Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-12-26
A Pastoral Love Story.
An IdyII Of the Early South African
Settlem ntS.
BY ADELAIDE M. FENToN.

ADELAIDE M. FENToN.
In the year 1860 that part of South
Africa known as the Orange Free
State was a quiet, peaceful land,
thinly inhabited by the Boer farmers,
content with the simple comforts of
their immense estates and unvexed
by the rush and hustle of the outside
world.
Then and there to be the owner OF
a store was by no means bad start
in life; and to be an Englishman was
in those days-an honorable dis
tinction Therefore, young John War
rem held his head high, for his was
the only store-a sixty by forty shan
ty, stocked with every variety of the
simple merchandise needed by the
farmers-in the Churchdrop Of the
district, and center of trade for the
Beers who dwelt widely scattered
along the fertile valley of the Orange
River.
Here, assisted by an Afrikander
youth named Peter-who despised ag-
riculture and aspired to own store OF
his Own-John ran successful busl-
ness with the Mynheeren, and was I'M
frequently consulted as an oracle by
the Meffrowen who rode in, once
month, from their far away homes,
to meet in church, to buy and sell,
and to absorb the infrequent news
that fitted in from the far-off world.
The men would sometimes come
on skittish horses, but more often" 1t
was the great, tented wagon, drawn
by fourteen sleek and carefully
matched oxen, and carrying whole
family, that would rumble up along
side the store. From these would
emerge danes, imperious and stout,
accompanied by pretty daughters and
nieces. whom it was JOINS duty and
as to the girls-privilege to assist
to alight and convey to his counters.
There, with all pleasure, and as much
profit as he could make, he would try
TO suit the varied tastes of his fair
customers.
One day quite aristocratic veh-
icle. a hooded cart drawn by four fine
horses instead of the wagon and
slow-moving oxen, drove up to the
door Peter flew out, and presently
ushered in a portly and very loud
voiced lady accompanied by tall,
slim girl, whom the dame addressed
as Minna.
At Peters signal, John turned over
to him the customer with whom he
was bargaining, and FASTENED to pay
business court to the evidently i'm
portant new conner The graceful
carriage of the girl piqued his Curl
osity, the more that her face was en-
tirely concealed by an extra big sun
bonnet-the "kapii" worn by all Boer
maidens who value their complexion.
Rustic finery for herself and daugh-
ter was the elder ladys quest Nor
was she easily pleased. But as the
heap of materials grew upon the coun-
ter, the young lady would no longer
be restrained To see better, she
pushed back her sunbonnet, revealing
to Johns astonished eyes a refined
and delicately flushed face, lighted
by large gray eyes, shaded by long
lashes. She blushed prettily as, look
ing up to ask the price Of a silk,
she caught the young mans admiring
gazed fixed upon her. But his adj
miration seemed not displeasing, for
presently a half-smile-and that upon
her own initiative-in his direction,
''Minna-close your cappy!" snap
ned the careful mother, who perhaps
had caught the fleeting love-glance.
Obediently and in silence the we'll
trained daughter yelled his sun, to
Johns disgust.
peter" said John, as they stood
at the door watching the cloud OF
dust in which the cart had disappear
ed, "who is she?"
"Don't you know" the lad replied.
"That's my aunt, Juffron van Haaren.
Ach! but old tante is good one to
make a fellow work. Look at all that
stuff to be put away" "Oh, bother
YOUR aunt" snapped John. who's
the Young Lady," Peter grinned and
jumped out of arms length, as he
retorted: "You are not the first one
to ask that. She's Minna van Haraen,
and her father owns more land and
more sheep than any one in the Free
State. But she is hard to please, If
that's what you are thinking about" "
At this Johns heart sank. What
oheoca had heP A storekeeper and a