West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-10-17

trivial.
She had loved an Englishman. That
was serious. She had sent news OF the
army 20 her English lover. That was
more than objectionable. uenceforth
she was an outcast. God. country.
home'-all had peen sinned against.
No Boer could forget that: no Boer
could ever forgive that.
AT least let us part I'm Kindness.
brother Peter" she cried in despair.
and he answered. without looking at
her:
You have no brotherw
IL was dark whep they drove into old
Van Belts farmyarl but lanterns were
moving about In the shadows. ana
voices were calling TO each other In
subdued excitement The farmer him.
self came up TO the cart In surprise. n
very old man.
Are the rooineks in Sprlngbokfon.
teinT' he asked. with alarm. HAS
Martha come 10 me for safetyY'
mo. no. oom." Peter answered hur-
riedly. "She needs good horse. She
has far 20 go. Dom Jan. my father,
sends her on important business. No
one else can go-every man from the
village Is with the army, and l must
hurry back 10 join them"
"Our maidcns are bravev cried the
old man proudly. "Nvhen God gives
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 In
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 So 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.
"rhey just brought him home before
you came" said the old man, who had
bled many time himself for father
land and was now content 20 offer up
his boy at the altar. ',rhe lighting 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. Stcphen-w -where-how- how
did you come by this?"
She touched an embroidered kerchlef
tied round the young soldiers arm
stained with his blood The man open
ed his eyes and smiled recognition.
Martha de Kalb" he said, you wo-
men are doing good work among the
wounded. That? Oh. that crawled
over TO when was shot down and
took from n dead Englishmans neck.
You see, | was bleeding bad and had
10 take the first thing / saw"
She knew Il. She had embroidered
II herself She had given 1t TO Lieu
tenant Venablc. She drew back With.
out fainting. but now with a dumbness
at her heart that was more dcathly
than her previous despair.
She was away at last. Peter. her
brother. helped her in that. lie 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 lenders
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 stun 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 secret mission. Neither did any
body express fear OF possible danger
for her They knew she was yeldt
bred. acquainted with the country and
n good horsewoman. Peter handed her
revolver at the last moment She
looked I'm bis eyes rs she took IL. but
he turned away yet she knew the
thought which was I'm the iron minded
Boer boys SOUL and perhaps. she med
itatcd, that would be best Father.
mother. brother, country and lover all
lost In one day-a traitrcss. n spy.
Surely II would be best so 10 do with
herself out there IN the night on the
lonely veldt
There was but quarter moon; It's
light and that Of the stars served only
TO make the solitude OF the vcldt more
shadowy anh fearful to stranger.
Martha WAS no stranger to night I'm the
bush. Very often In slow OK wagons.
or In the swifter cart behind her faith
or's horses. OF. MS now. in the saddle
she had ira vcled guldclcss save for the
star marks, along long. rOugh treks.
Tonight :hcrr were about bpr soul
darker shadows OF more unhappy nor.
tent than over were cast upon the plain
10 alright the wandcrcr
" she meant to use lle money Peter
had thrust NJ her. she knew the safe
road 90 the frontier. ana thence 20 the
COLONY and her srhool day friends Bu.
she did not uow argue tiaf matter.
Tho thought 90 going t0 Capc Town did
not enter hcr mind rho sichf of tuo
kerchicf had IN an instant Killed all
notion % seeking the English. What
were English people TO her nOw3 Her
lover dead, oil England was n dream.
And that dream gone. the Kissing re-
ality was before her oyes again. She
was the spy, the traitor, the outcast.
The thought OF turning the pistol on
herself came again more than once.
but size was n girl never given 20 NOR.
bldness ut any time. and now in spite
OF the stunning blows which that day
had coufounded her the reaction. more
physical than mental. began. ana in-
stincilvely she commenced though al
most unc0nsclously. 20 question what
might be done. Ycnablo was dead. and
she needed comfort TO whom could
she go for thnt save TO her mother. and
10y what means could She reach again
old Tantc's breast7 How could she
turn aside her fathers wrathf
She had loft The reins 60 the horse.
and the beast was following n path
which did not lead 10 the fA1nticr.
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