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

shade of a separate orange tree, where they
spent the rest OF the week in recovering, only
TO emerge when the cure was effected and
fight their battles over again. Meanwhile o
third cock, young in years but old in wisdom,
who steadily refused to fight when attacked,
looked after the hens in dispute To-day the
fight was particularly ferocious, and, fearing
that tho combatants would have no eyes left
at all if she did not interfere, Bessie called to
the old Boer hound who was lying in the sun
ON the veIanda:
Hi, Stomp, Stomp-hunt them, Stompw
Up jumped Stomp and made prodigious
show Of furiously attacking the embattled
cocks; it was an operation to which he was
used and which afforded him constant
amusement. Suddenly, however, as he
dashed toward the trees be stopped midway,
bis simulated wrath ceased, and, instead, an
expression of real disgust came upon his
honest face. Then the hair along his back
bone stood up like the quilts upon the fretful
porcupine, and he growled.
"A strange Kaffir, expect" said Bessie to
herself
Stomp hated strange Kafiirs. She had
scarcely got the words out before they were
justified by the appearance of native. He
was a villainous looking fellow, with ono eye,
and nothing on but pair Of ragged trousers
fastened round the waist with a greasy
leather strap. In his wool, however, were
stuck several small distended bladders, such
a. are generally worn by medicine men and
witch doctors. In his left hand he held a
long stick cleft at the end. In the cleft was
letter.
"Como here, Stomp" said Bessie, and as
sho did 90 q wild hope shot across her heart
like meteor across the night; perhaps the
letter was from John.
Inc dog oDeyeu her unwilling!y enough,
for he evidently did not like that Kaffir; and
when he saw that Stomp was well out Of the
way tho Kaffir himself followed. He was
an insolent fellow, and took no notice Of Bes-
sic beyond squatting himself down upon the
drive in front Of her.
"What is iti" said Bessie, in Dutch, her lips
trembling as she spoke.
"A letter, (" answered the man.
"Give it to me-"
mo, missile, not till have looked at you to
zee If it is right. Light yellow hair that
curls-one," checking it OH his fingers, Eyes.
that is right; large blue eyes-two, that is
right; big and tall, and fair as star-yes.
the letter is for you, take it," and he poked
the long stick up almost into her face.
"Where is it from!' asked Bessie, with sud-
den suspicion, recoiling step.
"Wakkerstroom last"
"Who is it fromr'
"Read it, and You will sec"
Bessie took the letter, which was wrapped
up in piece of old newspaper, from the cleft
Of the stick and turned it over and over
doubtfully. Most Of US have mstrust of
strange looking letters. and this letter was
unusually strange. To begin with, it had no
address whatever on the dirty envelope,
which was curious. In the second place, the
envelope was sealed apparently with three
penny Bit
Are you sure it is for me." asked Bessie.
"Yab, yah-sure, sure" answered the ma
tive, with rude laugh. "There are not many
such white girls in the Transvaal have
made no mistake. have 'smelt you out'r
And he began to go through his catalogue
"Yellow hair that curls," etc.-again.
Then Bessie opened tho letter Inside was
an ordinary sheet Of paper written over in a
bold, firm, vet slightly impractical writing
that Bessie knew well enough, and the sight
If which filed her with a presentiment Of
evil 1t was Frank Muller's
She turned sick and cold, but could not
shoose, and read as follows:
8CAMP NEAR PRETORIA, Feb Is.
"DEAR Miss BEssIE-I am sorry to have
10 write to you; but though we have quar-
relied lately, and also your good uncle,
think it my duty to do so, and send this to
your hand by special runner. Yesterday
was sortie made by the poor folk in Pre-
toria, who are now rs thin with hunger as the
high veldt oxen just before spring. Our arms
were again victorious; the redcoats ran away
and left their ambulance in our hands, carry
ing with them many dead and wounded
Among the dead was the Capt. Niel"-
Hero Bessie gave sort of chokcd cry, and