Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1901-03-29
A DAUGHTER
OF THE VELDT
uow Two Enemies Met
Oa t'Lovcrs' Walk"


About six miles from our lines l ran
against a dainty little farmhouse cud-
died up against the slope Of a shrub
covered kopje. On one side Of the
dwelling a trclliswork OF vines broke
the wind at both front and rear. while
a pretty flower garden, fragrant with
Howers. spread far away In front OF
the substantial dwelling. ] was admir-
ing these things from my horses back,
when It suddenly dawned upon me that
l had possibly played the Imbeclle 10
B~traying so far from camp. But It was
too late to hang back. II the farmer
folk were friendly. ! was In luck, for
tho inside of such n dwelling could not
be III supplied with crcatur comforts.
n. however. they were hostile. ! was
at their mercy. I had no desire 70
match my p0ny's pace against the flight
Of n Mauscr bullet. so. humming a
song and thinking OF a psalm. I rode
forward M II certain OF a kindly wei.
come. An clGcrly BOcr with a kindly
FACE met me at the doOr ard gave me
the time of day with all civillty. n ne
gro lad took hold Of my bride. and |
Bwung myself out OF the saddle just In
time 10 receive q civil greeting from
the farmers wife-healthy. wholesome.
substantial. well fed and clothed. They
invited me inside. and there their -four
daughters introduced themselves 10
me. They all talked English as well as
I could. ana before | had been there 20
seconds | had arrived a. the conclusion
TINT | shonid never get a better chance
10 study The language OF the people OF
our foes and determined to sacrifice
myself Upon the ainty shrine of duty
Three OF the maldens were plain faced
good. honest looking girls, but tbs
Fourth had u face like n young preach
er's hrst public prayer-a face tina
many n man would risk his life for.
So much OF my whole career ha'
been passed amid the rougher anC
more rugged scenes Of life that q de
scription Of dainty womanhOod come
Awkwardly from me. But ! have reai
so much about the ugllness and clumsI
uCBs or tie Bocr woman In Brltlsl
Journals that | should like TO try to de
scribe this daughter OF the veldt. a
though only n farmers daughter. ] d
not know II she should be called shor
or tail. but her cheek could have beel
nestled comfortably on the shoulder o
n fairly tall man. ! don't know hoy
much hair she had. but there wa
enough % il TO make n fellow feel a
IL be didn't care n rap II half the cart
was bald. II was not red nor yellow
It was like honey kissed by sunshine
She had the sort of forehead which on
never secs on the face OF n fool. ma
lures sienboard for IN emporium O
brains. her eyes were large. brow
and fearless. not bold nor yet waver
Ing. Her mouth was pPrfcct--not on
Of those sepulchers which dishgur
some feminine faces. not childish,
small like a bud bursting into bloom
but n strong, true mouth. large cnoug,
for a prayer to slip through. but no
big enough 70 swear with. Her wais
would lust about fill the crook Of
mans arm and make him feel tina
there was no room for anything els
under heaven. The arch OF her bus
was like the curve on q wave as
breaks on the beach In the bay. not IN
stin lath and plaster model n Is ~
to see walking around the streets q
cities. Her hands were shapely. brow
and strong. cracked a little by win
and weather; not toy hands. but hand
that could spank a baby or help hui
band back to paths OF rectitude whe
all the world bad damned him past n
demption.
So she looked when ! saw her. and
-.f1 t.s.s, r.--- ernl ttInrffg 10 Ia a ron
thing for his enemies language"
wns the nth evening after that, ana
had registered my Gfth visit to Ill
farm. when an event befell which pr
an end 10 my studies In Dutch for d
time being. I had dined with III
farmers. the plain sisters had mad
music for ne. They had lifted the
voices In song also. for I was an hoI
cred guest. having been enabled TO d
some little deeds OF kindness throug
the favor OF the courteous general to
relation OF the ladies who was n prl
Onpr IN our lines. They had given n
blankets and rugs for the poor begga
and the general had handed them
the man.
The night was a beautiful one, =
lighting q cigar, ! rombled doNn {
ward the quarter mile long avenue
orange trees. II was 10 be my last VI
Il. for our troops were on the move
dawn. IS I pauntcred forward
heard tho rustic " a woman's skir
amid tie bushes on my right. and. loo
ing ln that direction. I Haw the na'
hlue dress ard the red gold hair Of Il
c.rl who had been teaching ms Dutc
had not many seconds 70 look at b,
Int hrlpf as tbs time wns ! bad lol
enough 10 notice that one hand hr
;he blue skirts switched np 80 th