The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-11-29

opinion" etc. Supper was laid in the tent, with such luxuries, new to the dig gers experience, as white cloth, candle sticks and silver forks. The young lady did not show until dishes were brought in by coolie servant in snow-white clothes and turban. Albertyne was already i'm pressed, and Miss Bells appearance over- whelmed him. Diaphanous was she in muslin, stately in artificial flowers and a train. He jimly recalled some desc1ip- ton of a court festival, and judged that thus did princesses and duchesses array themselves for supper. Yates introduced him, the lady bowed very low, and AL bertyne's pronuded right hand caused him much embarrassment. He sat next her at the tiny table, but her muslins and the train raised a barrier. Miss Bells conversation was frank but select, of dig nihed persons at Port Elizabeth, the theatrical company playing there of late, balls and novels and poetry. Upon such matters Albertyne had not one idea, but he thought it quite natural that this superior being should talk above his head. Still, it was fatiguing to puzrle out her words, and undigni6ed to con- fess at every pause that he knew nothing of the subject. Yates saw that if this went on, his guest might be rather daunted by respectful admiration than fascinated. He said; "You two keep us quite outside, Wood and me. We're plain people, and we can only talk of plain things. Look here, MT. Albertvne l shall stay at this outspan a week at least, and you can discuss these fine topics with my daughter all day long while am attending to business. Let's be jolly tonight Where's your guitar, BellT'
 "Oh, it's out of tune, and T think a strings broke and"
 There. go and fetch it Keep all that for Port Elizabeth-or MT. AL bertyne."
 The girl rose-a cfoud-laughing pleasantly, and vanished.
 ~ wish both you gentlemen may have suchNa daughter" Yates began, Cor per- haps it may be more polite to say a wife. Bells lost here in the veldt, without a soul to speak to, she as has lived in society since she can recollect. But does my girl fret, and make her father dull Not she /! Lively and good.tempered always. Here's her dear health l' The old mans tone had a ring of feeling un- mistakable. Albertyne drank timidly, as undeserving such an invitation, but he put his soul into the toast.
 Then Miss Bell returned with that medieval instrument which still survives in old-fashioned corners of the earth; should imagine that her performance was not artistic. but melodious enough. Afterward she made tea and chatted of horses, diamonds, veldt life, and veldt fare. A little noisy she became, now that the "6neness was dismissed, but Albertyne had enjoyed no training in culture. At nine o'clock he accompanied Wood to Dutoits Pan, and listened with sympathetic thrill to his praises of Miss Yates. Leaving him in billiard shanty of canvas, Albertyne strolled homewsrd up Bultfontein Hill. Never before had he remarked the strange picture spread beneath-a mile of white tents and metal roofs glittering under the moon, a pallid glow of candlelight through canvas walls beside the path, the flare of bars in Dutoits Pan, the shimmering hills of sorted stuff," the misty, dreamy veldt beyond, and the pale mountains looming far away above an unseen horizon. For the first time he noted the air of fantastic unreality these familiar scenes took under the moonlight, and it stirred his pulse with feelings beyond expression.
 Next day he called on Clinch "There ain't no need to tell what you're come for," cried Monkoroane's agent "l've heard of your soaping and parley-wooing I fancy yourself too much The chief will be ready to meet old Yates with hun dred of such rag-breeches as you behind him But I'd be 'shamed to follow that crowd if was 'spectable diggerl Dye know what old Yates is2 He's Monko- roaue's trader dismissed for thieving and that's why he means to have the chiefs land and cattle and hearts blood if he can'l But we're on English ground Tn this camp, and tell you"
 Albertyne walked from the shed, bu. Clinch followed shouting it was in the Market Square, and the people stopped. I've not spoken a word yet," said AL bertyne, turning; "and now I shall say only this-if you don't hold your tongue, I'll knock you down!" The trader hur- ried back, and, safe in his own doorway, yelled, "Will you knock the police down, you skellum digger9 They've some thing to say to old Yates and his guitars ;'' and SO on.
 The incident was not pleasing, and i, suggested worse possibilities. Albertyne breakfasted with his new friend. and Miss Bell, quite easy now, delighted him with her vivacity. He walked into camp with Yates, and frankly told what had happened. "I am obliged to Clinch, sir," that gentleman replied "I particu- larly value your good opinion, and his charge gives me chance of winning it. Shall we go to your tent ?" It would not have occurred to AlbertyRe that the most lofty parsonage could require accommo- dation more elaborate than his mattrass, if the subject to be discussed were grave and the parsonage in good health. He led the way.
 The story Yates unfolded to the dis credit of Monkoroane and his own justi- 6cation need not repeat. Probably enough of it was true. Albertyne believed |