Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-01
CHAPTER XXI.
THE "KoPJE.n
"Good morning!"

EN-, VINO was IN the StOrerOOm meas
uring the Kaftir's rations, looked up
and saw her former lover standing be-
Htwixt her and the sunshine. For some
days after that evening on which he
had ridden home whistling he had
Stunned her. She might wish to enter
into explanations, and he Gregory
Rose) was not the man for that kind
2Df thing. II a woman had once thrown
him overheard, she must take the con-
sequences and stand by them. When,
however, she showed no inclination to
revert to the past and Stunned him
more than he stunned her, Gregory
Il yoftened.
"You must let me call you EN- still
fand be like brother to you till CO."
he said, and EN- thanked him SO hum
bly, that he wished she hadn't. It
self an injured man.
On that morning he stood some time
In the doorway switching his whip and
moving rather restlessly from one leg
4 to the other.
Il think Ill Just take walk up to
the camps and see how your birds are
getting on. Now Waldo's gone you've
no one to see after things. Nice morn
\ ing, isn't it2" Then he added sudden
/ II, IT u Just 60 round to the house and
get drink Of water nrst," and some
ANvhat awkwardly walked of. he might
Ahave found water in the kitchen, but
he never glanced toward the buckets.
In the front room monkey and two
tumblers stood on the center table, but
he merely looked round, peeped into
The parlor, looked round again and then
Il walked ont at the front door and found
himself again at the storeroom without
having satisfied his thirst. lawfully
hice morning thls;y' he said, trying to
II pose himself in graceful and indif-
n ferent attitude against the door. ut
isn't hot. and it isn't cold. It's awfully
\ nice.''
Yes" said EN-.
'Your cousin, now" said Gregory in
\ nm aimless sort of way-''I suppose
she's shut up in her room writing let
tiers"
"No," said EN-.
"Gone for drive, expect7 Nice
3SOOTulu6 AOE uIAVS.
sNo."
.Gone to see the ostricfes, I sup
4 poser"
NO" After little silence En- add.
ed, II saw her go by the kraals to the
'kopje.'"
Gregory crossed and uncrossed his
legs.
well, l think I'll just go and have q
look about, he said, land see how
things are getting on before go to the
camps. Goodby. So long"
EN- left for awhile the bags she was
! folding and went to the window, the
same through which, years before,
4 Bonaparte had watched the slouching
figure cross the yard. Gregory walk
ed to the pigsty first and contemplated
| the pigs for q few seconds, then turned
round and stood looking dxedly at the
wall Of the fuel house as though he
thought it wanted repairing. Then he
started of suddenly, with the evident
Intention Of going to the ostrich camps,
| then paused, hesitated and finally
walked off in the direction of the
s.kopje."
Then EN- went back to the corner
and folded more sacks.
On the >other side Of the "kopje"
Gregory caught sight Of a white tail
waving among the stones, and alsuc-l
cession Of short, frantic barks told
where Doss was engaged in bowling
imploringly to a lizard who had crept
between two stones and who had not
the slightest intention of resunning
himself at that particular moment.
siThe dogs mistress sat higher up,
der the shelving rock, her face bent
Ter volume Of plays upon her knee.
is Gregory mounted the stones she
farted violently and looked up, then
resumed her book.
81 hope am not troubling you," said
1 Gregory as he reached her side. IF l
IN, will go away. just
No; you may stay"
II fear startled you.''
Yes; your step was firmer than it
enerally Is. / thought it was that Of
me one else"
.'Who could 1t be but me?" asked
Gregory, seating himself on stone at
her feet.
do you suppose you are the only
man who would find anything to at
( tract him to this 'kopjaY"
"Oh, no" said Gregory.
He was MT going to argue that point
with her Dor any other, but no old
Boer was likely to take the trouble Of
J climbing tile '.kopje," and who else
| was there?
She continued the study Of her book.
.'Aiiss Lyndall," he said at last, Il
don't know why 1t is you never talk
to me-"
"We had a long conversation yester-
day." she said without looking up.
Yes; but you ask me questions about
sheep and oxen. ] don't call that talk
lng. You used to talk to Waldo, now.