The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-06-01
Continued

Nancy greeted him heartily, II some-
what shyly:
81 am glad to see you. Hendrick-
let me introduce you to Mr.. Harvey.
Dick, this is our friend, Henry Hoop
stad."
81 am very glad to know you; we
can't have too many friends these
troublous times. You look ike
fighting man. hope you are Win
us?"
"I cannot fight against Miss Martins
countrymen, and the blood in my veins
is more English than Dutch. am
on my way now to volunteer"
"Then we are we'll met; am enroll
ing a body of volunteers to act as
scouts. saddle in few hours, SO
II you are willing we go together"
81 ask nothing better. But what Oh
Miss Martin-surely she must not stay
here"
81 am glad you add your entreaties
to mine. am trying to persuade MT.
Martin and Nancy to retire to the coast
until danger is past :,
"That's all right. Dick" answered
Mr.. Martin. 81 should like to persuade
Nancy to go, but am going to stick to
the farm" .,
you run great risk. Mr.. Martin
said Hendrick. 'If you stay here you
will be commanded to join the Boer
army"
81 am an Englishman, and my farm
ia in Natal: that, take it, is out OF
their Jurisdiction"
"Possibly, but hardly think tney
will draw so fine line
well, anyway, l stay here, ana II
won't be healthy for the commando
that interferes with me-. d,
"Then, if you are so determined !,
must ask you to be equally Determined
in insisting upon Miss Nancy going 10
Durham. My married sister lives
there. and she would be quite safe"
After much discussion it was decld-
ed that Nancy should depart for Dur
han Immediately, with Hendrick LOT
an escort. Dick Harvey would accom-
pany them as far as Moot river, where
he would have to leave them, anu
Hendrick was to rejoin Dick as soon
as Nancy was safe on the coast. Hen
drick knew now that Nancy could new
or he to him more than a friend, anu
in that friendship he determined tha'
no sacrifice should be too great ioi
him.
The three rode together until DICK
had to leave them; then. with tehaer
and almost heart-rending fareweii' nc
nassed her into the care of HendrlcA
and departed. They reached Durpan
without mishap, and Hendrick, nav
ing handed Nancy to the care OF MS
sister, prepared to return.
81 thank you. Hendrick, for your
care of me-"
at wish no thanks; to be OF services
to YOU is the aim and end OF my lie.
She looked at him curiously ana
seemed to penetrate his secret.
81 am going to the war" ne cohtln-
ued, slowly, fixing his gaze upon Tue
ground; Ito fight for your countrymen
and YOU. It may be that l shall mol
survive, and l should like you to thinR
kindly of me. You are the only Eng.
lish woman 1 have been privileged
TO know with any degree Of friendship
and the days have passed happily WIFI
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. / am only fooling man, pu'
I thought l would like you to know.
poor Hendrick!"
"I have seen the man you love. anc
nv vanity is dead. Goodbye. l shoulc
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 az
she gave him her hand. The strong
man kissed it passionately and de-
parted.
Hendrick made his way back to Dicl
Harvey and was formally enrolled al
a volunteer. News came soon aftel
that the DUETS udu SAooSSN 49,
der and were invading Natal, and Cap
taa Harvey began to have fears To-
the safety of John Martin. He con
suited Hendrick on the subject.
"What do you think Of 1t, Hoop
stad?"
bad, very bad. John Martin will
have to Join a commando, or be shot.
$50 ], fear, and want you to, star
tonight and make your way to Gala
don Farm. If you find John Martin
there persuade him to come back witt
you: but IL our worst fears are realiz
ed, and he has disappeared, ind on
what has become of him."
ct will start in an hour, and 1 thanl
you for giving me the opportunity"
Good luck go with you"
In an hour Hendrick took the roa'
for John Martins farm. Numerou
parties of Beers were about, and ex
IRENE caution was necessary. Thi
meant slow progress, and 1t was no
until the second evening that he reach
ed the homestead. Dismounting. h
raped on the door. but ELECTED nj
-.--... ga ~ uraa aoon evident tina