The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05
VAGABONDS.

Without a doubt they were vagabonds
1t was writ large in their sttire, their
careless aspect of disreputableness, thelr
bland enjoyment of sleep in the shelter OF
a strangers gate. Yet Major Brand, OF
the Cape Frontier Corps, when his horse
SHE'D al them in the ghostly shadow of
moonbeams and the crossbars of the gate,
gave a gasp that betokened anything but
disaPproyal. In fact, it suggested some
shadow starlit shadow, perhaps-ot
comforting fellowship.
Major Brand as he rode homeward was
thinking OF son-of a son snatched ruth
lessiy from him when but three months
old. In way. too he was reseuting the
destiny that denied him any further child,
and though he was fervent Catholic, al
most alone as such in land of hypocriti-
cal egoism, he felt that the rod was being
pressed too keenly to his lips. He adored
his wife, and she-well. she was an Irish
girl in love with her husband. 1t might
be admitted then that she was not dila-
tory in returning his affection. little
woman, svelte, like all Colonials raven
haired, with black arched brows, with
scarlet child-lips and eyes grey as the
sea, she had a winsome, gentle, somewhat
grave manner that bespoke love of all
living things, and attracted especially the
love and confidence of little children-a
feature which rendered her husbands long
ing for son almost bitter in its passion.
Lean. somewhat lanky for all the square,
ness of his shoulders, John Bland. with
his close cropped iron-grey hair his stub
by grey moustaches. his broad nose. rug
ged chin, and wide blue eyes, presented an
almost heroic type of a frontier yeoman-
farmer. As he rode in thTeagh The gate
OF his compound, this particris. night of
April, 1895. his thoughts had been, as l
have indicated somewhat bitter. His cat
tic, his homestead, his increasing crop
what use were they without child to
work them for? His mood seemed well an
swered as a low, snarling growl greeted
the sudden jibbing of his horse He look
ed down and rested motionless, his hand
gripping hard on the quivering curb.
There, coiled up in the corner of the
gate, were two forms. child and a yellow
dog, Tattered, torn. veidt-s aimed. thorn
searched. the twain. even in the dim star
lit shadows. were individually vagabonds.
Yet. in the child's upturned, tranquil.
dreaming face there was something that
drew sharp breath from John Brand and
made him leap swiftly from the saddle. The
yellow dog growled menacingly as he ap
preached. showing a fash of keen white
fangs. Yet some instinct of the invader
kindness Withheld him. and. though some
TO lift the sleeping child into his arms.
And when John Brand mounted on his
horse bearing on his breast the sleepy, nod
ding, golden haired head. the dog followed
his course, whimperiDg little, ever glanc-
ing upwards, yet evidently half-contentsd d.
So the Vagabonds came to GTesndip Farm.
Beneath the feverish excitement of Katie
Brands wonder and surmise the toy awoke.
His eyes, almost black for all their blue |
rcd cfffrar eiv inf hx.r no
child-lips quiyered manfully. He could not
be more than five. thought Katie Brand, as
she Rugged him suddenly, passionately, to !
her breast. He was so sweet. with his /
1.-THE, graceful limbs, dropping inertly in
tired abandon. with his white bare chest |
cleaning through the ragged shirt. with
his curly locks, his gracious, shy smile,
with the timid, pearly dimples. accentua-s
ting the scarlet. smooth curve of his lips.
All the wonder in his eyes. the vague def
ance, the CLEAN OF certain trust dawning
through the shadowy fear. II went TO her
heart. and made the Major, watching her,
turn away, swearing softly.
Who are you, dear?" she whispered,
brseed all detaiis-added. Where's Tink-
er ?''
The yellow dog answered fer himself. At
the mention of his name he leapt up, his
forepaws on the knees of the woman, his
nose showed gently. caressingly. against the
flushed face of his master. The
boys hand fell lovingly on the yellow,
bony head, and his eyes closer sleepiiy.
Dear old Tinksi'' he murmure5.
Then, nesting his hand into the throat
If Katie's dress. he snuggled softly toward
Ter, and smiling divineiy-a little tired,
Happy smile--settled into sleep, with the
'ellow dog gazing with deep brown. visit
III, grateful eyes. now at the woman. now
t his feliow-wsnderer.
And ii was thus the Vagabonds gained a
lone in the heart of Katie Brand, while
er husband. regarding them under lower d
ids, smoked many strong pipes and
bought many strange thoughts.
II.
Strictly speaking, John Brand was q
armer His title of Major applied only
o his position in the Rife Corps of his
district /. II was on the borders OF the !
orange Free State that his farm lay, being
ONE thirty miles southwest of the angle
ormer by the river and that States west
rn boundary. In older days he had belonged
o an artillery corps in the home district.
ut domestic reasons had led him TO seek
livelihood on the veldt.
His first venture had been at the dia-
nond fields. and 1t was IN the neighbor-
ood of Kimberley he had first met his G
rife. The daughter of an Irish settler, her
eauty had brought her many admirers I
Ter father had most favored the suit of I
ne Paul Jansen Boer farmer of consid- t
rable wealth. But from the first moment I
Brands arrival Katie had yielded her v
cart Internationally. Brands cold show il
contempt for his rival, whom he knew L
, be profiigate Of the shadiest honesty, Il
ad reused in the Boer feeling of savage Z
Stred for the young Engiishman This /,
ceiling was not lessened when chiefly on h
rane's evidence. he was exposed for IL {;
city trading in diamonds with the Kafar
nployes, and only eTeded punishment by s
igl.. a
John Brand. in the happiness of marry $
lg Kate and meeting with much luck, n
.ughed at the threats which Jansen had =,
reathed against him Yet when, after =
nassing comfortable fortune. he set =
ut south. with his wife and infant and -
is pile carefully bestowed in his wagon
c was soon destined to remember the u
oers' menace 9
Lung sickness having broken out in his il
Gam. he obstinately refused 10 90 ON g
irther with the three other wagons that Il
'rmed the caravan. and having given them u
days start, trekked slowly in their rear. n
ne dark night as be was fording he Mod g
sr sudden shot rang,out, and Brandt felt "
imseif falling wildly into the yellow maze Il
water. When he recovered conscious II
ess it was to find himself lying on the
snks of the stream hundred yards he n
w the wagon. with his wife and driver a
anding over him a
Even as he had struggled to his feet a I
lout from the boy In charge of the team h
tracted their attention. The sight they 81
Iw held them paraiyzed. By the dusky b