An Outback Marriage Banjo Paterson (philippa perry book .txt) đ
- Author: Banjo Paterson
Book online «An Outback Marriage Banjo Paterson (philippa perry book .txt) đ». Author Banjo Paterson
âSpeak up, George,â said a friend. The young man raised his voice to a shout, and saidâ â
âAnd so I propose three cheers and long life to the Hopal Queen!â
As he spoke he ran two or three paces forward towards a stump, meaning, no doubt, to get on it and lead the cheering; but, just as he was going to jump, a wretched little mongrel that had been in and out among the peopleâs feet made a dash at him, fixed its teeth in the calf of his leg, and ran away howling at its own temerity. The young giant rushed after it, but the Opal Queen interposed.
âGeorge,â she said, âdonât ye dare go for to kick my dog!â
âWell, what did he bite me for, then?â said the giant, speaking out now in a voice that could be heard half a mile off. âWhat did he bite me for?â
âNever mind, George! Donât ye go for to kick him, thatâs all.â
The Opal Queen, snorting like a grampus, climbed into the coach; the driver cracked his whip, and off they went, leaving the audience spellbound, and the gigantic young man rubbing his leg. Soon Pikeâs faded away in the distance. As the coach jolted along, Carew and Charlie on the box seat occasionally peered in at the large swaying figure, half-hidden in the dust.
About two miles out of town Considine, with all his earthly belongings in a small valise, stopped the coach and got on board, sitting in front with them.
âHave a look inside,â said Charlie. âThereâs a woman in there looks rather likeâ âthe lady you were talking about.â
Considine looked in. Then he sank back in his seat, with a white face. âBy Heavens!â he said, âitâs my wife.â
âThis is funny,â said Charlie. âWonder what sheâs after. She must have heard, somehow. Sheâll never lose sight of you, now, Considine.â
Here the driver struck into the conversation. âSee her inside?â he said, indicating the inside passenger with a nod of his head. âSheâs off to Sydney, full rip. She reckons her husbandâs dead, and sheâs came in for a fortune.â
âOh, she reckons heâs dead, does she?â said Charlie carelessly. âDidnât know she had a husband.â
âHo yes,â said the driver. âShe came up here passinâ by the name of Keogh, but it seems that ainât her husbandâs name at all.â
âOh, indeed! Do you happen to have heard what her husbandâs name is? And when did he die?â
âI never heard the noo husbandâs name,â replied the driver. âKeogh was her name. I dessay if I arst her sheâd tell me. Shall I arst her?â âNo,â said Considine firmly. âDonât annoy her at all. Leave well alone, young feller. What odds is it to you how many husbands the poor woman has had?â
âNo,â said the driver dispassionately. âItâs no odds to me, nor yet to you, I donât suppose. Sheâs in for a real big thing, I believe. A telegram came to the telegraph station after I left last trip, and young Jack Sheehan, he brought it on after meâ ârode a hundred miles pretty well, to ketch me up. He reckoned she was coming in for a hundred thousand pounds. I wouldnât mind marryinâ her meself, if itâs true; plenty worse-looking sorts than her about. What do you think, eh, Mister?â addressing Considine.
âMarry her, and be blowed,â said that worthy, sociably; and the driver stiffened and refused to talk further on the subject.
Meanwhile the three discussed the matter in low tones. It was practically impossible that anyone could have heard of the identity of Keogh with the missing Considine. How then had the story got about that her husband was dead, and that she had come into money? She must have seen Considine get on the coach, but she had made no sign. Their astonishment was deeper than ever when the coach stopped for a midday halt. It was quite impossible for Considine to conceal himself. The house, where the coach changed horses, was a galvanised-iron, one-roomed edifice in the middle of a glaring expanse of treeless plain, in which a quail could scarcely have hidden successfully. It was clear that Considine and his wife would have to come face to face.
Carew and Charlie looked expectantly at each other, and clambered down quickly when the coach stopped. Considine descended more slowly; straightening his figure and looking fixedly before him, he marched up to the door of the change-house.
His wife got leisurely out of the coach, put on her bonnet, and walked straight over to him; then she looked him full in the face for at least three seconds, and passed by without a sign of recognition.
The three men looked at each other.
âWell, this bangs all,â said Considine. âShe knew me all right. Why didnât she speak? Sheâs afraid Iâll clear out, and sheâs shamminâ not to know me, soâs sheâll have me arrested as soon as she sights a bobby. I know her. Perhaps Iâd better offer her something to go back and leave me alone, hey?â
This was vetoed by a majority of two to one, and once more the coach started. They plodded away on the weary, dusty journey, until the iron roofs and walls of Barcoo gleamed like a mirage in the distance, and the coach rolled up to the hotel. A telegraph official came lounging forward.
âAnyone here the name of Charles Gordon?â he said.
âThatâs me,â said Charlie.
âTelegram for you,â he said. âItâs been all over the country after you.â
Gordon tore it open, read it, and stood spellbound. Then he silently handed it
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