Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) -- Fiction; English fiction; Xhosa (African people) -- Fiction
One fair summer's day, a body of troops was embarking for foreign
service. Among the rest was the company of Royal Artillery to which
Gray belonged, and the officer who had just assumed the command was no
other than the same Captain Trafford, whom he had seen walking with his
old love, Katy. Three years had elapsed since that memorable evening
when Martin quitted his native village; but had he not then learned the
name of this officer, he would have recognised him at once.
The steamer which was to convey the detachments to the transport lay
alongside the quay of a great mercantile town in England. There were
crowds standing alongside to wish their friends farewell. A gay
regimental band had accompanied the troops, and they passed through the
throng, cheering as they marched. There was not much delay in getting
the steamer underweigh; all the poor property the men possessed was
strapped upon their backs, and they were not long on board ere they
turned their faces to the shore to give a parting hurra! There was a
struggle between the policemen and some of the crowd at the gangway, but
it was soon over, the people giving way. The cheers rose from the deck,
there was an answering hearty shout, and the steamer dropped slowly down
along the quay side.
A woman had pressed onwards to take a last look; her cloak was dropping
from her shoulders, her bonnet hung at the back of her head; the rich
hair was cast back from her wan, thin face; her dress was torn,
disorderly, and soiled, but Martin Gray recognised her instantly. It
was his lost love--his once bright-faced cousin Katy.
But she did not see him; and as he gazed with aching eyes and beating
heart upon her, he heard a comrade say, "That is the girl that followed
Captain Trafford all the way from London. I heard him last night, when
I took the orderly-book to the inn, swearing at her, and telling her not
to follow him. I was sorry for the poor thing, for she was so tired she
could hardly stand, and leaned against the wall, staring at him and
crying terribly; but he sent for a waiter and had her turned out. She
gave me such a wild look as she passed me by, I shall never forget it;
but I could not help her, you know."
The crowd dispersed, but Gray saw a single figure standing alone at the
end of the quay, watching the steamer to the last. She stretched out
her arms, leaned forward, and plunged into the water.
His involuntary scream brought others to his side, and the news soon
spread along the deck that a woman had drowned herself. Some women had
approached nearer the after-part of the packet than was consistent with
the regulations, and openly coupled her name with Captain Trafford's.
He came forward, and, in a furious tone, sent them forward, and placed a
sentry on the spot they had invaded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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