faithful still and he married her. I call it too
sweet for words.".

But Mrs. De Lisle has never met Guy Turner. He is still "riding tracks"
on Jinfalla, and consequently she knows nothing of Dick Stanesby's
hutkeeper, or of a solitary grave by the Woonawidgee creek.

THE YANYILLA STEEPLECHASE

My dear, my dear, so you want to know why I am an old maid?

Well, nobody asked me to marry them, I suppose that must have been it.

No? What? You think I must have been pretty. Pretty, was I pretty?

They said I was then, dear, but you see there wasn't another lady within
fifty miles, and that made the difference, just all the difference. You
've a pretty little girl, Hope--it wasn't fair to have called you Hope,
it's such an unlucky name--but if you'd been young when I was they'd
just have raved about you.

Had I lovers, dear?

Of course I had lovers. Every woman who isn't downright repulsive has,
I think. Willie Maclean doesn't come here to see me, does he? Ah! I
thought--

There, never mind, there's no harm done. It's thirty years since the men
used to ride across the ranges just to stay the night at Yanyilla, and I
don't _think_ it was wholly for your grandfather's society they came. Of
course I had lovers. It's so long ago I can tell you about them now; but
mostly, dear, I don't think a woman should tell. She gets the credit of
it, I know, but she ought not to, and I do think there are many things a
nice woman, I mean a good woman, keeps to herself.

Oh yes! I had lovers, like every other girl, but there was only one I
cared about--and I cared--I cared--I believe I care still, for all I
lost him three and thirty years ago. I used to look forward to dying and
meeting him in heaven, dear, but I was young then, and after I passed
thirty, and began to go down hill, I got to know that he'd never
recognize in an old woman the girl he loved on earth. It troubled me
sorely, sorely, for he was only thirty when he died, but afterwards
I thought we must have been put into this weary world for some good
purpose, and surely if there is a great God he won't let me waste my
life for nothing. I have tried to do my best, but somehow my life has
been a failure all round; I 'm not much use to anybody. They say love
doesn't last, but I think they are wrong; I know it has lasted me all
these years, and the thought of seeing him again--well, well, you will
think an old woman foolish, dear, but it makes my heart beat like a
you