Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-06-07
A TRANsvAAL LOVE STORY.

A TRANsvAAL LOVE STORY.
In the kitchen of a Boer farm at
Harrismith two brothers, Paul and
Hendrick Hoopstad, sat in earnest
conversation.
"Will you come, Hendrick ?"
81 cannot leave, Paul. There Is
English in our veins, and besides to
Join the commando against the British
would be taking up arms against the
woman l love"
"The woman we love, Hendrick, for
God knows I think of her every min
ute of my life. You and l have been
all in all to each other ever since We
were born, but this mutual love for
Nancy Martin seems likely to divide
us. Even supposing we put our chances
to the test, if I win you will hate me,
and if you were successful my thoughts
would turn to you in anger. Let us,
then, take our rifles, join the COM
mando and for the time forget her,
and perhaps when the war is over one
of us may gain by death what the 9TH
er could not give in life. "
81 will not fight against the Eng
lish, Paul"
"Think well, Hendrick. Nancy Mar
tin has been in England for the last
four years-is it not possible that she
may have an English lover?"
1--WE are being enticed and threat
ened into foolhardy war by those
who have their own ends to serve. l
will take my rifle and fight, but it will
be with the English. "
"Then, Hendrick, we must part,
though we part in all affection. God
bless you, my brother, and the woman
we love"
Farewell, Paul, and God grant that
we may not meet on the battlefield.
Paul turned his horse toward New
castle, while Hendrick rode in the op-
posite direction, with the intention OF
making his way to John Martins farm,
which lay on the banks of the Gala
son river, between Basutol and Natal.
Hendrick Hoopstad's love for Nan
cy, the only daughter of John Martin,
of the Caladon farm, was the one
thought that engrosssd his mind. He
loved her and was willing to lay down
his life for her without thought of re-
ward. 1t might be, as Paul had sug-
gested, that Nancy had an English
lover. Well, time would show, and
whatever happened he would always
strive to be worthy of her and be will
ing to serve her in any way in his
power.
In about three hours he had sighted
John Martins farm. Down the hill
Hendrick let the reins drop on his
horses neck and proceeded at a walk
ing pace. 1t was a calm, still even
ing, and the horses hoofs made no
sound in the soft sand.
Reaching the orchard, the sound OF
voices fell upon his ear, and almost
mechanically he stopped the horse and
listened. It was the voice Of Nancy
he heard, and, standing in his stirrups,
he looked over the brush growth. Yes,
Paul was right-she was standing be-
meath the shade Of a spreading tree
and a tall man dressed in the British
khaki uniform held her in his arms,
her head upon his shoulder and her
lips upturned to his.
"Tbe time was so long, Dick, !
thought you would never come.
did you, darling? Well, I have
come at last, though l could wish a
more peaceful time for visiting my
beautiful sweetheart. But when this
war is over I will make you my wife.
"My love for you, Dick, can never
change. Since left you it has lived
on the memory of those sweet hours OF
delirious happiness when we used to
sit together in the sunshine and plan
the joyful future-when we two shall
be always together.
The man on the horse heard the
words that pierced his heart like the
stab of a dagger. For some moments
he sat like statue, his face grim and
set and his eyes staring into blankness
The steed moved forward of its own
accord and wandered on upward Of an
hour, while its rider sat wrestling with
himself. Then, with a sigh and sob
that almost choked him, be gathered
up the reins and once more turned to,
ward John Martin farm.
Here John Martin met him with an
old fashioned English welcome. and