Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-08
"A TALE OF LIFE IN THE
BOER REPUBLIC.

down a fragment Of an old looking
glass from behind beam and put the
"kapje" on. His beard looked some
what gtotesque under it. He put I'D
his hand to hide 1t. That was better.
The blue eyes looked out with mild
gentleness that became eyes looking
out from under "kapje." Next he
took the brown dress and, looking
round furtively. slipped it over his
head. He had just got his arms in the
sleeves and was trying to hook up the
back when an increase in the patter of
the rain at the window made him drag
1t off hastily. When he perceived there
was no one coming, he tumbled the
things back into the box and. covering
1t carefully, went down the ladder.
EN- was still at her work, trying to
adjust a new needle in the machine.
Gregory drank his soup and then sat
before her, an awful and mysterious
look in his eyes.
IL am going to town tomorrow" he
said.
"I'm almost afraid you won't be able
to co." said Elm, who was intent on her
needle. II don't think it is going to
leave off today"
II am going" said Gregory.
En- looked up.
"But the. 'sloots' are as full as rivers.
You cannot go. We can wait for the
post" she said.
II am not going for the post" said
Gregory impressively.
EN- looked for explanation. None
came.
when will you be backy'
II am not coming back"
care you going to your friends?"
Gregory waited. then caught her by
the wrist.
"Look here. EN-" he said between
his teeth. II can't stand it any more.
am going to her.
Since that day when he had come
home and found Lyndall gone he had
never talked of her. but En- knew who
it was who needed to be spoken of by
no name.
She said when he had released her
hand:
"But you do not know where she is?''
Eyes, do. She was in Rloemfontein
when heard last. | will go there. and
l win find out where she went then.
and then. and then! will have her.
EN- turned the wheel quickly. and
the ill adjusted needle sprang into 20
fragments.
"Gregory." she said. "she does not
want u.s. She told US so clearly in the
letter she wrote" A flush rose on her
face as she spoke. 1T will only be
pain to you. Gregory. Will she like to
have you near herr"
There was an answer he might have
made. but it was his secret. and he did
not choose to share it. He said only:
II am going"
"WiH you be gone long, Gregory"
II do not know. Perhaps shall
never come back. Do what you please
with my things. cannot stay here"
He rose from his seat.
people say forget, forget! he cried,
pacing the room. ''They are mad!
They are fools! Do they say SO to men
who are dying of thirst-forget. forget?
Why is it only to us they say so? II
is lie to say that time makes it easy!
1t is afterward. afterward, that 1t eats
in at your heart! All these months. =
he cried bitterly, II have lived here
quietly. day after day. as If cared
for what ate and what ] drank and
what did! care for nothing! | can.
not bear it! will not Forget. for
get!' calculated Gregory. You can
forget all the world, but you cannot
forget yourself. When one thing is
more to you than yourself. how are you
to forget it?
81 read" he said--"yes. and then
come to word she used, and it is all
back with me again! so to count my
sheep, and l see her face before me
and stand and let the sheep run by
look at you, and in your smile. q
something at the corner Of your lips
see her. How can forget her when
whenever turn. she is there and not
there? l cannot, ! will not, live where
do not see her!
81 know what you think" he said
turning upon En-. You think ar
mad; you think ! am going, to SEE
whether she will not like me! an
not so foolish. l should have known
at first she never could suffer me. Who
am 1. what am l., that she should lool
at me? If any one says it is not. Il
is a lie! am not going to speak te
her." he added. only to see her. only
to stand sometimes in a place where
she has stood before"
CHAPTER XIV.
AN UNFINISHED LITTER.