Tom Gerrard

man, with ample means, he devoted himself successfully to pastoral pursuits, and soon took a leading part in the advancement of the colony. He had mar

iful, vigorous, and well-trained woman, mentally and physically, and although her parents were English, she was a native of the colony, and, naturally enough, took the deepest interest in all that concerned the station, the advancement of her husband's interes

r she had much resented her father's second marriage. The six years she had spent in England seemed to have entirely changed her character and disposition, and when soon after her return, Edward Wes

, somewhat careless man, very "horsey" in his tastes, and fond of good company. Both his father-in-law and Mrs Gerrard liked

g one of his father's stations in Queensland, and managing it prosperously. Soon after he had taken charge, he heard from his father that hi

become more and more crotchety, and has given herself up to 'religious thought and work,' as she calls it, from which I surmise that her's is a reign of terror at Marumbah Downs. She has built a little tin-pot chapel in which there is not enough room to swing a cat by the tail, and had it opened a few months ago by some swagger curate from Melbourne-poor old Preston, the Scotch parson at Marumbah township not being considered good enough, and having incurred her wrath by openly stating that when he had a cold he took whisky toddy at bedtime! then the silly woman-who rules poor Westonley with a rod of iron-had a notice put up in the men's quarters that all hands, from the head stockman down to the black boys, were to

ry leaves the house, and you must come to us for a month or two next year; 'twill cheer her up

emonth, came the traged

. They took passage on a coastal steamer named the Cassowary-a small paddle-wheel vessel of three hundred tons, old, ill-foun

y girl to sleep, was called from her bedroom to see a stranger in the sitt

ct, and in a few sympathetic words told her that the Cassowary had been lost near Cape Howe, and that every soul on board but one seama

journey down from North Queensland to Victoria, to comfort and

rd, together with such moneys as might be at his (the testator's) death, lying to the credit of the two stations." Then-and here came the sting of the "certain reservation" to Elizabeth Westonley-to his "dearly esteemed son-in-law, Edward Westonley, of Marumbah Downs, I give and bequeath the sum of one thousand pounds, to be by him used in the manner he may deem best for the benefit of the

other and sister, he still bore her a parental affection, he added another clause (also with an unintended sting in it) to the effect that if Mrs Westonley should have issue, male or femal

w, Westonley, after the contents of the will were ma

I, she has nothing to be angered at. I am pretty well in, and if I died to-morrow, she would be well provided for. And I don't think-I

nature of that made by Captain Gerrard; for she was of too gentle and kindly a nature to have permitted him to have written anything that could have aroused a feelin

resent most bitterly what she called her father's "wicked will," consented, at her

to strangers," Westonley had said to her, almost sternly. "Tom, alt

d Mrs Westonley, icily; "from his conversation I shoul

bit too outspoken and rough. And... and Elizabeth, we have no c

isposition may prove to be utterly unworthy of the tuition and Christian trai

ed inwardly, bu

r Rayner had been buried, together with all the other passengers and members of the crew whose bodies had been washed ashore. After dinner, he, Westonley, and his step-sister, were discussing Captain Gerrard's will, when just then there came in a neighbour of West

spurred and booted feet, "your father and mother died t

Gerrard was

ard rose, and looked his step-sister in the

s not, but she was min

nd to Westonley, "Good-

abeth, you forget yourself! Oh,

n-law aside, went to the stables, saddled his horse, and rode off to the Maru

ll write to me from time to time, as I shall to you. But I can't forgive Lizzie. You will say I write in anger.

y from Marumbah, till his step-sister and W