The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1901-01-11
A STORY OF THE
BOER CAMPAIGN
IN NATALST%
BY II B. Mackenzie

"
were hore-ah. he would holp me! He
Is good and brave Hut ne will never
know now that loved him" Tho
voice trcmhlcd little. and then a.
/ lcnce-blessed silcncc-camc
And Adnir Rothcs. with trembling
hands, and eyes full Of passionate.
longing Tenderness. bent over the un-
conscious g!rl with an agonizod
| prayer.
"Merciiul God. spare her TO me, n II
be Thy VIII My darling my own
darllng' And she cried to ne in her
extremity. and ! did not ksow Of ~
Bluebell. Bluebclli"
Miss Elizabeth arrived In the spider
| twonty-four hours after. and could
only wiring Rothes' hand In silence,
her thin. sallow. unloycly face work
ing convulsively.
God will spare her. Miss Elm
beth" Rothes said husklly. we both
owe a debt We can never repay 90 the
young fellow who found her for you
know Il was not | who did so. We
might never have seen her again but
for Lieutenant Preston"
Rothes knew HIS duty lay In Lady
smith. yet he could not tear himself
from Blucbcll's side until he knew
whether II was TO be lifc or death.
Merclfully the delIrium did not last
long. and on the third day. after n
long sleep. she opened her eyes. that
had full reason In them. upon her
aunt.
"Auntle. whore am I? she asked
feobly. Oh. what fearful dream !
have had"
when Miss Elizabeth ran for Rothes
the strong man felt himself trembling
like child He returned with her
quickly. but he could not speak when
Bluebell's eyes rose TO his.
IL have had such a fearful dream.
DR.. Rothes." she whispered. her eyes
appealing with dumb pathos to his
trustful ones. Il am afraid It was a
reality. though. Is my father dead
Did Mr.. Moore carry me away And
was dying In the yeldt?"
ut IS all true"-holdlng the poor
little weak hand in his own strong one
but. God be thanked. you are safe
now-safe and In good keeping. All
you have TO do Is to get we'll"
"Dld you ind me?" she whispered
And he felt the little hand culver.
He had determined not TO speak
but the question upset all his determi.
nations. lie sank on hla knees. hold
Ing the little hand TO his lips.
II was seeking Cor You six days
Bluebell: but if.ar ~ Z, was a younr
officer who found Won and gave yor
to my keeping. on Eluebell. my heart
is torn In two when think OF all you
have gone through and I unable e
help you-not knowing at nrst you
wanted hclp-I. who would give my
life to save you pain! My darling! my
own dnrling!"
a little wave OF color spread over
her white face: her throat iiuttered.
"You-loye me. them" she wills,
pered.
IL have loved you ever since hrsi
met you at Marltzburg, Bluebell but
never dared to hope. Bluebel. II
seems WRONG to speak OF II at this ter.
rible time; but you do care little
after all. about me?-do your"
The little. wasted hand stroked hii
cheek.
Il love you with all my heart. Adair
I knew Il that awful night whom IN,
Boers'-she paused. shudderlng
You'll take care OF me. and not lei
that dreadful man come near me?"
lie folded the hand to his breast
and, bending kissed again and agalr
the pale little face checks, and eye
and lips.
Rothes went back 10 Tadysmlth mex
day The battle OF Elandslaagte hat
taken place, and the hospital in tn,
little town was full.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dalzie were kindness
Itself, and Insisted O. the Lesllos stay
ing as long as ever they felt inclined.
On the FIRST day on which Bluebel
was able 20 get up Adair Rothes ap
peared. IL was two days after tn,
battle OF Ladysmlth. OF which wort
had been brought to the Dalzlels.
Bluebell welcomed him with a blusl
J and smile that made Rothes' hear
throb. But there was something in hi
face which made Bluebell's heart FIRE
with mingled fear and anxiety
you have some news? What is II
Tell me quickly. Adalr!" she breathed
lifting her face from It's hiding place
Yes, my darling" Rothes answered
slowly; 81 have strange news for you
! do not know how you viii take II
, Bluebell; something very terrible hap
pened at the battle on Monday Som
one was killed there-some one whom
you knew"
1T was Gerald Moorc," said Bluebel
quickly She turned very pale. an
shivered little.
II vent up to him. WHEN the bath
was nearly over hearing him groan
ing J ala not know who he was IN
, | Was beside him. He was moanin
; for water. and ! turned TO got hin
} some. As I did so a wounded Doe
near called; Look out. doctor'
, stepped aside, and as | ala so hui
r let whgzed past me, striking my cal
7 | turned and saw Moore on hts elbow
4 I \ a.