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Show X!t it. !'. ;St! ?i k J4 kfc.jf.!i ! t t-t K k jit U sit lt lt iiiU. -, v.a.., Vtt.....u..........T i 4 1 I OT "W A STORY OF THE j$ l LVyt? fl - f BOER CAMPAIGN .! " 'nt"" X IN NATALA:rv J 'i V L- L U I By H. R Maclentle i r i , w v ;x w i- vj wt ! v ;( CllAITLlt tH.-(Contlnucd ) ' "And to leavu him behind? No, that I could never do'" cried Bluebell. Bho turned and looked straight luto his face "If that waa what you wished to lay to me, Mr Moore, let mo toll you at once you need say no more. As long as my father la In New Kelxo I will Jtay with him I am not In tho least afraid Why should n woman neccs-lurlly neccs-lurlly be a coward!" "A coward' Not Nd one would nc-'euso nc-'euso you ot being that'"!crlcd Moore Ho turned his horse's head toward hers, to close that he was able to lay Kbla hand on hers, llluebclt stnrtcd nd Instantly withdrew her hand. Moore went on In n lower tone- "Hut you are ono of those woment to savo whom from danger or hurl ntn would tire up their lives Illucbell, listen to Be 1 am going out ot tho country, and have only been waiting hero until I should dare to ask you to accompany e. Your father Is anxious you should on tent" I She was still uncomprehending I "You may leave the country," aho Janiwercd coldly "You are not of It, I am I hae been brought up it 'It, and I love It Am I golng'toun away becauso we aro going to bo In-I In-I vsded by tho lloers from the Tram-raalj- Do you think 1 hnvo n llttlo confidence In our Urltlah relations as that? Ilrslilrs, where should I go? il hare, no relations In tho world, so far at I know, but my father." "You will not understand me," said Mooro, Ills brow began, to Uirkcn. but Dluebell did not notice that "Miss Lesllo lllucbcll,(I lovo'yptt with all .ray loull I wish you 16 to ny wife." I If tho kopje they wcro ascending had suddenly been cleft asundcrnd Swallowed Swal-lowed up rider and horsi before her ye, Illucbell could not have been more astonished. I IJluebell looked at the man for a, minute, to seo It he wcro really In .earnest, then, na onco more ho tried to 'lay his hand on hers, eho shook It oil and drew her horse aalde. I "Mr Moore, you hao taken mo by surprise I never for a moment dreamt of such a thing. Why, you'vo only seen me two or three times! Hut though wo had known each other for a llfetlmo It would bo alt tha tame. Thank you for the honor you have done me, but It la quite out ot the question. I do not luvo you, and could never bo your wife." I It ;as as well aho did not seo tho Jexprcsalon ol ! hlsjace tmU Uq iMld not apeak for S fcirrntnwelrTernJps ho was trying to conquer himself. I "1 will not tako that aa my answer, Miss Leslie," ho said at last, in tho same tone as before "I hao spoken too suddenly; you wero not prepared for It I will wait until you haro seen your father, until ho has spoken to you. Perhaps your answer then wilt be different." "It cannot be different!" tho girl ro-tortcd. ro-tortcd. "What could my father say to change my fcellnga? You may aa well take your answer now, Mr. Moore, and please don't think It Is because I did not expect what you have Just said that I havo mado such an answer. I nm very sorrv If I havo hurt your feelings, feel-ings, but I can't help lb Now I am going to put Rover to a gallop; we are getting near borne," She put tho words Into action, and the next moment the gallant little veldt pony was flying over the level plain, the girl keeping her seat like one to tho manner born, her slight figure erect, her relna held with the negligent yet firm hand of a thorough horsewoman. It waa a pretty sight to ee horse and rider lit up by the red blare ot aunset, the girl's whole figure simply outlined In the crimson light, her ruddy hair touched with the gold ot tho setting sun. Moore followed. There was a lank on his face that would have given Illucbell a thrill of Indefinite fear and vague foreboding had she teen It. Once hit lips moved, as If he were muttering mutter-ing to himself; but no articulate sound came from them, Dluebell did not pause until they were close to tho avenue ot blue-gum and ncttlo; then she halt turned her bead to say; "Aro you coming up, Mr, Mooret" "It you havo no objection, Miss Let-He," Let-He," he answered In bis usual tones. Uloebcll mado no response, and a tew seconds brought them to tbe door of the house. The gaunt figure of Miss Ullzabcth appeared at the entranre, brought thither hy the sound of hones' hoofs. Her thin, hlgh-cbeck-honrd face as grey with anxious fear. "Thank Ood, you'ro tafo hom', my bairn!" she exclaimed, uilng the familiar fa-miliar Scotch word, at tho was apt to do In momenta of excitement. "I have riot been ablo to do a strolto of ork for ovortanxlcty about you They ay tho Boers have entered tho country.", coun-try.", "I didn't tco them, anyway, auntie; and I'vo turned up all safe and sound, you see," tald tho girl with n llttlo laugh, as sho laid an affectionate arm round Miss Kllzabcth'1 scrargy houl-oers. houl-oers. "Here, Sam" to tho Zulu boy who appeared from the stables "tako the horaca, boy." , "Yah, 4mlslo," answered the Zulu, 'nowlng hit teeth In a grin. Ho waa Intelligent looking tpeclmcn of his ro. with a frnnk nnd pleasant ex-jetton ex-jetton on hfs brown visage. As D'uo-bJ D'uo-bJ and her aunt dltappenred, Mvore ; J J ! J J KC W , W W W . F dismounted, but somehow his toot caught nwkwnrdly In the tlrrup, nnd ho fell. As he rose, he saw n broad grin on the face ot Sam. Ills rage, long at the smoldering point, burst forth, and, lifting his riding whip, ho struck the boy merely across the faco with It. "Take that, you black nigger!" he said, with an oath, "and learn not to laugh at your betters!" A great weal rose on the boy's brown 'face, as he uttered an Involuntary exclamation. ex-clamation. It reached Bluebell's ears, snd tbe ran out quickly. A gtanre at the two revealed ever) thing, and she turned on Moore white with rcorn and anger. "You struck my boy? How dared you, coward?" sho cried, her voice full ot ringing trorn and Indignation. "And you dared to tay to ire what you did a few minutes ago! It I wero my father, I would never let you cross New Kelso again! Don't touch tho boy again! I dare you!" Sho turned from him with Incx-prcttlble Incx-prcttlble contempt, and walked with Sam to tho stables. Gerald Moore looked after her, an ugly line of anger along his lips. "'Dared?'" be repented to himself. "You shall pay for this yot, my ladyl Oh, you shall pay for It with your very heart blood!" Ho trailed a smllo that bad something some-thing fiendish In It. , Mooro remained to 'upper. It wni rather a gloomy meal. Mr, Lesllo looked downcast, perhaps sulky. Miss Elizabeth was agitated and anxious, Only Mooro talked and Jested rather mure than usual. As for HlucbtU, aho never onco looked at or spoko to him. Bhc went to her own room after supper sup-per and did not know when Mooro left. About nlno o'clock Miss Kllza-beth Kllza-beth knocked lit her door, "Your father wants tu speak to you downstairs, Illucbell." "Now for It." tho ight tho girl. Bho opened tho door. "Well, auntie, I'll go down. I surpost Mr. Mooro It away?" "Yes," said Mitt Elizabeth. "I wonder won-der why he comet ao much to Now Kelso, Dluebell? I don't llko him, lassie." las-sie." "Nor I," Illucbell answered; "but h's a millionaire, auntie, nnd thnt goes a long way with some. Well, I'll go down anyhovJ, and see what dad hat to tay." "'ycifAfTniTr. '"".'' " Adam Lesllo was stal'Jlng by the fireplace when Dluebell entered, a heavy frown on hit forehead, his face looking dark and determined. Uluo-bell Uluo-bell did not llko thla mood In her father; fa-ther; but she had Inherited her father's fa-ther's determination, and was qulto read to oppose her will to his. "Tako a scat, Illucbell," bo said In a tono of hoarseness in his voice. Bho did so, and he went on: "Mr, Mooro has been speaking about you to me." "Indeed," tald tho girl coldly. "Yet. Ho aakt for you aa bit wife, and I have given him hit nnawer. "Indeed!" tald Dluebell again. "I supposo you didn't think, then, that I had a tay In tho matter, dad?" "A say In It?" retorted her father, breaking suddenly Into n fury. "What tay could you havo but that you would do as I wanted? You shall marry Gerald Ger-ald Moore this day week, and be safely safe-ly out ot the country before the trouble trou-ble begins. The man la a millionaire, rolling In moneyl lou will go to England, where money It able to do an) thing, nnd be Introduced Into tbe highest society In tbe land, where you have a better right than many that are there. If all had their rights I should be I-alrd ot Tlnlaverstock, as you know. You will wear a diamond tiara, and drive In your carriage and be pre- tented to her Majesty, What more should a girl want?" Hit fury had blazed Up and gone out tbe nezt moment, like a luclfer match, and his tone now was that of ono who summons all tbe persuasion and argument be Is master ot to bring about a deslro he Is previously anxious anx-ious for yet tries to conceal. "And leave you and Aunt Ellzebeth at New Kelso, to be attacked perhaps by the Doers?" said tho girl Indignantly, Indignant-ly, "No, Indeed, dad, I shall do no tuch thing Do you think tho things you tpeak of are any temptation to me? What can a girl llko mo, who hat been brought up among buffaloes and ostriches, with all the freedom ot tho veldt nnd the mountains about her, caro for a glided cago In an English Eng-lish city, even with a diamond tiara nnd a carriage? Hut, a't any rate, even If that were n timptatlon, I wouldn't marry Mr. Moore, not for anything ha could giro. I don't llko him nor trust him." "Dut I tell you ou shall marry bin, girl! You must!" exclaimed her father fa-ther again furloualy. Ho started from his position and faced her, bis taco almost purplo with passion nnd excitement, ex-citement, his velnt ttnndlng out llko knotted cords, his lips unsteady. "Thero's no choice In tho matter you'vo got to do Itl I have swern to Moore you will be his wlfo this day week, and youthnlll" "You bad no right to promlto such a thing!" retorted tho girl Indignant-'y, Indignant-'y, Dluebell Lesllo was no milk-and-water, weak-willed girl, to bo bullied Irfo tuch a course by her father or any oue cite. Sho had been brought up In MWfiilislsMMMiB too hardy and Independent a Ills tor that, M "I shall not marry him, father', that -H Is certain. You don't need to try to jH urgo me. You nre my father, and I H owe you affection and obedience; but 1 not In tuch n matter as that ot selling IH myself to a man I despite and dls- jH trust. Yen, thnt Is what I do 1 didn't WEB think wliv ou brought him to New EpBm Kelso It )ou had seen him strlko HJBr Sam today Dut there, what Is tbe ftSflF use of speaking?' sho added quickly. StaBB yt havo given yotl my answer, dad, nisssfl as I gave It to Mr Mooro hlmaett to- i day, Did bo not tell you?" WBtr Instcnd of anawcrlng directly, her HEt father atrode to her side, selted her fesssM arm and, holding It In such a grasp mBm ot Iron that It almoat wrung a cry h9Bi from her lips, whispered In her ear; ifjRi "You'll hato to marry him, or see MsW your father ruined and dlagracedt ImHf Illucbell, I tell you I'm In Oerald UNr! Moore's power At any moment be HiEff can tell mo up, take every stick I've 1MB got, and turn us out on the veldt home 'Mlffr lest and pennlleta " VHuS Illucbell turned her face toward htm. -JG5 It had grown very pale, and her cyca SiH8( glowed. Words ot Adair Rothes kept !HEi ringing In her ears: "llcwaro ot that .-HK man, he It dangerous" aHa' "You menn," sho said, slowly, In a JH chsnged voice, all tho girlish defiance H and brightness gono out ot It, "that "H )ou aro In that man's power." H "I l'o been foolish lately, Dine- B bell, I contcos It. I've been speculat H Ing ami lost. I got Into Moore's power H up nt Marllzburg. There's worse than H I've told you. Mooro holds n bill a H bill that would dlsgraco me forever, H would" hit volco sank "put me In H prison," H Dluebell gave a low cry, shrinking B from her father's touch, and covered B tier face with her hands. 'sssssssl "It was I waa not quite accountable HHl for II," taldMr. Leslie In a hoartowhtt- HB per. "I I had been taking too much. Dut It's done, Dluebell, and can't bs HH undone. You must save me. On the HH day thnt ou marry him Oerald Mooro HH will give that paper over Into my HB hands to be destrojed. )jfswfl Bluebell's hands dropped from her ifaafl faro and sho looked up nt him, f HH "So, to saa you from tho conto- WAl quenccs of Jour crime," sho tald slow Tswfl ly, "you would mako mo glvo myself Kstssssi up to this unierupuloui Til- ieVfl lion a vllllan even according "Vol to your own showing! You r Hl will be saved, but what of mot lam VHJ to bo sacrificed to a Ilfo worto than MtaH death, llfo with a man I fear and des- fTssssssl plto and dishonor, who yes, I nm sura r HH of It docs not love me, but wishes for flH tome purpoto to get me, aa well aa you, ,., BJ Into his clutches. Did It never strlko you as being rather a cowardly thing , HH to do, dad?" , 1 hero was a strange bltWrncta In her ( M volco a bitterness that bad never been heard In Dluebell Leslie's bllth clear ''iAV young voice In alt her llfo bcforeS The AWJ wretched man felt It and winced; but -i AVHJ "I am your fath'cr, and I have a right: ,HBV to demand thla ot you!" ho exclaimed .HH hoarsely. "Wilt you seo )our father nVsQ dragged to prison nnd jour aunt and H yourself turned out on the veldt, ruin- Bl cd and disgraced, lo be shot by the VsVal Doers, or to dlo ot starvation? Antwer H mo thnt!" -H "I cannot answer you now. Let mo H go to my room," said Illucbell In a low H voice. "I beg your pardon, dad, for HHJ bavlng spoken to you ns I did Just )" now, I should not have done IU Dut BVJ I do not think anything would Justify HJ mo In marrying him." AVJ Before he could stop her sho bad HH slipped from tho room and gone up to BHJ her own. Miss Elizabeth bad been BHJ waiting for her, and now came to the .BBJ (To bo Continued.) |
