Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-05-25


BESSIE GAVE A SORT OF CHOKED CRY.
let the letter fall over the veraads, to one OF
the posts Of which she chung with both her
hands.
Ths i'll favored native fellow grinned, and,
picking the paper up, hanced it to her.
Sho toos it. feeling that abe must know all,
and read OH like one reads in some CHASTITY
dream
@who has been staying ON your uncle's farm.
did not see him killed myself, but Jan Van
zyl shot him, and Roi Dirk Oosthuizen and
Carolus. a Ho.tentot, saw them pick him up
and carry him away. They say that he was
quite dead. For this fear you will be sorry,
but it is the chance Of war, and he died fight
ing bravely. Make my obedient compliments
to your uncle. We parted in anger, but
hope in the new circumstances that have
arisen in the land to show him that l, for
one, bear no anger. Believe me, dear Mis-
Bessie, your humble and devoted servant,
FRANK MULLsR"
Bessie thrust the letter into tho pocket q her
dress and then again caught hold Of the ssr.
anda post and supported herself by 1t, while tne
light Of the sun seemed to visibly fade out Of
the day before her eyes and replace itself by
q cold blackness in which there was no break.
He was dead-her lover was deadl The glow
bad gone from her life a. it seemed to be
going from the day. and she was left desolate.
She had no knowledge Of how long she stood
thus, staring with wide eyes at the sunshine
she could not zee. She had lost her count of
time; all things were phantaSmagorical and
unreal; all that she could realize was this one
overpowering, crushing fact-John was dead
"Mimie," said the Ill favored messenger be-
low, fixing his one eye upon her poor sorrow
stricken face and yawning.
There was no answer.
@MiSie," he nid again, "h there any an
sweri must b going. / vans to get back
In time to 80 the Beers take Pretoria"
Besie looked at him vaguely. "Yours is q
what II, Il.
Tho brute laughed "No, can't take q
letter to the captain" he said; u saw Jan
vanzyl shoot him. He fell 20" and ne sud-
denly collapsed all In heap on the path, in
imitation Of man struck dead by q bullet.
II can't take him . message, missile, he went
on, rising, @but one day you win b able to
go and look for him yourself. I did not mean
that; what meant was that could take q
letter to Frank Muller. A live Boef is better
than dead Englishman; and Frank Muller
will make fine husband for any girl Kyou
shut your eyes you won't know the differ
enco."
"Go!" said Bessie, in q choked voice. and
oointing her hand toward the avenue.
Bessie vacantly watched MIN 20. Then, as
though struck by thought, she turned and
went into the sitting room.
"What is all this about, Bessie" said her
uncle, following her. what does that man
mean about Frank Mullerr'
1T means. uncle DEAR" she said at last, in
. voice that was something between sob and
laugh, "that am a widow before I am
married John is dead!n
"Deadl dead!' said the old man, putting his
hand to his forehead and turning round in q
dazed sort Of fashion-"John dead.'
Read the letter" said Bessie, handing him:
Frank Mullers missive.
The old man took it and read it. His hand
shook SO much that it took him long while
to come to tho end OF it
1000 0od!" he SAID ut last, "what q blow!
My poor Bessie" and he took her into his arms
and kissed her. Suddenly thought struck
him perhaps it is ali one of Frank Muller's
lies, he said, Tor perhaps lie made mistake {"
But Bessie made no answer For the time,
at any rate, hope had left her.