Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-07-21
for The Term of Ills Natural Life
BY MARCUS CLARKE
CHAPTER xvI1.-fContinued.,

by the bye" said Vickers, II sup
pose we shall have to get that fellow up
for the trial. We have. to identify the
Villains"
Cant you and I do that?' asked
Frere, uneasily.
II am afraid not I wouldn't like to
swear to man after five years"
I'VE had better get up few prisoners
who were at the harbor Mt the time"
Sid Vickers, ~ wouldn't let the villains
sip through my fingers for anything
And are the men Mt Port Arthur old
men?" asked Meekin.
"Old convicts," returned Vickers. TITS
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
lifers, 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 distressingr'
~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 look at It, Mr.. Meekin. Pic
turesque. / can assure you"
My dear Maurice" says Sylvia, going
to the plano, 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
q stunning climate" he cried: "and 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 agreea able 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, out
OF sheer politeness. to cease talking for
moment, caused the conversation to
nag, 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 heaveni I'd
rather have old Mr.. Bowes, papa, though
he Is as blind as beetle"
MY dear Sylvia" said Vickers, seri-
ously, Mr.. Meekin is clergyman, you
know"
~Oh, know" said Sylvia; "but then,
Z clergyman can talk like q man. can't
hot Why do they send such people
here? l am sure they could do much
better at home. Oh, by the way, papa,
dear. poor old Dannys come back again.
told him he might go into the kitchen
May he. dear?'
"You'll have the house full of these
vaEabonds, you little puss," said Vickers.
kissing her. II suppose l must let him
stay"
Maurice, you are a great bear, and
II you hadn't saved my life, you know,
l shouldn't love you bit There you
may kiss me" cher voice grew softer).
This convict business has brought it
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 l didn't
love you! No. no more KISSES" she add
ed, putting out her hand. "Come, paps
It's cool now; let's walk In the garden
and leave Maurice to think of his owl
unworthness."
Maurice watched the retreating pail
with puzzled expression. "She Away,
leaves me for her father" he said t,
himself II wonder if she really love.
me. or If it's only gratitude, after all p
He had often asked himself the sam,
question during the Eve years Of hi
wooing, but he had never satisfactoril,
answered 1t.