The Holly chieftain., 1900-06-15
By R M.eAen.ie

otucI, Win tue IeolluB tu2t tney might
never meet again on earth. Bluebell
kept back her own tears, and answer
ed the little woman as braye.y rs she
could, but as she rode out of the town
her path was all blurred by the blind
ing tears that came to her eyes. now.
Doctor Rothes was waiting for her.
mounted on q fine chesnut horse Of his
own, and together they rode on In
silence until they were out Of sight
OF the town.
You saw one OF your friends,"
Rothes said at last.
Yes. saw Mrs. Lloyd. She is GO
ing to stay at Ladysmith even II It il
besieged."
Brave little woman!" said Rothes,
tone Of emotion in his voice. 81 al
ways thought her rather a butterfly,
and l beg her pardon mentally for
that"
In fact, you thought she and were
very much alike?" said Bluebell, with
little tone Of coquetry. Confess now
you think me that, too, don't you.
Doctor Rothes?"
Il never thought you anything
but He was speaking with a sud-
den passion. but he suddenly checked
himself and paused. You know you
are not justified In speaking like that, "
he said at last gravely. did l ever
give you reason to do so?"
Biuebeil laughed little.
DO you remember the ball at Mar
itzburg last spring, Doctor Rothes? !?
All. you didn't approve of me at all
then!"
he remembered 1t quite well. 1t
was the first time he had met the Les
lies, for he had been practicing in
harrisburg himself then. Bluebell's
Wild. childishly high spirits had car
ried her away that night, and she had
hirted indiscriminately with all the Of
hcers then stationed at Maritzburg.
Bluebell remembered 1t, too.
Who is that grave-looking young
man gazing SO strangely at me?" she
asked her partner. gay young lieu
tenant. DO you think he wants an
introduction. or Is he only trying to
wither me with glance of his eyer"
The latter. think" the lieutenant
had answered. more truthfully than
gailantly. Hes Doctor Rothes, and
they say he is one of the awfully seri-
GUS Kind, you know. Takes life like
funeral, and believes one should 70
to church twice on Sundays. That
Kind OF thing. don't you know"
Hothes' sunburned face had deepen
ed just little in tint.
1T is too bad to bring back those
old foolishnesses to ones memory.
ne said. Il did not know you then,
Miss Leslie. l had not seen Won in
your home. l did not know you earn
ed the love and devotion OF the Door
natives on your fathers place. / did
not know you taught them. as far as
was possible, not the mere profession
OF christianity. but its practice"
Bluebell bent little over her
horses head.
am afraid l ought to teach my
self that first. Doctor Rothes. Charity
begins at home. But let us not speak
OF this. We can't be anything but
friends. can we. with this terrible dan
ger facing us? Surely 1t will draw all
European people out here closer to-
gether II anything could?"
Yes" said Rothes quietly. /" we
can't be anything but friends"
Bluebell felt vaguely hurt at the
cold words. They rode on, the horses
necks quite close together, and Rothes
talked of the coming ordeal. Bluebell
felt somehow strangely disappointed.
The last time she had met Adair
Rothes he had held her hand long,
and looked Into her eyes with a look
that had made every vein in her body
thrill; and now he was So cool and
indinerent-a friend, as he had said,
and nothing more. = N-y,s ~
Il was not that Bluebell was In
love with him. She told herself about
dozen timeS day thst she liked
Adair Rothes yaSy much. but could
never imagine him as lover: yet
now. w..rhy this sinking Of her heart?
Itwas drawing towards -sunset--a
glorious sunset. The whole Of the
sky died IN crimson and gold, the very
yeidt reflected the crimson, 60 tkat II,
looked as u It we're -,bathed Id blood.
Bfuebelt shuddefed a. HE thought that
y6fv' B0oh- II MINT ba,. ~ ~ la. (.
A kopje was before them, one. of
those little hills rising steeply from
the one side. slqping from the other,
SO commoi on the; Natal teldt. Sud-
denlys Is .Blpsbell Jopked towards 1t,
a figure ,on korseb4ck EMERGED from
behind 1t. and cams ! riding straight