Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-10-01

"Our maidens are braver cried thu
old man proudly. when God givei
even the girls such strength Of heart
we shall surely conquer In his name
You shall have my best horse, Martha
but wait and have your coffee first"
Martha tried to press Peters hand ir
recognition Of the unexpected kindness
with which he had saved her from
more shame, but he roughly drew II
away, as II himself ashamed at dis
playing 80 much mercy. They went
into the house. and there surprise
awaited them. Old Van Belts only
son lay on bed grievously wounded
The farmer spoke Of him with solemn
| Quietude.
"They Just brought him home before
you came" said the old man, who had
bled many a time himself for father
land and was now content to offer uI
his boy at the altar. 'The fighting has
begun. There have been one or two
skirmishes. Stephen here Is badly hurt
and one or two patriots are dead, but
| for every one of ours God has smitten
three Of the invaders"
Martha did not hear the last SEN
tences. She had stepped swiftly to the
bedside, leaning over the patient.
where. Stephen-where-how-how
did you come by this"
She touched an embroidered kerchief
tied round the young soldiers arm
stained with his blood. The man open.
ell his eyes and smiled recognition.
"Martha de Kalb." he said. you wo-
men are doing good work among the
wounded. That? Oh. that l crawled
over to when was shot down and
took from a dead Englishman's neck.
You see. was bleeding bad and had
to take the first thing saw"
She knew 1t. She had embroidered
II herself. She had given II to Lieu
tenant venable. She drew back with
out fainting. but now with dumbness
at her heart that was more deathly
than her previous despair.
She was away at last Peter. her
brother. helped her in that He was
anxious to be done with this work-a
kind Of executioner's work. Besides,
like every young Boer, he was eager to
get back to his father and the leaders
in the decisive fight which, they all
knew, must be close at hand and show
the older heroes of the people that their
younger brothers In arms were made
Of the same stern STUFF as the fathers.
The farmer had done as he promised
and given her an excellent horse. wish
ing her godspeed on what he presumed
was q secret mission. Neither did any.
body express fear Of possible danger
for her. They knew she was veldt
bred. acquainted with the country and
good horsewoman. Peter handed her
revolver at the last moment She
looked In his eyes as she took 1t. but
he turned away. yet she knew the
thought which was In the iron minded
Boer boys soul. and perhaps. she med.
itaicd. that would be best. Father,
mother. brother. country and lover all
lost In one day-a traitress. q spy.
Surely II would be best 80 to do with
herself out there In the night on the
lonely veldt.
There was but quarter moon; Its
light and that Of the stars served only
to make the solitude Of the veldt more
shadowy and fearful to stranger.
Martha was no stranger to night 10 the
bush. Very often In slow OK wagons,
Or in the swifter cart behind her faith.
er's horses. or. as now. In the saddle
she had Travelled guideless. save for the
star marks. along long. rough treks.
Tonight there were about her soul
darker shadows Of more unhappy por.
tent than ever were cast upon the plain
to alright the wanderer.
II she meant to use the money Peter
had thrust at her. she knew the safe
road to the frontier and thence to the
colony and her school day friends. But
she did not now argue that matter.
The thought of going to Cape Town did
not enter her mind The sight Of the
ksrchief had In an instant killed all
notion OF seeking the English. What
were English people to her now? Her
lover dead, all England was a dream.
And that dream gone, the Kissing re,
atty was before her eyes again. She
was the spy, the traitor, the outcast.
The thought of turning the pistol on
herself came again more than once,
but she was girl never given to NOR.
bidness at any time, and now, in spite
Of the stunning blows which that day
had confounded her, the reaction, more
physical than mental, began, and In
stinctIvqly she commenced. though al.
most unconsciously. to question what
might be done. Venable was dead, and
she needed comfort. To whom could
she 20 for that save to her mother, and
by what means could she reach again
old Tante's breast? How could she
| turn aside her fathers wrath?
She had left the reins to the horse
and the beast was following a patti
which did not lead to the frontier
Suddenly distant cracking Of mus
kerry made the animal prick his ears
and start. The noise which thus broke
the gloomy silence Of the veldt awoke
Martha to clearer sense OF where she
was. She sat more straightly In the
saddle and listened. They came again
| not in volleys, but In the scattered re
ports of skirmish firing, the sounds Of
| many guns. There was her father
there by now might be Peter, holding
back the invader. There, II she hat
| had the luck, she thought, to have beer
born boy, should she be. She halted
and her eyes shone In the darkness
Why should she not be? Why not prove
| to her people that she was, II q trai
tress, not one with intended malice
She could shoot almost as well as re
ter; she was more active than men o.
older age. For full FIVE minutes sh'
remained at q halt, and then, swinging
her horse off the trail, she galloped II
the right straight across country, fol
lowing no path or trek, save the sur
guide of her native knowledge OF tn
land.
BY dawn the veldt was alive witt
strange noises and unwonted visitors
Trumpets were calling across its grass
es. The clatter Of steel scabbard
against spurs and stirrup irons ram
out In the quiet air. Drums were beat
ing. The loud and sharp command