Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-07-13
for The Term of Ills Natural Life
BY MARCUS CLARKE
CHAPTER xvII.-Ccontinued.,
MARCUS CLARKE


"By the bye" said Vickers, 81 sup
pose we shall have to get that fellow up
for the trial. We have to identify the
Villains"
Cant you and / do thst?" asked
Frere,. uneasily.
Il am afraid not. l wouldn't like to
swear to man after five years"
I'VE had better get up a few prisoners
who were at the harbor at the time"
said Vickers, 81 wouldn't let the villains
slip through my fingers for anything I"
And are the men at Port Arthur old
men7" asked Meeltin.
"Old convlcts," returned Vickers. ats
our place for 'colonial-sentence' men.
The worst we have are there. 1t 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
hfers. you see, and a trip to Hobart
Town is like a holiday to them"
"And do they never leave the place
when sentenced for life?" said Meekin.
How distressingl"
Never, except when they die" said
Frere. with 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 it. Mr.. Meekin. Pic
turesque, | can assure you"
my dear Maurice" says Sylvia. going
to the piano, as if in protest to the turn
the conversation was taking. chow can
you talk like thatT
81 should much like to see IT," said
Meekin.
Ipf- l.. \
with some official paper for the major,
stared ar the dainty clergyman. and
rough Maurice laughed again. "Oh. it's
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 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. out
OF sheer politeness, to cease talking for
a moment. caused the conversation to
flag, and limited to Mr.. Meekin that il
was time for him to depart.
Sylvia burst into laughter as the door
closed. What a ridiculous creaturei"
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
no Is as blind as beetle"
My dear Sylvia" said Vickers. seri-
ously. Mr.. Meekin is clergyman, you
know"
"Oh. | know" said Sylvia: "but then.
clergyman can talk like man, can't
her Why do they send such people
heref | 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 go into the kitchen.
May he. dear?'
"You'll have the house full of these
vagabonds, you little puss" said vickers.
kissing her. 81 suppose l must let him
stay"
Maurice, you are great bear. and
II you hadn't saved my life you know,
l shouldn't love you bit. There Won
may kiss me" Cher voice grew softer).
This convict business has brought it
all back, and should be ungrateful if
1 didn't love you, dear"
""uiiVt rere, WIN 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
gi<l. 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 puzzled expression. "She always
leaves me for her father" he said to
himself. 81 wonder if she really loves
me, or If It's only gratitude. after all"
He had often asked himself the same
question during the FIVE years of his
wooing, but he had never satisfactorily
answered Ii.