Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-12-07
LITTLE WHITE FILLY
By Harold Carter


Old Stephen Brand was a prosperous
farmer in Oudtshoorn, Inhabited mainly
by well-to-do Boer farmers and ranch
ers. A close-hsted old Dutchman he was
reputed to be; yet of all things perhaps
he loved his fleet white flly Pearl. When
she won the local races by many lengths
he sent her to Cape Town and Kimber-
ley; but here, also, she outstripped all in
her class. If she had been beaten X
would have broken his heart men said.
But she never was beaten.
The war broke out. English troops
by the thousand swarmed over the land.
The Dutch republics, fighting logged
", were beaten to their knees. Here and
there a few guerrilla bands remained.
Some of these had invaded the colony
and were invading Oudtshoorn. Stephen
Brand secretly aided them with provis-
lens; he dared do no more.
One morning a British captain with
his company came to the farm.
stephen Brand" he said, Il want five
horses. You will receive compensation
from the government in due time. Here
is my reauisition. Beyers and his band
are in the vicinity and we are snort Of
mounts"
And he walked into the stables and Sc
lected his mounts. One of these was the
white filly. Stephen Brand clutched al
the officers arm.
"'Do not take her." he peladed, See,
will give you three in place of her.
The officer laughed and led Pearl away.
When the troops had gone black rage
filled the old mans heart. He strapped
on his bandoler, took his rifle, filled his
saddle bags with flour and dried biltong,
and rode out He wanted nothing, cared
for nothing, save to be revenged upon
the man who had stolen his beloved.
That afternoon he Joined Beyers in a
mountain pass. The guerrilla leader had
100 men. Brand told him that the Brit
ish were searching for him.
AT dawn tomorrow they will en-
ter the pass" he said. You will have
them at your mercy. Only, tell all your
men to be careful that none shoots my
white flly, which thecaptain rides. STILL
be careful to intercept him; for if once
he gets a start, no horse in the country
can catch him.
Here is a horse can catch him." swore
Beyers, laughing and handed to Brand
a black Basuto pony built like a racer.
start them fair, and your FLY Will be
outrun in the first 100 yards" said Bey-
ers, laughing
bIdIlu WdllCh Shiny NANAA NAAS SUI
rillas at dawn, till, with the first faint
light, the British force was seen to en-
ter the pass, the captain at the head,
riding upon Pearl.
So swift and unexpected was the at
tack that the British broke and fled in
confusion But, checked by a small
body upon the hills. which barred their
way, they had no place of escape.
The captain alone refused to surrender.
One moment he Decentralization, squirting
the white flly, galloped madly toward
the entrance. Mindful of Brands entreat-
les, the Beers withheld their fire.
Furious at the sight of his lost filly,
Brand gaIloped madly after the captain.
He felt the black pony gather itself to-
gether beneath him, he saw the distance
diminish They would be neck and neck
at the entrance. The filly would be his.
His heart thrilled with emotion.
His-but at what cost! That his UNI
beaten Pearl should be run down by
this black pony to put him to shame in
the sight of all his neighbors Insensibly
he checked her lead and, gaining the open
country, vanished a speck of white in
the distance.
Then Stephen Brand rode back, slow.
w. with dropping reins and head bowed
on his breast. They watched him ST.
lently; they knew, but said nothing.
He had lost his filly, but her honor was
his.