The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-24

GalaAlsaa1ssss '-'''''''''
rorizing to even grown peasant at the
unfamiliar sight of many sabred soldiers
of strange dress and manner and speech.
Whose cattle are these, my boy?" said
the officer 81 must have some
Pauls face heightened so that the soldier
laughed and reached down and patted MS
head
Don't be frightened. laddie" said he.
My men are short Of fresh meat and
want two fat steers, but you will get fair
price for them. and cash down at that.
Are they your fathers?'
Yes. sir" Paul answered, somewhat re-
assured. "but he is not at home. My grand
father is. but he's sick. That's our house
Take me 10 see your grandfather them
He told a sergeant to have the men dis
mount ana he himself dismounted to fol
low Paul The boy watched the agile men
obey the order as if touched by one spring,
and then suddenly Paul saw something
which made him cry out shrilly
IT'S Kunjew he shouted. for, now the
men were off their horses, he could see at
the back of the column the big black
Swat bound with rope in charge of the
soldiers.
"Halloa. my boy, do you know that
Kafir?" the officer asked in surprise.
1T is Kunje our servant who ran off
this morning and stole rife and watch
and other thingsH
ooh. was that it," the soldier laughed
at was the gun that got him into trouble.
We don't approve of armed natives IN
these times who cant give an account of
themselves. So he's a thief, is heF
don't know but what shooting would be
the best thing for HIM Bring that fellow
here, corporal
The CORPORAL moved forward to obey
f1i
the soldiers had no time to see what was
intended Kunie gave a juggler like twist
of his almost naked body, the rope fell
from him, and he dashed away amongst
the trees and the cattle and into the
brush by the stream.
Shoot yelled the officer Mount and
after him."
one or two men fired wildly at the
feetly FIXING form, and two men followed
at a gallon. but soon came back. 1t was
impossible, even on horseback, to catch
that agile low-running savage, soon lost
in the bush
"A poor piece of work whoever tied
him." the officer grOwled. Let the rascal
90 Boy. there's your rifle and watch
Just as you eaid. We took them from him
Now. let's see your grandfather about the
cattle
Dom Hendrick was sternly polite to the
English soldiers, whom thirty-odd years
ago he had fought, and for whom ne had
his racial antipathy, but the English on
Ger was young and jovia., ana NOT yet
had the Beers and English come 10 actual
warfare, so a fair price was PAID down.
and the soldiers rode off driving their cat
lie TO the camp where their regiment lay,
NOT MANY miles off Then Dom Hen
drick took the few gold pieces left with
him and laid mis- recovered heirloom tan
enormous heavy silver watch, which one
would have TO carry, one would thnk, IN
an overcoat side pocket carefully beside
them
mo thanks to you said he to poor
Paul, 81 have my grandfathers gift
again. Some day l will give it to you, II
Won grow IN a true Boer and not a cow
ard Your father told you as you know,
where to place these things, that neither
Kaffir nor Highlander can find them
PauFs head hung low; his face was
| shamed he did not answer a all, but the
| bitter words of the old warrior-most he
roic to the boy among men-cut sorely to
! his soul
He went out and looked carefully around.
Everything was silent; the heat of noon
| had driven bird and beast to shelter; even
| the hum of the insect world was stilled.
! The clatter of the cavalry was far gone,
! and not a SOUL not servant was III sight.
| AT the back of the farm house, among
| an orchard OF orange trees, thclS hOSS'
| neeping up from the grasses, mossgrown,
circle of stones. Paul walked to them
! and stood over them minute looking
| down into a deep old well; unused now,
| htt+ whose bottom was hidden by black
wafer. once more the boy looked ell
! round. hut there was no one TO see. He
! disappeared and reappeared again quick
! IL and went back to his neglected cattle.
/ Twilight in the Transvaal is brief The
| SIM touches the peaks of the purple noun
| tains. and yet il is day; the sun is lost be-
! INA Them and in a few minutes il is
! ntrb+ PAM had his oxen driven home and
st9iied and the cows MIXED, and he was
,.orv weary, for the day had been most OK
.i,inr He got a simple supper for Dom
/ ttonJrick and himself. and ate, in spite Of
/ bts hard day. poorly. for his boyish hear
tt,s sim sore. aud still, when the ducks by
the pond waddled to their nests their
n,o,liue auacks said: Coward, coward
! coward
ING straight from the yard 10 the living
-, ,rqs flung ;nwards without amy pre-
80 Knock or sound cf voice. and two big
! ,,,,, strobe i'm ard closed % behind them.
rbo old Boer. with a great angry roar ike
ins,ited hull almost rose to his feet in
| H. wrath and astonishmeut. but sank
-, shaking aud sputtering. Paul cid
49,, 20 his feet. and with one leap was
- ,be val where his fathers rife hung
a. a. once quick as he one OF the men
,.as mon him, and swung him far into
corner Of the room.
%onc of mat. my little Dutchman.
rt,d he man. standing over the 10y
! ,breateningly. Mind YOU my o.oonhHs