The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-05-03

only been COMMITTED to one of imprson for life
and how on earth they managed 10 persuade the
been made plain to Dirk he has been a changed
knows poor fellow, it's dark enough The seems TO
be pinlng for freedom; he says the convict dress
clings to him like cerccotD, and the other day. Just
LOOK in His eyes that quietly turned over his things
At the bottom OF basket OF comforts she had
brought him found this
He opened the pocket and poured out before my
eyes n whitish powder.
'0Well9n said interrogatively.
oPojson.' ne briefly replied, as he swept the
powder back into the packet, "And now he
added don't think me hard II I send Dirk to Care
Town"
There was an unusual stir and excitement In
Kimberley; the streets were crowded with men and
from despairlnp repe Ia rejoicing malice while
hther and thither among the throng In the market
square rode officials in the datkbue uniform OF the
At length there was cloud Of whirng dust IN the
Transvaal Road; the crowd swayed and parted, and
passed through the s,lrging ranks and halted for the
escort to close round.
reign npsG Wagons ~ So1e 81
whose souls the iron Of captivity had already en-
tered; consignment OF bai,led trapped, and for
were there and the CALLING letters bound all together
in the links of common desrair Chained, az they
were, ike wild beasts some stood mn, and in ago.
nzed voices called npon friend wife, and child who
answered not; while Others crouching piteo,isy in
corner of the rude conveyance, bowed their heads
between their trembling hands and sought TO keen
on, the llQht of a sun which mad become hateful TO
them.
was sitting on The side Of The forcmos, wagon. his
arms folded across hls chest, and look OF eager
expectation on his finely nodded face, thin and pale
he heard not; his gaze seemed fixed on some far
away object, and n smile PLAYED upon his wan lips
1 hurried ON in advance OF the calyacade toward
",rhe oasis, y which knew il must pass on it's way
to the open veldt l remembered that the governor
OF the ia had told me the night before that he had
allowed last interview before the fearful Journey
10 Cane Town between man and wife, and that they
spoke some words In French witch he did not M
derstand, but which seemed to have a wonderful
effect on Dirk
AS neared the gate of "The OASIS over which
the blue gums cast their shade, and where the sweet
alfred in the plain white dress abe wore on the day
and rendered him the envy Of the bachelors Of the
| Fields by becoming his own. Her golden hair
noated unheedcd on the lazy breath from the distant
sky above and her lips seemed to he moving rs II IN
silent prayer There was no need to tell her of the
approach of the convict party; their coming was her
aided by the wild refrain of dismal song chanted by
the prisoners and adown the startled air came the
of * ses the Of s
the mob. was unwilling to obtrudc myself on her
Nearer and nearer came the rolling wagons; and
the crowd rushed on through the eddying dust, till
suddenly they caught glimpse OF the lonely watcher
In the gateway. There was not a man there who did
not know that the slight. pale woman standing with
her hands clasped convulsively together and her
whole soul concentrated as IL were in long gaze
was Sylvester's wife. Even the officials knew his
history: they knew he was no midnight purchaser Of
stolen gems, but only passionate, hapess man
aud, al IL by instinct, the melancholy procession
slowed and steaded and paused before what was
once the nome Of pure and holy love-
Dirk was standing now the smile on hislps lit ur
his whole conntenarce: he looked like the careless
happy Dirk of former days; the lines of care and
eep du,l agony seemed to soften and disappear from
hjs face