| Show CHAPTER iv supper was well nigh when the barking of dogs announced a late or arrival that it father I 1 cried oung jack 1 I thought he hed d be here tonight ill run down to the huta buts and meet him lud and oft off he darted in the direction of 0 the bounds after the first outburst of welcome elcome had subsided some fifty questions ques tlona had bad been asked and mr air nall hall had somewhat w hat satisfied his hunger he said and now that I 1 have told you all my news how have you been getting on in ro absence shearing going ahead all right jack yea fataei nothing much to growl about fair CUP clip so EO tar far I 1 think but you told us yet whether ou got the married couple you to look out tor for in melbourne i V ell I 1 have and I 1 bavel lt replied mr hall leisurely lighting hla his pipe it la Is the hardest job in the v bild 01 id to get hold of anybody I 1 saw several couples ln in town ton but they were all so pre precious clous independent that it made me quite savage one lot would not come so BO far into the bush another wanted to ehnow whether I 1 a allowed beer and meshing on one likely follow fellow had six elx small email phildren children no dr drawback imback on the place bet ceic c knowing f W 1 l f i i i i T I 1 1 that he ha might leave rae me in ili low faff months for five shillings a week more at the next station at last I 1 dropped a nery ery decent oung fellow just out hom the old country with a young wife and no encumbrances but what did you mean by you have and iou haven haye t asked mrs halt hall 1 I mean this the roan man tells me hla his if ife e Is in too delicate a elate to do any ft ol 01 aik oik k ills his name flame Is thomas thomaa baynes and he says he can cook well and Is handy about the house I 1 see his wife hut but I 1 engaged him at seventy i pounds a year on condition that it his wife diew stronger site she should assist you in any light work needlework or something of 0 that description no doubt when they get settled and used to ohp th life they will shake down all right I 1 roust must say aay I 1 was taken with the lad a 5 appearance BO 90 1 I hope it will turn out satisfactorily what a pity the wife alfe Is so BO delicate said mary alary and when are they coming up father they stained before me but I 1 overtook them on the road returned mr hall and they arched at sullivans public house in the coach this evening I 1 had no time to stop and see them but asked sullivan to send them on tonight in hid blo buggy so I 1 suppose they m will ill be ba here ver vars vcrs shortly to poor creature remarked mrs airs hall I 1 ilow how will w ill gibe stand bush life if she Is such a sickly thing you say they are young people I 1 lea cs quite young ile he told me he h was twenty tin ee but he be baiely looks it however ou will be able to judge for yourself very soon oh there 8 long dill he exclaimed hailing balling a station hand band who bad just juet come up to the veranda how d ye do dill bill has a buggy come up front from sullivans sullivan s with a man and his wife tor for the station all right see them settled in the hut next tile the mens kitchen will ou give a look after them and make them as comfortable as you can they are new chums not used to roughing it much 3 et I 1 expect and no doubt will feel strange at the start 1 I it have ave been to see after them air replied bill ho fco tar far as the young man would let me but he be seems mighty independent and says he be can do for himself well that a something strange in a on new ew chum said mr air hall laugh ng but it Is a hopeful beginning it if you are passing his hut tell him to get the mens breakfast at seven sharp to morrow and add I 1 will go down and give him a look in afterwards on my way to the shed long before midnight the whole station appeared to be wrapped in slumber and not a light atas as to he be seen the very sheep dogs snored and dreamed as dogs do dream after a hard day a toll rounding up their flocks and hunting back refractory sublet subieta ta to the bards i aeils arils just as they had bad been doing the Il livelong lelong day every enery human being on the station slept save one upon a rude bench outside a hut near the men a kitchen sat a dark eyed youth looking upwards into the starry sky tears were slowly trickling down hla his face and he rocked himself to and fro struggling to suppress his sobs soba presently he arose and clasping his hands above his head as it if in the very agony of his big soul hp he murmured I 1 how ft ill it all end 9 oh ob merciful heaven ho will it end then ho he entered the hut to be continued |
