.
May he. dear?'
You'll have the house full Of these
vagabonds. you little puss." said Vickers.
kissing her. 81 suppose | must let him
stay"
Maurice, you are a great bear. and
If you hadn't saved my life. you know.
! shouldn't love you bit. There. you
may kiss me" (her voice grew softer).
"Thls convict business has brought Il
all back and | should be ungrateful If
! didn't love you. dear"
Maurice Frere. with suddenly Grim
soned face. accepted the proffered caress.
and then turned away to the window.
Il am not half good enough for you"
he cried. with sudden vehemence.
ITS my happiness that you've got
to think Of Captain Bruin." said the
girl you've saved my life. haven't
You? and should be wicked If | didn't
love you. No. no more kisses" she add
ed, putting out her hand. "Come. papa.
It's cool now; let's walk In the garden.
and leave Maurice to think of his own
unworthiness"
Maurice watched the retreating pair
with a puzzled expression. "She always
leaves me for her father" he said TO
himself. 81 wonder If she really loves
me. or IL it's only gratitude. after alp
He had often asked himself the same
question during the FIVE years of his
wooing. but he had never satisfactorily
answered IL.