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

IO triAs any. was OF far too yio-
EHIlJIY lent and explosive nature TO
GisAiD restrain the passion wh.ea
hlied him upon this discovery. His ire
mendous roars of rage far more than
hlied the house. They volleyed down
the one street OF the village. His
wrath. as his joy. as his good fortune.
he seldom hid within himself, nor even
In the Immediate circle OF his famlly.
His heart, like those OF most men OF
natural and not acquired honesty.
was worn upon his sleeve. Already the
village was aware OF Martha de Knlb's
incredible treachery aud was at its
doors. sorrowful. wondering, angry. in
It's divers moods.
Major de Kaib now stood at his own
open door. brandlshing the fatal letter.
Young Peter was In the spider, already
prepared TO drive the trembling rene.
gade from her home forever. Inside.
the fat and motherly Tante de Ilalb
sat I'm a huge chair and walled and
wept and implored her husband to be
less hasty, TO be more merclful
There are three things which the old
time Boer loves, and these three are
placed In interchangeable order-his
God, his country and his home-that Is.
his family. As his country would yield
preference to his religion IL such n case
might occur. so must his child give
place to his country. To ask him 10
shelter Martha, who had hurt the
Transvaal's cause. was TO ask too much
from Dom Jan. Therefore poor Tante
de kalb walled In vain. The broad
shouldered, bearded, steel hearted old
Boer only turned the torrents of his
rage upon his wife.
mo fault but yours. vrouwr' he
shouted, and I'm the orange scented
silence OF the village in the valley his
voice sounded distinctly I'm the ears OF
the listening neighbors and passed up
the hillsidcs to trcmble far into the
heart OF the woods. "No fault but
your own! To play the piano Che
brought his fist down on the cottage
instrument bought for his daughter so
that he split the top in halves, TO lab
Der poetry, TO be educated. to be like
any cursed Engllshmans daughter
that's what you insisted upon and
coaxed and cried for"
"Oom Janl Dom Janl' his wife wall
ed. "Why not? Are the English TO
enjoy everything, and our children
nothingT
I'VE enjoy what our fathers enjoy
ed; our children can enjoy the same.
They were at peace and happy and
blessed In the Lord. without pianos and
education-without the English. The
English! They have invaded my coun-
try, and now-they have destroyed my
home"
The old woman sObbed.
Don't send the daughter away" she
cried. after all, do not all the maid
ems love at some timer
Love-! roared the old patriot.
Love! Love an Engllshmanl what
kind of love has she who will betray
her fatherland for her love? Listen
again, then, you old, foolish woman. to
the letter"
In the same loud voice lie began TO
read the missive which the unhappy
mother had found among her daugh-
ters things, and innocently handed to
him.
Dear Grill love you all the more for tho so.
hcltude with which you write me of what YOU
eall my danger, but how could J. my dear. even
u desired 20. leave my post at this late dayY
All that you say of the TTansyaal's preparations
may be true. still what unsdled farmers do
against the trained troops we hayeY n viii bs
one brush. and they viii see their folly. Then
there will be quick peace, and you and win
meet again, as IN the happy days when / frst
met you in Cape Town. To that iimei Your own,
MD yENAHLE.
S-My dear your news Is very interesting,
out Is II not dangerous-dangerous for you-to
write such things? This goes by your own Kaelr
messenger
And that Kafir is pretty well
thrashed to deathp cried the Boer. rip.
ping the letter furiously and stamping
on the scraps. $50, by my fathers.
would you be, girl, II you were not
girl and my vrouw's childw
Father, father, / meant no wrongg
cried his daughter and clasped her
hands and wrung them, sobbing.
She had come In from her chamber
dressed for her enforced Journey. She
did not look like the traltress they dc.
nounced her as. although undoubtedly
she had given information TO an officer
or the enemy's army. She was Of the
Oest B0er type-nlmOst OF the old
Dutch. save that her checks were more
flushed with the kiss OF the sun and
her blue eyes were usually, though not
now clear with the light OF freedom
Her yellow hair was neatly coiled on
her white neck. Even now In her grief
and humiliation there was IN her walk
and her carriage the grace OF n woman
accustomed from childhood TO run on
the veldt to galIop across IT bareback.
TO take part I'm many OF the exercises
which had helped 10 make Of her "a
ther Dom Jan. the physically grand
man who now stood glaring upon her.
Father, father, I meant no wrongF'
she cried.
''No wrOngi" he repeated and pointed
almost pathetically TO the torn paper
at his feet HAS all your education 10
Cape Town not taught you what
treachcry mcans7 Is it no wrong TO
send secret messages Of ac Trans.
vaais preparations 10 send news
which, might be dangerous to ar OH.
cor in the army Of invaders? Is IL no
wrong 20 love n man. and he an Eng.
lishman, and never tell your mother az
n good Boer girl wouldT"
HIS voice was now more reproachful
than furious. and she was encouraged
by that to look up at him with plead.
Ing. Her eyes were as guilcless rs a
chiid's
II cannot see yet where it was wrong"
she said simply II am his betrothed
wife, but because he was English we
thought It better TO say nothing mtn
peace had come. As 10 the rest. father.
] saw so much when ] was with you
among the soldiers that was afraid