St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-02-27

that he was actually suffering The halt
company OF men stood outside the wall
! anlng on their riffs, and looking long
'ngy at few chickens that were picking
about the oat.straw which lay about
the tarmyard.
Went you come in ?" said the young
glrl, seconding her aunt's invitation; ard
taking off his helmet, the Young officer
went Into the house, and followed him
| was surprised at the evidence OF taste
and comtort-almost luxury. A good
sized parlor organ stood in one corner
There were ornaments and kncknacks
on he table, AMI a bookcase filled with
books-all in English. Everything was
neat as pin. On the walls in he hall
were horns OF various kinds of antelope
that had ouce been found in mutitudes
on the high veldt, and that now i'd
disappeared almost entirely.
TEL Sannah to bring some coffee"
said the young woman to a dIminutive
Kafir boy, who stood CORNING at us
with round black eyes.
The officer spoke at last.
mo, don't think we will take any,
thank you" he said, and then in a few
words he explained his mission the per-
spiration rolling down his face. could
not look at either one of the women, and
wished Tor hundred times that | had
never come. My orders are most ex
Dlicit," continued the Young officer.
Our men have beer shot at so many
times from hou,es flying the white flag,
and one was xii ed here last night"
ha LoI IL
softly, but he older one stepped forward
and spoke clearly.
but it was not our fault" she said
/ begged them not to. and they robbed
US OF almost all our torag and took our
rnealIes aud veget abIes. He was brute,
that Vedt Cornet he would not listen
Surely III 'se who gave you the orders
did not expect you 10 burn detenseless
womans house over her head. What
am | to do it you burn nv house p
INV orders took care o. that" said
the " Jug offic r. "You are to be all w
ed to take supplies, and will give you a
pass for yourself AMI servants to BlDem
tpntein There he aut horirirs will take
care Of you, or you can stay here at a
uegnbor's ii you like to-"
Tie did no say anything in excuse o.
his D )stion; he did not even tell how
di<agr, BILE it was to him. But hi
tones and attitude must have shown it
plainly. The old lady did not break
| down.
We'll, suppose you will have to do
what YOU saw" she said. on, this wa
why did they bring it upon us? W,
were cDutenttd and happy" | almost
wished that she had become abusive,
but women have strange self control a.
umes. Can we remove everything
rom the house," she asked
MY men Will help you" answered the
young officer, Have you any metho'
If conveyance, any wagon?'
I I'VE have q cart ami two old ponies
| but they won't be able TO carry mucn
more then ourselves" She turned to the
grI and told h,r TO GO and get Jan
and pet" al just as she did so the
ii rck glrl app ard with some steaming
flee cups un a tray. could not hav,
tas Ell 1t; it would have choked me The
woman spoke lew words in Dutch to
the 5, rvant. AMI the latter put oown the
tray. Both women dis appeared leaving
the off Ter and myself alone.
Lets get out OF this" he said.
When we got out into The sunlight,
looked at him, Surely" said l, you
are not going to-
He SAID nothing but gave some orders
20 the men, and they began 10 remove
things from the house. The TWO women
did not S, and by Idly. 1t was pitiful tt
see them carry ing out drmiuls OF cloth
ing and other articles. The soldiers
worked without a word. They appear
ed ashamed of the job also.
began to have fresh idea of the say.
ing hat war is hell | walked over tC
where my horse was tied and would
have ridden away, but the officer call
ed me back;
Don't go yet" he sad; please don't
So STAYED against my will. l sup
pose it was impossible to get everythiI 6
out of the house, but soon the womer
appeared satisfied, and sat down on 6
,etlee, and then both began to weep
rhe men stood awkardlv about waiting
tor orders. and the Kaffir servants form
ed a whispering group little way
apart.
my orders were to set fire to the
house." said the officer. They did MOI
ren,i N the outbuidings." And witt
that he told some mtn to follow him
and walked over toward the barn. In /
few mimi e. tour or five appeared, drag
piue a half bale of chaff and Others will
their arms lull otbroken bundles OF stra
and MAMMA rough. course hay. The
officer turned to the sergeant.
Sergeant" said he, take your met
and march them over to the railway
ut is a mie or more distant to the west)
"Ltt hudson stay with me- Undson wa
the officers soldier servant)
Ia a few minutes the company. II
charge of the sergeant, had marche(
away over little rise in the ground, ant
the officer Judson, and mys'l' alone wer
left.
Now, the house was stone one, ant
on one side, the gable end, it had but on
window high in the peak. The womtl
had stopped weeping and were watching
us. The officer, with the soldiers assist
ance flor, OF course, would not bear
handy, dragged the infammable bale q
cnaff 10 the side of the house. he pitch
ed the loose bundles OF " on top OF 1t
but before he had done this he had take
out his lttler red order. book and scriooe
a few linz, on a page and torn it out
The elder woman had taken It.
"Mv orders were to set fire to tn
hou. e." he said to me, as had expos
tulated with him, "Orders are orders,