Held Up....

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 131, 3 January 1903, Page 17

Held Up. . . .

LIKUTKNANT Nat Patons face was gloomy enough in the strong glare ot the mid-day sun, as he rode steadilj act oss country with Ins two mates -Vhle after mile the \eldt swept on, a i oiling, billowy sea of freshening grass beneath a sky utteilj cloudless, theie wa>s no breeze, and the atmospheic shook with heat To take two troopers with h.m, gallop aciossi the \eldt some 30 miles, and take pnsoner a Britisher who was profitably combining the occupations of peaceable iaimei and daring knight of the road, seemed a simple enough matter, but Paton did not fancy the task which lay 1 him, and there were reasons annexed. Once on a, time lie had been w ell up in the social scale, this handsome, bronzed young Englishman. Then, he had done a lot of mad things over in the old countiy, and he buried his past there and came over to seek a new lepute in the dark continent. On the voyage he met Captain Dick Eaile, who also had been forced into exile, and was crossing with his daughter to pastures new , and, feeling lonely he chummed with the elder man, and enjoyed Miss Eai le's society. She was a very pretty girl, of some twenty summers, with dark wavy hair and olive complexion, eyes large, dark, flashing, pleading, soft, tender — showing a hundred fleeting moods in every hour Nat fell in love, and remembered he had a reputation to build up, a past to atone foi and he became w onderfully matter-of-fact. All the same, he meant to see her agaan, and change all that He w as. now a, lieutenant in the Beohuar.aland Border Police. His erstwhile friend had taken over a farm in the south, and was prospering as farmers never do. Paton accordi-igly, in dve 1 time, was detailed to bring him to justice foi various daring pranks and he was haunted by a vision which made him ponder deeply as lie grimly set about his duty As he lode up, the girl was standing at the door of the bungalow, dressed m a pique riding habit, and a big sun hat, which showed off her mischievous little face to advantage and the colour faded from her cheeks as he raised his hat and dismounted. I am glad to meet you once more, Miss Eaiie " said Nat, taking the hand winch she frankly extended to him. The ti oop ears looked surprised, and stuck to then saddles. It is an unexpected pleasure," letumed the girl, with a bewntclung glance from under her long eyelashes. He flushed amd for a moment was silent tasting the bitterness of conventional phrase Is Captain Earle at home?" he asked at length "I would like to see him." He liked his mission less than evei . Letiie Ea.-le's face faded. He has gone out after some of the cattle " she answeied, simply. "I expect him back shortly." Then I will wait. My business is uige.it Lettie asked no questions, and Paton began to breathe freely. 'Won't you come in and rest a while?" said the girl "Your men can put up the horses m the stable." Nat hesitated, and looked long at the piett\ gnl beside him. •You\e had a long gallop," she urged if, as I suppose, you come from Vi\beig " We left Vrvberg this morning, said Pa to a Thanks I'll come in." The \oung officer w r as ushered into a Urge loom and his hostess, excusing hen self, loft him alone. He went over to the window and looked about him. So far the place had seemed deserted, save for the "presence of Miss Earle, but as ho looked out he saw se\eral hands on the promises, and for the first time a strancc uneasiness cre/pt over him. His hostess was not long in returning, she had thrown off her hat. and looked, if possible more charming than ever. A maid accompanied her. set out teai, and cakes and departed Will you have afternoon tea with me. 5 We seldom have visitors here " ' No thanks, Miss Earle," said Paton, leddenins; It was not so bad to come and chat w ith the pretty girl before him, but to partake of the bread and salt of the man he had come to arrest was oevond his idea of humour. "The fact is, I__oh hang it all' How am I going to put it ?" . The girl smiled somewhat bitterly. ' Never mind." she said, "I understand " "Understand what?" The words were rapned out like a pistol shot. This Mas unexpected. ' That you have come to arrest mv father " she said gently. "Sit down " Paton sat down. 'And you expect me to accept your hospitality pfter that?" "Why not 2 " with a demurely reproachful intonation

Well, of coiuse, I am only obeying my orders, though I heaitily wish it had been someone else." ' I cannot blame you," said Lettie, quietly. Theie was a long panse. "Do you expect your rathei m shortly?" said Nat at length. Curious how love dulls a man's wits, isn't it ? "I did," was the response, "at the time you rode up. I don't expect him back to-night at all now." Paton sprang to his feet, but the girl was between him and the door, and she heilcl a little silver -mounted levolrer in her hand. 'Sit down, Mr. Paton," she said, smiling bravely, but blusluiig a little as she looked him full in the eyes. "You are my prisoner." "Piisoner'" repeated the lieutenant abstractedly. "Yes. I'm extremely sorry, but it's necessary to- give my father a chance to escape." "Ami you would fire?" he said, as if slie weie jesting. Leitie's mouth gripped at the comers. "Yes, but I should hate to shoot you." "I don't exactly fancy it myself, having still a lingering interest in life, you know." 'Then sit down There are seivants, too, guarding each door with loaded rifles " "And mv men — ?" "Are still in the stable, held up " The officer returned to his seat. "I give m," he said, chagrined. "You have the best of it " '" Apparently, " was the answer, with just a> tinge of triumph in the voice. ' Let's have tea." She laid her revolver on the table, and Paton quickly picked it up, and turned it over carefully in his hand. Lettie flushed hotly. "I'm not experienced enough in this sort, of thing," she said apologetically, "to be careful." The prisoner laughed, and laid the toy back in, its place. ' Why didn't you keep it, and try to escaipe?" she asked, a puzzled expression knitting her brow. "You might have frightened me into letting you so." "After tins delightful hospitality ?" said Paton reproachfully . 'Imprisonment," corrected Ins gaoler. "Delightful imprisonment," repeated the prisoner. "It would be unfair, wouldn't it?" "All's fair in w a,r." "Love and war," said Paton reflectively. "No, I don't believe everything is But, put away your pistol." 'You promise not to try to qo p " "I promise." The soldier had now not thei slightest v/ish to escape. "By the way, I trust my men are comfortable?" * "They are being well looked after." ''Then I remain on parole " "Thank you," said the girl. "I prefer to look upon you as my guest." Paton proceeded to act as such and the afternoon tea was protracted, and a great success. He was beginning to enjoy himself thoroughly. Gradually the hot African day had drawn to a close, and Lettie rose and lit a big lamp. "I must try and amuse you somehow while you are here," she said. "Suggest something." Patons eyes roved round the room, and rested on a piano. Pianos are scarce in South Africa and it revived old memories. "You sing?" he queried "Sometimes." She went to the piano, played a softly flow ing prelude, and sang Scarlatti's woodland song softly, swelling to a climax, as she> had never sung it before. Paton sat by the open window, and gazed out. Away over the veldt the sun was dropping auickly. The whole western sky was ablaze w itli blood-red rich saffron, shading into green and the green merged into a dull blue overhead, and the blue deadened into black far behind the bungalow. Above, at the zenith, out of the cleiar dark indigo of the sky the Southern Cross shone resplendent Paton listened, and gazed out, and something blurred his vision just then It wa& a long time since he had heard a beautiful song, with a real pianoforte accompaniment. He wished again for those halcyon days, away far back m the old country and yet Lettie finished, and Paton tried to remember some, of the things he used to smg and play when he was at Oxford, and he played and sung them there m the lone South African farm, and tJiev chatted in between, and the evening sped past An old clock in the hall struck the houi Lettie counted the strokes in triumph "Ten," she said as it ceased. "He has six hours' start You can't possibly oat oh him now ." 'I won't tr\ " said Paton simply. ' Am I free ?"

' You aie free , but you can't start back tail morning." 'Our horses need a rest." Lettae ramp a bell, and a little Dutch boy put in an appearance. "Jim wall show you to your room," she said. "Good night." "Good might," replied Paton, extending his hand. "I don't know when I sipeint such am emjoyable evening, certainly not since the old days." "Perhaps, the old days will return," she said, hopefully, and there was a great longing in her voice. "Perhaps," said the young officer, and he followed the Dutch boy. When morning came, Nat Paton had some difficulty in soothing his troopers. They had found thear imprisonment dull, and wanted to execute some vengeance on the farm, but he over-ruled them. They had got the horses ready, and prepared for the wearisome return gallop. Lettie Earle came to bid her prisoner adieu. "Good-bye," she said slowly : "I'm real sorry — to have put you to any inconvenience." "Don't," said Paton, as he grasped . p little hand. "I enjoyed it thoroughly." He meant it. The girl looked him full in the face. 'So did I," she said frankly. "You were quite a cheerful prisoner." "Fortunes of **ar," said the officer. "You spoiled mv hunt, and there's no sense in grumbling. I trust we shall meet in a different way ere long." "You certainly won't find dad. here." She looked tearfully away down at the straggling blue gums — "At least for a long time." "I'll keep on the farm. I've managed it since we crossed." There was a short pause. "And may I pay you another visit?" The girl's colour deepened, as she nodded assent. "Yes, you may. But — oh, please, Mr. Paton. Mv rings, you know. They digso — ■ and. what will your men think ?" The vounc officer laughed gaily, as he released her. "Au revoir " he said, as he mounted. "We'll meet again." He doffed his big slouch hait, spurred his horse, and was "'one. — By M. N. G., in the "Glasgow Weekly Herald."