Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-07-13
ON TIE VELDT i
3(Continued.)
a South African Love Story

4 (C0ntlnued.J
Here John Martin met him with an
'old-fashioned English welcome and
5iHandrick was ushered into the sitting
room, where sat Nancy and her lover
Nancy greeted him heartily, II some
what shyly: .',..s - ,,..
u am glad to see you, Hendrick-
saIct me introduce you to Mr.. Harvey.
nick this is our friend, Henry Hoop
stad.' -
ia q am very glad to know you; we
cant have too many friends these
troublous times. You look ike
'Aghting man. hope you are with
u.s."
~ cannot fight against Miss Martins
countrymen, and the blood in my veins
Is more English than Dutch. ! am
on nv way now to volunteer"
~ "Then we are we'll met; am enroll
ing a body of volunteers to act as
scouts. l saddle in few hours, SO
il you are willing we 60 together"
II ask nothing better. But what OF
Miss Martin-surely she must not stay
here"
Il am glad you add your entreaties
to mine. am trying to persuade MI.
Martin and Nancy to retire to the coast
I until danger is past"
.That's all right, Dick" answered
Mr. Martin. II should like to persuade
NANCY to 20. but am going to stick to
the farm"
nYou run great risk, Mr.. Martin"
said Hendrick. IF you stay here you
will be commanded to join the Boer
army"
Il am an Englishman, and my farm
lbs in Natal; that, I take 1t, is out OF
their jurisdiction"
Possibly, but l hardly think tney
will draw so fine line"
"Well, anyway, stay here and IL
won't be healthy for the commando
that interferes with me-"
...Then, if you are so determined,
must ask you to be equally determined
in insisting upon Miss Nancy going to
Durham. My married sister lives
there. and she would be quite safe.
After much discussion it was declo-
ed that Nancy should depart for Dur
ban Immediately, with Hendrlck 1of
.san escort. Dick Harvey would accom-
S,any them as far as Moot river, where
he would have to leave them, ana
jHendrick was to rejoin Dick as soon
AS Nancy was safe on the. coast. Hen
'drick knew now that Nancy could new
( Ter be to him more than afriend, ana
in that friendship he def e. mined that
no sacrifice should be td.aigYsat 1o'
him. ''ilsle..
>s The three rode togetheiusLtil DICK
kad 10 lea>e them; then, NocA tender
md almost heart-rending farewell, ne
x;hssed her into the care OF HendrlcK
E.4& departed. They reached Durban
SayShout mishap, and Hendrick, hav-
handed Nancy to the care OF MS
ber, prepared to return.
RI thank you. Hendrick, for your
a of me-"
z. wish ne thanks; to be of service
| tCayou is the aim and end OF my llte.' "
She looked at him curiously ana
seemed to penetrate his secret.
II am going to the war;" he contln-
ued, slowly, fixing his gaze upon the
ground; Ito fight for your countrymen
and you. It may be that shall not
survive, and should like you to think
kindly of me-, You are the only Eng
fish woman have been privileged
to know with any degree of friendship.
and the days have passed happily with
me. A hope full of vanity was born
within me that perhaps the caprice OF
fate might turn your heart towards
me in love. Forgive me for saying
this. l am only fooling man, but
! thought would like you to know"
Poor Hendrick!"
II have seen the man you love, and
Z my vanity is dead. Goodbye. should
1ike-may I-er-I should like to kiss
your hand to seal my vow that hence
forth my life is consecrated to serving
you and yours to the death"
The tears rolled down her cheeks as
she gave him her hand. The strong
man kissed it passionately and de-
parted.
Hendrick made his way back to Dick
Harvey, and was formally enrolled az
a volunteer. News came soon after
that the Beers had crossed the bor-
I and were invading Natal, and Cap
tain Harvey began to have fears for
the safety of John Martin. He con-
suited Hendrick on the subject.
What do you think Of it, Hoop
stad?"
bad, very bad. John Martin will
have to Join a commando, or be shot. |"
$50 fear, and want you to start
tonight and make your way to Gala
don Farm. If you find John Martin
there persuade him to come back with
you; but if our worst fears are realiz-
Z ed, eld he has disappeared, find out
what has become of him."
II will start in an hour, and thank
you for giving me the opportunity"
Good luck go with you"
In an hour Hendrick took the road
for John Martins farm. Numerous
parties of Beers were about, and ex-