The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-09-04
ON I II VELDT
(Contlnued.)
a South African Love Story

Old-fashtOned English welcome anC
Hendrick was ushered into the sitting
room, where sat Nancy and her lover
Nancy greeted him heartily. If some
what shyly:
Il am glad to see you, Hendrick-
let me introduce you to Mr.. Harvey
Dick, this is our friend, Henry Hoop
stad."
Il am very glad to know you; we
can't have too many friends these
troublous times. You look like a
fighting man. hope you are with
us?"
81 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 well met; am enroll
ing body of volunteers to act as
scouts. l saddle in a few hours, SC
if you are willing we go together
II ask nothing better. But what Oh
Miss Martin-surely she must not stay
here
81 am glad you add your entreaties
to mine. am trying to persuade Mr.
Martin and Nancy to retire to the coast
until danger is past"
That's all right, Dick" answered
Mr. Martin. 81 should like to persuade
Nancy to go, but 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, 1 take it, is out Of
their Jurisdiction"
Possibly, but hardly think they
will draw so fine line
We'll, anyway, l stay here, and 1t
won't be healthy for the commando
that interferes with me-"
'Then, if 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 for
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
ser be to him more than a friend, and
in that friendship he determined that
10 sacrifice should be too great for
him.
The three rode together until Dick
had to leave them; then, with tender
and almost heart-rending farewell, he
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.
81 am going to the war;" he contin-
ued, slowly, fixing his gaze upon the
ground; ''to fight for your countrymen
and YOU 1t may be that shall not
survive, and l should like you to think
kindly of me. You are the only Eng
lish woman 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
/ thought would like you to know"
Poor Hendrick!"
IL have seen the man you love, and
my vanity is dead. Goodbye. should
Hke-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 Dor
der and were invading Natal, and Cap
Il tain Harvey began to have fears for
the safety Of John Martin. He con-
fsulted Hendrick on the subject.
What do you, think of it, Hoop
stad pr 5s15
& had, very bad. John Martin will
have to join commando, or be shot y
$50 I fear, and / want you to start
tonight and make your way to Gala
don Farm. If you find John Martin
there persuade him to come back with
you; bnt If our worst fears are realiz-
ed and he has disappeared. find out
what has become of him. z @
H; Il will start in an hour, and thank
you for giving me the opportunity"
Good luck 80 with you"
In an hour 5Hendrick took the road
b for John Martins farm Numerous
parties Of Beers were about, and ex-
II treme caution was necessary This
4 meant slow progress, and 1t was not