Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-02-23
A DAUGHTER
OF THE VELDT
How Two Enemies Met
On "LOvers' Walk"

About six miles from our lines l ran
against dainty little farmhouse cud-
died up against the slope Of shrub
covered kopje. On one side Of the
dwelling tleliswork Of vines broke
che wind at 10th front and rear, while
a pretty flow err garden, fragrant with
flowers, spread far away, in front of
the substantial dwelling. l was admir-
ing these things from my horses back,
when 1t suddenly dawned upon me that
had possibly played the lmbecile ip
straylng SO far from camp. But 1t was
too late to hang back If the farmer
folk were friendly, was in luck, for
the inside of such dwelling could not
be Ill supplied with creature comforts.
If, however. they were hostile, was
at their mercy. l had no desire to
match my pony's pace against the flight
of Mauser bullet, SO, humming q
song and thinking Of a psalm, rode
forward as II certain of kindly well
come. An elderly Boer with kindly
face met me at the door and gave me
the time Of day with all civility, a ne.
gro lad took hold Of my bride, and l
swung myself out Of the saddle just In
time to receive civil greeting from
the farmers wife-healthy, wholesom",
substantial, well fed and clothed. They
invited me inside, and there their four
daughters introduced themselves to
me. They all talked English as we'll as
could. and before had been there 20
seconds had arrived at the conclusion
that l should never get better chance
to study the language of the people OF
our foes and determined to sacrifice
myself upon the fiinty shrine of duty.
Three Of the maidens were plain faced,
good, honest looking girls, but the
fourth had face like young preach
ers first public prayer-a face that
many a man would risk his life for.
So much of my whole career has
been passed amid the rougher and
more rugged scenes of life that de-
scription Of dainty womanhood comes
awkwardly from me. But have read
so much about the ugliness and clumsi-
ness Of the Boer woman in British
journals that should like to try to de-
scribe this daughter of the veldt. al
though only farmers daughter. l do
| not know If she should be called short
or tall but her cheek could have been
nestled comfortably on the shoulder OF
fairly tall man. I don't know how
much hair she had. but there was
enough of to make fellow feel as
IL he didn't are rap If half the earth
was bald. 1t was not red nor yellow;
1t was like honey kissed by sunshine.
She had the sort of forehead which one
never sees on the face Of fool ma.
lures signboard for an emporium OF
brains. Her eyes were large, brown
and fearless. not bold nor yet waver-
ing. Her Mouth was perfect-not one
| of those butchers which disfgure
some feminine faces, not childishly
small like bud bursting into bloom,
but q strong, true mouth. large enough
for a prayer to slip through, but not
big enough swear with. Her waist
would just about fill the crook of a
mans arm and make him feel that
there was no room for anything else
under heaven. The arch of her bust
was like the curve on wave as 1t
breaks on the beach In the bay. not the
stiff lath and plaster model one is apt
to see walking around the streets Of
cities. Her hands were shapely. brown
and strong, cracked little by win!
and weather: not toy hands. but hands
that could spank baby or help hus-
band back to paths of rectitllde when
all the world had damned him past re-
demption.
So she looked when I saw her, and
said unto my soul, "Verily, 1t Is good
thing for his enemies language" 1t
was the fifth evening after that, and
had registered my fifth visit to the
farm, when an event befell which put
m end to my studies in Dutch for the
time being. l had dined with the
farmers, the plain sisters had made
music for me. They had lifted theil
voices in song also, for ! was an hon
ored guest, having been enabled to DC
some little deeds Of kindness through
the favor Of the courteous general to
relation of the ladies who was a pris
oner in our lines. They had given me
blankets and rugs for the poor beggar
and the general had handed them t
the man.
The night was a beautiful one, SO
lighting a cigar, rambled down to
ward the quarter mile long avenue o.
orange trees. 1t was to be my last Wis
It. for our troops were on the move a
dawn. AS sauntered forward
heard the rrstle Of woman's skirts
amid the bushes on my right. and. look
ing in that direction, l saw the nav!
blue dress and the red gold hair OF tn
girl who had been teaching me Dutch
| had not many seconds to look at her
but brief as the time was had Ions
enough to notice that one hand hell
the blue skirts switched up SO tina
about a foot. of white petticoat wa
displayed. also noticed that she wa