Marble Hill press., 1900-06-07
CHAPTER I.

The hot wind that had blown all day
had now died down. and there was
great stiffness; but pleasant cool
ness in the air made 1t delightful after
the sweltering heat.
There had been no rain for long
time, and the ground was parched and
dry outside the pretty homestead
the red sand of the velGt lay thick and
fine in the dry grass which covered
the wagon track. But inside the grass
looked green enough. Perhaps 1t had
received an artificial shower. All
round the grassy lawn were flower
beds, mostly of tropical flowers, among
which the succulent blue lily raised its
long, trumpet-shaped flowers; but
there were few English flowers, too
stately hollyhocks, sweet-scented
roses, queenly dahlias.
Beyond the lawn an avenue OF blue
gum and black nettle led to the Veldt
without. Behind the house, which was
built Of stone, and looked quaint and
pretty with veranda running round
it, rose some of the highest peaks OF
the Drakensberg. A little to the left
ran the river Kip.
On this evening the sun, too near
its setting to be hot now, was shining
right into the sleepy brown eyes OF a
girl who lay full length in the shade
of a gum-tree, book on the grass be-
side her Her head was supported by
a plump little brown hand, and she
was smiling very happy, contented
smile, as If some happy thought passed
through her mind.
1t was pretty face, too, with Its
warmth and healthiness of coloring,
It's softly-rounded, girlish contour, Its
smiling, half-open, red lips, its clear,
open, childishly smooth forehead, over
which little curls of the brown hair
shot with ruddy gold came straying.
| The half-shut, smiling eyes were very
soft and happy just now; but who
could say whether they might not
some day be filled with burning pas
sion, with binding tears, or with the
cold, set expression of despair?
"Buebell, Bluebell! where are you,
child?"
The voice came across the little
lawn, clear and distinct on the evening
air; and the girl, rising up from her
comfortable position, shook herself,
very much as a wet spaniel might do
after coming out of the water, and
started at a quick run for the house.
A tall, angular, spinster lady stood
upon the doorstep.
What head, child" was the salu-
tation. Have you forgotten we are
to have company tonight?"
"Well l do believe l had" retorted
the girl. Don't be angry with me,
will you, auntie? Really l couldn't
help it. I'll never, never do it again.
Now dads going to bring some one
from Maritzburg, is he? Who is 1t,
auntie? Not anyone very great, hope
Mr.. Rhodes, for instance?"
Don't talk nonsense, child" re-
turned Miss Elizabeth Leslie. mo, no!
it's no one so great as that, only some
very rich man, l believe, who has
made his money at Kimberley CT
somewhere But run away and dress
yourself, child. have a good sup
per ready, so hope your father won't
keep us waiting. He wished us to lave
dinner; but why should l? We dort
call 1t dinner when we are alone, and
why should we change our custoras
for strangers?"
"Quite right, auntie dear" Bluebell
patted her aunt's bony shoulder with a
gentle hand. Besides, likely enough
he's some coarse, horrid man! They
are always the kind that become mil
lionaires. Oh, auntie, l hope father
won't make a great friend of him If he
Isl"
1--WE shall soon see him, dearie, so
there's no use thinking beforehand
what his ways are," said Miss Eliza
beth-she was always called Miss
Elizabeth-soothingly.
Bluebell ran upstairs to her own
room 1t was a pretty little room,
not containing much furniture, but as
dainty as feminine fingers could make
1t. Bluebell did not spend all her time
lying dreamily Under the gum-tree.
She had just donned her pretty white
muslin frock, drawn in at the waist by
a blue bandit was rather strange
that Bluebell should smile and blush
a little to herself as she fastened the
blue band-when the sound Of horses
hoofs galloping up the avenue drew
her attention. She ran to the window,
hiding behind the window curtains.
Presently two riders emerged from
the avenue, and rode up the graveled
path to the house. Bluebell could see
them distinctly.
The first was her father. Bluebell
knew him well enough not to require
to take second look at him; yet she
did take second look.
Adam Leslie, Esq.,, of Tinlaverstock,
Scotland, who had emigrated to. South
Africa 10 years ago, was man Of mid
die age, heavily built, stout, and red
faced, with heavy chin,~ stubborn
mouth, and a pair of rather cold gray
eyes. But just now his face was red
der than usual and there was slight
want of certainty in his gait as he
sprang from his horse that Bluebell
colored to see.
His companion, the millionaire,
was not at all what Bluebell had pic
tured him. He was an old man: he
looked straight-backed and alert and
sat on his horse with an air Of negll-
gence that showed him true horse
man. For the rest, Bluebell could see
that he was somewhat dark In COM
plexion, wearing short little peaked
beard; but she could not see his face
distinctly.
She went downstairs presently. Her
sitting room was pleasant apartment
with skins of springhok and other wild
animals covering the floor. A lamp
burned on the table, on which sump-
tuous supper was spread. The two men
stood by the fireplace talking
As Biuebell entered her father
turned.
"Well, my girl, I'm back again, you
see, Come and kiss me, Bluebell."
The girl approached, and the Other
man on tho hearthrug stared at the
dainty white figure M Adnm Iaailt