An Outback Marriage

om the mountains set the river running white with foam, fighting its way over bars of granite into big pools where the platypus dived, and the wild ducks-busy with the cares of nesting-just sett

ng-shed to shearing-shed, A couple of months before they started, they would write to the squatters for whom they had worked on previous shearings-such quaint, ill-spelled letters-asking that a pen might be kept for them. Great shearers they were, too, for the mountain air bred hardy men, and while they were at it they worked feverishly, bending themselves nearly double over the sheep, and making the shears fly till the sweat ran down their foreheads and dripped on the ground; and they peeled the yellow wool off

s were hung with saddles and harness; a tobacco-cutter and a jar of tobacco stood on the table, side by side with some formidable-looking knives, used for cutting the sheep's feet when they became diseased; whips and guns stood in every corner; nails and saws filled up a lot of boxes on the table, and a few samples of wool hung from a rope that was stretched acro

the house acacia trees were in bloom, and the bees were working

e in face, were quite different types of manhood. Charlie, from his earliest school-days, had never read a book except under compulsion, had never stayed indoors when he could possibly get out, had never obeyed an unwelcome order when by force or fraud he could avoid doing so, and had never written a lette

The mail was late, for the melting snow had flooded the mountain creeks, and Hugh knew it was quite likely that little Patsy Donohoe, the mail-boy, had been blocked at Donohoe's Hotel for two days, unable to cross Kiley's River. This had happened often, and on various occasions when Patsy had crossed, he, pony and all, had been swept down

se. The boy was about twelve years of age, and had just ridden a half-broken horse a forty-mile journey-for of such is the y

s great, clumsy cow" (the child referred to his horse), "he rea

Go in now to the kitchen and get dry by the fire. I'll lend you a horse to

e bridle, and swaggered inside, carrying his saddle, to show his wet clothes and recou

, and circulars from pastoral societies, he picked a letter addressed to himself in the scrawling fist of William Grant. He opened it, expecting to find in it the usual Commination Service on things in general, but as he read on, a vivid surprise spread over his face. Leaving the other letters and papers unopened, he walked to the door and looked out into

, "do you know where

aconically. "I don't Ch

yourself round the house till you find her, and let me

on of an engine drawing a long train of cars,

platform, intimated that his grandmother was in the verandah,

ngly-marked eyebrows. She had a petite, but well-rounded figure, with curiously small hands and feet. Though only about twenty-four years of age she had the sedate and unemotional look that one sees in doctors and nurses--people who have looked on death and birth, and sorrow and affliction. For Ellen Harriott had done her three years' course as a nurse; she had a natural faculty for the business, and was in great request among the wild folk of the mountains, who looked upon her (and perhaps rightly) as quite equal to the Tarrong doctor in any emergency. She knew the

"I have had a most

said the old lady,

e wind, but one who had lived her life, from fortune to poverty, through

thing very

's coming out

ha

me this morning. Patsy was late, th

table, Hugh spread out

Gor

ould show better judgment in keeping these sheep back a little. Don't rely upon Satton's

ten to your mother on the subject. My daughter will represent me in everything, so I wis

s tr

. GR

ss the river. She'll be there before we can possibly get down. If no one meets her

id Miss Harriott. "The coach-drive over thos

meet her on the road somewhere. If she is at the railway

I won't show it to you now. You

ng a start," said Hugh. "W

ung girl just out from England is sure to have a great deal of luggage, you know. I

to meet her," said Hugh. "I don't suppose your

ing the river?" s

ss somehow," said H

looking after her luggage, and she had better meet the family one at a time. You go and meet

ur horses in the big waggonette; I expect she'll be waiting at Donohoe's-that is, if she

arrival was a new excitement, a change in the monotony of bush life; but to the old lady and Hugh it meant a great deal more. It meant that they would be no lo

hey had been practically considered owners of the big station; Hugh had taken on and dismissed employees at his will, had controlled the buying and selling of thousands of s

rom Mr. Grant; and, lest it should be thought that that gentleman had only one side to his

Mrs.

an old man now, and set in my ways, and this girl is really all I have to live for. Looking back on my life, I see where I have been a fool; and perhaps the good fortune that has fol

aturday and spend Sunday with you and Andrew, and talk over the fortunes we were going to make? If I had met a woman li

t is well she should begin now to learn how to use it; I have, therefore, given her full power to draw all money that may be required. I may tell you that I intend to leave your boys enough to start them in life, and they will hav

has been brought up with English ideas. I can't get her to say much to me, which I daresay is my

very

. GR

her husband's fortunes; then the burial of her husband out on the sandhills, and her flight to this haven of rest at Kuryong. Though she had lost interest in things for herself, she felt keenly for her children, and was sick at heart when she thought

n as she arrives. I will do what I can for her, and I thank you for what you say you will do for my boys. I will let you know the moment she arrives. I wish you would come up and live on the station for a

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TE GO