The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1912-12-27

hu~hran-ers than George OS-
49, Wald .Ab@rne.hy Melvin. Ta-
spite this ]mellitiuous commentators.
Young Melvin helped his mother to sell
dance music. ballads. melodeons and a
very occasional pianoforte in one of
the several self styled capitals Of Riy-
erlna. and despite both facts the moth
er WAS Il lady of most gentle blood.
The son could either teach or tune the
piano with Il certain crude and die
skill. He endured a monopoly of what
little business the locality provided in
this line and sat superior on the music
stool ut all the dances. lie had once
SunG tenor in Bishop Methuen'S choir.
but. offended by Il ord Of wise and
kindly advice. was seen no more in
Surl'lice or in church. 1t will be per-
ceiveI that Oswald Melvin had all the
aggressive independence Of Young
Australia without the v%irility which
leavenS the trucr type.
Yet he was neither a base nor an IN
kind lad. His bHne was Il morbid ON
permanent. which he could no more help
than his sallow face and wecdy per-
son. Even his vanity was directly
traceable to the curly influence of an
eccentric and reckless father with ex-
porimrntal ideas on the upbrin=in@ Of
Il child. 1t was a pity that brilliantly
unsuccessful man had not lived to see
the result OF his selulouS empirici>m.
His wife was left to bear the brunt-
Il brave exile whose romantic history
was never likely to escape her CONT
npnt lipS. None even knew whether
she saw any or one of those ag"ra-
waited faults OF an only child which
were 50 apparent to all her world.
The Sallow and neurotic face Of Os-
wall Melvin would brighten with NOR
bid enthusiasm at the bare mention
Of the dr>pcrado's name. The some
what dull. dark eyes would l-hteh
with borrowed fires. The young fool
wore an eyeglaSs in one Of them when
he dared.
"Stinguree.' he would say. "is the
greatest man in all Australia" He had
inherited from his father a delight in
uttcring startling opinions, but TINS one
he held with unusual sincerity. 1t had
come to all ears. and was the subject
Of that episcopal compliment which Us
valid took as an Affront. The impudent
little choriStcrS supported his loss 10y
! chilling "Stingar""." after him III til,
street.
There, however, with a few ever
n men VINO admired his stand
point and revclcl in his store of Grim,
inal annals or with his patient, inScru
able mother. Oswald Melvin was an
other being. His language became
bright and picturesque, his animation
surprising. :. "a>lal customer would
sometimes sec this side of him an'
carry away the impression OF Il rare
y vounw daredevil. And it was one sncf
who gave Oswald the first great mo
ment of his bush life.
Not been down from the back block:
for three yearS:" he had asked. as ht
showed Il trcmulous and uilapidate(
hushmun how to play the inStrumen
that he had bought with the few shil
linuS remaining ont of his check. Beer
on the spree ana going back to drive
wlim until you've enough to go on an
| other: How | wish you'd tell that t.
our high and mighty lord bishop Of al
the back blocks. | should like to SCI
his face and hear him on the subject
, but | suppose he's new since you wer,
down here LAST"
ito be continued