Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-06-15
BY H. B. Mackenzie


Brave little woman!" said Rothes.
n tone OF emotion In his voice. Il al
ways thought her rather butterfly.
and 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?"
II never thought you anything
but" He was speaking with n sud
den passion. but he suddenly checked
himself and paused. You know you
are not justified In speaking like that"
he said at last sravely. Did l ever
give you reason to do so?"
Bluebell laughed a little.
DO you remember the bail at Mar
itzburs last spring. Doctor Ro,hes?
All. you didn't approve Of me at all
then!"
He remembered It quite well. II
was the first time he had met the Les
Hes. for hc had been practicing In
Maritzburg himself then. Blucbcli's
wild. childishly high spirits had car.
ricd her away that night. and she had
nirted unfortunately with all the Of
fecrs then stationed at Maritxburs.
Biucbcll remembered II. too.
who Is that .rave-lookins young
man gazing so strangely At me?" she
asked her partner. a say young lieu.
tenant. DO you think he wants IN
Introduction. or Ia he only trying to
wither me with glance Of his eyc!"
The latter. I think" the lieutenant
had answered. more ,ruihfuiiy than
calamity. Hes Doctor Rothes. and
they say he Is one Of the awfuiiy scri-
Gus kind. you know. Takes life like
a funeral. and believes one should so
to church twice on Sundays. That
kind Of thins. don't you know"
Rothcs' Sanburncd face had deepen
cd Just a little In tint.
Ii is too bad to bring back those
old foolishn-sscs TO ones memory"
he said. Il did not know you then.
Miss Leslie. had no, seen you In
your home. did no, know you earn
ed tho love and devotion of the poor
natives on your fathers place. I did
not know you iaush, them. as far "a
was possible. not the mere profession
OF Christianity. but It's practice"
Biucbcii bent n little over her
horses head.
Il am afraid I ought to teach my
self that nrs;, Doctor Rothcs. Charity
begins nt home. hut let us no, speak
OF this. We can't be anything but
friends. can We. with this terrible dan
ger facing usV Surely Il will draw all
European people out here closer to-
sc;hcr II anything couldy''
Yes" said Ro,hcs quietly. We
can't be anything bu, friends
Biucbcll felt vaguely hurt at the
cold words. They rode on. the horses
ncess quite eiosc together. and Rothcs
talked OF the coming ordeal. Blucbcll
felt somehow strangely disappointed.
The last time she had met Adair
Rothcs 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 hc Was so cool and
indiffcrcnt-a friend. as he had said.
and nothing more.
IL was not that BIucbcll was IN
love with him. She told herself about
dozen times day that she liked
Adair Rothcs very much. but could
never imagine him as a lover: yet
now. why this sinking OF her hearth
II was drawing towards sunsc;-a
glorious sunset. The whole OF the
sky died in crimson and gold. the very
vcldt reflected the crimson. 80 that Il
looked as II Il were ba,hcd In blood.
Blucbcii shuddcrcd as she thought that
very soon Il might BE-.
A kopjc was before them. one OF
those little hills rising s;ccply from
the one side. sloping from the other.
SO common on the Natal veldt Sud
denly. as Biuebcll looked towards 1t.
figure on horseback emerged from
behind IL. and came riding straight
towards them.
Bluebeil felt a thrill of annoyance
and aversion run through her. for she
recognized the rider at once. IL Wis
the millionaire, Gerald Moore.