The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-02-13
A Pastoral Love StcE,
In ldyll Of the Early South African
Settlements.

In the year 1860 that part OF South
Africa known as the Orange Free
State was 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
store was by no means a 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 a store of
his own-John ran a successful busi-
ness with the Mynheeren. and was I'M
frequently consulted as an oracle by
the Meffrowen who rode in, once a
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 it
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,
by pretty daughters and
nieces, whom it was JOINS duty and
as to the girls-privilege. to assist
% alight and convey to his counters.
There, with all pleasure, and as much
profit as he could make, he would try
% suit the varied tastes Of his fair
customers.
One day a quite aristocratic veh-
Gle, a hooded cart drawn by four fine
lorses, instead of the wagon and
oxen, drove up to the
loor. Peter flew out, and presently
lshered in portly and very loud
DICED lady accompanied by a tall.
lin girl. whom the dame addressed
% MlnnA
At Peters signal, John turned over
0 him the customer with whom he
,as bargaining, and fastened to pay
usiness court to the evidently i'm
ortant new conner. The graceful
arriage of the girl piqued his curl
sity, the more that her face was en-
rely concealed by an extra big sun
"kapji," worn by all Boer
laidens who value their complexion.
Rustic finery for herself and daugh-
,r was the elder lady's quest. Nor
as she easily pleased. But as the
cap of materials grew upon the coun-
,r, the young lady would no longer
e restrained. To see better. she
ushed back her sunbonpet, revealing
!, Johns astonished eyes refined
nd delicately flushed face, lighted
Y large gray eyes. shaded by long
shes. She blushed prettily as. look
e up to ask the price OF a silk.
,e caught the young mans admiring
azed fixed, upon her.. But his -ad-
iration seemed not displeasing, for
a. haIfsmi1e-and that upon
.r own initiative his direction.
,und him, her slave for life.
1Minna-close your cappy!" snap
d the careful mother. who perhaps
ID caught the .fieeting love-glance.
bediently and in silence the we'll
aimed daughter yelled his sun, to
Inns disgust. .e.
Peter" said John, as they stood
the door watching the cloud Of
lst in which the cart had disappear
/. "who is she?"' +
Don't you know" the lad replied.
hats my aunt, Juffron van Haaren.
h! but old tants Is . good one to !