Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-02-17

" King Soiomop'z Mines" She" &c
CHAPTER ".
BESSIE Is ASKED IN MARRIAGE.
In due course John Mel got over his
spawned ankle and the other injuries inflicted
on him by the infatuated cock ostrich lit is,
by the way, humiliating thing to be
knocked out of time by a feathered fowl,
and set to work to learn the routine Of farm
life. He did not find this disagreeable task,
especially when he had so fair an instructress
as Bessie, who knew ell about it, to show him
the way in which he should go. Naturally of
an energetic and hard working temperament,
he very soon got more or less into the swing
Of the thing, and at the end of six weeks be-
gan to talk quite learnedly Of cattle and os-
triches and sweet and sour veldt About once
a week or so Bessie used to put him through
a regular examination as to his progress; also
she gave him lessons in Dutch and Zulu, both
of which tongues she spoke to perfection; so
it will be seen that he did not lack for pleas
ant and profitable employment. Another
thing was that he grew much attached to old
Silas Croft. The old gentleman, with his hand
some, honest face, his large and varied stock
Of experience, and his sturdy English charac-
ter, made great impression ON his mind. He
had never met a man quite like him before.
Nor was the liking unreciprocated, for his
host took wonderful fancy to John Mel.
"You see, my dear" he explained to his niece
Bessie, ''he's quiet, and he doesn't know much
about farming, but he's willing to learn, and
he's such a gentleman. Now, where one has
Kafiirs to deal with, as on place like this
you must have gentleman. Your mean
white will never get anything out Of Kaffir;
that's why the Beers kill them and fog them,
because they can't get anything out Of them
without But you see Capt. Mel gets on well
enough with them. think he'll do, my
dear, think he'll dc, !" and Bessie quite agreed
with him. And so it came to pass that after
this six weeks trial the bargain was finally
struck, and John paid over his 81, 900 and
took third interest in Mooifontein.
Now it is not possible. in a general way,
for youngish man like John Mel to live in
the same house with young and lovely
woman like Bessie Croft without running
more or less risk Of ENHANCEMENT. More es-
pecially is this so where the two people have
little or no outside society or distraction to
divert the attention from each other Not
that there was as yet, at any rate, the
slightest hint OF affection between them.
Only they liked one another very much, and
found it pleasant to be good deal together
In short, they were walking along that easy,
winding road that leads to the mountain
paths Of love. It is a very broad road, like
another road that runs elsewhere, and, also
like this last, it has wide gate. Sometimes,
too, it leads to destruction. But for all that
it is q most agreeable one to follow hand in
hand, winding as it does through the pleasant
meadows Of companionship. The view is
rather limited, it is true, and homelike-
Of familiar things. There stand the kline,
knee deep in the grass; there runs the water;
and there grows the corn. Also one can stop
II one likes By and by Il grows different.
By and by when the travellers tread the
heights Of passion, precipicss win yawn
and torrents rush, lightning win fall
and storms win blind; and who can know
that they will attain at last to that far of
peak, crowned with the glory OF q perfect
peace which men call happinesi There are
those who say it never can be reached, and
that the halo which rests upon its slopes is no
promise Of . beacon-a glow reflected whence
we know not, and lying on this alien earth as
the SUMS light lies on the dead bosom of the
moon. Some say, again, that they have
climbed its tcpmost pinnacle and tasted Of
the fresh breath Of heaven that sweeps
around its heights and heard the curing
ct immortal harps and the swanlike Sigh Of
angels wings; and then behold mist has
fallen upon them, and they have wandered In
Il. and when 1t cleared they were on the
mountain paths again, and the peak was far
away. And few there are who tell us that
they live there always, listening to the voice
Of God; but theso are old and worn with
journeying men and women who have out
lived passions and ambitions and the fire
heats Of love, and who now, girt about with
memories, stand face to face with the sphinx
eternity.
But John Mel was no chicken, nor very
likely e fall IN love With the ar.t pretty face
udd8d 10 her charm; fcr WHO = there In tnl
world who does not like to learn . secreti To
him Je0 was riddle Of which he did moi
know the key. That she was clever and well
: informed b soon discovered from her rart
remarks; that she could sing like an angel he
also knew; but what was the mainmrin1 Of
"
that was what puzzled him Clearly enough
It was not like most womens, least Of all like
happy. healthy, plain sailing Beaie. Socuri
Gus did no become to fathom these mysterie,
that be took every opportunity to associatt
with her, and would even, when hc had time
60 out with her on her stretching, or rather
flower painting, expeditions. On these oc
ceaious she would sometimes begin to talk
k,z4 ~ -
o. some intellectual question She never
spoks Of hez1elf.
Yet e soon became evident to John thai
she liked bis society, and missed him when be
did not coma 1t never occurred ohim what
boon it was to cir; Of considerable intel
lecfual attainment. and still greater intel
lectnal capacities and aspirations, to b<
thrown for tho frst time into the society Of q
cultivated and intelligent gentleman. John
Niel was no empty headed. ono sided indi
vidual He had both read and thought and
even writ1en = LITTLE, and in him jess found q
mind which, though of an inferior stamp
was more or le9 kindred to her own. Al.
though he did not understand her, she under.
stood him, and at last, had be but known it,
thcre rosa far of dawning light upon the
TWILIGHT Of her mind that thrilled and changed
u a the nrst faint rays OF morning thrill and
change the darkness Of the night. What Il
shs should learn to love this man, and teach
him - love herl To most women such q
thought involves more or len tho idea Of
marriage, and that change Of status
which they generally consider so de-
sirable. But Jesb did not think much
Of that: what she did think of was the
blessed possibility Of being able to lay down
hn~,1 - q +