aps a mother is now anxiously expecting a
son, whose bones have long since mouldered at Ballarat.

CHAPTER XLVI.

A MARRIAGE, AND AN ELOPEMENT.

In a few minutes we reached the mine. As there was no one in sight, the
policeman concluded to give the signal at the entrance of the shaft that
the owner was wanted, and as the mine was not very deep, we were not
kept waiting any length of time for his appearance. The tackle for
lowering and raising the miners was worked, and first the head and then
the body of a man appeared in view.

"Here's two gentlemen--they want to see you, Mr. Henrets," the officer
said.

"My name is Herrets," the miner said, "and why you will persist in
calling me Henrets is beyond my comprehension."

"One name is as good as the other--what is the difference?--both begin
with H and end with s."

We found that the officer's description of the man answered very well.
His hair was sandy, his eyes were blue, and his skin was very fair and
beardless. He was about five feet six inches, and not very stout.

Dressed as he was, in mining clothes, stained with many a stratum of
earth, we could form but a poor opinion of his good looks, even had we
been disposed to estimate his beauty before his understanding.

"What can I do for you?" he asked, addressing Fred and myself, in a tone
that was intended to be excessively conciliatory.

"Before we answer that question we must ask one," Fred replied. "Were
you ever an apprentice to a cordwainer in London?"

The man's face flushed scarlet, and he seemed extremely agitated at the
question--but at length he replied,--

"I was an apprentice to a cordwainer, but my indentures were given up
before I left England, sir."

"And your master had an only daughter, whose hand you demanded in
marriage," Fred continued.

"Yes, but I meant nothing wrong; upon my word, gents, I didn't," he
exclaimed, hastily, evidently considering Fred and myself in some way
connected with the law, as we were under the guidance of a police
officer.

"That remains to be seen," returned Fred, in a mysterious manner,
evidently taking some delight in frightening the simple-minded young man
all he could.

"O, I can tell you all about it," Herrets exclaimed with eagerness.

"That is unnecessary," Fred replied. "We know all, or nearly all; but
what we wish to discover is, why you did not join the lady at Melbourne,
as you promised in your letter?"

"Join the lady at Melbourne?