The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-01-23
By H. B. Mackenzie
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"Brave little woman!" said Rothes,
tone of emotion in his voice. II al
ways thought her rather a butterfly,
and l beg her pardon mentally for
that"
"In fact, you thought she and were
very much alike?" said Bluebell, with
little tone of coquetry. Confess now
you think me that, too, don't you,
Doctor Rothes?'
II never thought you anything
but" He was speaking with a sud
den passion, but he suddenly checked
himself and paused. You know you
are not justified in speaking like that"
he said at last gravely did l ever
give you reason to do so?"
Bluebell laughed a little.
do you remember the ball at Mar
itzburg last spring, Doctor Rothes?
All, you didn't approve of me at all
them"
He remembered it quite we'll. 1t
was the first time he had met the Les
lies, for he had been practicing in
Maritzburg himself then. Bluebell's
wild, childishly high spirits had car
ried her away that night. and she had
fiirted Unfortunately with all the Of
ficers then stationed at Maritzburg.
Bluebell remembered it, too.
WHO is that graye-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 glance OF his eye?"
The latter, think" the lieutenant
had answered, mere truthfully than
calamity. Hes Doctor Rothes, and
they say he is one of the awfully seri-
Gus kind, you know. Takes life like
funeral, and believes one should go
to church twice on Sundays. That
kind of thing, don't you know"
Rothes' sunburned face had deepen
ed just little in tint.
1t is too bad to bring back those
old foolishnesses to ones memory"
ne said. II did not know you then,
Miss Leslie. I had not seen Won in
your home. 1 did not know you earn
ed the love and devotion of the poor
natives on your fathers place. I did
not know you taught them, as far as
was possible, not the mere profession
OF Christianity, but its practice"
Bluebell bent little over her
horses head.
Il am afraid 1 ought to teach nv
self that first Doctor Rothes. Charity
begins at home, But let US not speak
OF TINS. We can't be anything but
TRENDS, 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, 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 vein in her body
thrill; and now he was SO cool and
lndlherent-a friend, as he had said
and nothing more.
1t was not that Bluebell was in
love with him. She told herself about
dozen times a day that she liked
Adair Rothes very much, but could
never imagine him as 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 that it
looked as If it were bathed in blood.
Bluebell shuddered as she thought that
very soon it 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 the Natal veldt. Sud-
denly, as Bluebell looked towards it,
a figure on horseback emerged from
behind it, and came riding straight
towards them.
Bluebell felt thrill of annoyance
and aversion run through her, for she
recognized the rider at once. It was
the millionaire, Gerald Moore.