The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-12-19

Let us also so to the house and see
who has come" said EN- as the boy
shuiled away to rejoin his flock. while
Doss ran at his heels. swapping at the
ends of the torn troulers as they fut-
tered in tile wind
CHAPTER III.
Il WAS A STRANGER, AND YE TOOK ME
IN"
AS the two girls rounded the side of
the ''kopje' an unusual scene present
ed itself a large group was gathered
at the back door of the homestead
On the doorstep stood the Boer WON
an, hand on each hip, her face red
and fiery, her head nodding fiercely.
At her feet sat the yellow Hottentot
maid her satellite, and around stood
twisted round their half naked figures.
Two. who stamped mealies in wood
en- block, held the great stampers in
their hands and stared stupidity at the
object of attraction. 1t certainly was
not to look at the old German over
seer, who stood in the center of the
group, that they had all gathered to-
gether. His salt and pepper suit, griz-
ely black beard and gray eyes were as
familiar to every one on the farm as
the red gables of the homestead itself,
but beside him stood the stranger. and
on him all eyes were fixed. Ever and
anon the newcomer cast a glance over
hio 70
where the Boer woman stood and
smiled family.
I'm not a child" cried the Boer wo.
man in low Cape Dutch, land l wasn't
born yesterday. No; by the Lord, no!
You can't take me in! MY mother
didn't wean me on Monday. One wink
of my eye, and see the whole thing.
III have no tramps sleeping on my
farm" cried Tant' Sannie, blowing.
mo. by the devil. no. not though he
had go times six red noses"
There the German overseer mildly In.
terposed that the man was not q
tramp. but highly respectable indi-
vldual' whose horse had died by an &C
cident three days before.
Don't tell mel" cried the Boer wom-
an. 1.-THE man isn't born that can take
me in. II he'd had money, wouldn't
he have bought horse? Men who
walk are thieves, liars, murderers,
Rome's priests, seducers! see the
devil In his nose" cried Tant' Sannie,
shaking her fist at him. "And to come
walking into the house Of this Beers
child and shaking hands as though he
came on horseback-oh, no. nor
The stranger took off his hat, tall
battered chimney pot and disclosed a
paid head, at the back of which was a
little fringe of curled white hair, and
he bowed to Tant' Sannie
What does she remark. my friend?''
he inquired, turning his crosswise look.
ing eyes on the old German.
The German rubbed his hands and
hesitated.
"Ah : well = all = the = Dutch-you
know-do not like people who walk
in this country abr!
My dear friend" said the stranger.
laying his hand on the Germans arm,
Il should have bought myself another
horse, but crossing, five days ago. q
full river, lost my purse-a purse
with $500 in it. spent five days on
the bank Of the river trying to find 1t
couldn't; paid kaffir f9 to 20 In
and look for it at the risk of his life
couldn't find it."
The German would have translated
{c inf I, A. n
gave no ear
mo. no! He goes tonight See how
he looks at me, poor, unprotected
female! II he wrongs me, who IL to
do me right" cried Tant' Sannie.
II think" said the German in IN
undertone, ''if you didn't look at her
quite so much 1t might be advisable
neutrality-suspicious. that you
liked her too well-in fact-ah"-
Certainly, my dear friend, certain.
"" said the stranger. II shall not look
1T her."
Saying this, he turned his nose full
upon a small Kaffir years of age
That small naked son of Ham became
Instantly SO terrified that he fed to biz
mothers blanket for protection, howl
Ing horribly.
Upon this the newcomer fixed hil
eyes pensively on the stamp block
folding his hand on the head of biz
cane. His boots were broken, but he
still had the cane of gentleman.
"You vagabonds sc Engelschman!
said Tant' Sannie, looking straight .,
him.
This was near approach to plair
English, but the man contemplated the
block abstractedly. wholly unconscious
that any antagonism was being dis
played toward him.
you might not be Scotchman o.
anything Of that kind. might your
suggested the German. ut is the Eng
lish that she hates"
"My dear friend" said tha stranger
81 am Irish. every inch of " rnthe
Irish, mother Irish Nv" y urop O
English blood in t3v