Through Veld and Forest: An African Story

Through Veld and Forest: An African Story

The blazing midsummer sun of South Africa had sunk to within a hands breadth of the ridge of the southern spur of the Tandjes Berg, softly outlined in blue some forty miles distant on the western horizon, when I, Edward Laurence, having taken a long afternoon ride round the farm to assure myself that the sheep were being properly looked after, arrived within a mile of my homethe long, white, one-storey thatched house picturesquely perched yonder on a mound which formed one of the southern spurs of the Great Winter Berg. The housewhich, together with the farm of two thousand five hundred and sixty acres, was known as Bella Vistawas the property of my father, Henry Laurence, ex-colonel of the th Kings Own Regiment of Dragoon Guards; and he had purchased it some fifteen years prior to the date upon which this story opens, having been so severely wounded during the battle of Waterloo as to necessitate his retirement from the army. His retirement, of course, left him without an occupation; and as he was then still quite a young man, being only thirty-three years of age, as soon as he had recovered from his woundsso far as recovery then seemed possiblehe began to cast about for something to do. It was at this juncture that he made the acquaintance of a Miss Violet McKinnon, the lovely daughter of an impecunious Scottish laird, and fell desperately in love with her; and as my father happened to be a strikingly handsome and attractive man his affection was speedily returned, and marriage quickly followed. To marry under such circumstances was perhaps something of an imprudence, for my father had nothing but his pension, while his bridesixteen years his juniorhad nothing but her trousseau; but the pair turned a deaf ear to all advice and remonstrance, with the result just mentioned, when of course it became more imperatively necessary than ever for the ex-colonel to discover some means of earning a living, especially as I was born within a year of the date of the marriage. The state of his health demanded that the occupation chosen should enable him to live an outdoor life: and farming at once naturally suggested itself. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 24602
Author: Collingwood, Harry
Release Date: Feb 13, 2008
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Illustrator: Webb, Archibald, 1887-1944