The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-07-11

tAut arrlVlhS Sne SnOu1u INA yet All
other lying dead In the trenches OH the
hillside.
No doubt this would seem unmaiden.
iy conduct In the eyes Of seminary
girls. but. you see, Marie had never
been to school. She could only with
difficulty spell out her Bible, was quite
uncultured and very simple and natu-
raj product Of the veidt, possessed with
all the primitive passions Of love and
hate and jealousy and revenge.
The trenches were reached from the
rear or the army, with only the rocky
difficulties OF the kopje to overcome.
When, however, they came near to
them, the Kaffir shook with fear as the
great shells came shrieking from the
British guns to plunge into the earthen
Dreastworks or burst near by, scatter
Ing horror. He covered in the cart,
but Marie sat erect, although her face
was white and her lips !ndrawn. They
halted come distance away in the shell
ter OF great rock, and Dom Kris him
self carried his dead boy to the cart
Poor old patriot. he was weeping. but
he could not leave his place to accom-
pany Hendricks remains, anxious
though he was that they should be
buried at home near the old farm and
not In the dreadful trenches. perhaps
by British hands. He dispatched the
Kafir's cart and expressed no sur
prise when Marie followed him ON
hands and knees. creeping to Hen
drlck's place. The old man. like every
old Boer, had been used In other days
to see his women folk by his side de-
Tending the wagons Of the trek against
savage foes.
"It is right, little Marie" he said
simply. "He loved you, my Hendrick.
Say prayer and aim carefully"
On the Boer girls other side lay the
field cornet. He nodded to Marie and
smiled approval.
"Who should conquer U.s." he said.
when our girls are ready to die to de-
fend the land? Why did not Greta and
anna come? They are fair shots. and
Hendrick was their brother"
Marie said nothing, but color came
back to her cheeks, for 1t was the first
time the prince Of tie -cldt had spoken
to her go cordially. Then she listened
to him as he pointed out to her, peep.
Ing over the 'breastworks, the position
She grew warm with the fierce excite
ment of the thing, but her aim was
steady, and her bullets sped truly. Rick
was earnest In his encouragement.
"I did not know" he said enthusi-
astically, "that you were such G brave
girl and capital shot. YOU were al
ways SO quiet"
Then Marie, even in the middle of
horrors. was almost happy.
All the afternoon the shells came
shrieking. All the afternoon cries and
grOans and hOarse commands filled her
ears, with the ceaseless crash Of the
rifles and the thunder of the big guns.
Other sounds there were also, when
now from the right and again from the
left some God fearing patriot would
begin to sing. Then along the line of
the trench the deep voices would rise
| to heaven, now in the heart stirring
melody Of a volkslied, now chanting
the solemn measures OF the psalm.
Marie sang too. Her voice and those
F.! of few other women and boys with
| the commando rose high above the
mems. Never before was seen 80
strange n congregation praising the
Lord.
At last, when the day was far spent,
the enemy tried new tactics, since their
artillery could not disperse the Beers
in the trenches. From far In front q
body Of Killed highlaGders moved for
ward with q great cheer. aad the shells
came plunging down In O more furious
btorm than ever. One OF tEcse burst
near Marie. A piece tc~e past her face
and hit old Dom Kria Tbs are old
mans rife fell from f=zs Mazszsl He
gave one short, sharp esy and fell
back. He had followed his dear son.
So hot was the fight. 80 urgent it was
that now if ever the Beers should not
slacken tleif Ore, that little Marie
could only raurEaur q prayer, but dared
not cease firing. Rick Hausmann found
time to touch her hand and whisper In
| sympathy.
'It was for God and country" said
he. 'It is well with him."
Tears were In Marie's eyes as she
looked ut him gratefully.
"For God and country" she repeated,
and turned steadily to the approaching
rush Of highlanders. They we're COM
Ing on with tremendous dash, not
cheering now, for every breath was
needed as they faced the steep hill.
With fixed bayonets they came on and
on and on. The fire OF the Beers was
| furious. a continual roar OF volleying
rifles. The Scotchmen suffered cruelty.
Here. there, like wands In wind. men
+ .ES=eTe1 anu dropped, but the rest
came on and on and on. and the ghast-
lv looking bayOTefs were tfirIIatinp for.
ward. nearer aud nearer. AT sight Of
the cold steel, glanciIg in the sun,
Marie began TO auake. Not she alone;
the Beers all round were palfng. Daop-
ping stin from the line Of killed war
riors before the tempest OF bullets, men
lay scattered on the hillside, some
writhing some very still; the highland
ers came closer and closer.
"Cornet Hausmann." Marie cried,
Onlvarfn0 ss1 mi,et pn-.r tnf,ot 6v T