The Holly chieftain., 1900-07-13
A STORY OF THE
BOER CAMPAIGN
IN NATAL11I
By H. B. M.etenzis


and he himself shot by the COMMANDED!
1t Is too terrible for belief"
The news had Just been related to
him by a messenger, who had managed
to make his way into Ladysmith; for
by this time the war had commenced,
and the battle OF Glencoe been fought
and won.
Doctor Rothes had not as yet left the
town. where he had been very busy,
along with one or two others, In at
tending to the wounded and dying who
had been brought into the town and
conveyed to the house which had been
converted into hospital No news of
the outside world. save Of the army
that had ventured out to do battle with
the enemy, had reached the little town
until now.
The messenger, young Dutch farm
er. who had come to ask II he could
be enrolled In the British army, was
surprised ar frightened when he saw
the look of alarm and horror which
overspread The young mans face.
1T is what have been told. Herr
Doctor" said the young Dutchman
stolidly. "ard can tell you no more;
but 1t is certain Herr Leslie is dead,
for he Is to be buried today"
Rothes was almost stupefied by the
suddenness If the blow.
III the commando has done this
without provocation we shall not let
the matter rest there" he said. And
what of Miss Leslie and Miss Eliza
beth, his daughter and sister,"
The young man shook his head. He
had given all his information.
Rothes could not rest until he heard
more. He arranged with the other
medical men. and. escaping from the
town. though under a heavy fire from
the enemy. he rode at as mad pace
as he had ever INDUCED in, towards
New Eelso.
1t was late In the afternoon when
he reached 1t, and, long ere he did SO,
he saw a mass Of black ruins through
the gum trees, which confirmed the
story he had heard.
He drew his breath In sharply,
feeling of almost overwhelming fear
and foreboding seized upon him. Then
he rode up the avenue towards the
black ruins that had once been 30 firm
and sweet home, and that had held
the dearest thing to him on earth
Bluebell. Bluebell! Where was she
now!
The outhouse in which the native
servants had slept was, strangely
enough. untouched by fire. Rothes
r0da do 10 norf hno
with dull hammer-like throbs. AS
he neared it figure emerged from the
low, mud doorway. The building was
merely mud house daubed over with
clay. The figure was that of Miss
Elizabeth. She came quickly forward.
and Rothes saw how shockingly
changed she was.
Her hair seemed to have grown
grey, her face was like that OF a very
old woman, drawn and wrinkled; her
cheeks and eyes hollow and sunken.
and the latter looked as II all the ters
had been wrung out OF them.
But they had not. A dry sob burst
from her as she recognized Rothes,
and, as he clasped her hand, the tears
rushed forth. Thank God! Oh, thank
God! 1t is wonder to myself have
not gone mad during these long days!
Never white face that l knew to ap-
peal to. But now oh, you will, for
charitys dear sake, for the sake OF
the kind Lord above. you will seek for
my lost child. Doctor Rothes?"
He paled suddenly, holding the thin,
Woodworking hand in an unconscious
ly painful grasp.
Elizabeth? Is 1t Bluebell who is lost? ?"
Yes, my BARN, my little Bluebell!'-
She burst into the painful, bitter tears
Of old age. Now my brother is gone
and God alone knows whether the
awful charge they brought against him
was true or not-I can think OF moth
ing, Of no one but my lost darling.
Where is she? Is she still alive? Has
death overtaken her, or something
worse? Oh, II but knew the truth,
even II it were death, it would not be
so awful! But this uncertainty-the
Almighty above knows how l bear 1t
and still keep sane!"
Explain all to me, Miss Elizabeth"
Rothes led her to an iron garden seat
that the fire had been compelled to
spare, and sat down beside her, his
own face pale and set. Tell me the
whole affair as briefly as possible, and
then shall know what to do
She did SO, with. wonderful brevtty
and exactness. When she mentioned
the name of Gerald Moore, Rothes
started from his seat. his eyes blazing:
then, with a gesture, asked her to go