Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-08-31

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CHAPTER vI.-(Continued.

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5#: CHAPTER VI.-(Continued
at last they stopped. Some one
same up to Bluebell. and, to her i'm
-mensc relief, she felt the horrid cloth
being united. The next moment it
was drawn from her head. and then
light, blessed light, albeit it was only
I faint gray dawn as yet, flooded her
Dyes. Bluebell uttered a half-sobbing
cry and looked around at her compan-
Ions, then at herself.
They were in the midst Of a great
stretch of arid "karoo"-nothing but
red sand, unrelieved by bush, grass or
sign of water, stretched about them.
Around, however, rose great black
eraggy rocks. with what seemed like
i sandy ravine between, but the light
was SO dim Bluebell could not be sure.
Bhe was sure of one. thing: That she
had never been there before. She
.eould only guess that they were about
to enter pass in the mountain which
,separated Natal from the Transvaal
and the Orange Free State.
y She looked at her companions. A
native boy" short-statured and at
tired almost in rags, with villainous
Expression, walked beside her. On the
sther Side, mounted on a large bay
llorse, his dark, evil face turned to-
yards her, was Gerald Moore.
Then her eyes came back to herself.
She had on the dark gown which she
had thrown on when she had been
aroused by the approach of the COM
nando; a heavy tweed cloak covered
t down to her feet. On the latter she
lad only the house slippers she had
1ut on when she left her room. A lit
tie tweed cap covered her disheveled
lair. That and the cloak, she con-
sluded, had been supplied by Moore.
She turned to him, her face like that
II one who had passed through a
trightful vigil, and come out of it pale
and worn, hollow-eyed and heart
eyssken. A momentary flash of her old
Evil look in Moore's eyes.
Where are you taking me to-" she
ex lined. Are you a man at all,
that you can drag me from my home
1t such time as this, when my
sather lies dead or dying, killed by
four treachery?"
i took you for your own safety he
replied with cold smile. "Oh, you
are quite safe with me, Miss Bluebell;
don't be-. raid. We are within a day
and q nights journey Of our destina-
non. Once we are safely on Dutch soil
you shall become my wife, and then
re shall cross over to England as soon
us may be-"
You are the worst man that God
fs left upon earth!" said the girl de-
,berate1y But do you think you
I'LL brighten me into what you wish,
!, raid Moore. am not afraid to die,
end ! will die rather than marry you.
fou have done your worst when you
|empted and betrayed my poor father;
you cannot do me any harm now. God
will help me against you"
I, He laughed insultingly.
IF it pleases you to think so, my
fear lady, l have no objections. AS for
lylng-well, we shall see about that.
There are different ways of dying
All the morning hours they jolted,
stumbled and bumped their way over
he rutty and uneven plain. The full
lawn broke, and the sun rose in all the
glorious majesty of day.
Then, as they entered the pass be-
Ween the rocky hills, the full heat Of
The sun began to beat down upon them.
t beat on Bluebell's unsheltered head
ind gave her racking headache. Soon
The became intensely thirsty, but no
water was to be seen; but the pain and
Reariness of her body was as nothing
compared to the anxiety, the fear, the
inguish that racked her mind.
God, God, help me! There is none
but Thou!" she prayed again and
tgain. Then there came to her mind
The remembrance Of Adair Rothes'
luiet, brave, strong face, and her heart
bounded. Oh, if he only knew what
lad happened, would he not try to
fave her, from this awful fate?
About midday Moore called a halt.
ae came forward to help Bluebell off
ner horse but she scornfully waved
aim aside Sarasslipped off herself.
You can Vastly catch me if 1 at
tempt to run away" she said. Even
Is the words passed her lips her heart;
beat high.
4 Run away! Why should she not
make bold attempt? They could not
De very far distant from some town,
when Moore had spoken of day and
! nights journey. And even if she
lost herself on that terrible ira ckless
plain, among tissSSs.e rocky mountains,
better that fate than the one with
which she was threatened.
Her char J YVES to come sooner than
'he expe d.
s CHAPTER VII.
It IS impossible! I cannot believe
lt!!" exclal med Adair Rothes. 'Mr.
Leslie's house burned to the ground