The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-02-07
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BY II. B Mackenzie

Brave little womani" said Rothes,
a tone of emotion in his voice. Il al
ways thought her rather a butterfly,
n beg her pardon mentally for
that"
In fact. you thought she and | were
very much alikc?" said Bluebell, with
a little tone Of coquetry. Confess now
you think me that, too, don't you,
Doctor Rothes?"
Il never thought you anything
but lie was speaking with a sud
den passion, bat he suddenly checked
himself and paused. You know you
are not justified in speaking like that, u
he said at last gravely. Did | ever
give you reason to do so?"
Bluebell laughed a little.
DO you remember the ball at Mar
ltzburg last spring. Doctor Rothes?
All, o didn't approve Of me at all
then!"
lie remembered it quite well. It
was the first time he had met the Les
lies, for he had been practicing in
Maritzburg himself then. B~luebell's
wild, ehildishly high spirits had car
RED her away that night, and she had
nirted unfortunately with all the Of
ieers then stationed at Maritzburg.
Bluebell remembered It, too.
who is that grave-looking young
man gazing so strangely at me?' she
asked her partner. a gay young lieu
tenant. DO you think he wants an
Introduction. or is he only trying to
wlther me with a glance Of his eye?'
The latter. Think the lieutenant
had answered. more truthfully than
calamity. Hes Doctor Rothes. and
they say he is one of the awfully seri-
Gus kind, you know. Takes life like
a funeral. and believes one should go
TO church twice on Sundays. That
/ of thing, don't you know"
Rothes' sunburned face had deepen
ed just a little in tint.
1T is too bad to bring back those
old foolishnesses to ones memory"
he said. Il did not know you then.
Miss Leslie. | had not seen you in
your home. I did not know you earn
ed the love and devotion of the poor
natives on your fathers place. | did
not know you taught them, as far as
was possible, not the mere profession
OF Christianity, but its practice
Bluebell bent a little over her
horses head.
Il am afraid I ought to teach my
self that first, Doctor Rothes. Charity
begins at home. But let us not speak
OF this. We cart be anything but
friends. can we. with this terrible dan
ger facing us? Surely it will draw all
European people out here closer to-
gether if anything could?"
Yes" said Rothes quietly. i" we
can't be anything but friends"
Bluebell felt vaguely hurt at the
cold words. They rode on, the horses
necks quite close together, and Rothes
talked of the coming ordeal. Bluebell
felt somehow strangely disappointed.
The last time she had met Adair
Rothes he had held her hand long.
and looked into her eyes with a look
that had made every rein in her body
thrill; and now he was SO cool and
ndifferent-a friend, as he had said.
and nothing MORE.
1t was not that Bluebell was in
love with him. She told herself about
a dozen times a day that she liked
Adair Rothes very much, but could
never imagine him as a lover; yet
now, why this sinking of her heart?
1t was drawing towards sunset-a
glorious sunset. The whole of the
sky died in crimson and gold. the very
veldt reflected the crimson, so thai it
looked as II 1t were bathed in blood.
Bluebell shuddered as she thought that
very 500 II might be.
A kopje was before them, one Of
those little hills rising steeply from
the one side, sloping from the other.
so common on che Natal veldt. Sud-
denly, as Blueoell looked towards it,
a figure on horseback emerged from
behind 1t, and anne riding straight
towards them.
Bluebell felt a thrill of
and aversion run through her, for she
recognized the rider at once 1t was
the millionaire, Gerald Moore.