San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-19

could dfmly perceiUe tlDO creatures
fercelY cOnteSting.
object disappeared from the rear horse.
but it was most unaecountable
incident, and might have had Sc
rious results. During the weeks and
months in which l saw but these
two strange occurrences, others innu-
merable We're scared and frightened,
until it would have been difficult to find
a native who would pass Jacks Flat
after dark, while even the whites were
more afraid than they admitted. Our
wedding day at last came around, and
all were pleased but my father-in-law,
who appeared to see our marriage as if
it was his own execution.
He had given grumbling consent,
which was almost refusal, and now
said no word, but sat gloomy and de-
spondent in the large armchair on the
stoop, gazing vacantly over the distant
hills and valleys.
We were married in the Dutch church
at the Dorp, and on our return to the
farm received no welcome from Hitges.
My bride and our friends went into ths
large front room to refresh. Meantime
] sat myself down by my father-in-law
and commenced at once to talk business.
but he paid not the least attention. In
vain strove to draw him into converse
ton. So, making haste, l approached
the main subject of my interview.
"Meinheer!I am married to your daugh-
ter, and we must live together. Now
if she cannot stay here she must come
to my house in the village. 1t is not
very far away, and we will do the best
we can. But if you are willing that we
both should stay with you, why will
sell my business for decent price, let
my house for rent and come and live
here with my wife. / can still make
wagons, using the timber in your kloofs
for that purpose: and | will see that
your farm produces twice as much as it
does now.
~ have no parents, so you shall be my
father as well as Katarina's"
The old man appeared to awake from
his lethargy at my mention of our living
together; showed strange interest in
my remarks; got quite excited as pro-
ceeded, till he finally jumped up from
his chair, and Selling both my hands,
said in his native Boer Dutch:
What! Mr.. Young, you want your
wife 10 live with me and you to live here
too? Why did you not say that before"
Because / could not talk about my
wife until she was my wife"
Yes, see; but now that she is your
wife you wish to live with me. always
thought you wanted to carry away my
girl, like all the others did, and did
not like you for wanting to do that.
But now you say you want to stay with
me. l tell you it pleases me that she
married you, and if you live with me
you shall be my son and the best friend
| have in the world. Let us go in and
drink healths."
Here the old Boer took my hand, and
leading me into the room, full of guests,
said aloud, while his face beamed with
pleasure, Health to all, for | rejoice at
the marriage of my daughter with Mr..
Young, and ! accept him as my son for
ever"
My young wife, who had kept sort
of reserve melancholy under her natural
gladness all the day, sprans from her
seat and with tears of joy embraced her
father, saying, Now l am happy; all
wanted was for you to like my husband"
The old father kissed his child, and re-
piled, 81 always respected your hus-
band as a good, worthy man, but could
not like any man who was aiming to
take my daughter from me-" Here my
wife interrupted with, He never in
tended to do so; was to have my own
wish, and my wish is to always live in
my dear fathers house." abr said the
old man, "Why did you not tell me be- |
fore? but, enough. My misery is turned |
into joy. This day is one of the happiest |
of my life. Musicl Musicl Dance! |
Dance! Welcome all the world! For |
l shall not lose my girl, and have this
day gained a son." Here the music |
struck up. The large front kamer was
cleared, and the fun and feasting, fast
and furious. was kept up for two days
and nights.
Every one who could came from the
village and the neighboring farms, most
of them bringing either provisions or
presents, and neither ] nor Katarina
knew how many friends we had until
our wedding brought them out.
Strange to say, the ghost was seen by
many when returning at night from the
dance, but this time it was a single fig
ure only. Many ran, and afterward
found they had lost kaross, shawl, or
other trifie, which no search in daylight
could ever find. This was the only
drawback to the festivities, and Jacks
Flat obtained worse name than ever;
for those who believed in the supernat-
Iral dreaded the fiends; while those who
1enied the spiritual agency declared the
ghost was thief.
1t was fully six months before olG
aitges became acquainted with the facts,
md then only by accident. for we kept