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

cornet
Its war;" he said gravely as lie sat
down In the farmhouse. "I have come
for Dom Kris ana Hendrick. IL they
are ready, we will join the commando
together. Yes, thank you, Greta; thank
you. ANNA, will take coffee"
Marie had made the coffee, but her
cousins served the cornet. Tantc Anne
and they lowered about him and cho-
rused denunciations Of the rooineks and
eulogies Of the Boer patriots. Then
nrst Rick Hausmann smiled on Greta,
and again he was cordial to Anna.
When Greta smiled, Anna frowned,
and when anna beamed Gretu tossed
her handsome head and sniffed. But
Marie made coffee md hid her homeIy
face and looked not at all at the prince
or the veldt. When the Van Pelts were
ready, the women hung about their
horses, delaying them TO make sure
that nothing was forgottcn-the bill
tong. the coffee, the sugar, the home
grown tobacco. Tante Anne, in tears,
carassed her spouse and son, but the
daughters were more solicitous about
the rich and handsome veldt cornet.
doubts Of the outcome Of the war.
,"Slay them as the Philistines were
slain," they cried to Rick. "Drive the
uitlanders into the sea. Oh. how wish
was man to go and fight them"
"Oh, yes, to be man!' cried Greta !;
ito be brave and strong
"TO be such q horsemanw cried An
na, cutting out Greta.
1--WE will make much of you when
you come back victoriousI they cried
together.
"And reward me, hope" said the
handsome cornet. but he looked ut both
and smiled ut both, 80 that the girls
when they had smiled back ut him
frowned on each other.
"Goodby, Marie" said Hendrick.
"Goodby, COUSIN" said Marie. "I
wish was going with you"
Then they rode of to Join the COM
mando, and Rick only waved his hand
to Marie, and all the veldt for her grew
chill and gray. The prince was gal
Looping over the veldt. but no glad bugle
horn had sounded its call for her.
Tante was more peevish than ever.
The girls were sulky.
Marie, you've let the coffee get
| coldw Tante Anne screeched.
Marie was at the open door staring
| after the horsemen and did not hear
| nor answer.
"Come in and attend to your workw
her aunt cried. "What are you about?
| Do you think the cornet will kiss his
! hand to you?"
The sisters laughed shrilly. but Ma
rie hung her head.
"No." she thought; che will never
| wave his hand to me. am too ugly
and too poor, butt should like to take
rife and be beside him and fight the
/! Engllshmen. and-and watch over
] him"
| The fight had begun in q series of
| skirmishes, but when morning came
the Beers and British were In pitched
battle. The speaking Of the great guns
| could be heard at the farm. Sometimes
| even the rattle Of the rifle fire reached
| across the plain. The women folk
were terribly excited. War was now
very close to their doors, and 1t was
not so easy thing to sneer at the
courage Of the rooineks. Aunt Anne
rocked In her great chair; the girls
were white and unnerved; Marie was
restless. with great bright eyes. All
| night long spider carts and wagons and
litters had been jolting across the veldt
/ with burdens Of dead and crippled
! Hael who were being carried by native
| servants and friends to rear5y homes
for burial or for nursing.
Suddenly, before the glaring sun had
yet reached its noontide height, q rag
| ged Kaffir came running and leaping
from the distant kopjes, where the bat
tie ragged and roared. His eyes were
protruding with fright. and his dark
| face was now gray,
''It is M'PangweT Marie cried as he
came, and they all went out to meet
H Occ.: Kris servant, who had followed
his master to the war as In olden times
the henchmen followed the knights and
sQuireS, The Kaffir ran up weary and
exhausted. "A dirty rag bound his arm
where q bullet had pierced the flesh.
'Why have you left your baasY' the
her flst at the trembling hoy. "You
coward dog, if you have run away
will use the s5ambok on you myselfI
"Nig' cried the servant. "No run.
Baas Hendrick, him dead In, trench.
Big baas him fight and shoot, shoot,
shoot. Big baas him say to M'Pangwe,
] Get cart: take Raas Eendsick to Tante
Anne Me come, run all way"
There was walllng then In the
farmhouse and terrible cries Tor venge-
ance, tut the Van Pelts were too so--
row stricken to obey the poor stern
fathers Will. On Marie fell the task
as on Marie usually fell the harder
tasks. She had loved Hendrick, but
ahe was dry eyed. Her face was stu
and stern.
els Oom Kris hurt2" she asked the
boy. and he told her the old man was
safe as yet as they harnessed the horse.
Her back was turned to him.
"Did you see the Veldt Cornet Haus-
mann?" she asked.
"He shoot, shoot. shoot, with big