The Holly chieftain., 1900-05-25
(Continued.)

room, where sat Nancy and ner lover.
Nancy greeted him heartily, II some
what shyly:
81 am glad to see you. Hendrick-
let me introduce you to Mr.. Harvey.
Dick, this is our friend, Henry Hoop
stad."
'T am very glad to know you; We
can't have too many friends these
troublous times. You look like
fighting man. hope you are with
us!"
Il cannot fight against Miss Martins
countrymen. and the blood in my veins
is more English than Dutch. am
on my way now to volunteer"
"Then we are we'll met; I am enroll
ing q body of volunteers to act as
scouts. saddle in a few hours, 80
II you are willing we go together"
II ask nothing better. But what OF
Miss Martin-surely she must not stay
here"
81 am glad you add your entreaties
to mine. am trying to persuade MI.
Martin and Nancy to retire to the coast
until danger is past"
That's all right, Dick" answered
Mr.. Martin. "I should like to persuade
Nancy to go, but am 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"
II 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, stay here. and 1t
won't be healthy for the commando
that interferes with me-"
"Then, il you are SO determined. l
must ask you to be equally determined
in insisting upon Miss Nancy going to
Durham. My married sister lives
there, and she would be quite safe"
After much discussion 1t was decid-
ed that Nancy should depart for Dur
ban Immediately. with Hendrick for
an escort. Dick Harvey would accom-
pany them as far as Mooi river. where
he would have to leave them, and
Hendrick was to rejoin Dick as soon
as Nancy was safe on the coast. Hen
drick knew now that Nancy could new
er be to him more than a 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 a tender
and almost heart-rending farewell, he
passed her into the care of Hendrick
and departed. They reached Durham
without mishap, and Hendrick, hav-
ing handed Nancy to the care Of his
sister. prepared to return.
Il thank you, Hendrick, for your
care of me-"
Il wish 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. 4
Il am going to the war;" he contin-
ued. slowly, fixing his gaze upon the
ground; ito fight for your countrymen
and you. 1t may be that shall not
survive, and should like you to think
kindly of me. You are the only Eng
lish woman have been privileged
to know with any degree of friendship,
and the days have passed happily with
me. A hope full of vanity was born 4
within me that perhaps the caprice of
fate might turn your heart towards
me in love. Forgive me for saying
this. am only fooling man, but
! thought I would like you to know"
Poor Hendrick!"
II have seen the man you love, and
my vanity is dead. Goodbye. should
like-may I-er-I should like to kiss
your hand to seal my vow that hence
forth 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 1t passionately and de-
parted.
Hendrick made his way back to Dick
Harvey, and was formally enrolled as
volunteer. News came soon after
that the Beers had crossed the bor-
der and were invading Natal, and Cap
tain Harvey began to have fears for
the safety Of John Martin. He con-
suited Hendrick on the subject.
What do you think Of 1t. Hoop
stad?"
bad, very bad. John Martin will
have to join commando. or be shot"
so fear, and l want you to start |
tonight and make your way to Gala
don Farm. II you find John Martin
there persuade him to come back with
you; but II our worst fears are realiz-
ed, and he has disappeared, find out