Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-12-26

ing by. night of those grey eyes, and
that smile which might have meant
so much. Then would recur the
thought: "She is an heiress; what can
I do?"
Under this discipline John became
as disagreeable as was possible for
such wholesome fellow to be, until
one day his friend Dirck Maritz, de-
clared him an unsociable dog and
asked him what allied him. Then out
came his story Of the unattainable
fair one Dirck was sympathetic,
though much amused. "Well, you
have got it bad" he remarked, but l
think 1 can help you. What do you
say to riding out with me tomorrow
evening? It is only twenty miles.
Van Haaren and I came up together
in the great trek. If I introduce you
to his house, you will be as one of
u.s."
The prospect of seeing his adored
one acted like charm upon John,
and the next evening saw the friend
ly Afrikander and the levesick Eng
lishman riding toward the Van Haaren
they reached the "werf" and greeted
Veldkornet Mynheer van Haaren,
whom they found seated upon the
broad stone ''stoep" of his big brick
house, smoking in the peaceful still
ness of the velvety cool twilight Of
upland South Africa.
Come in Dirck, old friend!" he
cried as the visitors dismounted and
gave over their horses to the native
servants. who is he?" he added,
pointing with his pipe to John. Mar
itz presented him, adding a low
spoken sentences, whereat the Beers
manner changed, and grasping Johns
hand, he exclaimed heartily: "Come
along and have some supper; my wife
has mentioned you" Johns heart
leaped.
The evening NEAR was spread in a
great square room. Seated majesti-
cally before a huge coffee urn, which
Kissed above pan of live charcoal,
was Tante van Haaren, and at her
side-oh, rapture stood Minna
Such a demure maiden she looked
as, with downcast eyes, she gave
John her hand in the conventional
greeting. But she started with a
quick blush as her father said in a
low tone: "Wife, Dirck Maritz in
PRODUCES the young man." And she
slipped away into an inner room for
few minutes.
The dignified hausfrau filled the
cups with coffee, which Minna-a
Hebe of. the sheepfolds-
around. To John that cup was nee
tar; and when his devouring eyes at
length caught hers, her ingenious
blush intoxicated him.
His spirits rose. To the simple
Beers his little anecdotes were the
cream of wit; and by the time the
meal was ended, both the old people
loved him. Good, good-for an Eng
lishman mynheer once
and again.
found himself seated beside his girl,
upon the great wooden settle which,
covered by two great lion skins,
stretched it's comfortable length in
the ingle-nook.
One by one the others had slip
ped away, and significant candle
burned upon side table.
1t seemed almost dream. Yester-
day so far away, today SO near-per-
mitted to take to her, even!
The maiden, however, made no eff
fort to entertain him. but with down
cast eyes answered his every remark
with hesitating Eyes" Or a whisper
ed mo-" till poor John, fearing his
advances were unwelcome, sadly
said:
Good night, Miss Van Haaren,
fear I am keeping you too late"
All, then, indeed, the girl was
moved. Lifting up those great grey
eyes, she said: "B-u-t the candle
burns yeti" John had, however,
not been long enough in the Free
State to understand, so he rose and
marched somewhat sulkily to the room
jutting out upon the stoep, to which
he and Dirck had been shown earlier
in the evening as their guest cham
Der. There, sunk in the depths of a
billowing feather bed, beside the
snoring Drck, he smothered his dis
appointment.
The sun was but peeping when they
were called to "early coffee" There
horses were standing fed, groomed
and saddled at the door. Mamma
did not appear; but Minna? Oh, yes.
While Dirck and Papa were in animat-
ed conversation, she slipped along
side of John with his cup Of coffee
and, as she gave it him, said-very
low but with charming smile-a
few words which, to Johns unaccus-
toned ear, conveyed no tangible mean
ing at all; and he parted without
hope.
Eo11owod NV tho farmpr'c hearty