Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-06-07

what shyly.
~ am glad to see you, Hendrick,
let me introduce you to Mr.. Harvey.
Dick, this is our friend, Hendrick
Hoopstad."
81 am very glad to know you we
cant have too many friends these trou-
blous times. You look like fighting
man. hope you are with US ?"
81 cannot fight against Miss Martin $
countrymen, and the blood in my veins
is more English than Dutch. I am on
my way now to volunteer.
Then we are well met; I am en-
rolling body of volunteers to act as
scouts. saddle in a few hours, so if
you are willing we go together.
II ask nothing better. But what
of Mis-. Martin-surely she must not
stay here p
81 am glad you add your entreaties
to mine. lam trying to persuade Mr..
Martin and Nancy to retire to the
coast until danger is past.
That's all right, Dick, answered
Mr.. Martin. II should like to per-
suade Nancy to go, but I'm 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
is in Natal that, l take it, is out Of
their jurisdiction.
Possibly, but hardly think they
will draw SO fine line.
"Well, anyway I stay here, and it
won't be healthy for the commando
that interferes with me"
"Then if you are so determined, l
must ask you to be equally deter
mined in insisting upon Miss Nancy
going to Durham. My married sister
lives tbera and she would be quite
safe.
After much discussion it was de-
cided that Nancy should depart for
Durham Immediately, with Hendrlck
for an escort. Dick Harvey would
accompany them as far as Mooi river,
where he would have to leave them,
and HeDdrick was to rejoin Dick as
soon as Nancy was safe at the coast.
Hendrick knew now that Nancy could
never be to him more than friend,
and in that friendship he determined
that no sacrifice should be too great
for him.
The three rode together until Dick
had to leave them; then with ten
der and almost heartrending farewell
he passed her into the care OF Hem
drick and departed. They reached
Durham without mishap, and Hen
drick, having consigned Nancy to the
care of his sister, prepared to return
81 thank you, Hendrick, for your
care of me.
"I wish for no thanks. To be Of
service to you is the aim and end OF
my life.
She looked at him curiously and
seemed to penetrate his secret.
a am going to the war, " he contin-
ued slowly, fixing his gaze upon the
ground, "to fight for your cOuntrymen
and you. It may be that l shall not
survive, and l should like you to
think kindly of me. You are the on
" English woman I have been priv
ileged to know with any degree OF
friendship, and the days have passed
happily with me. A hope full OF
vanity was born within me that per-
haps the caprice of fate might turn
your heart toward me in love. For
give me for saying this. | am only a
foolish man, but l thought l would
like you to know"
"Poor Hendrick !"
81 have seen the man you love,
and my vanity is dead. Goodby l
should like-may I-er-I should
like to kiss your hand to seal my vow
that henceforth my life is consecrated
to serving you and yours to the death.
The tears rolled down her cheeks
as she gave him her hand. The strong
man kissed it passionately and de-
parted.
Hendrick made his way back to
Dick Harvey and wac formally en-
rolled as a volunteer. News came
soon after that the Beers had crossed
the border and were invading Natal,
and Captain Harvey began to have
fears for the safetySof John Martin.
He consulted Hendrick on the subject.
what do you think of it, Hoop
stad?"
"Bad, very bad. John Martin will