The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-08-28

xlCuuIlCh was uSHCl GU Allo Nv
room, where sat Nancy and her lover.
Nancy greeted him heartily, If m
what shyly:
Il am glad to see you. Hendrick-
let me introduce you to Mr.. Harvey.
Dick, this is our friend, Henry Hoop
stad."
II am very glad to know you; we
can't have too many friends these
troublous times. You look like a
fighting man. I hope you are with
u.s."
II cannot fight against Miss Martins
countrymen, and the blood in my veins
Is more English than Dutch. am
on my way now to volunteer"
Then we are we'll met; l am enroll
ing a body of volunteers to act as
scouts. l saddle in a few hours, SO
If you are willing we go together"
II ask nothing better. But what OF
Miss Martin-surely she must not stay
here"
II am glad you add your entreaties
to mine. am trying to persuade Mr..
MdTllu anu Nancy W iCIi.S WV
until danger is past"
That's all right, Dick" answered
Mr.. Martin. IL should like to persuade
Nancy to go. but l am going to stick to
the farm"
"You run great risk, Mr.. Martin"
said Hendrick. IF you stay here you
will be commanded to join the Boer
army"
81 am an Englishman, and my farm
is In Natal; that, l lake 1t, is out OF
their jurisdiction"
Possibly, but l hardly think they
will draw so fine a line"
well, anyway. l stay here, and 1t
won't be healthy for the commando
that interferes with me-"
"Then, IL you are SO determined,
must ask you to be equally determined
in insisting upon Miss Nancy going to
Durham. My married sister lives
there, and she would be quite. safe
After much discussion it was decid-
ed that Nancy should depart for Dur
ban Immediately, with Hendrick TOT
an escort. Dick Harvey would accom-
pany them as far as Moot river, where
he would have to leave them, and
Hendrick was to rejoin Dick as soon
as Nancy was safe on the coast. Hen
drick knew now that Nancy could new
er be to him more than a friend. ana
In that friendship he determined that
no sacrifice should be too great for
him.
The three rode together until DICK
had to leave them; then, with a tender
and almost heart-rending farewell, ne
passed her into the care OF HendrlcK
and departed. They reached Durham
without mishap, and Hendrick, hav-
ing handed Nancy to the care OF his
sister, prepared to return.
II thank you. Hendrick, for your
care of me-"
81 wish no thanks; to be of service
to you is the aim and end OF my life.
She looked at him curiously and
seemed to penetrate his secret.
IT am going to the war;" he contin-
ued. slowly, fixing his gaze upon the
ground; ito fight for your countrymen
and you. 1t may be that I shall not
survive, and l should like you to think
kindly Of me. You are the only Eng
lish woman I have been privileged
to know with any degree of friendship,
and the days have passed happily with
me. A hope full of vanity was born
within me that perhaps the caprice Of
fate might turn your heart towards
me In love. Forgive me for saying
this. / am only a fooling man, but
l thought l would like you to know"
Poor Hendrick!"
81 have seer the man you love, and
my vanity Is dead. Goodbye. / should
like-may I-er-I should like to kiss
your hand to seal my vow that hence
forth my life is consecrated to serving
you and yours to the DEATH"
The tears rolled down her cheeks as
she gave him her hand. The strong
man kissed it passionately and de-
parted.
Hendrick made his way back to Dick
Harvey, and was formally enrolled as
. volunteer. News came soon after
that the Beers had crossed the bor-
der and were invading Natal. and Cap
tain Harvey began to have fears for
the safety Of John Martin. He con-
suited Hendrick on the subject.
'sWhax do you think Of it, Hoop
stad?"
bad, very bad. John Martin will
have 70 join q commando, or be shot"
$50 I fear, and / want you to start
tonight and make your way to Gala
don Farm. II you find John Martin
there persuade him to come back with
you: but IL our worst fears are realiz-
ed. and he has disappeared. ind out
what has become of him."
81 will start in an hour, and I thank
you for giving me the opportunity"
Good luck go with you"
In an hour Hendrick took the road
for John Martins farm. Numerous
parties OF Beers were about, and ex-
treme caution was necessary. This
meant slow progress, and 1t was not
until the second evening that he reach
ed the homestead. D~ismounting. he
raped on the door. but ELECTED no