CHAPTER VI
Mr. and Mrs. Coonie came up in their buggy, and were joined by Lanky Tim. He proposed that he should marry Annie at once. The nearest clergyman lived at Benalla.
"We give our consent," said Mrs. Coonie.
"Sure-lye!" said her husband, who usually said "ditto," and played second fiddle.
"I'll go and see if Annie is ready," said her mother.
Annie was in the kitchen. Mrs. McKeel was there also, having been obliged to prepare breakfast. She was standing over a tub washing dishes.
"Good morning, Mrs. McKeel," said Mrs. Coonie; "I hope it won't inconvenience you if Annie leaves at once. She is to be married to-day."
"To Lanky?" said Mrs. McKeel.
"Yes! She's the luckiest girl in the world."
Annie began to cry. Alec's accident had brought on qualms of conscience. She had been led into promising to marry Lanky, on the spur of the moment, for the sake of his wealth, believing he was going to die. She could not tell what to do. She was sitting on the middle of a see-saw, and did not know which end to slide to.
"Come, Annie! don't be a fool!" said her mother; "you'll have a carriage to ride in, silks and satins to wear, a fine house; and you'll hobnob with the Governor's Lady."
"Mrs. Coonie," said Mrs. McKeel, "I think you are too hasty. Annie does not know her own mind. Give her time. Max Hicsh and David believe that Lanky has not a penny to bless himself with. Don't you think the account of his wealth is only a made-up affair—a cock-and-bull story?"
"I believe every word he says. You can see he is a gentleman in disguise," said Mrs. Coonie.
"Better sure than sorry. Make inquiries first."
"No," said Mrs. Coonie; "delays are dangerous. Come, Annie, you promised before witnesses to marry him. Don't perjure yourself!"
The girl rose very reluctantly, and was pushed by her mother towards the buggy, which was standing a few yards away. She was crying bitterly.
"What's all this, I would like to know?" roared Alec, who had thrust his head out of the spare bedroom window.
No one replied. Lanky became white as a sheet, and trembled like an aspen-leaf.
Alec, by the aid of a stick, came hopping out at the back door. He held on by a water-butt, and said, "Annie, what's the matter with you? What's the meaning of all this?"
"They want to force me to marry Lanky."
"And you don't want to?"
"No," she said faintly.
Hearing the hubbub, David and his father came out, and were told what was going on. David laughed till the tears rolled down his cheeks.
"You mak' the maist solemn occasions a target for ye'r mockery, Daavid. Hold ye'r whisht!"
"I can't, father. It's as good as a play. It's a comedy of the first water. Ha, ha!"
"To hear a son o' mine talk o' play-actin'! If I thocht ye had ever been in a playhouse, or theatre, as ye ca' it, I'd strike ye off wi' a shillin'.'
"Listen to me, father, and all you people," said David, pulling a sheet of paper out of his pocket. "I found this behind the sofa where Lanky lay last night. It must have fallen out of his pocket as he wriggled about. I did not know what it was till I read it, and, as the reading will do much good, I don't think I ought to consider it a private or privileged document. It's a letter from Lanky's mother to him. Here goes:—
"'13, Furze Street, Collingwood.
"'My Dear Son Tim,—
"'This is to say as how my rheumatics is very bad an I done not a days washin for a month every stick of furniture is sold I have not a shillin Send me som money for the love of God at wanct.
"'Your pore old mother
"'Bridget Wilber.'"
Tim looked as if he would gladly have sunk into the earth. He was taken aback, and said nothing.
"I think, father," said David, "I have run a coach and six horses through the will; I think I have scotched this snake, this colossus of wealth! Saul slew his thousands, but David has slain his ten thousands."
Mrs. Coonie went up to Lanky, with her double fists on her hips, her face the colour of a red brick, and opened fire.
"You viper! you toad! you snake! What have you got to say for yourself? To think that I should swallow your story as easy as you swallowed the brandy. I'll horsewhip you, you hound!"
She was about to seize the whip from Coonie's hand to carry her threat into execution, when old McKeel stepped forward, and said,—
"You dodrotted heepocrite, that I snatched frae the jaws o' death! To think ye should be sa near ye'r end, an' tell a pack o' lees—red-hot lees, I may say! Won'ner they didna burn ye'r tongue. You'll be ca'in on Lazarus to dip the tip o' his finger yet to cool it. You seasoned leear! I tell ye tae ye'r face that Ananias was struck deed for a hantle less than ye hae done. An' tae think that my ammonia should be slopped like a cup o' tea ower my carpet, insteed o' savin' the lives o' them that's mair deservin'. Blast ye! Tak' that!"
He struck Lanky with a heavy stock-whip, which made him jump.
"It's a pack of lies!" he roared, turned round, and fled.
Max Hicsh came up at this moment, and took in the situation at once. He, David, and Alec laughed like to split their sides. Old McKeel was livid with rage. Coonie was in his buggy, as stolid as a native bear, trying to light his pipe. His wife turned to him, having no other vent for her anger.
"You old fool! is this a time to smoke like a chimney, when you ought to be down on your knees asking all our pardons for nearly leading Annie into a terrible scrape?"
"My word!" was all Coonie said, as he thrust pipe and tobacco into his pocket.
"I'll send a pound to old Mrs. Wilber by to-day's post," said David.
"Deduct a half-croon frae it to pay for my ammonia," said his father.
"I'll let her starve!" said Mrs. Coonie, as she mounted the buggy, took the whip out of her husband's hand, and drove away without saying another word. She looked upon them all as conspirators who had been plotting to marry Annie against the will of her mother.
"He never vas pitten at all!" said Max. "De marks vas made by a pin vich I found in his coat mit de plood on it."
Annie went into the kitchen, and took off her best frock, then put on her working dress, and resumed her duties as cook.
Max helped Alec to his room, telling him to lie down, and give his leg a rest.
"A word with you, Mr. Hicsh."
"Vat is it, Alec?"
"When I was thrown off my horse, I waited anxiously for daylight. The time passed heavily on my hands. I looked about me, and used my eyes. I saw a reef cropping up among the ferns, and chipped off some of the stone. It was full of gold. What do you think of that specimen?"
He had taken from his pocket a lump of quartz studded with gold. Placing it in Max's hand, he waited for his opinion.
"My gootness! dat is de richest bit of quartz ever seen on this place! Your fortune is made!"
"What I propose," said Alec, "is that you go an' peg out the ground, an' apply for a claim in your name and mine. I'll go half-shares with you."
"Mine goot friend! many tousand tanks. Do you tink I would set your ankle's bone, and take advantages of you vile you are hopping apout on one leg? No, no! mine friend. It is your reef. If you make me de manager of de mine dat is all right!"
It was so arranged. Max found the reef by tracking Annie's horse from his own door. He pegged the ground, and applied for a lease. The first ton of quartz yielded 50 ounces of gold. The first six months' work produced 2721 ounces.
Alec Smith was a rich man. He married Annie. They live in a comfortable house adjoining the mine, and are very happy.
No one on the station ever heard of Lanky Tim again.