Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-06-01

! purpose was Ills furious passion for Bessie
was no secret to either OF them, and it
struck them as at least possible that the tale
of Johns death might have been invented to
forward it. 1t was not probable, more es-
! pecially as he was no. present TO urge his suit
! but Il wes possible. and however cruel suS
: lenSs may be. II is a, least less absolutely
4 crushing than tue dead weight of certainty.
! On Surday-it was lust a week after the
letter came-Be>sie was sitting after dinner
Oh the veranda, when her quick ears caught
what she took to be the booming Of heavy
guns far away on the Drakensberg. She
rose and, leaving the house, climbed the hill
behind it. On reaching tie top she stood
and looked at the great solemn stretch Of
mountains. Away, a little TO her right, was
q square. PERCEPTIONS peak called Majuba,
which was generally clothed i'll clouds. To-
day, however, there was no mist and it
seemed to her that it was from the direction
Of this peak that the faint rolling sounds
came floating on the breeze. But she could
see nothing; the mountain seemed as tenant
less and devoid Of life rs the dav when it first
lowered up upon the face of things created.
Presently the sound died away, and she 70
turned, thinking that she must have been de-
| ceived by the echoes Of some distant thunder
storm.
Next day they learned from the natives
that what she had heard was the sound OF the
big guns covering the flight Of the British
troops down the precipitous sides of Majuba
mountain. After this old Silas Croft began
to lose heart little The run Of disaster
| was SO unrelieved that even his robust faith
In the invincibility OF the English arms was
| shaken
1T is very strange Bessie" he said, every
strange; but never mind, it is bound to come
| right at last. Our government is not going
to knock under because they have suffered a
| few reverses"
| Then came a long four weeks OF uncer-
tainfy. The air was thick with rumors, most
Of them brought by natives, one or two by
passing Beers, to which, however, Silas Crof,
declined to pay any attention. Soon it be
came abundantly clear, however, that all
Om!stice was concluded between the English
| ana the Doers Tut what we're It's terms or LIS
object they were quite unable to decide. Silas
| Croft thought that tho Beers, overawed by
the advance Of an overwhelming force, meant
to give in without further fighting; but Bessie
shook her head.
One day-it was the same on which John
and Jess had left Pretoria-a Kafilr brought
| news that the armistice was at an end, that
the English were advancing up to the Mex in
thousands and were going to force it on tn.
morrow and relieve the garrisons-a piece O!
| intelligence that brought some Of the old
| Light back to Bessies eyes. AS for her uncle.
he was jubiiant.
THE tide is going to turn at last, my love-
he said. land we shall have our innings. Well.
| II II time we should, after all the shame ara
| loss and agony Of mind We have gon;
through. Upon my word, for the last two
months ! have been ashamed to call myself
all EngliShman. However, there is an end OF
| it now. l knew that they would never give
in and desert u.s. and the old man straight
ened his crooked back and slapped his chest
| and looked as proud and gallant as though he
| were 25 instead Of 20.
The rest Of that day passed without any
further news. and SO did the following two,
but on the next, which was March %, tie
storm broke.
About II O'Clock in the forenoon Bessie was
employed upon her household duties as usual.
| or rather she had just finished them. He,
| uncle had returned from making his after
breakfast round upon the farm and was
standing in the sitting room, his broad felt
hat in one hand and red pocket handker-
chief in the other, with which he was polish
ing his bald head, while he chatted to Bessie
through the open door.
mo news Of the advance, Bessie dearT'
mo, uncle" she replied, with a sigh, and
her blue eyes filling with tears, for she was
thinking Of one Of whom there was also no
news
swell, never mind. These things take a
little time. especially with our soldiers, who
move SO slowly. l dare say that there was
some delay waiting for guns or ammunition
or something. I expect that we shall hear
something by Tonight
He got as far as this, when suddenly the fig.
| ure Of Jantje appeared, flying up the passage
In the extremity Of terror and haste
"De Booren, baas. de Booren!" (The Beers,
master, tine Boers) he shouted. THE Beers
are coming with a wagon, twenty of them or
| more. with Frank Muller at thor head on
his black horse, and Hans Coetzee. and the
wizard with one eye with him. was hiding
behind o tree at tho end Of tine avenue, and l
saw them coming over the rise. They ole
going to take the place, and, without waiting
to give any further explanations, he slipped
through the house and hid himself up some
where ut the buck out Of the way, for Jantje,
like most Hottcntots, was q sad coward
The old man stopped rubbing his head and
stared at Bessie, who was standing pale and
trembling in the doorway. Just then he
heard the patter Of running feet on the drive
outside, and looked out Of the window. 1t
was caused by the passing Of some half dozen
Kaffirs who were working on the place, and
who, on catching sight Of the Beers had
promptly thrown down their tools and were
0vin fO rt,a ii S1x,.r
shot was fired somewhere from tho direction
lad Of about twelve, suddenly threw up his
hands and pitched forward on his face, with
| bullet between..his shoulderblades
Bessie heard the shout Of Good shot, good
ssotl" and the brutal laughter that greeted
bis fall, and the tramping Of the horses a.
they came up the drive.
"Oh, uncle" she said, "what shall we dor
Tho old man made no answer at the mo
ment, but going to a rack upon the wall,
reached down q Wesley Richards falling
down in a wooden arm chair that faced the
French window opening on the veranda, and
beckoned to her to come to him
1--WE will meet them So" he said. "They
shall Sc that We a.o not afraid of them.
Don't Be frightened, ,'"ar, they will not dare
to harm US; they wi he afraid Of thc consc-
quences Of haIminS English peo"le"
The words were scarcely out Of his mouth
when the cavalcade began to appear in front
OF the window, led, as Jantje had said, by
Frank Muller on his black horse, accompanied
BY Hans Coetzee on the fat pony and tho viii
famous looking Hendrix mounted on a monde
script sort Of animal, and carrying gun and
n nj d, In h,,. Del. II
body OF about fifteen or sixteen armed men,
among whom Silas Croft recognized most Of
his neighbors, by whose side he had lived for
years in peace and amity.
Opposite the house they stopped and began
looking about. They could not see into the
room at once Oh account Of the bright light
outside and the shadow within.
II fancy you will find the birds flown,
nephew" said the fat voice OF Hans Coetzee
They have got warning Of your little visit"
They cannot be far" answered MuNer. Il
have bad them watched. and know that they
have not left the place. Get down, uncle,
and look In tho house, and you too, Hendrix"
The Kafilr obeyed with alacrity, tumbling
out Of his saddle with all the grace of a sack
Of Goals, but the Boer hesitated.
@Uncle Silas Is IN angry man." he vcnturcd:
Ahe might shoot II he found me poking about
his house."
Don't answer mel" thundered Muller; acct
down and do as bid youl"
"Ah, what a devil Of a man." murmurcd
the unfortunate Hans as he hurried to obey.
Meanwhile Hendrix the ono eyed had
jumped upon the veranda and was pcering
through the windows
Here they are. baas; here they arc!" he
sang out; "the old cock and the pullet, toolu