The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-01-10
p v.

Bluebell had come down prepared to
give her father her answer, and to
make her proposal to him, in the
morning; but to her surprise and ON
sternation. she learned that he had
gone off on horseback. no one knew
whittier, not saying when he should
return.
1T was Sam who saw him 60" said
Miss Elizabeth, in a frightened tone,
and he says he went in the direction
of Ladysmith; but of course he may
be going much farther than that-he
may be going by train. Do YOU know
nothing about it, Bluebell?"
Bluebell shook her head. She was
more put about even than her aunt by
this new owe. What could 1t mean?"
Dear auntie, you're not afraid of
the Beers, are you? They have never
done us any harm, why should they
now? Though they are fighting with
Britons, it is with British soldiers
armed themselves, not with helpless,
unarmed people, especially women"
The day passed, the women going
about their usual avocations; but
Adam Leslie did not return. 1t was
not till late in the evening that he rode
at a hard pace up the avenu and into
the stealing, right up underneath the
stoop or veranda. Bluebell went down
to meet him, then turned away with a
shudder, for she could see he was deep
ly flushed and his eyes blazing, while
he staggered slightly as he got off his
horse.
SAM" cried Bluebell to the Zulu
servant who had appeared at the
sound OF the horses hoofs, take my
fathers horse. Father, take my ARM"
she said, in a low voice.
But he flung her off with an oath.
Away into the house! You are a
disobedient creature, and l will have
nothing to do with you!" he snarled.
He himself staggered into the sitting
room, where he lay down on a couch
and fell asleep, without ever remov-
ing his great riding boots.
Bluebell could not speak to him that
night. She crept away, bitterly hui
INFLATED and distressed; and Miss
Elizabeth came in and e~ndeavored to
comfort her; but 1t was such comfort
as one who is ignorant of the real ma
ture or depth of a wound car give.
BY the morning her father had slept
of his drunken fit. Bluebell managed
to get a few minutes alone with him
after breakfast, during which he was
sullen and silent, not exchanging a
word with the INT
Bad as Adam Leslie was. he had still
a few instincts of a gentleman, and
one of these told him that he had been
| guilty of a base and d~ishonorable act
in selling the information which was
to betray the Boer leaders into the
hands of an enemy.
Father, | must speak to you for a
minute" Bluebell said. very pale but
very determined. 81 have been think
ing over what you said last night. I
cannot do what you wish. 1t would be
a crime to sell myself to a man l
loathe and fear. But-but you must
escape. This is the time to do it, when
all the country is in confusion, and
people are leaving every day. You
must go down to Durham and get to
England. Aunt Elizabeth and l shall
stay on here, and We can send you the
money we make. The only thing we
have to do is to throw Mr.. Moore off
the scent"
He had been glaring at her with a
look that vaguely terrified Bluebell up
to this moment. Now he interrupted
her in a hoarse, sullen tone.
"You are mad, child. You don't
know what you are talking about. I
am not going to escape, or to do any
such thing. in the meantime. AS for
you, you will have to make up your
mind sooner or later to marry Gerald
Moore; but he is not going to insist
at once. You will have a week or two
in which to accustom yourself to the
idea that seems so disagreeable to
YOU"
He turned without another word.
and walked out of the room. Bluebell