The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-12
THE BETTER MAN
 By MAY CHRISTIE Copyright 1921 by the Mcclure Newspaper syndicatel
CV-THE SECRET
By MAY CHRISTIE

rolling in the sunshine. The grass was vivid green. dotted with yellow flowers. and little starry blossoms of pure white.
 The train began to move, wind ing upwards round "hair-pin curves" till 1t looked like long, wriggling caterpillar!
 The air was fresh and keen nere. Camille saw little nigger boys herd ing cows in the dew-spangled grass, and dotted over the landscape that re- sembled one huge emerald were dog ems of native huts like little heehives. through the tiny doors of which the big owners had to crawl and wriggle.
 Difficult to think that fierce fight ing once took place in this peace full spot" remarked Elliot Glyn.
 Above them was a cloudless sky of blue, and streams were rushing down into the quiet valleys.
 "All ze windows close for ze tunnel, please.' They had passed Majuba station, and the Dutch boy came along the corridors, shouting the above.
 Emerging from the excavation. the train passed famous Lang's Neck. and the hills showed gray, stony places, thrusting through the vivid green. Kaffirs, dressed airiIy in little bath ing drawers of many colors, waved from the doorways of their tiny thatched "kraals." Bright little na- tive villages. with pretty willow trees dropping over stone cottages, emerged like beacons. And tiny sta tions, immediately tidy. and bril- liant with flowers, went flying by.
 T love it" cried Camille, with sparkling eyes and face a-glow. We're on the veldt now. aren't we 1"
 Glyn nodded.
 Look at those bright blue flow CTS. exactly like forget t-me-nots, And the tall yellow ones, like sun shine! The veldt undulates, exactly like the seaP
 The train crossed a steam, and bathing in the water were six little nigger boys, darting in and out of the willow trees that lined the banks. The soil grew reddish here and cows and horses were grazing in the meadows.
 Along a wide red road meandered a cart drawn by eight bullocks, and, further on, a team of 14 bullocks drew plough.
 The train stopped at little sta- tion that was flower embroidered, and looked like a jewel set in the emerald hills.
 This is Volksrust. It's 10 o'clock and We can get out for morning tea" Glyn helped Camille to the platform, where Kaffirs. in colored blankets and with huge rings in their ears, were selling biscuits and choco- late for an exorbitant price. We've crossed the border of Natal, and are in the Transvaal now.''
 The fussy little train did not finger for very long, but soon set off across the undulating veldt.
 'I believe the landscape is growing lovelier all the time. Look at the delicate eau-de-nil shade of it" Ca- mille exclaimed.
 "The veldt is always changing" ing it. It's like an old friend to me-"
 They stopped at Rusthof. which was smothered in young willows, frs and blue gum trees, ana was a tiny green world of it's own.
 To Camille and Glyn it was a per fectly enchanted day, for Dolly and Van Tuy1 left them very much alone, and they could talk, uninterrupted. to their hearts content.
 There was so much to say-to tell each other.
 Camille was at her best. Under the spell of happiness and the witch- craft of this country, she glowed like a rose, and sparkled with a dewy freshness of mind that did not always show in Dolly's critical presence.
 Glyn was completely fascinated and utterly in love.
 1T know it's frightful cheek of me, but we are engaged aren't we darling?"
 She nodded shyly.
 That's our secret.
 But soon we can let the world know. too?" He could have shouted his happiness from the house-tops, if house-tops there had beeni
 Again she nodded
 Some day-soon!" she whispered. Tomorrow-CamilIc Tells Reggie.